Communication message processing method and apparatus, communication device, and storage medium

Abstract

The present application relates to a communication message processing method and apparatus, a communication device, a storage medium, and a computer program product. The method comprises: acquiring a first target message (S202); and determining timer information on the basis of the first target message (S204).

Description

Methods, apparatus, communication devices, and storage media for processing communication messages

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application filed on October 17, 2024, with application number 2024114524684, entitled "Method, Apparatus, Communication Device and Storage Medium for Processing Communication Messages", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of core network technology, and in particular to a method, apparatus, communication device, storage medium, and computer program product for processing communication messages. Background Technology

[0004] With the continuous development of core network technology, MA (Multiple Access) technology has emerged, which can establish PDU sessions through multiple access technologies. It can perform session processing by simultaneously using a 3GPP access network and a non-3GPP access network, as well as two independent data transmission channels between the PSA (Protocol Data Unit session Anchor) and the RAN / AN. Alternatively, it can perform signaling control through the 3GPP access network and data transmission through the non-3GPP access network. Based on this, when a terminal is registered with both 3GPP and non-3GPP networks, or when it is registered with only one access technology, the terminal can request an MA PDU session. If the session establishes user plane transmission channels on both the 3GPP and non-3GPP access sides, the terminal can apply network-provided policies (ATSSS rules) and local conditions (such as network interface availability, signal loss conditions, user preferences, etc.) to determine how to allocate uplink traffic between the two access networks.

[0005] In scenarios where the control plane is on the 3GPP side and only data transmission is performed on the non-3GPP access side, when the UE loses 3GPP network signal coverage during movement, it is determined that the UE is unreachable on the 3GPP side. The AMF needs to register the UE. At this time, the user plane transmission channel on the non-3GPP access side of the MA PDU session is still maintained, and data flow may still be transmitted. Therefore, as the UE continues to move, it may reacquire the 3GPP signal and then initiate the registration process on the 3GPP side again. After registration is completed, the MA PDU session is re-established, and the user plane transmission channel on the aforementioned saved non-3GPP access side is used as a user plane transmission channel for the MA PDU session on the non-3GPP side. However, this process involves many issues in the session establishment process, making the session processing on the non-3GPP access side quite complex. Therefore, avoiding the above scenario is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a method, apparatus, communication device, storage medium, and computer program product for processing communication messages.

[0007] This application provides a method for processing communication messages, applied to AMF, the method comprising: acquiring a first target message; and determining timer information based on the first target message.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: after receiving the registration request, determining timer information based on the target simplification features supported by the PLMN network.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first target message includes first indication information, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: determining timer information based on at least one of the first indication information and target functions supported by the PLMN network, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal supports target simplification features.

[0010] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, wherein the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0011] In one embodiment, the target simplification feature includes a simplified multi-access feature; the simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal registers with the core network through 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks, and establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through non-3GPP access side equipment when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

[0012] In one embodiment, establishing a user plane connection with the UPF via a non-3GPP access side device includes: establishing a user plane connection with the UPF via a preset transport protocol; the transport protocol is selected from at least one of the IPSec protocol and the MPQUIC protocol.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first target message includes second indication information; determining timer information based on the first target message includes: determining timer information based on the second indication information, wherein the second indication information represents the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session, and in the case that no target function device is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side device.

[0015] In one embodiment, the method further includes updating initial timer information based on the timer information, wherein the initial timer information is timer information determined by the AMF during the terminal registration process.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first target message includes second indication information, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: determining timer information based on the second indication information;

[0018] A second target message is sent to the SMF so that the SMF determines the target connection duration based on the timer information. The second target message contains the timer information, and the target connection duration represents the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses signaling control on the 3GPP access side.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal, and the second target message is a session context request message.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first target message is sent by the SMF, the first target message contains fourth indication information, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: determining timer information based on the fourth indication information.

[0021] In one embodiment, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within 3GPP coverage.

[0022] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transport message.

[0023] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, wherein the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0024] In one embodiment, the first target message is sent by SMF, the first target message contains fifth indication information, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: determining timer information according to the fifth indication information, wherein the first target message is used to indicate registration failure.

[0025] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is time information, which is determined by the SMF based on the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side; determining the timer information according to the fifth indication information includes: based on the time information, performing a deregistration process when the timer expires.

[0026] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is a cause indication information; determining the timer information based on the fifth indication information includes: determining the timer duration information based on the cause indication information, starting the timer based on the timer duration information, and performing a deregistration process when it is determined that the timer has expired.

[0027] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session release context response message, and the method further includes: when the implicit detach timer times out, performing a deregistration process and sending a session release context request message to the SMF, the session release context request message containing a context identifier.

[0028] In one embodiment, the AMF is the visited AMF in a roaming scenario.

[0029] In one embodiment, the SMF is the visited SMF in a roaming scenario.

[0030] This application provides a method for processing communication messages, applied to SMF (Service Message Management), the method comprising: receiving a second target message, the second target message containing timer information, the second target message being determined based on a first target message; and determining a target connection duration based on the timer information, the target connection duration representing the user plane connection time on a non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses signaling control from the 3GPP access side.

[0031] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal to the AMF, and the second target message is a session context request message sent by the AMF. The first target message includes second indication information, which indicates the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session. In the case where no target function device is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side device.

[0032] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, wherein the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0033] In one embodiment, in a roaming scenario, the SMF is the visited SMF, and receiving the second target message includes: receiving the second target message sent by the AMF, and sending a third target message containing timer information to the home SMF.

[0034] In one embodiment, the SMF is the home SMF, and receiving the second target message includes receiving a third target message sent by the visited SMF, the third target message containing timer information.

[0035] This application provides a method for processing communication messages, applied to an SMF (Self-Management Function). The method includes: sending a first target message to enable an AMF (Self-Management Function) to determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0036] In one embodiment, the first target message is a message sent to the AMF and includes fourth indication information, which is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within the 3GPP coverage area.

[0037] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transport message.

[0038] In one embodiment, the SMF is the home SMF and the AMF is the visited AMF. The method of sending the first target message further includes: sending a second target message to the visited SMF. The second target message contains fourth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send the first target message to the visited AMF, so that the visited AMF determines timer information based on the first target message.

[0039] In one embodiment, the SMF is a visited SMF and the AMF is a visited AMF. Sending the first target message includes sending the first target message to the visited AMF. The first target message contains sixth indication information, which is determined based on fourth indication information. The sixth indication information is used to instruct the visited AMF to determine timer information.

[0040] In one embodiment, the first target message includes a fifth indication message, which is used to indicate that registration failed.

[0041] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is time information, and the method further includes: determining timer information based on the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side; starting a timer based on the timer information; and performing a deregistration process after the timer expires.

[0042] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is a cause indication information, which is used to enable the AMF to determine timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

[0043] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session release context response message. Before the step of sending the first target message, the method further includes: receiving a session release context request message sent by the AMF, the session release context request message containing a context identifier, the session release context request message being sent by the AMF after determining that the implicit detach timer has expired.

[0044] In one embodiment, the SMF is the home SMF and the AMF is the visited AMF. Sending the first target message includes sending a second target message to the visited SMF. The second target message contains fifth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send the first target message to the visited AMF, so that the visited AMF determines timer information based on the first target message.

[0045] In one embodiment, the SMF is the visited SMF and the AMF is the visited AMF. Sending the first target message includes: receiving a second target message sent by the home SMF, the second target message containing fifth indication information, the visited SMF determining seventh indication information based on the fifth indication information; sending the first target message to the visited AMF, the first target message containing seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to enable the visited AMF to determine timer information.

[0046] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is cause indication information or time information.

[0047] In one embodiment, the seventh indication information is time information, and the method further includes: determining timer information based on the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side; starting a timer based on the timer information; and performing a deregistration process after the timer expires.

[0048] In one embodiment, the seventh indication information is cause indication information, which is used to enable the visited AMF to determine timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

[0049] This application provides a method for processing communication messages, applied to a terminal, the method comprising: sending a first target message to enable an AMF to determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0050] In one embodiment, sending the first target message includes: sending a registration request to the AMF, the registration request including first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate that the terminal supports a target simplified feature, the target simplified feature being a simplified multiple access feature, the simplified multiple access feature indicating that the terminal is simultaneously registered in 3GPP and non-3GPP access, and establishes a user plane connection with the UPF in the case that no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

[0051] In one embodiment, the simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal is simultaneously registered in 3GPP and non-3GPP access, and in the absence of target function equipment deployed on the non-3GPP access side, a user plane connection is established with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment.

[0052] In one embodiment, sending the first target message includes: sending a PDU session establishment request message to the AMF to enable the AMF to determine timer information. The PDU session establishment request message includes second indication information, which indicates that the PDU session is on the non-3GPP access side. In the case where no target function device is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF. The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer type includes at least one of reachability timer, implicit separation timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0053] This application provides a communication message processing apparatus for use in AMF, the apparatus comprising: a first receiving module for acquiring a first target message;

[0054] The first processing module is used to determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0055] This application provides a communication device, including: a processor; the processor is configured to acquire a first target message and determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0056] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein when the computer program is executed by a processor, it performs the following steps: acquiring a first target message; and determining timer information based on the first target message.

[0057] This application provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the communication message processing method provided in the embodiments of this application. The method may include: obtaining a first target message; and determining timer information based on the first target message. Attached Figure Description

[0058] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the disclosed drawings without creative effort.

[0059] Figure 1 is an application environment diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0060] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing communication messages in one embodiment of this application;

[0061] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing communication messages in one embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing communication messages in one embodiment of this application;

[0063] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing communication messages in one embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figure 6 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 7 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 8 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 9 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 10 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 11 is an application environment diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 12 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figure 13 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0072] Figure 14 is a signaling diagram of a communication message processing method in one embodiment of this application;

[0073] Figure 15 is a structural block diagram of a communication message processing device in one embodiment of this application;

[0074] Figure 16 is a structural block diagram of a communication message processing device in one embodiment of this application;

[0075] Figure 17 is a structural block diagram of a communication message processing device in one embodiment of this application;

[0076] Figure 18 is a structural block diagram of a communication message processing device in one embodiment of this application;

[0077] Figure 19 is an internal structure diagram of a communication device in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0078] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0079] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of a communication message processing method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the scenario includes at least an AMF100. Optionally, the scenario may also include a user terminal UE, an SMF, and a base station, etc. The AMF100 and the user terminal UE transmit data through a network, and the AMF100 and the SMF transmit data through a network.

[0080] The base station can be an access network device, which can be a base station (BTS) in Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a base station (NodeB, NB) in Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, a relay station or access point, or a base station in a 5G network, etc., and is not limited here.

[0081] The User Equipment (UE) can be a wireless terminal, which can be a device providing voice and / or other service data connectivity to the user, a handheld device with wireless connectivity, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. The wireless terminal can communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN). The wireless terminal can be a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone (or "cellular" phone) or a computer with a mobile terminal, for example, a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile device, exchanging voice and / or data with the RAN. The wireless terminal can also be referred to as a system, Subscriber Unit, Subscriber Station, Mobile Station, Mobile, Remote Station, Remote Terminal, Access Terminal, User Terminal, User Agent, User Device, or User Equipment, without limitation herein.

[0082] With the continuous development of core network technology, MA (Multiple Access) technology has emerged, which can establish PDU sessions through multiple access technologies. It can perform session processing by simultaneously using a 3GPP access network and a non-3GPP access network, as well as two independent data transmission channels between the PSA (PDU session Anchor) and the RAN / AN. Alternatively, it can perform signaling control through the 3GPP access network and data transmission through the non-3GPP access network. Based on this, when a terminal is registered with both 3GPP and non-3GPP networks, or when it is registered with only one access technology, the terminal can request an MA PDU session. If the session establishes user plane transmission channels on both the 3GPP and non-3GPP access sides, the terminal can apply network-provided policies (ATSSS rules) and local conditions (such as network interface availability, signal loss conditions, user preferences, etc.) to determine how to allocate uplink traffic between the two access networks.

[0083] In scenarios where the control plane is on the 3GPP side and only data transmission is performed on the non-3GPP access side, when the UE loses 3GPP network signal coverage during movement, it is determined that the UE is unreachable on the 3GPP side, and the AMF needs to register the UE. At this time, the user plane transmission channel on the non-3GPP access side of the MA PDU session is still maintained, and there may still be data flow being transmitted. Therefore, as the UE continues to move, it may reacquire the 3GPP signal and then initiate the registration process on the 3GPP side again. After registration is completed, the MA PDU session is re-established, and the user plane transmission channel on the aforementioned saved non-3GPP access side is used as a user plane transmission channel for this MA PDU session on the non-3GPP side. However, this process involves many issues in the session establishment process, making the session processing on the non-3GPP access side quite complex.

[0084] Therefore, this invention proposes a processing method to avoid such scenarios. Based on the aforementioned conventional technology, embodiments of this application provide a method for processing communication messages. By obtaining a first target message and determining timer information, when the terminal is unreachable on the 3GPP side, a simplified multi-connection architecture can be used. This simplified multi-connection architecture refers to an architecture where the UE simultaneously accesses both 3GPP and Non-3GPP access technologies, but there is no N3IWF functional device on the Non-3GPP access side. It can also include a simplified ATSSS architecture. The meaning of "simplified multi-connection architecture" is the same throughout the text. By associating the time set on the SMF to maintain the user plane transmission channel on the non-3GPP access side with a timer for the UE, the complexity of session processing is reduced, resulting in improved communication performance of the communication system.

[0085] It should be noted that the beneficial effects or technical problems solved by the embodiments of this application are not limited to this one, but may also be other implicit or related problems. For details, please refer to the description of the embodiments below.

[0086] Before introducing specific embodiments of the present invention, the technical terms involved in the present invention will be explained:

[0087] ATSSS: Access Traffic Steering, Switching, Splitting.

[0088] MA PDU: Multi-Access PDU Session.

[0089] AMF: Access and Mobility Management Function, performs registration, connection, reachability and mobility management, provides a session management message transmission channel for UE and SMF (Session Management function), provides authentication and authorization functions for user access, and is the core network control plane access point for terminals and radio.

[0090] SMF: Session Management Function.

[0091] PDU Session: Protocol Data Units Session.

[0092] RAN, Radio Access Network, base station.

[0093] UE, User Equipment.

[0094] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, a method for processing communication messages is provided. Taking the application of this method to the AMF in Figure 1 as an example, the method includes the following steps:

[0096] Step 202: Obtain the first target message.

[0097] The first target message can be a message that enables the AMF to determine timer information. The first target message can be information sent by the terminal or a message sent by the SMF that the AMF receives.

[0098] Specifically, the AMF can receive the first target message sent to the AMF by other network elements.

[0099] Step 204: Determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0100] The timer information may include the type of the timer and the timer duration, etc.

[0101] Specifically, after receiving the first target message, the AMF can parse the first target message, extract the information carried by the first target message, and determine the timer information based on the information carried by the first target message.

[0102] In the above-mentioned communication message processing method, a first target message is obtained; timer information is determined based on the first target message. By adopting this method, based on a simplified multi-access architecture, when the terminal is unreachable on the 3GPP side, the time set on the SMF to maintain the user plane transmission channel on the non-3GPP access side can be associated with the timer for the UE, reducing the complexity of session processing. In other words, when the UE establishes a multi-access PDU session and loses coverage on the 3GPP access side, the UE can maintain its registered state on the 3GPP access side during the user plane connection maintenance process on the non-3GPP access side. This avoids the complex session processing caused by the UE transitioning to a deregistered state on the 3GPP access side during the user plane connection maintenance process on the non-3GPP access side, simplifying the communication message processing flow and ensuring the processing performance of the communication system.

[0103] In one embodiment, the first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal. Accordingly, the specific implementation process of the step "determine timer information based on the first target message" may include:

[0104] Upon receiving a registration request, timer information is determined based on the target simplification features supported by the PLMN network.

[0105] The registration request is used to register the terminal, and the registration request can be a Registration Request message; the functions supported by the PLMN network can be target simplification features, and the timer information can be related to the terminal's timer.

[0106] Specifically, the terminal can generate a registration request and send it to the AMF. Upon receiving the registration request, the AMF can determine that the terminal initiated the registration request and can also determine the functions currently supported by the PLMN network. If the AMF determines that the PLMN network currently supports the target simplification feature, the AMF can determine the timer information, which may include the timer type and the timer duration.

[0107] In this embodiment, after receiving the registration request, the AMF can determine the timer information based on the target simplification features supported by the PLMN network, and associate the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side with the timer configured on the terminal.

[0108] In one embodiment, the first target message includes first indication information, and the specific implementation process of the step "determining timer information based on the first target message" may include:

[0109] Timer information is determined based on at least one of the first instruction information and the target functions supported by the PLMN network.

[0110] In this embodiment, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal supports the target simplification feature. The first target message can be a message sent by the terminal to the AMF, and the first target message may carry the first indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal sending the first target message supports the target simplification feature. The AMF can determine the target function supported by the current PLMN network. If it is determined that the target function supported by the current PLMN network is the target simplification feature, the AMF can determine timer information, which may include the timer type and the timer duration. The specific representation of the first indication information is not limited in this embodiment and may be an identification code, etc.

[0111] In one example, the AMF can receive a first target message sent by the terminal, and when it determines that the first target message contains first indication information, the AMF can determine timer information; or, the AMF can receive a first target message sent by the terminal, and when it determines that the target function supported by the current PLMN network is a target simplification feature, the AMF can determine timer information.

[0112] In another example, the AMF can receive a first target message sent by the terminal. When it is determined that the first target message contains first indication information and that the target function currently supported by the PLMN network is the target simplification feature, the AMF can determine timer information, which may include the type of timer and the duration of the timer.

[0113] In this embodiment, after receiving a registration request, the AMF can determine timer information based on at least one of the target simplification features supported by the PLMN network and the first indication information carried in the first target message, and associate the time information of the user plane transmission channel held on the Non-3GPP access side with the timer based on the terminal configuration.

[0114] In one embodiment, the target simplified feature is a simplified multi-access feature, which means that the terminal is simultaneously registered in 3GPP and non-3GPP access, and establishes a user plane connection with UPF when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side. The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit separation timer and periodic registration update timer.

[0115] Specifically, the target simplified feature can be a feature obtained by simplifying the simplified feature of multiple access. If the terminal supports the simplified multiple access feature, it means that the terminal can access both 3GPP and non-3GPP access technologies at the same time, and establish a user plane connection with UPF (User Plane Function) in the absence of target function equipment deployed on the non-3GPP access side. Optionally, the target function equipment not deployed on the non-3GPP access side of the terminal can be a function equipment such as N3IWF or TNGF.

[0116] Specifically, the timer information determined by AMF based on the first target message may include at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer may specifically be at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer, and the timer duration information may be the timer duration configured for the timer.

[0117] In this embodiment, by determining the timer information of the timer when supporting the target simplification features, the time information for maintaining the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side can be associated with the timer based on the terminal configuration.

[0118] In one embodiment, the simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal simultaneously accesses 3GPP and non-3GPP access technologies, and establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

[0119] Among them, non-3GPP access side equipment can be equipment that is not deployed in non-3GPP.

[0120] Specifically, if it is determined that the terminal supports simplified multiple access features, then it can be determined that the terminal supports establishing a user plane connection with the UPF using non-3GPP access-side equipment even when no target function equipment is deployed on the terminal's non-3GPP access side. In one example, if the terminal determines that it supports simplified multiple access features, then it can be determined that the terminal supports establishing a user plane connection with the UPF through a preset transport protocol (e.g., IPSec or MPQUIC) even when no target function equipment is deployed on the terminal's non-3GPP access side.

[0121] In one example, if it is determined that the terminal supports simplified multi-access features, and it is determined that the terminal does not have a target function device deployed on the non-3GPP access side to perform control layer signaling, then a user plane connection can be established with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side device on the non-3GPP access side.

[0122] In this embodiment, the specific content represented by the simplified multi-access feature is defined to ensure that, even when the target functional equipment is not deployed on the non-3GPP access side of the terminal, a user plane connection is established with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment, thus ensuring reliable communication.

[0123] In one embodiment, the first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal.

[0124] Specifically, the terminal can generate a registration request and send the registration request as a first target message to the AMF. The registration request can carry first indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal sending the first target message supports the target simplification feature.

[0125] In this embodiment, the first indication information used to indicate that the terminal supports the target simplification feature can be encapsulated in the registration request and sent to the AMF to improve the efficiency of information transmission.

[0126] In one embodiment, the first target message includes second indication information, and the information carried in the first target message may be the second indication information.

[0127] Accordingly, the specific implementation process of the step "determine timer information based on the first target message" may include:

[0128] The timer information is determined based on the second indication information.

[0129] The second indication information indicates that the established PDU session is a multi-access session based on a simplified architecture. That is, the UE accesses the network simultaneously via 3GPP and non-3GPP methods. If no target functional device is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection PDU session with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side device. The first target message can be a message sent by the terminal to the AMF during session establishment. The specific representation of the second indication information is not limited in this embodiment and can be an identification code, etc. The target functional device can be a functional device such as N3IWF or TNGF.

[0130] Specifically, after receiving a first target message carrying second indication information sent by the terminal, the AMF can determine timer information based on the second indication information. The timer information can be timer-related information configured by the terminal, such as at least one of timer type and timer duration information. Specifically, the timer can be at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer and periodic registration update timer, and the timer duration information can be the timer duration configured for the timer.

[0131] In one example, the second instruction could be direct ATSSS via non-3GPP access using MPQUIC.

[0132] In this embodiment, timer information can be determined based on the second indication information during the session message establishment process, and the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side can be associated with the timer configured on the terminal.

[0133] In one embodiment, the method for processing the communication message further includes:

[0134] Update the initial timer information based on the timer information.

[0135] The initial timer information is the timer information determined by the AMF during the terminal registration process.

[0136] Specifically, the terminal can first register. After successful registration, session processing, such as session establishment, can proceed. The initial timer information is the timer information configured on the terminal, determined by the AMF during the registration process via the AMF. That is, the initial timer is the timer information determined by the AMF during the terminal attachment process. After the AMF executes the steps in the above embodiments, it can determine the timer information based on the second indication information. The AMF can then replace the initial timer information with the timer information determined based on the second indication information. In other words, after determining the timer information based on the second indication information, the AMF can update the initial timer information based on the determined timer information.

[0137] In this embodiment, after the AMF determines the timer information based on the second indication information, it can update the initial timer information based on the determined timer information to ensure the timeliness of the timer information.

[0138] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal.

[0139] Specifically, after registration, the terminal can generate a PDU Session Establishment Request message and send it to the AMF as the first target message. The PDU Session Establishment Request message as the first target message can carry second indication information. After receiving the PDU Session Establishment Request message carrying the second indication information, the AMF can determine the timer information based on the second indication information.

[0140] In this embodiment, during the process of establishing a PDU session between the terminal and the AMF, the terminal can send a first target message carrying second indication information to the AMF. This can establish an association between the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side and the timer configured on the terminal, thereby improving the timeliness of association establishment.

[0141] In one embodiment, the first target message includes second indication information.

[0142] Accordingly, as shown in Figure 3, the specific implementation process of the step "determine timer information based on the first target message" may include:

[0143] Step 302: Determine timer information based on the second indication information.

[0144] In this embodiment, the AMF can determine timer information based on the second indication information carried in the received first target message. The second indication information indicates that the PDU session is based on a simplified non-3GPP access side architecture, meaning the terminal accesses the network simultaneously through both 3GPP and non-3GPP access. If no target functional device is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side device. The first target message can be a message sent by the terminal to the AMF during the PDU session establishment process, such as a PDU session establishment request message. The specific representation of the second indication information is not limited in this embodiment and can be an identification code, etc. The target functional device can be a functional device such as N3IWF or TNGF.

[0145] Specifically, after receiving a first target message carrying second indication information sent by the terminal, the AMF can determine timer information based on the second indication information. The timer information can be timer-related information configured by the terminal, such as at least one of timer type and timer duration information. Specifically, the timer can be at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer and periodic registration update timer, and the timer duration information can be the timer duration configured for the timer.

[0146] Step 304: Send a second target message to the SMF so that the SMF can determine the target connection duration based on the timer information.

[0147] The second target message contains timer information, and the target connection duration represents the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses signaling control from the 3GPP access side.

[0148] Specifically, after determining the timer information based on the second indication information, the AMF can generate a second target message based on the timer information. That is, after determining the timer information, the AMF can generate a second target message carrying the timer information and send the second target message to the SMF. After receiving the second target message, the SMF can determine the target connection duration based on the timer information carried in the second target message. In other words, the SMF can determine the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side based on the timer information carried in the second target message.

[0149] In this embodiment, timer information can be determined based on the second indication information during the session message establishment process, and a message containing the timer information can be sent from the AMF to the SMF to improve the accuracy of the target connection duration determined by the SMF.

[0150] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal, and the second target message is a session context request message.

[0151] Specifically, after registration, the terminal can perform the PDU session establishment process: the terminal can generate a PDU session establishment request message and send it to the AMF as the first target message. The PDU session establishment request message as the first target message can carry second indication information. After receiving the PDU session establishment request message carrying the second indication information, the AMF can determine the timer information based on the second indication information and generate a session context request message carrying the timer information. The session context request message can be an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message. The AMF sends the session context request message as the second target message to the SMF. The SMF can determine the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side based on the timer information carried in the second target message.

[0152] In this embodiment, timer information can be determined based on the second indication information during the session message establishment process, and a message containing timer information can be sent from AMF to SMF. This improves the accuracy of the target connection duration determined by SMF and enables the association between the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side and the timer configured on the terminal to be established as soon as possible, thereby improving the timeliness of association establishment.

[0153] In one embodiment, the first target message is sent by the SMF and contains fourth indication information.

[0154] Accordingly, the specific implementation process of the step "determine timer information based on the first target message" may include:

[0155] The timer information is determined based on the fourth indication information.

[0156] Specifically, during PDU session processing, the SMF can send a first target message containing fourth indication information to the AMF. The AMF can determine timer information based on the fourth indication information contained in the first target message. This timer information can be related to the timers configured by the UE.

[0157] In one embodiment, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within 3GPP coverage.

[0158] Specifically, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the Non-3GPP access side of the PDU session when the terminal loses the signaling control range of the 3GPP access side. This user plane connection time can be the user plane connection hold time; that is, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the hold time (hold duration) of the user plane connection on the Non-3GPP access side of the PDU session when the terminal loses the signaling control range of the 3GPP access side. The specific representation of this fourth indication information is not limited in this embodiment; it can be timer information or duration information, etc.

[0159] In this embodiment, during the session message processing, a first target message containing the user plane connection time can be transmitted from the SMF to the AMF. This user plane connection time can be synchronized between the AMF and the SMF, providing a data basis for the subsequent processing of session messages by the AMF.

[0160] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transport message.

[0161] Specifically, the first target message containing the fourth indication information sent by the SMF to the AMF can be a session context response message or a transport message.

[0162] The session message processing can include: the terminal sending a PDU session establishment request message to the AMF; after receiving the PDU session establishment request message from the terminal, the AMF can send a session context request message to the SMF (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextRequest message); the SMF can generate a session context response message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextResponse message); based on this, the PDU session can undergo authorization / authentication processing, the SMF can perform UPF selection processing, and return a transmission message (Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message) to the AMF; the AMF can determine timer information based on the fourth indication information, which can be at least one of timer type and timer duration information, including the timer type and the timer duration. The specific representation of the fourth indication information is not limited in this embodiment and can be an identification code, etc.

[0163] In one example, the first target message mentioned above can be a session context response message. Specifically, the corresponding SMF can carry the fourth indication information in the session context response message and return a session context response message containing the fourth indication information to the AMF. In another example, the first target message mentioned above can be a transport message. The SMF can carry the fourth indication information in the transport message and return a transport message carrying the fourth indication information to the AMF.

[0164] In this embodiment, the AMF can determine the timer information based on the indication information sent by the SMF, and associate the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side with the timer based on the terminal configuration.

[0165] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, and the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detached timer and periodic registration update timer.

[0166] Specifically, the timer information can be information related to the configured timer, such as at least one of the timer type and timer duration information. Specifically, the timer can be at least one of the reachable timer, implicitly detached timer, and periodically registered update timer, and the timer duration information can be the timer duration configured for the timer.

[0167] In one embodiment, the first target message is sent by the SMF, and the first target message contains fifth indication information. Accordingly, the specific implementation process of the step "determine timer information based on the first target message" may include:

[0168] Determine the timer information based on the fifth instruction.

[0169] The first target message is used to indicate that the registration failed.

[0170] Specifically, after receiving the first target message sent by the SMF, the AMF can determine that the current deregistration process initiated by the AMF has failed based on the first target message, and determine the timer information based on the fifth indication information carried in the first target message. This timer information can be the timer duration, etc.

[0171] In this embodiment, the AMF can determine the registration failure based on the information returned by the SMF, and can determine the timing information to facilitate re-initiating the deactivation process.

[0172] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is time information, which is determined by the SMF based on the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side. This time information can be the duration of a timer, or it can be determined by the SMF based on the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side on the SMF. That is, the SMF can determine this time information based on the hold-up time of the user plane on the non-3GPP access side, and use this time information as the fifth indication information. It then generates a first target message carrying the fifth indication information, which the SMF can return to the AMF.

[0173] Accordingly, the specific implementation process of step "determine the timer information according to the fifth instruction information" may include:

[0174] The time information is determined based on the fifth indication information, and a timer is started based on the time information. When the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed.

[0175] The first target message returned by the SMF and received by the AMF carries a fifth indication information, which may be time information, representing the timing duration of a timer configured on the terminal.

[0176] Specifically, after receiving the first target message, the AMF extracts the time information represented by the fifth indication information carried in the first target message, and starts the timer based on the time information (the timer's duration), that is, configures the time information as the timer's duration; after determining that the timer has expired, the AMF can perform deregistration processing, or it can initiate a deactivation process after determining that the timer has expired.

[0177] In one example, after the AMF determines that the timer has expired, the AMF can either re-initiate the deregistration process or re-initiate the deactivation process after the timer has expired.

[0178] In this embodiment, after the AMF determines that the deregistration process has failed, it can determine the timer duration based on the time information returned by the SMF and start the timer based on the timer duration. After the timer expires, the deregistration process is re-initiated. This avoids the problem of reduced communication performance caused by the frequent initiation of the deregistration process. The AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process based on the time returned by the SMF to establish the association between the AMF and the SMF.

[0179] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is the cause indication information; specifically, the cause indication information may be the reason value for the failure of deregistration initiated by AMF, such as the PDU session not being able to be deleted, or the deactivation delay, etc. This embodiment does not limit the specific content of the cause indication information.

[0180] Accordingly, the specific implementation process of step "determine the timer information according to the fifth instruction information" may include:

[0181] The timer duration is determined based on the cause indication information, and the timer is started based on the timer duration information. When the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed.

[0182] The timer duration information can be the configured timer duration.

[0183] Specifically, the first target message returned by the SMF to the AMF carries a fifth indication information, which can be a cause indication information, or the reason value for the failure of the deregistration initiated by the AMF. After receiving the first target message, the AMF obtains the cause indication information represented by the fifth indication information carried in the first target message, determines the reason for the deregistration failure based on the cause indication information, and determines the duration of the configured timer based on the determined reason for the deregistration failure. Based on this, the AMF can start the timer based on the duration of the timer, that is, configure the time information as the duration of the timer. After the AMF determines that the timer has timed out (i.e., after starting, it is detected that the running time of the timer exceeds the duration of the timer), the AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process, or it can initiate a deactivation process after determining that the timer has timed out.

[0184] In one example, after determining that the timer has expired, the AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process, or it can re-initiate the deactivation process after determining that the timer has expired. In another example, the specific process by which the AMF determines the timer's duration could be as follows: the AMF can determine the duration corresponding to the cause information represented by the cause indication information based on a preset correspondence between cause information and duration information, and set this duration as the timer's duration. Alternatively, the AMF could determine the timer's duration based on historical data and the deregistration failure reasons represented by the cause indication information.

[0185] In this embodiment, after the AMF determines that the deregistration process has failed, it can determine the timer duration based on the time information returned by the SMF and start the timer based on the timer duration. After the timer expires, the deregistration process is re-initiated. This avoids the problem of reduced communication performance caused by the frequent initiation of the deregistration process. The AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process based on the time returned by the SMF to establish the association between the AMF and the SMF.

[0186] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session release context response message, and before the step of receiving the first target message, the method further includes:

[0187] When the implicit detach timer expires, the deregistration process is initiated, and a Session Release Context Request message is sent to the SMF. The Session Release Context Request message contains the context identifier.

[0188] Specifically, when the AMF determines that the implicit detach timer has expired, the AMF can initiate a deregistration process. For example, it can generate a session release context request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request message) and send the session release context request message to the SMF. The session release context request message carries a context identifier.

[0189] SMF can process based on the actual scenario, sending the session release context response message as the first target message to AMF. In one example, the session release context response message can be used to indicate that the PDU session release failed, i.e., the registration failed.

[0190] In one embodiment, the AMF is the visited AMF in a roaming scenario, and the visited AMF can be a V-AMF. The SMF that transmits data and communicates with the visited AMF can be the visited SMF, that is, the visited AMF can receive the first target message sent by the visited SMF and determine timer information, etc., based on the first target message.

[0191] This embodiment enriches the application scenarios, enabling its use in both ordinary communication scenarios and roaming communication scenarios, thus ensuring the comprehensiveness of applicable communication scenarios.

[0192] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, a method for processing communication messages is provided. Taking the application of this method to the SMF in Figure 1 as an example, the method includes the following steps:

[0193] Step 402: Receive the second target message.

[0194] The second target message includes timer information and is determined based on the first target message. The first target message can be a message received by the AMF from other devices, such as a first target message sent by the terminal to the AMF, or a PDU session establishment request message. The AMF can determine the timer information based on the second indication information carried in the received first target message. The second indication information is used to characterize that the PDU session is established based on a simplified non-3GPP access side architecture, that is, the terminal accesses the network through both 3GPP and non-3GPP networks. In the case that no target functional device is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side device. The specific representation of the second indication information is not limited in this embodiment and can be an identification code, etc. The target functional device can be a functional device such as N3IWF or TNGF.

[0195] Specifically, after determining the timer information based on the second indication information, the AMF can generate a second target message based on the timer information. That is, after determining the timer information, the AMF can generate a second target message carrying the timer information and send the second target message to the SMF.

[0196] Step 404: Determine the target connection duration based on the timer information.

[0197] The target connection duration refers to the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side. That is, the user plane connection time can be the user plane connection holding time. In other words, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the holding time (connection holding duration) of the user plane connection on the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session when the terminal loses the signaling control range of the 3GPP access side.

[0198] Specifically, after receiving the second target message, the SMF can determine the target connection duration based on the timer information carried in the second target message. In other words, the SMF can determine the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side based on the timer information carried in the second target message.

[0199] In this embodiment, timer information can be determined based on the second indication information during the session message establishment process, and a message containing the timer information can be sent from the AMF to the SMF to improve the accuracy of the target connection duration determined by the SMF.

[0200] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal to the AMF, and the second target message is a session context request message sent by the AMF. The first target message contains second indication information, which indicates that the PDU session is established based on a simplified architecture, and the UE accesses both 3GPP and non-3GPP access technologies. In the case that no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment.

[0201] Specifically, after registration, the terminal can perform the PDU session establishment process: the terminal can generate a PDU session establishment request message and send it to the AMF as the first target message. The PDU session establishment request message as the first target message can carry second indication information. After receiving the PDU session establishment request message carrying the second indication information, the AMF can determine the timer information based on the second indication information and generate a session context request message carrying the timer information. The session context request message can be an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message. The AMF can send the session context request message as the second target message to the SMF. The SMF can determine the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side based on the timer information carried in the second target message.

[0202] In one embodiment, optionally, the target functional device not deployed on the non-3GPP access side can be a functional device such as N3IWF or TNGF. The second indication information indicates that when the target functional device is not deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session is where the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through a non-3GPP access side device (e.g., a preset multipath protocol).

[0203] In this embodiment, timer information can be determined based on the second indication information during the session message establishment process, and a message containing the timer information can be sent from the AMF to the SMF. This improves the accuracy of the target connection duration determined by the SMF and establishes the association between the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side and the timer configured on the terminal, thereby improving the timeliness of association establishment.

[0204] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, and the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detached timer and periodic registration update timer.

[0205] Specifically, the timer information can be information related to the configured timer, such as one or more of the timer type and timer duration information. The timer can be at least one of reachable timers, implicitly detached timers, and periodically registered update timers, and the timer duration information can be the timer duration configured for the timer.

[0206] In one embodiment, in a roaming scenario, the SMF can be the visited SMF. Accordingly, the step "receiving the second target message" may include:

[0207] Receive the second target message sent by the AMF and send the third target message containing timer information to the home SMF.

[0208] Specifically, in a roaming scenario, the AMF can be the visited AMF. The terminal can send a first target message to the visited AMF, which can be a PDU session establishment request message carrying second indication information. After receiving the first target message, the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the second indication information, generate a second target message based on the timer information, and send the second target message carrying the timer information to the visited SMF. Optionally, the second target message can be a session context request message. After receiving the second target message, the visited SMF can obtain the timer information carried in the second target message and generate a third target message based on the timer information, i.e., generate a third target message carrying timer information. Based on this, the visited SMF can send the third target message to the home SMF.

[0209] After the home SMF receives the third target message, it can determine the user plane connection time based on the timer information. The user plane connection time can be the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side. That is, the user plane connection time can be the time for the non-3GPP access side to maintain the user plane connection when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side.

[0210] In this embodiment, during the session message establishment process in the roaming scenario, timer information can be determined based on the second indication information, and the message containing the timer information can be sent from the AMF to the visited SMF, and then transmitted to the home SMF via the visited SMF. This improves the accuracy of the target connection duration determined by the SMF and enables the association between the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side and the timer configured on the terminal to be established as soon as possible, thereby improving the timeliness of association establishment.

[0211] In one embodiment, the SMF is the home SMF. Accordingly, the step "receiving the second target message" may include:

[0212] Receive a third target message sent by the visited SMF. The third target message contains timer information.

[0213] Specifically, in a roaming scenario, the AMF can be the visited AMF, and the SMF can include both the home SMF and the visited SMF. The terminal can send a first target message to the visited AMF. After receiving the first target message, the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the second indication information, generate a second target message based on the timer information, and send the second target message carrying the timer information to the visited SMF. After receiving the second target message, the visited SMF can obtain the timer information carried in the second target message and generate a third target message based on the timer information, i.e., generate a third target message carrying timer information. Based on this, the visited SMF can send the third target message containing the timer information to the home SMF.

[0214] After the home SMF receives the third target message, it can determine the user plane connection time based on the timer information. The user plane connection time can be the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side. That is, the user plane connection time can be the time for the non-3GPP access side to maintain the user plane connection when the terminal loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side.

[0215] Optionally, the first target message may be a PDU session establishment request message carrying second indication information; alternatively, the second target message may be a session context request message.

[0216] In this embodiment, during the session message establishment process in the roaming scenario, timer information can be determined based on the second indication information, and the message containing the timer information can be sent from the AMF to the visited SMF, and then transmitted to the home SMF via the visited SMF. This improves the accuracy of the target connection duration determined by the SMF and enables the association between the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side and the timer configured on the terminal to be established as soon as possible, thereby improving the timeliness of association establishment.

[0217] In one embodiment, a method for processing communication messages is provided. Taking the application of this method to the SMF in Figure 1 as an example, the method includes the following steps:

[0218] Send a first target message so that the AMF can determine the timer information based on the first target message.

[0219] Specifically, the SMF can send a first target message during session processing, and the AMF can determine timer information based on the information carried in the first target message.

[0220] In this embodiment, during the session message processing, a first target message containing the user plane connection time can be transmitted through the data transmission process between the SMF and AMF, thereby synchronizing the user plane connection time between the AMF and SMF and providing a data foundation for the subsequent session message processing by the AMF.

[0221] In one embodiment, the first target message is a message sent to the AMF and includes fourth indication information, which is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within the 3GPP coverage area.

[0222] Specifically, the first target message can be a message sent by the SMF to the AMF. This first target message may contain fourth indication information. The fourth indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the Non-3GPP access side of the PDU session when the terminal loses the signaling control range of the 3GPP access side. This user plane connection time can be the user plane connection hold time. In other words, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the hold time (hold duration) of the user plane connection on the Non-3GPP access side of the PDU session when the terminal loses the signaling control range of the 3GPP access side. The specific representation of the fourth indication information is not limited in this embodiment. The fourth indication information can be timer information or duration information, etc.

[0223] In this embodiment, during the session message processing, a first target message containing the user plane connection time can be transmitted from the SMF to the AMF. This user plane connection time can be synchronized between the AMF and the SMF, providing a data basis for the subsequent processing of session messages by the AMF.

[0224] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transport message.

[0225] Specifically, the first target message containing the fourth indication information sent by the SMF to the AMF can be a session context response message or a transport message.

[0226] The session message processing can include: the terminal sending a PDU session establishment request message to the AMF; after receiving the PDU session establishment request message from the terminal, the AMF can send a session context request message to the SMF (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextRequest message); the SMF can generate a session context response message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextResponse message); based on this, the PDU session can undergo authorization / authentication processing, the SMF can perform UPF selection processing, and return a transmission message (Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message) to the AMF; the AMF can determine timer information based on the fourth indication information, which can be at least one of timer type and timer duration information, including the timer type and the timer duration. The specific representation of the fourth indication information is not limited in this embodiment and can be an identification code, etc.

[0227] In one example, the first target message mentioned above can be a session context response message. Specifically, the corresponding SMF can carry the fourth indication information in the session context response message and return a session context response message containing the fourth indication information to the AMF. In another example, the first target message mentioned above can be a transport message. The SMF can carry the fourth indication information in the transport message and return a transport message carrying the fourth indication information to the AMF.

[0228] In this embodiment, the AMF can determine the timer information based on the indication information sent by the SMF, and associate the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side with the timer configured on the terminal.

[0229] In one embodiment, SMF is the home SMF and AMF is the visited AMF; correspondingly, the specific implementation process of the step "sending the first target message" may include:

[0230] A second target message is sent to the visited SMF. The second target message contains fourth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send a first target message to the visited AMF so that the visited AMF can determine the timer information based on the first target message.

[0231] The first target message contains the fourth instruction information.

[0232] Specifically, the home SMF can send a second target message to the visited SMF. This second target message may carry fourth indication information. The specific content of the fourth indication information in this embodiment is similar to that in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here. After receiving the second target message sent by the home SMF, the visited SMF can determine timer information based on the fourth indication information in the second target message, and generate a first target message based on the timer information. The visited SMF can send the generated first target message to the visited AMF. After receiving the first target message, the visited AMF can determine the timer information.

[0233] In one example, the first target message may carry indication information for indicating the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within 3GPP coverage; the timer information may include at least one of timer type and timer duration information, and the timer type may include at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer and periodic registration update timer.

[0234] In a specific example, the terminal can send a PDU session establishment request message to the visited AMF via the base station; the visited AMF can send a session context request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message) to the visited SMF; the visited SMF can return a session context response message (Nsmf_PDU Session_CreateSMContext Response message) to the visited AMF; and the visited SMF can send a session creation request (Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request message) to the home SMF. After receiving the session creation request from the visited SMF, the home SMF will return the response message (Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Response) corresponding to the session creation request as a second target message to the visited SMF. The second target message carries fourth indication information. The PDU session can perform authorization / authentication processing, the SMF can perform UPF selection processing, and the visited SMF can return a transmission message as the first destination message to the visited AMF. This transmission message can be a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message, which may carry indication information. The visited AMF can determine timer information based on the indication information. This timer information can be at least one of timer type and timer duration information, and may include the timer type and the timer duration. The specific representation of the fourth and sixth indication information is not limited in this embodiment and may include identifier codes, etc.

[0235] In this embodiment, in a roaming scenario, the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the indication information sent by the visited SMF and the home SMF, and associate the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side with the timer configured on the terminal.

[0236] In one embodiment, SMF is the visited SMF, and AMF is the visited AMF; correspondingly, the specific implementation process of the step "sending the first target message" may include:

[0237] Send the first target message to the visited AMF.

[0238] The first target message includes a sixth indication information, which is determined based on the fourth indication information. This sixth indication information instructs the visited AMF to determine timer information and indicates the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within 3GPP coverage. The visited AMF can communicate with the home SMF to receive the first target message and determine the timer information based on the sixth indication information.

[0239] Specifically, the home SMF can send a second target message to the visited SMF. This second target message may carry fourth indication information. The specific content of the fourth indication information in this embodiment is similar to that in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here. The visited SMF can determine timer information based on the fourth indication information and generate a first target message based on the timer information. The visited SMF can send the first target message to the visited AMF. This first target message carries sixth indication information. After receiving the sixth indication information in the first target message, the visited AMF can determine the timer information based on the sixth indication information.

[0240] In one example, the sixth indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within the 3GPP coverage area; the timer information may include at least one of the timer type and timer duration information, and the timer type includes at least one of the reachable timer, the implicit detached timer, and the periodic registration update timer.

[0241] In a specific example, the terminal can send a PDU session establishment request message to the visited AMF via the base station; the visited AMF can send a session context request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message) to the visited SMF; the visited SMF can return a session context response message (Nsmf_PDU Session_CreateSMContext Response message) to the visited AMF; and the visited SMF can send a session creation request (Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request message) to the home SMF. After receiving the session creation request from the visited SMF, the home SMF will return the response message (Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Response) corresponding to the session creation request as a second target message to the visited SMF. The second target message carries fourth indication information. The PDU session can perform authorization / authentication processing, the SMF can perform UPF selection processing, and the visited SMF can return a transmission message as the first destination message to the visited AMF. This transmission message can be a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message, and this transmission message (first destination message) can carry sixth indication information. The visited AMF can determine timer information based on the sixth indication information. This timer information can be at least one of timer type and timer duration information, and can include the timer type and the timer duration. The specific representation of the fourth and sixth indication information is not limited in this embodiment and can be an identification code, etc.

[0242] In this embodiment, in a roaming scenario, the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the indication information sent by the visited SMF and the home SMF, and associate the time information of the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side with the timer configured on the terminal.

[0243] In one embodiment, the first target message includes fifth indication information, which is used to indicate that registration failed.

[0244] Specifically, after receiving the first target message sent by the SMF, the AMF can determine that the current deregistration initiated by the AMF has failed based on the first target message, and determine the timer information based on the fifth indication information carried in the first target message. This timer information can be the timer duration, etc.

[0245] In this embodiment, the AMF can determine the registration failure based on the information returned by the SMF, and can determine the timing information to facilitate re-initiating the deactivation process.

[0246] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is time information, which is determined by the SMF based on the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side. This time information can be the duration of a timer. Accordingly, the method for processing this communication message further includes:

[0247] Based on the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side, the timer information is determined. The AMF starts the timer based on the timer information. When the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed. The timer is used to delay the initiation of the deregistration process.

[0248] Specifically, after determining that the deregistration process initiated by the AMF has failed, the SMF can determine the time information based on the user plane connection time on the Non-3GPP access side of the SMF. That is, the SMF can determine the time information based on the user plane keep-alive time on the Non-3GPP access side, and use the time information as the fifth indication information, and generate a first target message carrying the fifth indication information, and return the generated first target message to the AMF.

[0249] After receiving the first target message, AMF extracts the time information represented by the fifth indication information carried in the first target message, and starts the timer based on the time information (the timer's timing duration), that is, configures the time information as the timer's timing duration; after determining that the timer has expired, AMF can perform deregistration processing, or it can initiate a deactivation process after determining that the timer has expired.

[0250] In one example, after the AMF determines that the timer has expired, the AMF can either re-initiate the deregistration process or re-initiate the deactivation process after the timer has expired.

[0251] In this embodiment, after the AMF determines that the deregistration process has failed, it can determine the timer duration based on the time information returned by the SMF and start the timer based on the timer duration. After the timer expires, the deregistration process is re-initiated. This avoids the problem of reduced communication performance caused by the frequent initiation of the deregistration process. The AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process based on the time returned by the SMF to establish the association between the AMF and the SMF.

[0252] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is cause indication information. The cause indication information is used to enable the AMF to determine the timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

[0253] Specifically, the reason indication information can be the reason value for the failure of deregistration initiated by AMF, such as the PDU session not being able to be deleted, or the deactivation delay, etc. This embodiment does not limit the specific content of the reason indication information.

[0254] The first target message returned by the SMF to the AMF carries a fifth indication information, which can be a cause indication information, or the reason value for the failure of deregistration initiated by the AMF. After receiving the first target message, the AMF obtains the cause indication information represented by the fifth indication information carried in the first target message, determines the reason for the deregistration failure based on the cause indication information, and determines the duration of the configured timer based on the determined reason for the deregistration failure. Based on this, the AMF can start the timer based on the duration of the timer, that is, configure the time information as the duration of the timer. After the AMF determines that the timer has timed out (i.e., after starting, it detects that the running time of the timer exceeds the duration of the timer), the AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process, or it can initiate a deactivation process after determining that the timer has timed out.

[0255] In one example, after determining that the timer has expired, the AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process, or it can re-initiate the deactivation process after determining that the timer has expired. In another example, the specific process by which the AMF determines the timer's duration could be as follows: the AMF can determine the duration corresponding to the cause information represented by the cause indication information based on a preset correspondence between cause information and duration information, and set this duration as the timer's duration. Alternatively, the AMF could determine the timer's duration based on historical data and the deregistration failure reasons represented by the cause indication information.

[0256] In this embodiment, after the AMF determines that the deregistration process has failed, it can determine the timer duration based on the time information returned by the SMF and start the timer based on the timer duration. After the timer expires, the deregistration process is re-initiated. This avoids the problem of reduced communication performance caused by the frequent initiation of the deregistration process. The AMF can re-initiate the deregistration process based on the time returned by the SMF to establish the association between the AMF and the SMF.

[0257] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session release context response message, and the method for processing the communication message before sending the first target message further includes:

[0258] Receive a Session Release Context Request message sent by AMF. The Session Release Context Request message contains a context identifier and is sent by AMF after determining that the implicit detach timer has expired.

[0259] Specifically, when the implicit detach timer expires, the AMF can initiate a deregistration process. For example, it can generate a session release context request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request message) and send it to the SMF. This session release context request message carries a context identifier. The SMF can process this session release context request message based on the actual scenario and send the session release context response message to the AMF as the first target message. In one example, this session release context response message can be used to indicate that the PDU session release failed, i.e., deregistration failed.

[0260] In one embodiment, SMF is the home SMF and AMF is the visited AMF; correspondingly, the specific implementation process of the step "sending the first target message" may include:

[0261] Send a second target message to the visited SMF.

[0262] The second target message contains fifth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send the first target message to the visited AMF so that the visited AMF can determine the timer information based on the first target message.

[0263] Specifically, the home SMF generates a second target message carrying fifth indication information and sends the second target message to the visited SMF. After receiving the second target message sent by the home SMF, the visited SMF can determine the seventh indication information based on the fifth indication information carried in the second target message, and generate a first target message based on the seventh indication information. The first target message carries the seventh indication information. The visited SMF can send the first target message to the visited AMF, and the visited AMF can determine the timer information based on the seventh indication information in the first target message.

[0264] In one example, if the visited AMF determines that the implicit detach timer has expired, the AMF can initiate a deregistration process. For instance, it can generate a Session Release Context Request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request message) and send it to the visited SMF. This Session Release Context Request message carries a context identifier. The visited SMF can then generate a Session Release Request (Nsmf_PDUSession_Release Request) and send it to the home SMF. The home SMF can process this Session Release Context Request message based on the actual scenario, sending the Session Release Context Response message as the second target message to the visited SMF. The visited SMF can then generate a message carrying indication information and return this first target message carrying the indication information to the visited AMF. The visited AMF can then determine the timer information based on this first target message carrying the indication information. In another example, after receiving the first target message, the visited AMF can determine that deregistration has failed, determine the timer duration, start a timer based on this duration, and re-initiate the deregistration process after determining that the timer has expired.

[0265] In one embodiment, SMF is the visited SMF, and AMF is the visited AMF; correspondingly, as shown in Figure 5, the specific implementation process of step "sending the first target message" may include:

[0266] Step 502: Receive the second target message sent by the home SMF.

[0267] The second target message contains the fifth instruction information, and the visited SMF determines the seventh instruction information based on the fifth instruction information.

[0268] Step 504: Send the first target message to the visited AMF.

[0269] The first target message includes a seventh instruction message, which is used to enable the visited AMF to determine timer information.

[0270] Specifically, in a roaming scenario, the home SMF generates a second target message carrying fifth indication information and sends the second target message to the visited SMF. After receiving the second target message sent by the home SMF, the visited SMF can determine the seventh indication information based on the fifth indication information carried in the second target message, and generate a first target message based on the seventh indication information. The first target message carries the seventh indication information. The visited SMF can send the first target message to the visited AMF, and the visited AMF can determine the timer information based on the seventh indication information in the first target message.

[0271] In one example, if the visited AMF determines that the implicit detach timer has expired, the AMF can initiate a deregistration process. For instance, it can generate a Session Release Context Request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request message) and send it to the visited SMF. This Session Release Context Request message carries a context identifier. The visited SMF can generate a Session Release Request (Nsmf_PDUSession_Release Request) and send it to the home SMF. The home SMF can process this Session Release Context Request message based on the actual scenario, sending the Session Release Context Response message as a second target message to the visited SMF. This second target message contains fifth indication information. The visited SMF can determine a seventh indication information based on the fifth indication information and generate a first target message based on this seventh indication information. The visited SMF can return the first target message carrying the seventh indication information to the visited AMF, which can then determine the timer information based on the seventh indication information in the first target message.

[0272] Optionally, upon receiving the first target message, the visited AMF can determine that the deregistration process has failed based on the first target message, determine the timeout duration, start a timer based on the timeout duration, and re-initiate the deregistration process after determining that the timer has expired.

[0273] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is either cause indication information or time information.

[0274] In one embodiment, the seventh indication information is time information, and the method for processing the communication message further includes:

[0275] The timer information is determined based on the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side. Based on the timer information, the AMF starts the timer. When the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed.

[0276] Specifically, after determining that the deregistration initiated by the visited AMF has failed, the home SMF can determine time information based on the user plane connection time on the Non-3GPP access side of the home SMF. That is, the home SMF can determine this time information based on the user plane hold-up time on the Non-3GPP access side, and use this time information as the fifth indication information. It also generates a second target message carrying the fifth indication information and returns the generated second target message to the visited SMF. The visited SMF can determine the seventh indication information based on the fifth indication information in the second target message. The visited SMF can generate a first target message carrying the seventh indication information and return this first target message to the visited AMF. The visited AMF can determine that deregistration has failed based on the first target message carrying the seventh indication information, extract the time information represented by the seventh indication information, and start a timer based on this time information (the timer's duration). That is, it configures the time information as the timer's duration. After determining that the timer has expired, the visited AMF can either perform deregistration processing or initiate a deactivation process after determining that the timer has expired.

[0277] In one example, after the visited AMF determines that the timer has expired, the visited AMF can either re-initiate the deregistration process or re-initiate the deactivation process after determining that the timer has expired.

[0278] In this embodiment, after the visited AMF determines that the deregistration process has failed, it can determine the timer duration based on the time information returned by the SMF and start the timer based on the timer duration. After the timer expires, it can re-initiate the deregistration process to avoid the problem of reduced communication performance caused by frequent deregistration processes. This allows the visited AMF to re-initiate the deregistration process based on the time returned by the SMF and establish the association between the visited AMF and the SMF.

[0279] In one embodiment, the seventh indication information is the cause indication information. The cause indication information is used to enable the visited AMF to determine the timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

[0280] Specifically, the reason indication information can be the reason value for the failure of deregistration initiated by the visited AMF, such as the PDU session not being able to be deleted, or the deactivation delay, etc. This embodiment does not limit the specific content of the reason indication information.

[0281] The first target message received by the visited AMF from the visited SMF carries a seventh indication, which can be a cause indication, representing the reason for the failed deregistration initiated by the visited AMF. Upon receiving the first target message, the visited AMF retrieves the cause indication represented by the seventh indication, determines the reason for the deregistration failure based on this indication, and determines the duration of the configured timer. Based on this, the visited AMF can start the timer according to this duration, configuring the time information as the timer's duration. If the visited AMF determines that the timer has timed out (i.e., the timer's runtime exceeds the specified duration after startup), it can either re-initiate the deregistration process or initiate a deactivation process after determining that the timer has timed out.

[0282] In one example, after determining that the timer has expired, the visited AMF can either re-initiate the deregistration process or re-initiate the deactivation process. In another example, the visiting AMF's process for determining the timer's duration could be as follows: the visiting AMF can determine the duration corresponding to the cause information represented by the cause indication information based on a preset correspondence between cause information and duration information, and then set this duration as the timer's duration. Alternatively, the visiting AMF could determine the timer's duration based on historical data and the deregistration failure reasons represented by the cause indication information.

[0283] In this embodiment, after determining that deregistration has failed, the visited AMF can determine the timer duration based on the time information returned by the visited SMF, and start the timer based on the timer duration. After determining that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is re-initiated. This avoids the problem of reduced communication performance caused by frequent deregistration processes. It allows the visited AMF to re-initiate the deregistration process based on the data transmission between the visited AMF and the visited SMF, and the data transmission between the visited SMF and the home SMF, thus establishing the association between the visited AMF and the SMF.

[0284] In one embodiment, a method for processing communication messages is provided. Taking the application of this method to the terminal in Figure 1 as an example, the method includes the following steps:

[0285] Send a first target message so that the AMF can determine the timer information based on the first target message.

[0286] In one embodiment, the specific implementation process of step "sending the first target message" may include:

[0287] A registration request is sent to the AMF. The registration request includes first indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal supports the target simplified feature. The target simplified feature is the simplified multi-access feature. The simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal is registered on both 3GPP and non-3GPP access. In the case that no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, a user plane connection is established with the UPF.

[0288] In one embodiment, the simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal is registered on both 3GPP and non-3GPP access simultaneously, and in the absence of target function equipment deployed on the non-3GPP access side, a user plane connection is established with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment.

[0289] In one embodiment, the specific implementation process of step "sending the first target message" may include:

[0290] A PDU session establishment request message is sent to the AMF so that the AMF can determine the timer information. The PDU session establishment request message contains second indication information, which indicates the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session. This is when the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF in the case where no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side. The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit separation timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0291] The following describes in detail the specific implementation process of the above-mentioned communication message processing method with reference to a specific embodiment:

[0292] In practical applications, a UE may lose 3GPP network signal coverage while moving. It can be considered that the UE on the terminal's 3GPP access side is unreachable. Depending on the duration of the UE's unreachability on the terminal's 3GPP access side, the UE may be deregistered (deactivated). In other words, if the network signal is temporarily lost or the UE is deregistered, the 3GPP side control signaling cannot be used to control the multiple access (MA PDU) session, that is, it cannot be used to control the user plane transmission channel between the 3GPP side and the Non-3GPP side.

[0293] In traditional technology, when the 3GPP control plane cannot control the MA PDU session, the Session Management Function (SMF) can set the hold-up time for the user plane transmission channel of the MA PDU session. When the time expires, the SMF can initiate the process of releasing the user plane connection.

[0294] After a UE registers with the 3GPP access network, the AMF allocates a periodic registration timer value to the UE based on local policies, subscription information, and information provided by the UE. When a UE enters an idle state after registering with the 3GPP access network, the AMF runs a reachability timer, the duration of which is longer than the periodic registration timer value. When the RAN initiates a UE context release indicating that the UE is unreachable, if the AMF receives an elapsed time from the RAN, it can infer the mobile reachability timer duration based on the normal mobile reachability timer value and the received elapsed time.

[0295] If the reachability timer expires, the AMF determines that the UE is unreachable, and the AMF starts an implicit deregistration timer. The duration of this implicit deregistration timer is set to a large value. If the implicit deregistration timer expires before the UE contacts the network, the AMF will implicitly deregister the UE.

[0296] If the AMF implicitly deregisters the UE, the UE cannot receive signaling control on the 3GPP access side, and the PDU session is deactivated. For multi-access PDU sessions, the user plane connection on the 3GPP access side may be released. In other words, in certain scenarios, such as when the UE loses 3GPP network coverage while moving, it can be determined that the UE is unreachable on the 3GPP access side. Depending on the duration of this unreachable state, the UE may be deregistered. However, the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side of the MA PDU session remains open, and a data stream continues to be transmitted through this channel. That is, the UE is in a deregistered state on the 3GPP access side, but still has a data transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side, allowing data to be transmitted.

[0297] Therefore, if the UE is in a registered state on the 3GPP access side and the Non-3GPP access side user plane transmission channel is maintained, the UE may reacquire the 3GPP signal and initiate the registration process on the 3GPP side while in motion. In this case, how to handle the user plane transmission channel of the original MA PDU session on the Non-3GPP access side is an urgent problem to be solved. In traditional technology, the MA PDU session may be re-established, and the user plane transmission channel of the Non-3GPP access side may be used as a user plane transmission channel of the MA PDU session on the Non-3GPP side. However, the above-mentioned method of re-using the user plane transmission channel of the non-3GPP access side as the transmission channel of the session involves many issues in the session establishment process, such as session identification and how to enable the UE to initiate the establishment of the MA PDU session, which makes the session processing process more complicated.

[0298] Similarly, when a terminal is in a roaming scenario, the terminal is registered in the visited network and the home network's SMF manages the session connection. In this case, the terminal may initiate a deregistration process in the visited network, while the home network's SMF must maintain the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side of the MA PDU session, which will also lead to a more complex session processing process.

[0299] Based on the above-mentioned traditional technology, this application provides a method for processing communication messages. When the UE is unreachable on the 3GPP access side, i.e., when signaling control cannot be performed on the MA PDU session, the method associates the time set on the SMF to maintain the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access side with the UE's reachability timer and implicit separation timer. Specific execution steps include one or more of the following:

[0300] 1. When a UE registers to a 3GPP access network, the AMF sets at least one of a periodic registration update timer / reachable timer and an implicit separation timer based on whether the UE has registered to a network that supports the simplified ATSSS function.

[0301] 2. When a UE initiates an MA PDU session establishment based on a simplified network architecture, the AMF determines at least one of a periodic registration update timer (or reachability timer) and an implicit separation timer based on the characteristics of the MA PDU session.

[0302] 3. The AMF determines at least one of the periodic registration update timer (or reachability timer) and implicit timer based on the time set by the SMF to maintain the Non-3GPP user plane connection transmission channel.

[0303] 4. The SMF determines the duration for which the user plane transmission channel on the Non-3GPP access network side is maintained, based on at least one of the periodic registration update timer (or reachability timer) and implicit timer set by the AMF.

[0304] 5. According to current technology, the AMF initiates an implicit separation process. During this process, the SMF sends an instruction message to the AMF, and the AMF can initiate the implicit separation process with a delay based on the instruction message.

[0305] In one embodiment, Figure 6 provides a signaling interaction flowchart for a communication message processing method. Specifically, during terminal registration, timer information is determined based on the terminal's capabilities and the PLMN network's capabilities, including the terminal UE and AMF. As shown in Figure 6, the method includes the following steps:

[0306] Step 1: The UE sends a Registration Request to the AMF. The Registration Request contains first indication information, which indicates that the UE supports simplified multi-access features, namely: the Non-3GPP access side adopts a simplified architecture, the Non-3GPP access side establishes a user plane connection, but does not deploy functional equipment such as N3IWF / TNGF to perform control layer signaling. The above features are referred to as simplified ATSSS features in this application.

[0307] Step 2: The AMF can determine the timer (timer information) based on at least one of the first indication information and the target functions supported by the PLMN network. Specifically, the AMF can determine the timer information based on the PLMN network supporting the simplified ATSSS feature, or the AMF can determine the timer information based on the PLMN network supporting the simplified ATSSS feature, or the AMF can determine the timer based on the PLMN network supporting the simplified ATSSS feature and the first indication information received from the UE.

[0308] The timer information may include the timer type and the timer duration. The timer type may include at least one of reachable timers, implicitly detachable timers, and periodically registered update timers.

[0309] Optionally, in a roaming scenario, the AMF in the above embodiments can be the visited AMF.

[0310] In one embodiment, Figure 7 provides a signaling interaction flowchart for a communication message processing method. Specifically, during the MA PDU session establishment process, the AMF determines timer information based on the characteristics of the PDU session. That is, timer information is determined during the PDU session establishment process, including information from the terminal UE, base station RAN, and AMF. As shown in Figure 7, the method includes the following steps:

[0311] Step 1: The UE sends a PDU Session Establishment Request message to the AMF. This message contains a second indication information, which indicates that the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session is established by the UE and the UPF through protocols such as MPQUIC without going through functional devices such as N3IWF or TNGF. The specific form of the representation is not limited, such as direct ATSSS via non-3GPP access using MPQUIC.

[0312] Step 2: The AMF determines the timer information based on the second indication information. Specifically, the timer information includes at least one of the following: reachable timer, implicit separation timer, and periodic position update timer.

[0313] Furthermore, the AMF can update these timer information, that is, the reachability timer, implicit separation timer, or periodic location update timer determined by the AMF during the UE attachment process is updated to the reachability timer, implicit separation timer, or periodic location update timer determined in this step.

[0314] Optionally, in a roaming scenario, the AMF in the above embodiments can be the visited AMF.

[0315] In one embodiment, Figure 8 provides a signaling interaction flowchart of a communication message processing method. Specifically, during the PDU session establishment process, the AMF notifies the SMF of timer information. Based on the timer information, the SMF determines the Non-3GPP access side user plane hold-up time. The AMF sends timer information to the SMF so that the SMF can determine the Non-3GPP access side user plane connection hold-up time. The AMF determines the timer information using the process shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7. This embodiment does not limit this process and includes the terminal UE, base station RAN, AMF, SMF, UPF, and PCF. As shown in Figure 8, the method includes the following steps:

[0316] Step 1: The UE sends a PDU Session Establishment Request message to the AMF;

[0317] Step 2: The AMF determines the timer information; it sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message to the SMF, which includes timer information. The timer information may include at least one of a periodically updated timer, a reachable timer, and an implicitly detached timer. The AMF can determine the timer information using either the process shown in Figure 6 or the process shown in Figure 7; this embodiment does not limit the determination.

[0318] Step 3: The SMF determines the duration for maintaining the user plane connection on the Non-3GPP access side based on the timer information. That is, the SMF determines the duration for maintaining the user plane connection on the Non-3GPP access side when the UE loses 3GPP access side coverage based on the timer information.

[0319] Step 4: Subsequent processes can be handled in accordance with the traditional techniques and are the same as those in the traditional techniques, so they will not be described again.

[0320] In one example, in a roaming scenario, Figure 9 provides a signaling interaction flowchart of a communication message processing method in a roaming scenario, including the terminal UE, base station RAN, V-AMF visited AMF, visited SMF (V-SMF), home SMF (H-SMF), and UPF.

[0321] As shown in Figure 9, the method includes the following steps:

[0322] Step 1: The UE sends a PDU Session Establishment Request message to the visited AMF;

[0323] Step 2: The visited AMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request message to the visited SMF. This message includes timer information, which may include at least one of a periodic update timer, a reachability timer, and an implicit detach timer. The AMF determines the timer information using either the process shown in Figure 6 or the process shown in Figure 7; this embodiment does not limit the determination.

[0324] Step 3: The visited SMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request message to the home SMF, which contains timer information.

[0325] Step 4: The home SMF determines the duration for maintaining the user plane connection on the Non-3GPP access side based on the timer information. That is, the home SMF determines the duration for maintaining the user plane connection on the Non-3GPP access side when the UE loses 3GPP access side coverage based on the timer information.

[0326] Step 5: Subsequent processes can be handled in accordance with the traditional techniques and are the same as those in the traditional techniques, so they will not be described again.

[0327] In one embodiment, Figure 10 provides a signaling interaction flowchart of a communication message processing method, including a terminal UE, a base station RAN, an AMF, an SMF, a UPF, and a PCF. As shown in Figure 10, the method includes the following steps:

[0328] Step 1: The UE sends a PDU Session Establishment Request message to the AMF.

[0329] Step 2: AMF sends Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextRequest to SMF.

[0330] Step 3: The SMF sends Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextResponse to the AMF. The message includes a fourth indication information, which is used to indicate the duration of the user plane connection of the PDU session in the Non-3GPP access network when the UE is not within the coverage area of ​​the 3GPP access network. The specific indication information is not limited and can be timer information or time information.

[0331] Step 4, PDU session authorization / authentication.

[0332] Step 5, UPF selection.

[0333] Step 6: SMF sends the Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message to AMF.

[0334] Step 7: Determine the timer information based on the fourth indication information. The timer information includes at least one of a periodic update timer, a reachable timer, and an implicit detach timer.

[0335] Step 8, the subsequent process is the same as the traditional technique, and will not be described again.

[0336] Optionally, Figure 11 provides a signaling interaction flowchart for a communication message processing method, including a terminal UE, a base station RAN, an AMF, an SMF, a UPF, and a PCF. As shown in Figure 11, the method includes the following steps:

[0337] Step 1: The UE sends a PDU Session Establishment Request message to the AMF.

[0338] Step 2: AMF sends Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextRequest to SMF.

[0339] Step 3: SMF sends Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextResponse to AMF.

[0340] Step 4, PDU session authorization / authentication.

[0341] Step 5, UPF selection.

[0342] Step 6: The SMF sends a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message to the AMF. This message includes a fourth indication information, which indicates the duration for which the user plane connection of the PDU session on the Non-3GPP access network is maintained when the UE is not within the coverage area of ​​the 3GPP access network. The specific indication information is not limited and can be timer information or time information.

[0343] Step 7: Determine the timer information based on the fourth indication information. The timer information includes at least one of a periodic update timer, a reachable timer, and an implicit detach timer.

[0344] Step 8, the subsequent process is the same as the traditional technique, and will not be described again.

[0345] In one example, in a roaming scenario, Figure 12 provides a signaling interaction flowchart of a communication message processing method in a roaming scenario, including the terminal UE, base station RAN, V-AMF visited AMF, visited SMF (V-SMF), home SMF (H-SMF), and UPF. As shown in Figure 12, the method includes the following steps:

[0346] Step 1: The UE sends a PDU Session Establishment Request message to the AMF.

[0347] Step 2: The visited AMF sends Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextRequest to the visited SMF.

[0348] Step 3: The visited SMF returns Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContextResponse to the visited AMF.

[0349] Step 4: The visited SMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Request message to the home SMF.

[0350] Step 5: The home SMF returns an Nsmf_PDUSession_Create Response (a second target message that carries fourth indication information) to the visited SMF.

[0351] Step 6, PDU session authorization / authentication.

[0352] Step 7, UPF selection.

[0353] Step 8: The visited SMF returns a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message (first target message) to the visited AMF. This first target message includes a sixth indication information, which is determined based on the fourth indication information. The sixth indication information is used to enable the visited AMF to determine timer information. Specifically, the sixth indication information indicates the duration for which the user plane connection of the PDU session on the Non-3GPP access network is maintained when the UE is not within the coverage area of ​​the 3GPP access network. The specific information is not limited and can be timer information or time information.

[0354] Step 9: Determine the timer information based on the sixth instruction information. The timer information includes at least one of a periodic update timer, a reachable timer, and an implicit detach timer.

[0355] Step 10, the subsequent process is the same as the traditional technique, and will not be described again.

[0356] Specifically, the home SMF (H-SMF) sends a fourth indication message to the V-SMF. This fourth indication message indicates the duration for which the user plane connection of the PDU session on the Non-3GPP access network is maintained when the UE is not within the coverage area of ​​the 3GPP access network. The specific indication information is not limited and can be timer information or time information. The V-SMF sends a sixth indication message to the V-AMF, which is determined based on the fourth indication message. The V-AMF then determines the timer information based on the sixth indication message.

[0357] In one embodiment, Figure 13 provides a signaling interaction flowchart of a communication message processing method, including AMF and SMF. As shown in Figure 13, the method includes the following steps:

[0358] Step 1: When the implicit deregistration timer expires, AMF initiates the deregistration process;

[0359] Step 2: AMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request message to SMF, which contains a context identifier.

[0360] Step 3: The SMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Response message to the AMF. This message contains indications that the PDU session release request failed, and also includes indications that the AMF's implicit deregistration process failed. Specifically, the indications can be a timer duration: the AMF can start a timer based on the timer duration, and after the timer expires, the AMF will initiate the deregistration process again. The timer duration can be determined by the SMF based on the retention duration of the Non-3GPP access side user plane on the SMF.

[0361] Optionally, the indication information can be a cause value, such as the PDU session not being able to be deleted, or a deactivation delay. Based on this cause value, the AMF restarts the timer, and when the timer expires, it initiates the deactivation process again. The duration of the timer can be determined by the AMF.

[0362] In one embodiment, in a roaming scenario, Figure 14 provides a signaling interaction flowchart for a communication message processing method, including the V-AMF (Visitor AMF), the Visiting SMF (V-SMF), the Home SMF (H-SMF), and the UPF. As shown in Figure 14, the method includes the following steps:

[0363] Step 1: When the implicit separation timer expires, the visited AMF initiates the deregistration process;

[0364] Step 2: The visited AMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request message to the visited SMF, which contains a context identifier.

[0365] Step 3a: The visited SMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_Release Request message to the home SMF;

[0366] Step 3b: The home SMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_Release Response (i.e., a second target message, which includes a fifth indication message) to the visited SMF. This fifth indication message is used to indicate that the AMF implicit separation process has failed.

[0367] Step 4: The visited SMF sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Response message, also known as the first target message, to the visited AMF. This first target message contains a seventh indication message, which indicates that the PDU session release request failed. The message also includes indications that the AMF's implicit deregistration process failed. Specifically, the seventh indication message can be a timer duration: the visited AMF can start a timer based on the timer duration, and after the timer expires, the visited AMF initiates the deregistration process again. Specifically, the timer duration can be determined by the SMF based on the retention duration of the Non-3GPP access side user plane on the SMF.

[0368] Specifically, the home SMF (H-SMF) sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_Release Response (the second target message) to the V-SMF, which contains the fifth indication information. The V-SMF then sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Response message (the first target message) to the V-AMF, which contains the seventh indication information. This seventh indication information is determined based on the fifth indication information. The specific forms of the fifth and seventh indication information are not limited and may include, but are not limited to:

[0369] The timer duration can be determined by the AMF based on the timer duration. After the timer expires, the AMF will initiate the deregistration process. Specifically, the timer duration can be determined by the SMF based on the retention time of the Non-3GPP access side user plane on the SMF.

[0370] The cause value can be set, such as the PDU session cannot be deleted, or the deactivation delay. The AMF can restart the timer based on the cause value, and then initiate the deactivation process when the timer expires. The duration of the timer can be determined by the AMF.

[0371] The communication message processing method provided in this embodiment can be based on a simplified ATSSS architecture. In the scenario where there is a user plane connection between the UE and the UPF on the non-3GPP access side, but no control plane signaling connection, the UE establishes a multi-access PDU session. If the UE loses the coverage of the 3GPP access side, then during the process of maintaining the user plane connection on the non-3GPP access side, the UE maintains a registered state on the 3GPP access side. This avoids the problems and processing complexity caused by the UE switching to a deregistered state on the 3GPP access side during the process of maintaining the user plane connection on the non-3GPP access side.

[0372] It should be understood that although the steps in the flowchart of Figure 1-14 are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some of the steps in Figure 1-14 may include multiple steps or multiple stages, which are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages of other steps.

[0373] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG15, a communication message processing apparatus 1500 is provided, applied to an AMF, comprising:

[0374] The first receiving module 1502 is used to acquire the first target message;

[0375] The first processing module 1504 is used to determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0376] In one embodiment, the first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal, and the first processing module is specifically used for:

[0377] Upon receiving the registration request, timer information is determined based on the target simplification features supported by the PLMN network.

[0378] In one embodiment, the first target message includes first indication information, and the first processing module is specifically used for:

[0379] Based on the first indication information and at least one of the target functions supported by the PLMN network, timer information is determined, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal supports the target simplification feature.

[0380] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, wherein the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0381] In one embodiment, the target simplification feature includes a simplified multi-access feature; the simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal registers with the core network through 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks, and establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through non-3GPP access side equipment when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

[0382] In one embodiment, the first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal.

[0383] In one embodiment, the first target message includes second indication information; the first processing module is specifically used for:

[0384] The timer information is determined based on the second indication information. The second indication information indicates the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session. In the case that no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment.

[0385] In one embodiment, the device further includes:

[0386] The update module is used to update the initial timer information based on the timer information, which is the timer information determined by the AMF during the terminal registration process.

[0387] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal.

[0388] In one embodiment, the first target message includes second indication information, and the first processing module is specifically used for:

[0389] The timer information is determined based on the second indication information;

[0390] A second target message is sent to the SMF so that the SMF determines the target connection duration based on the timer information. The second target message contains the timer information, and the target connection duration represents the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses signaling control on the 3GPP access side.

[0391] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal, and the second target message is a session context request message.

[0392] In one embodiment, the first target message is sent by the SMF, the first target message contains fourth indication information, and the first processing module is specifically used for:

[0393] The timer information is determined based on the fourth indication information.

[0394] In one embodiment, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within 3GPP coverage.

[0395] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transport message.

[0396] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, wherein the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0397] In one embodiment, the first target message is sent by the SMF, the first target message contains fifth indication information, and the first processing module is specifically used for:

[0398] Based on the fifth instruction information, timer information is determined, and the first target message is used to indicate registration failure.

[0399] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is time information, which is determined by the SMF based on the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side; the first processing module is further specifically used for:

[0400] Based on the time information, a deregistration process is initiated when the timer expires.

[0401] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is cause indication information; the first processing module is further specifically used for:

[0402] The timer duration information is determined based on the cause indication information, and the timer is started based on the timer duration information. When the timer is determined to have timed out, the deregistration process is performed.

[0403] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session release context response message, and the apparatus further includes:

[0404] The release module is used to perform a deregistration process when the implicit detach timer expires, and send a session release context request message to the SMF, the session release context request message containing a context identifier.

[0405] In one embodiment, the AMF is the visited AMF in a roaming scenario.

[0406] In one embodiment, the SMF is the visited SMF in a roaming scenario.

[0407] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG16, a communication message processing apparatus 1600 is provided, applied to an SMF, the apparatus comprising:

[0408] The second receiving module 1602 is used to receive a second target message, the second target message containing timer information, and the second target message being determined based on the first target message;

[0409] The first determining module 1604 is used to determine the target connection duration based on the timer information. The target connection duration represents the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side when the terminal side loses the signaling control of the 3GPP access side.

[0410] In one embodiment, the first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal to the AMF, and the second target message is a session context request message sent by the AMF. The first target message includes second indication information, which indicates the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session. In the case where no target function device is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side device.

[0411] In one embodiment, the timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information, wherein the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0412] In one embodiment, in a roaming scenario, the SMF is the visited SMF, and the second receiving module 1602 is specifically used to receive the second target message sent by the AMF and send a third target message containing timer information to the home SMF.

[0413] In one embodiment, the SMF is the home SMF, and the second receiving module 1602 is specifically used to: receive a third target message sent by the visited SMF, the third target message containing timer information.

[0414] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG17, a communication message processing apparatus 1700 is provided, applied to an SMF, the apparatus comprising:

[0415] The first sending module 1702 is used to send a first target message so that the AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0416] In one embodiment, the first target message is a message sent to the AMF and includes fourth indication information, which is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within the 3GPP coverage area.

[0417] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transport message.

[0418] In one embodiment, the SMF is the Home SMF, the AMF is the Visited AMF, and the apparatus for sending the first target message further includes:

[0419] The second sending module is used to send a second target message to the visited SMF. The second target message contains fourth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send a first target message to the visited AMF, so that the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0420] In one embodiment, the SMF is the visited SMF, the AMF is the visited AMF, and the first transmitting module is specifically used for:

[0421] The first target message is sent to the visited AMF. The first target message contains a sixth indication information, which is determined based on the fourth indication information. The sixth indication information is used to instruct the visited AMF to determine the timer information.

[0422] In one embodiment, the first target message includes a fifth indication message, which is used to indicate that registration failed.

[0423] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is time information, and the device further includes:

[0424] The startup module is used to determine timer information based on the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side. Based on the timer information, the AMF starts the timer, and when the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed.

[0425] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is a cause indication information, which is used to enable the AMF to determine timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

[0426] In one embodiment, the first target message is a session release context response message, and prior to the step of sending the first target message, the apparatus further includes:

[0427] The request message receiving module is used to receive the session release context request message sent by the AMF. The session release context request message contains a context identifier and is sent by the AMF after determining that the implicit detach timer has expired.

[0428] In one embodiment, the SMF is the Home SMF, the AMF is the Visiting AMF, and the first transmitting module is specifically used for:

[0429] A second target message is sent to the visited SMF, the second target message containing fifth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send a first target message to the visited AMF, so that the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0430] In one embodiment, the SMF is the visited SMF, the AMF is the visited AMF, and the first transmitting module is specifically used for:

[0431] The visitor SMF receives a second target message sent by the home SMF, the second target message containing fifth indication information, and the visitor SMF determines a seventh indication information based on the fifth indication information.

[0432] A first target message is sent to the visited AMF, the first target message containing a seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to enable the visited AMF to determine timer information.

[0433] In one embodiment, the fifth indication information is cause indication information or time information.

[0434] In one embodiment, the seventh indication information is time information, and the device further includes:

[0435] The deregistration module is used to determine timer information based on the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side. Based on the timer information, the AMF starts the timer, and when the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed.

[0436] In one embodiment, the seventh indication information is cause indication information, which is used to enable the visited AMF to determine timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

[0437] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG18, a communication message processing device 1800 is provided, applied to a terminal, the device comprising:

[0438] The third sending module 1802 is used to send a first target message so that the AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0439] In one embodiment, the third sending module is further configured to:

[0440] A registration request is sent to the AMF. The registration request includes first indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal supports the target simplified feature. The target simplified feature is a simplified multiple access feature. The simplified multiple access feature means that the terminal is registered in both 3GPP and non-3GPP access, and establishes a user plane connection with the UPF when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

[0441] In one embodiment, the simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal is simultaneously registered in 3GPP and non-3GPP access, and in the absence of target function equipment deployed on the non-3GPP access side, a user plane connection is established with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment.

[0442] In one embodiment, the third sending module is further configured to:

[0443] A PDU session establishment request message is sent to the AMF so that the AMF can determine timer information. The PDU session establishment request message contains second indication information, which indicates that the PDU session is on the non-3GPP access side. This is when the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF in the case where no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side. The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer type includes at least one of reachability timer, implicit separation timer, and periodic registration update timer.

[0444] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The access network device 1900 shown in Figure 19 includes at least one processor 1901, a memory 1902, and at least one network interface 1904. The various components in the access network device 1900 are coupled together via a bus system 1905. It is understood that the bus system 1905 is used to implement communication between these components. In addition to a data bus, the bus system 1905 also includes a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus. However, for clarity, all buses are labeled as bus system 1905 in Figure 19. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, a transceiver 1906 is also included. The transceiver may be multiple elements, including a transmitter and a receiver, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium.

[0445] It is understood that the memory 1902 in the embodiments of the present invention can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDRSDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous DRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The memory 1902 of the systems and methods described in this embodiment is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0446] In some implementations, memory 1902 stores elements such as executable modules or data structures, or subsets thereof, or extended sets thereof, including operating system 19021. Operating system 19021 contains various system programs, such as a framework layer, core library layer, and driver layer, used to implement various basic business functions and handle hardware-based tasks.

[0447] In this embodiment of the invention, by calling the program or instructions stored in the memory 1902, the processor is used to obtain the first target message and determine timer information based on the first target message.

[0448] The methods disclosed in the above embodiments of the present invention, in part or in all of them, can also be applied to processor 1901, implemented by processor 1901, or implemented by processor 1901 in conjunction with other components (e.g., transceivers). Processor 1901 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above methods can be completed by the integrated logic circuit of the hardware in processor 1901 or by instructions in the form of software. The processor 1901 may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention can be directly embodied in the execution of a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can reside in a mature storage medium in the field, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. This storage medium is located in memory 1902. Processor 1901 reads the information in memory 1902 and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method.

[0449] It is understood that the embodiments described in this invention can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or a combination thereof. For hardware implementation, the processing unit can be implemented in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), general-purpose processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, other electronic units for performing the functions described in this application, or combinations thereof.

[0450] For software implementation, the techniques described in the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by modules (e.g., procedures, functions, etc.) that perform the functions described in the embodiments of the present invention. The software code can be stored in memory and executed by processor 1901. The memory can be implemented in processor 1901 or external to processor 1901.

[0451] Specific limitations regarding the communication message processing device can be found in the limitations of the communication message processing method described above, and will not be repeated here. Each module in the aforementioned communication message processing device can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, or a combination thereof. These modules can be embedded in hardware or independently of the processor in the computer device, or stored in software in the memory of the computer device, so that the processor can call and execute the operations corresponding to each module.

[0452] In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is provided having a computer program stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the above method embodiments.

[0453] In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the above method embodiments.

[0454] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the methods described above. Any references to memory, storage, databases, or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application can include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, or optical storage, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can be in various forms, such as static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc.

[0455] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0456] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for processing communication messages, applied to an AMF (Advanced Communication Function), the method comprising: Obtain the first target message; The timer information is determined based on the first target message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: Upon receiving the registration request, timer information is determined based on the target simplification features supported by the PLMN network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first target message contains first indication information, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: Based on the first indication information and at least one of the target functions supported by the PLMN network, timer information is determined, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal supports the target simplification feature.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein, The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information; the timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

5. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein, The target simplified feature includes simplified multi-access feature; the simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal registers with the core network through 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks, and establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through non-3GPP access side equipment when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The establishment of a user plane connection with the UPF via a non-3GPP access side device includes: establishing a user plane connection with the UPF via a preset transport protocol; the transport protocol is selected from at least one of the IPSec protocol and the MPQUIC protocol.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein, The first target message is a registration request sent by the terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first target message contains second indication information; determining the timer information based on the first target message includes: The timer information is determined based on the second indication information. The second indication information represents the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session, which is the user plane connection established between the terminal and the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The method further includes: The initial timer information is updated based on the timer information, which is the timer information determined by the AMF during the terminal registration process.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein, The first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein, The first target message contains second indication information, and the step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: The timer information is determined based on the second indication information; A second target message is sent to the SMF so that the SMF determines the target connection duration based on the timer information. The second target message contains the timer information, and the target connection duration represents the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses signaling control on the 3GPP access side.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal, and the second target message is a session context request message.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first target message is sent by SMF, and the first target message contains fourth indication information. The step of determining timer information based on the first target message includes: The timer information is determined based on the fourth indication information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The fourth indication information is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within the 3GPP coverage area.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein, The first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transmission message.

16. The method of any one of claims 8-15, wherein, The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first target message is sent by SMF, and the first target message contains fifth indication information. The step of determining the timer information based on the first target message includes: Based on the fifth instruction information, timer information is determined, and the first target message is used to indicate registration failure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, The fifth indication information is time information, which is determined by SMF based on the user plane connection time of the non-3GPP access side; The step of determining the timer information based on the fifth indication information includes: Based on the time information, a deregistration process is initiated when the timer expires.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein, The fifth indication information is cause indication information; determining the timer information based on the fifth indication information includes: The timer duration information is determined based on the cause indication information, and the timer is started based on the timer duration information. When the timer is determined to have timed out, the deregistration process is performed.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein, The first target message is a session release context response message, and the method further includes: When the implicit detach timer expires, the deregistration process is initiated, and a session release context request message containing a context identifier is sent to the SMF.

21. The method of any one of claims 1-3, 8-15, 17-20, wherein, In roaming scenarios, the AMF refers to the visited AMF.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein, In the roaming scenario, the SMF is the visited SMF.

23. A method for processing communication messages, applied to an SMF (Software-Defined Message), the method comprising: Receive a second target message, which contains timer information and is determined based on the first target message; The target connection duration is determined based on the timer information. The target connection duration represents the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal loses signaling control from the 3GPP access side.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, The first target message is a PDU session establishment request message sent by the terminal to the AMF, and the second target message is a session context request message sent by the AMF. The first target message contains second indication information, which is used to indicate the non-3GPP access side of the PDU session. In the case that no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side, the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein, The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer type includes at least one of reachable timer, implicit detach timer, and periodic registration update timer.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein, In a roaming scenario, the SMF is the visited SMF, and receiving the second target message includes: Receive the second target message sent by the AMF and send the third target message containing timer information to the home SMF.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein, The SMF is the home SMF, and receiving the second target message includes: Receive a third target message sent by the visited SMF, the third target message containing timer information.

28. A method for processing communication messages, applied to an SMF (Software-Defined Message), the method comprising: Send a first target message so that the AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein, The first target message is a message sent to the AMF and includes fourth indication information, which is used to indicate the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side when the terminal is not within the 3GPP coverage area.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein, The first target message is a session context response message, or the first target message is a transmission message.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein, The SMF is the home SMF, the AMF is the visited AMF, and the method of sending the first target message further includes: A second target message is sent to the visited SMF, the second target message containing fourth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send a first target message to the visited AMF, so that the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein, The SMF is the visited SMF, the AMF is the visited AMF, and sending the first target message includes: The first target message is sent to the visited AMF. The first target message contains sixth indication information, which is determined based on the fourth indication information. The sixth indication information is used to instruct the visited AMF to determine timer information.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein, The first target message contains a fifth indication message, which is used to indicate that the registration failed.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein, The fifth indication information is time information, and the method further includes: The timer information is determined based on the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side. Based on the timer information, the AMF starts the timer. When the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein, The fifth indication information is the cause indication information. The cause indication information is used to enable the AMF to determine the timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein, The first target message is a session release context response message. Prior to the step of sending the first target message, the method further includes: The system receives a session release context request message sent by the AMF. The session release context request message contains a context identifier and is sent by the AMF after determining that the implicit detach timer has expired.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein, The SMF is the home SMF, the AMF is the visited AMF, and sending the first target message further includes: A second target message is sent to the visited SMF, the second target message containing fifth indication information. The second target message is used to instruct the visited SMF to send a first target message to the visited AMF, so that the visited AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein, The SMF is the visited SMF, the AMF is the visited AMF, and sending the first target message includes: Receive a second target message sent by the home SMF, the second target message containing fifth indication information; The seventh instruction information is determined based on the fifth instruction information; A first target message is sent to the visited AMF, the first target message containing a seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to enable the visited AMF to determine timer information.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein, The fifth indication information is either a cause indication information or a time information.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein, The seventh indication information is time information, and the method further includes: The timer information is determined based on the user plane connection time on the non-3GPP access side. Based on the timer information, the AMF starts the timer. When the timer expires, the deregistration process is performed.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein, The seventh indication information is the cause indication information. The cause indication information is used to enable the visited AMF to determine the timer information based on the cause indication information and start the timer based on the timer information. When it is determined that the timer has expired, the deregistration process is performed.

42. A method for processing communication messages, applied to a terminal, the method comprising: Send a first target message so that the AMF can determine timer information based on the first target message.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein, Sending the first target message includes: A registration request is sent to the AMF. The registration request includes first indication information, which indicates that the terminal supports the target simplified feature. The target simplified feature includes a simplified multiple access feature. The simplified multiple access feature means that the terminal is registered on both 3GPP and non-3GPP access, and establishes a user plane connection with the UPF when no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein, The simplified multi-access feature means that the terminal is registered in both 3GPP and non-3GPP access simultaneously. In the absence of target function equipment deployed on the non-3GPP access side, a user plane connection is established with the UPF through the non-3GPP access side equipment.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein, Sending the first target message includes: A PDU session establishment request message is sent to the AMF so that the AMF can determine timer information. The PDU session establishment request message contains second indication information, which indicates that the PDU session is on the non-3GPP access side. This is when the terminal establishes a user plane connection with the UPF in the case where no target function equipment is deployed on the non-3GPP access side. The timer information includes at least one of timer type and timer duration information. The timer type includes at least one of reachability timer, implicit separation timer, and periodic registration update timer.

46. ​​A communication message processing apparatus, applied to an AMF, the apparatus comprising: The first receiving module is used to acquire the first target message; The first processing module is used to determine timer information based on the first target message.

47. A communication device comprising: processor; The processor is configured to acquire a first target message and determine timer information based on the first target message.

48. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 45.

49. A computer program product comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 45.

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