CN108924959B

CN108924959B - Wireless communication method, AMF and RAN

Info

Publication number: CN108924959B
Application number: CN201710281387.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱奋勤; 吴问付
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-26
Filing date: 2017-04-26
Publication date: 2020-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-26
Also published as: CN108924959A

Abstract

The application provides a wireless communication method, an AMF and a RAN, which can send a temporary identifier allocated by a new AMF to a terminal device before the terminal device enters an idle state, so that the terminal device can be accurately connected to a service AMF according to the received temporary identifier, and the signaling overhead of the RAN caused by redirection of the AMF is reduced. The method comprises the following steps: the first AMF receives a release request from the RAN, wherein the release request is used for requesting to release a first signaling connection interface aiming at the first UE, and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the first AMF; after receiving the release request, the first AMF sends a temporary identity to the first UE, where the temporary identity includes an identity of the first AMF and a first UE identity, and the first UE identity is an identity of the first UE communicating with the first AMF.

Description

Wireless communication method, AMF and RAN

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method of wireless communication, an AMF, and a RAN.

Background

In the 5G communication system, a Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) is responsible for Access of the terminal device to the Core network and Mobility Management. When the AMF load is balanced, the system may allocate a new AMF to the terminal device, and at this time, the following problems may occur: however, an air interface signaling is added, and after the terminal device enters an idle state, the new AMF cannot send the identification information to the terminal device.

Therefore, how to send the information of the new AMF to the terminal device and the RAN when the system allocates the new AMF to the terminal device and the RAN without generating a large amount of air interface signaling is a technical problem to be solved urgently.

Disclosure of Invention

When the system allocates a new AMF to the terminal equipment, the AMF and the RAN can send the information of the new AMF to the terminal equipment before the terminal equipment enters an idle state, so that the terminal equipment can be accurately connected to the serving AMF when entering a connected state again, and signaling overhead is reduced.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for wireless communication, including: a first core network access and mobility management function (AMF) receives a release request from a Radio Access Network (RAN), wherein the release request is used for requesting to release a first signaling connection interface aiming at the first UE, and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the first AMF; after receiving the release request, the first AMF sends a temporary identity to the first UE, where the temporary identity includes an identity of the first AMF and a first UE identity, and the first UE identity is an identity of the first UE communicating with the first AMF.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, after the system reallocates the serving AMF (first AMF) to the first UE, and when the RAN decides to switch the first UE from the connected state to the idle state, the RAN sends an N2 signaling plane interface release request to the serving AMF to trigger the serving AMF to send the temporary identifier (the identifier of the first AMF and the identifier of the first UE) to the first UE before the first UE switches from the connected state to the idle state, so that when the first UE switches from the idle state to the connected state again, the first UE can accurately connect to the serving AMF according to the received temporary identifier, and signaling overhead caused by redirection of the AMF by the RAN is reduced.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first AMF sends a release identifier to the RAN, where the release identifier is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the sending, by the first AMF, the temporary identifier to the first UE includes:

the first AMF sends a first request message to the RAN, wherein the first request message includes the temporary identifier and the release identifier, and the first request message is used for requesting the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes:

the first AMF sends an indication message to the RAN after receiving a first response message sent by the first UE, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identity.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, after the first UE receives the identifier of the first AMF and the first UE identifier, the RRC connection and the N2 signaling plane interface for the first UE are released, so that when the first UE switches from the idle state to the connected state again, the first UE can be guaranteed to be accurately connected to the serving AMF (first AMF), and signaling overhead of the RAN caused by redirection of the AMF is reduced.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the release request includes a cause value, the cause value is used for reflecting a reason for the RAN to initiate release of the first signaling connection interface,

the first AMF sends a temporary identity to the first UE, including:

and when the cause value is a non-air interface fault, the first AMF sends the temporary identifier to the first UE.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, before the first AMF receives the release request from the RAN, the method further includes:

the first AMF allocates the first UE identity to the first UE and stores the first UE identity in a context for the first UE.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for wireless communication, including:

a Radio Access Network (RAN) determines that a first signaling connection interface aiming at a first terminal device (UE) needs to be released, wherein the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and a first core network access and mobility management function (AMF); the RAN sends a release request to the first AMF, the release request requesting release of the first signaling connection interface for the first UE, the first UE being served by the first AMF.

Therefore, in the method for wireless communication according to the embodiment of the present application, after the system reallocates the serving AMF (first AMF) to the first UE, and when the RAN decides to switch the first UE from the connected state to the idle state, the RAN sends an N2 signaling plane interface release request to the serving AMF to trigger the serving AMF to send the temporary identifier (the identifier of the first AMF and the identifier of the first UE) to the first UE before the first UE switches from the connected state to the idle state, and can accurately connect to the serving AMF according to the received temporary identifier, thereby reducing the signaling overhead of the RAN caused by redirecting the AMF.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes:

the RAN receives a first request message from the first AMF, where the first request message includes a temporary identifier, and the temporary identifier includes an identifier of the first AMF and a first UE identifier, where the first UE identifier is used for an identifier of the first UE for communicating with the first AMF, and the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE;

and the RAN sends an NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE according to the first request message.

Optionally, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the first request message further includes a release identifier, where the release identifier is used to instruct the RAN to release the radio resource control, RRC, connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, where the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the RAN forwards the first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF;

after forwarding the first response message, the RAN releases the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN according to the release identifier.

the RAN forwards a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, wherein the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identity;

after forwarding the first response message, the RAN receiving an indication message sent by the first AMF, the indication message being used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface;

the RAN releases the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface according to the indication message.

Optionally, in one implementation form of the second aspect, the release request includes a cause value, the cause value is used for reflecting a reason for the RAN to initiate release of the first signaling connection interface,

the RAN receives a first request message from the first AMF, including:

and when the cause value is non-air interface failure, the RAN receives the first request message from the first AMF.

In a third aspect, there is provided an AMF comprising means for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a RAN comprising means for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a fifth aspect, an AMF is provided that includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. The memory is for storing instructions, the processor is for executing the instructions, and the communication interface is for communicating with other network elements under control of the processor. The processor, when executing the instructions stored by the memory, causes the processor to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

In a sixth aspect, a RAN is provided that includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. The memory is for storing instructions, the processor is for executing the instructions, and the communication interface is for communicating with other network elements under control of the processor. The processor, when executing the instructions stored by the memory, causes the processor to perform the second aspect or the method of any possible implementation of the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which program code is stored, the program code being used for instructing to execute instructions of the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

In an eighth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which program code is stored, the program code being used for instructing the execution of instructions of the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the above aspects.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system using a method of wireless communication of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of wireless communication in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of wireless communication according to another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a RAN provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an AMF of an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a RAN of an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solution in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application are divided according to access systems, and may be applied to various communication systems, for example: global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wireless cellular network, 5G, and future communications systems.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 using one method of wireless communication of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system 100 mainly includes an AMF101, a Session Management Function device (SMF) 102, a Radio Access Network (RAN) 103, an Authentication Server Function device (AUSF) 104, a Unified Data Management device (UDM) 105, a Policy Control Function device (Policy Control Function, PCF)106, a Data Network (Data Network, DN)107, a User Plane Function device (User Plane Function, UPF)108, and a User Equipment (User Equipment, UE) 109. Wherein, UE 109 is connected to AMF101 through an N1 interface, and UE 109 is connected to RAN 103 through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol; RAN 103 is connected to AMF101 through an N2 interface, RAN 103 is connected to UPF 108 through an N3 interface; a plurality of UPFs 108 are connected through an N9 interface, the UPFs 108 are connected with DN 107 through an N6 interface, and meanwhile, the UPFs 108 are connected with SMF 102 through an N4 interface; the SMF 102 is connected with the PCF 106 through an N7 interface, the SMF 102 is connected with the UDM 105 through an N10 interface, and meanwhile, the SMF 102 is connected with the AMF101 through an N11 interface; the AMFs 101 are connected through an N14 interface, the AMFs 101 are connected with the UDM 105 through an N8 interface, the AMFs 101 are connected with the AUSF 104 through an N12 interface, and meanwhile, the AMFs 101 are connected with the PCF 106 through an N15 interface; the AUSF 104 interfaces with the UDM 105 via an N13 interface. The AMF101 and SMF 102 obtain user subscription data from the UDM 105 over the N8 and N10 interfaces, and policy data from the PCF 106 over the N15 and N7 interfaces, respectively. SMF 102 controls UPF 108 via the N4 interface.

User Equipment (UE) 109 may be referred to as a Terminal (Terminal), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (Mobile Terminal), etc., and may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN), and may be referred to as an Access Terminal, a Terminal device, a subscriber unit, a subscriber Station, a Mobile Station, a remote Terminal, a Mobile device, a User Terminal, a wireless communication device, a User agent, or a User Equipment. The UE may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with Wireless communication capability, a computer device or other processing device connected to a Wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future 5G network, and so on.

Included in radio access network RAN 103 may be devices, such as base stations or base station controllers, etc., that communicate with UE 109. It should be understood that the RAN 103 may communicate with any number of UEs similar to UE 109. Each RAN may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area and may communicate with terminal devices (e.g., UEs) located within that coverage area (cell), and RANs 103 may support different systems of communication protocols or may support different communication modes. Alternatively, the RAN 103 may be an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), or a Wireless Fidelity Access Point (WiFi AP), or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access Base Station (WiMAX BS), or a Wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN), or the Network device may be a Network device in a 5G Network or a Network device in a future Evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and the like.

Alternatively, one AMF101 may serve multiple UEs 109 simultaneously.

Alternatively, one SMF 102 may serve multiple UEs 109 simultaneously.

Alternatively, AMF101 may reselect the serving AMF for UE 109.

It should be appreciated that when the UE 109 enters the idle state, the RRC connection and N2 interface for that UE 109 may be released.

Various aspects or features of the disclosure may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, or magnetic tape), optical disks (e.g., Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash Memory devices (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), card, stick, or key drive, etc.). In addition, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, various media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method 200 of wireless communication according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the method 200 includes the following.

S210, the RAN determines that a first signaling connection interface for the first UE needs to be released, where the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the first AMF.

Optionally, when the first UE has no data transmission for a long time or an air interface between the first UE and the RAN fails, the RAN determines that a first signaling connection interface for the first UE needs to be released.

It should be appreciated that the first signaling connection interface is the N2 interface in the communication system 100 shown in fig. 1.

It should also be appreciated that when the RAN decides to switch the first UE from a connected state to an idle state, the RAN determines that a first signaling connection interface for the first UE needs to be released.

S220, the RAN sends a release request to the first AMF, the release request requesting release of the first signaling connection interface for the first UE, the first UE being served by the first AMF.

Optionally, the release request includes a cause value for reflecting a reason for the RAN initiating the release of the first signaling connection interface.

For example, the cause value may be that the first UE has an air interface failure, or that the first UE has no data transmission for a long time, and is inactive.

The first AMF receives the release request from the RAN S230.

It should be appreciated that the first AMF receives the release request from the RAN over an N2 interface for the first UE.

S240, after receiving the release request, the first AMF sends a temporary identifier to the first UE, where the temporary identifier includes an identifier of the first AMF and a first UE identifier, and the first UE identifier is an identifier of the first UE communicating with the first AMF.

Optionally, the first AMF allocates the first UE identity to the first UE and saves the first UE identity in a context for the first UE before the first AMF receives the release request from the RAN.

Optionally, after the first AMF allocates the first UE identity, the identity of the first AMF and the first UE identity are saved as temporary identities in a context for the first UE.

Optionally, some other information, such as group identification information, may also be included in the temporary identifier.

Optionally, when the first AMF determines that the temporary identifier needs to be sent to the first UE, the first AMF searches for the temporary identifier in a context for the first UE. Optionally, if the temporary identity is not found in the context for the first UE, the first AMF may allocate a temporary identity (first UE identity) for the first UE.

Optionally, when the cause value is a non-air interface failure, the first AMF sends the temporary identifier to the first UE.

Optionally, the first AMF sends a first request message to the RAN, where the first request message includes the temporary identifier, and the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE.

Optionally, the first AMF sends a first request message to the RAN, where the first request message includes the temporary identifier and the release identifier, and the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE. Optionally, the release identifier is configured to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, where the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier.

Optionally, the first AMF may also separately send the release identifier to the RAN before sending the first request message or after sending the request message.

Optionally, the RAN releases the radio resource control, RRC, connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface according to the release identifier after forwarding the first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF.

Optionally, the first AMF sends an indication message to the RAN after receiving a first response message sent by the first UE, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identity.

Optionally, the RAN releases the radio resource control, RRC, connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN according to the indication message after forwarding the first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF.

The method for wireless communication provided by the embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to the flowchart (fig. 3).

Fig. 3 shows a schematic flow chart of a method 300 of wireless communication of one embodiment of the present application.

It should be appreciated that the source AMF stops serving the first UE before the method 300 is initiated.

Optionally, before the method 300 is initiated, the source AMF allocates a target AMF (referred to as a first AMF) for the first UE, at which time the first AMF acquires context (context) information of the first UE. Optionally, the target AMF allocates a first UE identity to the first UE, where the first UE identity is an identity of the first UE communicating with the first AMF. Optionally, the RAN updates the AMF information in the context of the saved N2 signaling plane interface for the first UE to the information of the first AMF.

Optionally, before the method 300 is initiated, the source AMF may not allocate a target AMF for the first UE, the RAN deletes the stored AMF information in the context of the N2 signaling plane interface for the first UE, and when the RAN needs to release the N2 signaling plane interface for the first UE, the RAN needs to first select a target AMF (first AMF) for the first UE and establish an N2 signaling plane interface with the first AMF. Optionally, at this time, the first AMF determines whether to allocate the first UE identity to the first UE after receiving the release request sent by the RAN.

The following is described by taking the source AMF as an example for allocating a target AMF (first AMF) to the first UE, and specifically, the method 300 includes:

s301, an N2 signaling plane interface is established between the RAN and the first AMF for the first UE.

It should be appreciated that the first UE is in a connected state, and both an N2 interface and an RRC connection exist for the first UE.

It should also be appreciated that at this point, the AMF information maintained in the RAN in the context of the N2 signaling plane interface for the first UE has been updated from the source AMF to the first AMF.

Optionally, the first AMF allocates a first UE identity to the first UE and stores the first UE identity in the context of the N2 signaling plane interface of the first UE.

Optionally, the first AMF may store the first UE identity and the identity of the first AMF as a temporary identity of the first UE in a context of the first UE.

S302, the RAN determines to switch the first UE from a connected state to an idle state.

Optionally, the RAN may make a decision to switch the first UE from the connected state to the idle state only when the first UE is in some states, for example, the first UE is inactive, the first UE has no data transmission for a long time, or an air interface connection of the first UE fails.

S303, the RAN sends a release request to the first AMF, the release request requesting to release the N2 signaling connection interface for the first UE.

Optionally, the release request includes a cause value, where the cause value may be used to reflect a reason for the RAN initiating release of the N2 signaling connection interface for the first UE, for example, that the first UE is inactive, or that an air interface failure occurs in the first UE.

S304, the first AMF determines whether to send the temporary identity to the first UE after receiving the release request.

Optionally, the temporary identity includes the first UE identity and an identity of the first AMF.

Specifically, the first AMF allocates the first UE identity, where the first UE identity is an identity of the first UE communicating with the first AMF. The identification of the first AMF is used to identify the first AMF. The first UE identity may be 8 bits, and the first AMF identity may be 32 bits, 48 bits, or 64 bits.

Optionally, when the cause value is a non-air interface failure, the first AMF sends the identifier of the first AMF and the identifier of the first UE to the first UE. Optionally, the first AMF first triggers sending of the identifier of the first AMF and the identifier of the first UE to the first UE after receiving the release request, and performs a corresponding procedure of releasing the N2 signaling plane interface and the RRC connection for the first UE after receiving a response message of the first UE.

Optionally, the first AMF checks the context of the first UE, looking up the identity of the first UE and the identity of the first AMF. Optionally, the first AMF may allocate the first UE identity for the first UE when the first UE identity and the identity of the first AMF are not found.

Optionally, when the cause value is an air interface failure, after receiving the release request, the first AMF directly performs a corresponding procedure of releasing the N2 signaling plane interface and the RRC connection for the first UE.

It should be understood that, when the cause value is a non-air interface failure, the RRC connection between the RAN and the first UE is normal; and when the reason value is air interface failure, the RRC connection between the RAN and the first UE is disconnected.

S305, the first AMF sends a first request message to the RAN, where the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a Non Access Stratum (NAS) message carrying an identifier of the first AMF and an identifier of the first UE to the first UE, so that the first UE performs communication according to the identifier of the first AMF and the identifier of the first UE.

Optionally, the first request message may be a sufficient temporary identification request.

Optionally, the first request message includes a temporary identity, and the temporary identity includes an identity of the first AMF and the first UE identity.

Optionally, the first request message may further include a release identifier, where the release identifier is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the identifier of the first AMF and the identifier of the first UE.

S306, the RAN sends a NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE according to the first request message.

Optionally, the NAS message may be a full temporary identity request.

S307, after receiving the identity of the first AMF and the first UE identity, the first UE sends a first response message to the RAN.

Optionally, the first response message may be a sufficient temporary identity response.

It should be appreciated that the RAN forwards the first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF.

Specifically, the first UE sends the first response message to indicate that the temporary identifier sent by the first AMF has been correctly received, and also to inform that the first AMF may start to perform the release of the N2 interface for the first UE and the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN.

S308, the RAN forwards the first response message to the first AMF.

Optionally, if the RAN receives the release identifier in step S305, after forwarding the first response message to the first AMF, the RAN releases an N2 signaling plane interface (which may be referred to as an N2 interface) for the first UE and an RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN according to the release identifier.

S309, after receiving the first response message sent by the first UE, the first AMF sends a first notification message to the SMF, which notifies the SMF that the first UE needs to be switched to an idle state and needs to release the N2 interface for the first UE.

It should be understood that if the RAN has received the release identity in step S305, the N2 interface for the first UE has been released by the first AMF after receiving the first response message sent by the first UE.

It should also be appreciated that the first AMF may send the first notification message to the SMF over an N11 interface.

S310, the SMF sends a second notification message to the UPF to notify the UPF to release the downlink tunnel information of the N3 signaling plane interface of the first UE.

It should be appreciated that the SMF may send the second notification message to the UPF over the N4 interface.

Optionally, the UPF releases the downlink tunnel information of the N3 interface for the first UE according to the second notification message.

S311, the SMF sends the second response message to the first AMF.

It should be understood that the second response message is a response message to the first notification message.

It is also understood that after sending the second notification message to the UPF, the SMF sends the second response message to the first AMF.

S312, if the first AMF does not send the release identifier to the RAN in step S305, the first AMF sends an indication message to the RAN, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN.

Alternatively, step S312 may be performed after step S308, and not only after step S311.

S313, the RAN releases the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN after receiving the indication message sent by the first AMF, and releases the N2 interface for the first UE.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a computer device 400 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4 in particular, the computer device 400 includes at least one Processor 402 (e.g., a general purpose Processor (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), etc., with computing and processing capabilities), where the Processor 402 is configured to manage and schedule modules and devices within the computer device 400. The computer device 400 further comprises at least one transceiver 405 (receiver/transmitter), a memory 406. The various components of the computer device 400 communicate with each other, control and/or data signals, via a bus.

The methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present application described above may be applied to the processor 402 or used to execute executable modules, such as computer programs, stored in the memory 406. Memory 406 may include a high-speed Random Access Memory (RAM) and may also include a non-volatile Memory (non-volatile Memory), which may include both rom and RAM and may provide the necessary signaling or data, programs, etc. to the processor. The portion of memory may also include non-volatile row random access memory (NVRAM). The communication connection with at least one other network element is realized by at least one transceiver 405 (which may be wired or wireless).

In one embodiment, the computer device 400 may include a plurality of processors, and each processor may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

In particular implementations, computer device 400 may also include a transceiver 405, as an embodiment. The transceiver 405 is in communication with the processor 402 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the transceiver 405 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display device, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display device, a projector (projector), or the like. The transceiver 405 is in communication with the processor 402 and may accept user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensing device, among others.

The computer device 400 may be a general purpose computer device or a special purpose computer device. In a specific implementation, the computer device 400 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a web server, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal device, a communication device, an embedded device, or a device with a similar structure as in fig. 4. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the type of computer device 400.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a possible structure of the RAN involved in the above embodiments. The RAN includes a transceiver 510, a controller/processor 520. The transceiver 510 may be configured to support transceiving information between the RAN and the UE and/or AMF (first AMF) in the above embodiments, support radio communication between the UE and other UEs, and support radio communication between the first AMF and other AMFs. The controller/processor 520 may be used to perform various functions for communicating with UEs, AMFs, and other network devices. In the uplink, uplink signals from the UE are received via the antenna, conditioned by the transceiver 510, and further processed by the controller/processor 520 to recover traffic data and signaling information sent by the UE. On the downlink, traffic data and signaling messages are processed by controller/processor 520 and conditioned by transceiver 510 to generate a downlink signal, which is transmitted via the antenna to the UE. The controller/processor 520 is further configured to perform the method for wireless communication as described in the foregoing embodiment, and determine that a first signaling connection interface for a first terminal equipment UE needs to be released, where the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and a first core network access and mobility management function AMF; the RAN sends a release request to the first AMF, the release request requesting release of the first signaling connection interface for the first UE, the first UE being served by the first AMF. Optionally, the controller/processor 520 may also be configured to perform the processing involved in the RAN in fig. 2 or 3 and/or other processes for the techniques described herein, such as releasing the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN according to an indication or a release identity. The RAN may also include a memory 530 that may be used to store the RAN's program codes and data. The RAN may also include a communication unit 540 for supporting the RAN in communication with other network entities. For example, to support communications between the RAN and other communication network entities shown in fig. 1, such as AMF 101.

It will be appreciated that fig. 5 only shows a simplified design of the RAN. In practical applications, the RAN may include any number of transmitters, receivers, processors, controllers, memories, communication units, etc., and all RANs in which the present application may be implemented are within the scope of the present application.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer storage medium that can store program instructions for instructing any one of the methods described above.

Alternatively, the storage medium may be specifically the memory 406 shown in fig. 4 or the memory 530 shown in fig. 5.

Illustratively, in the AMF of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, one or more software modules are stored in the memory. The AMF may implement the software modules via the processor and program code in the memory to implement wireless communications.

Illustratively, the RAN of fig. 2 or 3 has one or more software modules stored in memory. The RAN may implement the data transmission rate control by a processor and program code in memory implementing software modules.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an AMF 600 of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6, the AMF 600 includes:

a receiving module 610, configured to receive a release request from a radio access network device RAN, where the release request is used to request to release a first signaling connection interface for the first UE, and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the first AMF;

a sending module 620, configured to send a temporary identity to the first UE after receiving the release request, where the temporary identity includes an identity of the first AMF and a first UE identity, and the first UE identity is an identity of the first UE communicating with the first AMF.

Optionally, the sending module 620 is further configured to send a release identifier to the RAN, where the release identifier is used to instruct the RAN to release the radio resource control RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, where the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier.

Optionally, the sending module 620 is further configured to send a first request message to the RAN, where the first request message includes the temporary identifier and the release identifier, and the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE.

Optionally, the sending module 620 is further configured to send, to the RAN, an indication message after receiving a first response message sent by the first UE, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identity.

Optionally, the release request includes a cause value, where the cause value is used to reflect a reason for the RAN initiating release of the first signaling connection interface, and the sending module 620 is further configured to send the temporary identifier to the first UE by the first AMF when the cause value is a non-air interface failure.

Optionally, before the receiving module 610 receives the release request from the RAN, the AMF 600 further includes:

a processing module 630, configured to allocate the first UE identity to the first UE and store the first UE identity in a context for the first UE.

The AMF 600 of the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the AMF (first AMF) of the method embodiment shown in fig. 2 and 3 described above. And each module or unit in the AMF 600 is used for executing the corresponding flow executed by the AMF (first AMF) in the above method embodiment, for example, steps S230, S240, S304, S305, S309, and S312. For brevity, no further description is provided herein.

It should be understood that, in the present embodiment, the AMF 600 is presented in the form of a functional module. A "module" herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other devices that may provide the described functionality. In another embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize that AMF 600 may take the form shown in FIG. 4. The processing module 630 may be implemented by the processor 402 and the memory 406 shown in fig. 4. The receiving module 610 and the transmitting module 620 may be implemented by the transceiver 402 shown in fig. 4. In particular, the processor is implemented by executing a computer program stored in the memory.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a RAN 700 of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 7, the RAN 700 includes:

a processing module 710, configured to determine that a first signaling connection interface for a first terminal device UE needs to be released, where the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and a first core network access and mobility management function AMF;

a sending module 720, configured to send a release request to the first AMF, where the release request is used to request release of the first signaling connection interface for the first UE, and the first UE is served by the first AMF.

Optionally, the RAN 700 further includes:

a receiving module 730, configured to receive a first request message from the first AMF, where the first request message includes a temporary identifier, where the temporary identifier includes an identifier of the first AMF and a first UE identifier, where the first UE identifier is used for an identifier of the first UE for communicating with the first AMF, and the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE;

the sending module 720 is further configured to send, to the first UE, a NAS message carrying the temporary identifier according to the first request message.

Optionally, the first request message further includes a release identifier, the release identifier is used to instruct the RAN to release the radio resource control, RRC, connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier,

the processing module 710 is further configured to forward the first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF;

the processing module 710 is further configured to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface according to the release identifier after forwarding the first response message.

Optionally, the processing module 710 is further configured to forward a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, where the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier;

the receiving module 730, further configured to receive an indication message sent by the first AMF after forwarding the first response message, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface;

the processing module 710 is further configured to release the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN according to the indication message.

Optionally, the release request includes a cause value, where the cause value is used to reflect a reason for the RAN initiating release of the first signaling connection interface, and the receiving module 730 is further configured to receive the first request message from the first AMF when the cause value is a non-air interface failure.

The RAN 700 of the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the RAN of the method embodiments shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3. And each module or unit in the RAN 700 is configured to perform the corresponding process performed by the RAN in the above-described method embodiment, for example, steps S210, S220, S301, S302, S303, S306, S308, and S313. For brevity, no further description is provided herein.

It should be understood that in the present embodiment, the RAN 700 is presented in the form of a functional module. A "module" herein may refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other devices that may provide the described functionality. In another embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the RAN 700 may take the form shown in fig. 5. The processing module 710 may be implemented by the controller/processor 520 and the memory 530 shown in fig. 5. The transmitting module 720 and the receiving module 730 may be implemented by the transceiver 510 shown in fig. 5. In particular, the processor is implemented by executing a computer program stored in the memory.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the invention to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy Disk, hard Disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and shall be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

a first core network access and mobility management function (AMF) receives a release request from a Radio Access Network (RAN), wherein the release request is used for requesting to release a first signaling connection interface aiming at a first User Equipment (UE), and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and the first AMF;

after receiving the release request, the first AMF sends a temporary identifier to the first UE, where the temporary identifier includes an identifier of the first AMF and a first UE identifier, and the first UE identifier is an identifier of the first UE communicating with the first AMF.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first AMF sends a release identifier to the RAN, where the release identifier is used to instruct the RAN to release a radio resource control RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sending, by the first AMF, the temporary identity to the first UE comprises:

the first AMF sends a first request message to the RAN, where the first request message includes the temporary identifier and the release identifier, and the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving a first response message sent by the first UE, the first AMF sends an indication message to the RAN, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identity.

5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the release request comprises a cause value reflecting a reason for the RAN to initiate the release of the first signaling connection interface,

the first AMF sends a temporary identity to the first UE, and the temporary identity comprises:

6. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the first AMF receives the release request from the RAN, the method further comprises:

and the first AMF allocates the first UE identification for the first UE and stores the first UE identification in the context for the first UE.

7. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

a Radio Access Network (RAN) determines that a first signaling connection interface aiming at a first terminal device (UE) needs to be released, wherein the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and a first core network access and mobility management function (AMF);

the RAN sends a release request to a first AMF, the release request requesting release of the first signaling connection interface for a first UE served by the first AMF.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first request message further comprises a release flag indicating that the RAN releases a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, wherein the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary flag,

the method further comprises the following steps:

after forwarding the first response message, the RAN releases the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface according to the release identifier.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

after forwarding the first response message, the RAN receiving an indication message sent by the first AMF, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface;

and the RAN releases the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface according to the indication message.

11. The method according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the release request comprises a cause value reflecting a reason for the RAN to initiate the release of the first signaling connection interface,

the RAN receiving a first request message from the first AMF, including:

and when the cause value is a non-air interface fault, the RAN receives the first request message from the first AMF.

12. A core network access and mobility management function, AMF, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a release request from a Radio Access Network (RAN), where the release request is used to request release of a first signaling connection interface for a first UE, and the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and a first AMF;

a sending module, configured to send a temporary identifier to the first UE after receiving the release request, where the temporary identifier includes an identifier of the first AMF and a first UE identifier, and the first UE identifier is an identifier of the first UE communicating with the first AMF.

13. The AMF of claim 12, wherein the sending module is further configured to send a release flag to the RAN, the release flag being configured to instruct the RAN to release the radio resource control, RRC, connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, the first response message being a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary flag.

14. The AMF of claim 13, wherein the sending module is further configured to send a first request message to the RAN, wherein the first request message includes the temporary identifier and the release identifier, and wherein the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE.

15. The AMF of claim 12, wherein the sending module is further configured to send an indication message to the RAN after receiving a first response message sent by the first UE, the indication message being used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection and the first signaling connection interface between the first UE and the RAN, and the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identity.

16. The AMF according to any of claims 12-15, wherein said release request comprises a cause value reflecting a reason for said RAN to initiate release of said first signalling connection interface,

the sending module is further configured to send the temporary identifier to the first UE by the first AMF when the cause value is a non-air interface failure.

17. The AMF according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein, prior to the receiving module receiving the release request from the RAN, the AMF further comprises:

and the processing module is used for allocating the first UE identification for the first UE and storing the first UE identification in the context for the first UE.

18. A radio access network device, RAN, comprising:

a processing module, configured to determine that a first signaling connection interface for a first terminal device UE needs to be released, where the first signaling connection interface is an interface between the RAN and a first core network access and mobility management function AMF;

a sending module, configured to send a release request to a first AMF, where the release request is used to request release of the first signaling connection interface for a first UE, and the first UE is served by the first AMF.

19. The RAN of claim 18, wherein the RAN further comprises:

a receiving module, configured to receive a first request message from the first AMF, where the first request message includes a temporary identifier, where the temporary identifier includes an identifier of the first AMF and a first UE identifier, where the first UE identifier is used for an identifier of the first UE for communicating with the first AMF, and the first request message is used to request the RAN to send a non-access stratum NAS message carrying the temporary identifier to the first UE;

the sending module is further configured to send, to the first UE, an NAS message carrying the temporary identifier according to the first request message.

20. The RAN of claim 19, wherein the first request message further comprises a release identifier, wherein the release identifier is used to instruct the RAN to release a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface after forwarding a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, wherein the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identifier,

the processing module is further configured to forward the first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF;

the processing module is further configured to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface according to the release identifier after forwarding the first response message.

21. The RAN of claim 19, wherein the processing module is further configured to forward a first response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF, and wherein the first response message is a response message sent by the first UE to the first AMF after receiving the temporary identity;

the receiving module is further configured to receive an indication message sent by the first AMF after forwarding the first response message, where the indication message is used to instruct the RAN to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface;

the processing module is further configured to release the RRC connection between the first UE and the RAN and the first signaling connection interface according to the indication message.

22. A RAN according to any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the release request comprises a cause value reflecting a reason for the RAN to initiate the release of the first signalling connection interface,

the receiving module is further configured to receive a first request message from the first AMF when the cause value is a non-air interface failure.