CN109429295B

CN109429295B - Method for selecting AMF, system and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN109429295B
Application number: CN201710783761.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 涂小勇; 叶敏雅
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2017-08-31
Filing date: 2017-08-31
Publication date: 2021-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-31
Also published as: CN109429295A; WO2019042427A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for selecting an AMF, the AMF, a system and a storage medium, and belongs to the technical field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: the method comprises the steps that an initial AMF receives a registration request message sent by a user terminal UE; the initial AMF queries an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE from the network slice selection function NSSF according to the registration request message, and queries an AMF supporting network function selection of the UE from the network function library function NRF; the initial AMF receives first AMF information returned by the NSSF and second AMF information returned by the NRF, wherein the first AMF information comprises information of AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and the second AMF information comprises information of AMF supporting network function selection of the UE; the initial AMF acquires the intersection of the first AMF information and the second AMF information; the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection. By adopting the invention, the selected AMF can support the network slice of the UE subsequent access, the actual processing capacity and the load condition of the AMF are considered, and the probability of the subsequent AMF redirection is reduced.

Description

Method for selecting AMF, system and storage medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method, an AMF, a system, and a storage medium for selecting an AMF.

Background

Mobile communication has been developed to the 5G stage, and the network architecture of 5G is mainly characterized by a service-based architecture compared with the previous generations. In a 5G system, the network will be further abstracted as a "network slice," supporting the use of thousands of use cases, numerous user types, and various applications.

The 5G network supports various scenes, and different scenes have different requirements on the functions and the performances of the network. The network slice can lead an operator to cut out a plurality of virtual logical end-to-end networks on the same hardware infrastructure according to the requirement, each network slice is isolated logically, adapts to different characteristic requirements of various types of services, and simultaneously meets different requirements of high bandwidth, low time delay, super-large connection and multiple services on the network.

After Network slicing, Selection of a Network Slice (NSI) accessed by a user is completed by a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF). In the user registration process, the selection of the Access and Mobility Management function (AMF) needs to consider not only the network slice, but also the information such as the capability and load of the AMF. The current standard does not define how the AMF is selected during the user registration process. Therefore, there is a need to provide a method, an apparatus, a system and a storage medium for selecting an AMF, which can realize the selection of the AMF during the user registration process.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a method, an AMF, a system and a storage medium for selecting an AMF, so as to solve the problem that the prior art does not have a specific method for selecting an AMF in a user registration process.

The technical scheme adopted by the invention for solving the technical problems is as follows:

according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of selecting an access and mobility management function, AMF, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that an initial AMF receives a registration request message sent by a user terminal UE;

the initial AMF queries an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE from the network slice selection function NSSF according to the registration request message, and queries an AMF supporting network function selection of the UE from the network function library function NRF;

the initial AMF receives first AMF information returned by the NSSF and second AMF information returned by the NRF, wherein the first AMF information comprises information of AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and the second AMF information comprises information of AMF supporting network function selection of the UE;

the initial AMF acquires the intersection of the first AMF information and the second AMF information;

the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection.

Preferably, the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection, including:

the initial AMF determining whether it is contained in the intersection;

if so, the initial AMF determines that the initial AMF is the target AMF;

otherwise, the initial AMF selects a new AMF from the intersection as a target AMF.

Preferably, the second AMF information further includes load information of AMFs, and the selecting, by the initial AMF, a new AMF from the intersection as the target AMF includes:

and the initial AMF selects a new AMF with the minimum load from the intersection as a target AMF.

Preferably, after the initial AMF selects the target AMF from the intersection, the method further comprises:

if the initial AMF determines that the initial AMF is the target AMF, the registration request message is continuously processed;

if the initial AMF selects a new AMF as a target AMF, the initial AMF redirects the registration request message to the new AMF, and the new AMF continues to process the registration request message.

Preferably, the querying, by the initial AMF, the AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE from the network slice selection function NSSF according to the registration request message, and querying, by the network function library function NRF, the AMF supporting network function selection of the UE, includes:

the initial AMF determines information required by network slice selection of the UE and information required by network function selection of the UE according to the registration message, wherein the information required by network slice selection comprises S-NSSAIs which can be used by the UE and are determined, and the information required by network function selection comprises UE access location information and/or UE wireless access information;

the initial AMF sends a first AMF query request message to the NSSF, wherein the first AMF query request message contains the information of the S-NSSAIs;

and the initial AMF sends a second AMF query request message to the NRF, wherein the second AMF query request message contains the position information and/or the wireless access information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an AMF comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a registration request message sent by a user equipment UE;

a query module, configured to query, according to the registration request message, the network slice selection function NSSF for an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and query, to the network function repository function NRF, the AMF supporting network function selection of the UE;

the receiving module is further configured to receive first AMF information returned by the NSSF and second AMF information returned by the NRF, where the first AMF information includes information of an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and the second AMF information includes information of an AMF supporting network function selection of the UE;

the AMF intersection acquisition module is used for acquiring the intersection of the first AMF information and the second AMF information;

and the AMF selection module is used for selecting the target AMF in the intersection.

Preferably, the AMF selection module includes:

a judgment submodule for judging whether the AMF is included in the intersection;

a selection submodule, configured to determine that the AMF is the target AMF when the AMF is included in the intersection, or to select a new AMF from the intersection as the target AMF when the AMF is not included in the intersection.

Preferably, the second AMF information further includes load information of the AMF, and the selecting sub-module is further configured to select a new AMF with a minimum load from the intersection as the target AMF.

Preferably, the AMF further comprises:

the registration request processing module is used for continuously processing the registration request message when determining that the registration request message is the target AMF;

a redirection module, configured to redirect the registration request message to the new AMF when the new AMF is selected as the target AMF, and the new AMF continues to process the registration request message.

Preferably, the query module includes:

a registration information analysis sub-module, configured to determine, according to the registration message, information required for network slice selection of the UE and information required for network function selection of the UE, where the information required for network slice selection includes S-nsais that the UE is determined to be able to use, and the information required for network function selection includes location information of UE access and/or wireless access information of the UE;

a sending submodule, configured to send a first AMF query request message to the NSSF, where the first AMF query request message includes the S-nsais information, and to send a second AMF query request message to the NRF, where the second AMF query request message includes the location information and/or the wireless access information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for selecting an AMF, the system comprising an AMF according to the second aspect, NSSF and NRF:

the AMF is used for inquiring the information of AMF meeting the conditions from the NSSF and the NRF according to the received registration request information, and selecting the target AMF according to the AMF information returned by the NSSF and the NRF;

the NSSF and the NRF are used for returning the information of the AMF meeting the conditions to the AMF.

According to the AMF selecting method, the AMF, the system and the storage medium, when the initial AMF receives the registration request message sent by the UE, the NSSF is inquired to obtain the AMF information supporting the selection of the network slice of the UE, the NRF is inquired to obtain the AMF information supporting the selection of the network function of the UE, and the proper AMF is selected from the intersection set of the AMF, so that the selected AMF can support the network slice of the subsequent access of the UE, the actual processing capacity and the load condition of the AMF are considered, the redirection probability of the subsequent AMF is reduced, the service experience of a user is improved, and the AMF selecting method, the AMF, the system and the storage medium are beneficial to supplement and exploration of a standard protocol.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture for implementing various embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart of a method for selecting an access and mobility management function AMF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an AMF according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart of another method for selecting an AMF according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for selecting an AMF according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The implementation, functional features and advantages of the objects of the present invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantageous effects to be solved by the present invention clearer and clearer, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

Referring to fig. 1, in order to implement a 5G network architecture diagram of various embodiments of the present invention, functions of network elements in the 5G network architecture are described below.

Terminal (User Equipment, UE): the terminal accesses the 5G network and obtains service through a wireless air interface, and the terminal exchanges information with the base station through the air interface and exchanges information with Non-Access Stratum signaling (NAS) and AMF.

Radio Access Network (RAN): and the method is responsible for air interface resource scheduling and air interface connection management of the terminal access network.

Access and mobility management function AMF: the core network control plane entity is mainly responsible for user mobility management, including registration and temporary identifier allocation; maintaining IDLE (IDLE) and connected (CONNECT) states and state transitions; switching in the CONNECT state; and triggering functions such as paging and the like in the IDLE state of the user.

Authentication Server Function (AUSF): the core network control plane entity is mainly responsible for authentication and authorization of the user so as to ensure that the user is a legal user.

Unified Data Management function (UDM): the core network control plane entity, the home subscriber server, permanently stores the user subscription data.

Session Management Function (SMF): the core network control plane entity is mainly responsible for maintaining PDU Session, is responsible for allocating user IP address, and has Quality of Service (QoS) control and charging functions; and receiving the downlink data packet in the IDLE state of the user, caching the downlink data packet, and informing the AMF to page the user.

User Plane Function (UPF): the core network user plane functional entity is responsible for forwarding the user data message, and also has the functions of counting the user data message, charging and the like.

Policy Control Function (PCF): the core network control plane entity is responsible for a policy and charging rule function entity, and the function entity mainly generates a Qos rule, a charging rule and a mobile and access control rule for controlling user data transmission according to service information, user subscription information and configuration information of an operator.

Capability Exposure Function (NEF): and the core network control plane entity is responsible for opening the mobile network capability to the outside.

Network Function library Function (NF replication Function, NRF): and the core network control plane entity is responsible for dynamic registration of service capability of the network function and network function discovery.

Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF): and the core Network control plane entity is responsible for selecting a target Network Slice (NSI).

Based on the communication network system, the invention provides various embodiments of the method.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for selecting an access and mobility management function AMF, please refer to

Fig. 2, the method comprising:

s201, an initial AMF receives a registration request message sent by a user terminal UE;

s202, the initial AMF queries, according to the registration request message, the AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE from the network slice selection function NSSF, and queries, from the network function repository function NRF, the AMF supporting network function selection of the UE;

s203, the initial AMF receives a first AMF message returned by the NSSF and a second AMF message returned by the NRF, where the first AMF message includes an AMF message supporting network slice selection of the UE, and the second AMF message includes an AMF message supporting network function selection of the UE;

s204, the initial AMF acquires the intersection of the first AMF information and the second AMF information;

s205, the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection.

In one possible solution, step S203, the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection, which includes:

the initial AMF determines whether it is contained in the intersection;

if yes, the initial AMF determines that the initial AMF is the target AMF;

otherwise, the initial AMF selects a new AMF from the intersection as the target AMF.

In one possible implementation, the second AMF information further includes load information of AMFs, and the initial AMF selects a new AMF from the intersection as a target AMF, including:

the initial AMF selects a new AMF with the minimum load from the intersection as a target AMF.

In practical applications, if the second AMF information does not include the load information of the AMF, the initial AMF may initiate a query message to the NRF again, query the load information of all AMFs in the intersection, and then select a new AMF with the smallest load from the intersection as the target AMF.

In one possible implementation, after the initial AMF selects the target AMF from the intersection, the method further includes:

In a possible solution, the step S202, the initial AMF querying, according to the registration request message, the network slice selection function NSSF for an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and querying, by the network function library function NRF, the AMF supporting network function selection of the UE, includes:

the initial AMF determines information required for network slice selection of the UE and information required for network function selection of the UE according to the registration message, wherein the information required for network slice selection comprises S-NSSAIs which can be used by the UE and are determined by the UE, and the information required for network function selection comprises position information accessed by the UE and/or wireless access information of the UE;

the initial AMF transmits a second AMF query request message to the NRF, the second AMF query request message containing the location information and/or the radio access information.

In the method for selecting the AMF of this embodiment, when the initial AMF receives a registration request message sent by the UE, the information of the AMF supporting the network slice selection of the UE is obtained by querying the NSSF, the information of the AMF supporting the network function selection of the UE is obtained by querying the NRF, and a suitable AMF is selected from the intersection set of the AMFs, so that the selected AMF can support the network slice subsequently accessed by the UE, and the actual processing capability and load condition of the AMF are considered, thereby reducing the probability of redirection of the subsequent AMF, improving the service experience of the user, and being a beneficial supplement and exploration for the standard protocol.

On the basis of the foregoing embodiments, a second embodiment of the present invention provides an AMF, referring to fig. 3, including:

a receiving module 301, configured to receive a registration request message sent by a user equipment UE;

a query module 302, configured to query, according to the registration request message, the network slice selection function NSSF for an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and query, to the network function library function NRF, the AMF supporting network function selection of the UE;

the receiving module 301 is further configured to receive first AMF information returned by the NSSF and second AMF information returned by the NRF, where the first AMF information includes information of an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and the second AMF information includes information of an AMF supporting network function selection of the UE;

an AMF intersection obtaining module 303, configured to obtain an intersection of the first AMF information and the second AMF information;

an AMF selection module 304 for selecting a target AMF in the intersection.

In one possible implementation, the AMF selection module 304 includes:

In a possible implementation, the second AMF information further includes load information of the AMFs, and the selecting sub-module is further configured to select a new AMF with a minimum load from the intersection as the target AMF.

In one possible implementation, the AMF further includes:

and the redirection module is used for redirecting the registration request message to the new AMF when the new AMF is selected as the target AMF, and the new AMF continues to process the registration request message.

In one possible implementation, the query module 302 includes:

a registration information analysis sub-module, configured to determine, according to the registration message, information required for network slice selection of the UE and information required for network function selection of the UE, where the information required for network slice selection includes S-nsais that the UE is determined to be able to use, and the information required for network function selection includes location information of UE access and/or radio access information of the UE;

a sending sub-module, configured to send a first AMF query request message to the NSSF, where the first AMF query request message includes the S-nsais information, and to send a second AMF query request message to the NRF, where the second AMF query request message includes the location information and/or the radio access information.

In the AMF of this embodiment, when receiving a registration request message sent by a UE, the NSSF is queried to obtain AMF information supporting network slice selection of the UE, the NRF is queried to obtain AMF information supporting network function selection of the UE, and a suitable AMF is selected from an intersection set of the AMFs, so that the selected AMF can support a network slice to which the UE subsequently accesses, and the actual processing capability and load condition of the AMF are considered, thereby reducing the probability of redirection of the subsequent AMF, improving the service experience of the user, and being a beneficial supplement and exploration for a standard protocol.

On the basis of the foregoing embodiment, a third embodiment of the present invention provides another method for selecting an AMF, referring to fig. 4, where the method flow includes:

s401, the UE initiates a registration process and sends a registration request message to AMF 1.

Specifically, the registration Request message carries Request S-nsais information.

In practical applications, the registration process includes a registration process such as a user initial access registration to a mobile network, a registration process initiated due to a user moving, or a registration process initiated due to a terminal capability change.

S402, AMF1 receives the registration request message sent by UE, and determines the information needed by network slice selection and the information needed by network function NF selection according to the registration information.

In practical applications, the information required for network slice selection may include information such as S-nsais (Accepted S-nsais) that the UE is determined to use; the information required for the network function NF selection may include information such as the location of UE access, UE radio access information, etc.

Specifically, the processing capability of the AMF includes a coverage capability of the AMF, a radio access technology support capability, and the like. The coverage capability means that the areas for which the AMF is responsible are different, for example, the AMF1 is responsible for handling the traffic of the UE1 located in the first cell, the AMF2 is responsible for the traffic of the UE2 located in the second cell, and the coverage capabilities of the AMF1 and the AMF2 are different; the wireless access capability refers to an access mode that the AMF supports the UE, for example, whether the UE supports access from WIFI, 4G, or 5G.

The AMF may also obtain subscription information of the user from the registration request message, and the like.

S403, AMF1 sends a first AMF query request message to NSSF, where the first AMF query request message carries information required for network slice selection, such as Accepted S-NSSAIs.

S404, the NSSF returns a first AMF query response message to the Initial AMF, where the first AMF query response message includes an AMF List (hereinafter, referred to as an AMF List 1).

The AMFList1 contains the information (first AMF information) of the AMFs supporting the network slice selection of the UE, i.e. each AMF in the AMF List1 can support all NSIs that the UE may access subsequently.

S405, the AMF sends a second AMF query request message to the NRF, wherein the second AMF query request message carries information required by network function selection, such as the information of the UE access position and the like.

S406, NRF returns a second AMF query response message to AMF1, where the second AMF query response message contains an AMF List (hereinafter referred to as AMF List 2).

In practical applications, the AMFList2 includes information of the AMF (second AMF information) supporting the selection of the network function of the UE and load information of each AMF in the list. Since the second AMF query request message carries the location information accessed by the UE, the AMFs for supporting the network function selection of the UE contained in the AMFList2 mean that each AMF in the AMFList2 can cover the access location of the UE.

S407, AMF1 obtains an intersection AMFList3 of AMFList and AMFList 2.

S408, AMF1 judges whether AMFList3 includes AMF1, if yes, step S409 is executed, otherwise, step S410 is executed.

S409, AMF1 continues to process the registration request message of the UE.

S410, AMF1 performs AMF redirection, and selects an AMF2 with the minimum load from AMFList3 to process the registration request message of the UE.

In this embodiment, AMF1 is the initial AMF, and AMF2 is the target AMF.

The method for selecting the AMF solves the problem that the AMF is selected according to the network slice information, the capability of the AMF and the load in the 5G network, so that the AMF selected in the user registration process can support NSI of subsequent access of the UE, the capability and the load information of the AMF are considered, the probability of redirection of the subsequent AMF is reduced, the service experience of the user is improved, and the method is beneficial to supplement and exploration of a standard protocol.

On the basis of the foregoing embodiments, a system for selecting an AMF is provided in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, referring to fig. 5, and the system includes: AMF501, NSSF502, and NRF 503.

The AMF501 is configured to query, according to the received registration request information, information of an AMF that meets the condition from the NSSF and the NRF, and select a target AMF according to AMF information returned by the NSSF and the NRF;

the NSSF502 and the NRF503 are used to return information of the eligible AMF to the AMF.

In practical applications, the module structure of the AMF501 is as described in the second embodiment, and is not described herein again.

The system for selecting the AMF can solve the problem that the AMF is selected according to the network slice information, the capability of the AMF and the load in the 5G network, so that the AMF selected in the user registration process can support NSI of subsequent access of the UE, the capability and the load information of the AMF are considered, the probability of redirection of the subsequent AMF is reduced, the service experience of the user is improved, and the system is beneficial to supplement and exploration of a standard protocol.

On the basis of the foregoing embodiments, a fifth embodiment of the present invention provides a storage medium, where the storage medium includes a stored program, and the program, when running, controls a device on which the storage medium is located to perform the operations according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an access and mobility management function, AMF, characterized in that the method comprises:

the initial AMF inquires an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE from a network slice selection function NSSF according to the registration request message, and inquires an AMF supporting network function selection of the UE from a network function library function NRF;

the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection, comprising:

the initial AMF determining whether it is contained in the intersection;

if so, the initial AMF determines that the initial AMF is the target AMF;

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second AMF information further includes load information for AMFs, and wherein the initial AMF selects a new AMF from the intersection as the target AMF, comprising:

4. The method of claim 2, wherein after the initial AMF selects a target AMF from the intersection, the method further comprises:

5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the initial AMF queries the network slice selection function NSSF for AMFs supporting network slice selection for the UE and queries the network function repository function NRF for AMFs supporting network function selection for the UE according to the registration request message, comprising:

the initial AMF determines information required by network slice selection of the UE and information required by network function selection of the UE according to the registration request message, wherein the information required by network slice selection comprises S-NSSAIs which can be used by the UE and are determined, and the information required by network function selection comprises UE access location information and/or UE wireless access information;

the initial AMF sends a first AMF query request message to the NSSF, wherein the first AMF query request message contains S-NSSAIs information;

6. An AMF, comprising:

a query module, configured to query, according to the registration request message, a network slice selection function NSSF for an AMF supporting network slice selection of the UE, and query, to a network function repository function NRF, an AMF supporting network function selection of the UE;

7. The AMF of claim 6, wherein the AMF selection module comprises:

8. The AMF of claim 7, wherein the second AMF information further includes load information for the AMF, and wherein the selection sub-module is further configured to select a new AMF with a minimum load from the intersection as the target AMF.

9. The AMF of claim 7, further comprising:

10. The AMF according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the query module comprises:

a registration information analysis sub-module, configured to determine, according to the registration request message, information required for network slice selection of the UE and information required for network function selection of the UE, where the information required for network slice selection includes S-nsais that the UE is determined to be able to use, and the information required for network function selection includes location information of UE access and/or radio access information of the UE;

a sending submodule, configured to send a first AMF query request message to the NSSF, where the first AMF query request message includes S-nsais information, and to send a second AMF query request message to the NRF, where the second AMF query request message includes the location information and/or the wireless access information.

11. A system for selecting AMF, characterized in that it comprises an AMF, NSSF and NRF according to any one of claims 6 to 10:

12. A storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs being executable by one or more processors to perform the steps of any of claims 1-5.