CN112291845B

CN112291845B - Paging method and communication device

Info

Publication number: CN112291845B
Application number: CN201910668080.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许斌; 王学龙; 李秉肇
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-07-23
Filing date: 2019-07-23
Publication date: 2022-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-23
Also published as: CN112291845A

Abstract

A paging method and a communication device are provided, the method comprises the following steps: the first network equipment acquires first data, determines terminal equipment according to the first data, and sends a first message to the access network equipment, wherein the first message is used for indicating the access network equipment to page the terminal equipment. Since the first network device may both obtain the first data and determine the terminal device to receive the first data, and send the first message indicating to page the terminal device to the access network device, the first network device may implement the function of initiating paging in the non-public network, for example, the first network device may be a local gateway in the non-public network. Therefore, the local service can be directly processed locally without being processed by core network equipment in a public network, the time delay of a paging process is reduced, and the paging efficiency is improved.

Description

Paging method and communication device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a paging method and a communications apparatus.

Background

In a public network, a paging procedure of a terminal device generally includes: after downlink data reaches a User Plane Function (UPF) entity, the UPF entity notifies a Session Management Function (SMF) entity of the arrival of the data, the SMF entity notifies an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity of initiating paging, the AMF entity sends a paging instruction to a Radio Access Network (RAN) device, and the RAN device initiates paging to a terminal device after receiving the paging instruction.

It has been proposed in the industry to deploy non-public networks (NPN) for private scenarios such as factories and parks, so as to provide dedicated communication services for private users in a coverage area. In a non-public network, how to page a terminal device, no relevant solution exists at present. Local services are mainly transmitted in a non-public network, and if paging is still initiated by an AMF entity or an SMF entity in the public network, considering that there are more RAN devices controlled by the AMF entity or the SMF entity and the coverage area is large, additional delay and signaling overhead exist.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a paging method and a communication device, which are used for realizing paging in a non-public network, and compared with paging initiated by an AMF entity or an SMF entity in a public network, the paging method and the communication device can reduce the time delay of a paging process and improve the paging efficiency.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a paging method, which may be applied to a first network device, and the first network device may be a local gateway in a non-public network. The method comprises the following steps: the first network equipment acquires first data, the first network equipment determines terminal equipment according to the first data, and the first network equipment sends a first message to the access network equipment, wherein the first message is used for indicating the access network equipment to page the terminal equipment.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the first network equipment can not only obtain the first data, but also determine the terminal equipment which needs to receive the first data, and send the first message for indicating the paging terminal equipment to the access network equipment, so that the first network equipment can realize the function of initiating paging in a non-public network, thereby enabling local services to be directly processed locally without being processed by core network equipment in the public network, reducing the time delay of a paging process and improving the paging efficiency.

In one possible design, the first network device may obtain a first tracking area TA list, and if it is determined that the terminal device is in the first TA list, determine the access network device according to the first TA list.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the first TA list can be a TA list which is responsible for maintenance and update of the first network equipment, and the first network equipment can determine the access network equipment and send the first message to the access network equipment under the condition that the terminal equipment is determined to be in the first TA list, so that the function that the first network equipment only initiates paging for the local terminal equipment is realized.

In one possible design, the first network device may buffer the first data and send the first data to the access network device after the access network device pages the terminal device. Therefore, the first network device can have the function of data buffering.

In a possible design, a first network device may obtain a first TA list, and send a second message to a first core network device if it is determined that the terminal device is not in the first TA list, where the second message is used to indicate the first core network device to page the terminal device; and/or the first network device may also send the first data to the second core network device.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the first network equipment can send the second message to the first core network equipment under the condition that the terminal equipment is determined not to be in the first TA list, and the first core network equipment initiates the paging aiming at the terminal equipment. Or the first network device may also send the first data to the second core network device, and the second core network device notifies the first core network device or other network nodes to initiate paging for the terminal device.

In one possible design, the second message may include a list of TAs that do not require paging and/or the type of terminal device. Optionally, a list of TAs that need to be paged may be included in the second message.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, under the scene that the first core network device needs to initiate the paging aiming at the terminal device, the first network device can also send one or more items of information in a TA list which does not need to be paged, the type of the terminal device and the TA list of the paging to the first core network device, thereby helping the first core network device to reduce the paging range and improve the paging efficiency.

In a possible design, after the first network device determines the terminal device receiving the first data, if the first network device determines that the terminal device is in the second TA list, the first network device may send a third message to the second network device, where the third message is used to instruct the second network device to page the terminal device according to the second TA list.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the second network device can be the same as the first network device in type, and under the condition that the first network device can obtain the second TA list which is responsible for maintenance and update of the second network device, if the terminal device is in the second TA list, the first network device can send the third message and/or the first data for indicating paging of the terminal device to the second network device, so that the second network device can initiate paging for the terminal device.

In one possible design, the first network device may also receive a fourth message from the first core network device indicating that the first network device is allowed to initiate paging.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the first network equipment can not start the paging initiating function by default, and start the paging initiating function after receiving the fourth message which indicates that the indication sent by the first core network equipment allows paging initiation, so that the paging flexibility is improved.

In a possible design, after determining the terminal device that receives the first data, the first network device may further send a fifth message to the first core network device, where the fifth message is used to instruct the first core network device to initiate paging of the terminal device.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, if the first network device does not start the function of initiating paging by default, after receiving the first data, the first network device can send a fifth message for indicating paging of the terminal device to the first core network device, so that the first core network device initiates paging for the terminal device.

In one possible design, the first network device may also receive a sixth message from the first core network device indicating that the first network device is not allowed to initiate paging.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the first network equipment can default to start the function of initiating paging, and after receiving the fifth message which indicates that the paging is not allowed to be initiated and is sent by the first core network equipment, the function of initiating paging is closed, so that the flexibility of the paging method is improved.

In a second aspect, the present application provides another paging method, which is applicable to a first core network device, where the first core network device may be an AMF entity, and the method includes: the first core network equipment sends a fourth message to the first network equipment, wherein the fourth message is used for indicating that the first network equipment is allowed to initiate paging; and/or the first core network device receives a second message sent by the first network device, where the second message is used to instruct the first core network device to page the terminal device, the second message is sent after the first network device determines that the terminal device is not in the first tracking area TA list, the terminal device is determined by the first network device according to the acquired first data, and the first TA list may be a TA list that the first network device is responsible for maintaining and updating.

By adopting the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the first core network device can configure whether the first network device is allowed to initiate paging for the terminal device, and if the first network device is allowed to initiate paging, the first core network device can also receive a second message which is sent by the first network device and used for indicating paging of the terminal device, so that the paging process of the non-local terminal device is completed.

In a possible design, the first core network device may further receive a fifth message sent by the first network device, where the fifth message is sent after the first network device determines the terminal device that receives the first data, and the fifth message is used to instruct the first core network device to initiate paging for the terminal device.

In one possible design, the first core network device may further send a sixth message to the first network device, the sixth message indicating that the first network device is not allowed to initiate paging.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus having the functionality of a first network device implementing the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect. The communication device may be a local gateway deployed in an NPN network, or may be a device, such as a chip, included in the local gateway, where the local gateway has a partial or full UPF function or a partial or full AMF function. The functions of the local gateway can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware, wherein the hardware or the software comprises one or more modules corresponding to the functions.

The communication apparatus may also have the functionality of the first core network device in any of the above second aspects or possible designs of the second aspect. The communication device may be an AMF entity deployed in a core network, or may be a device, such as a chip, included in the AMF entity.

In one possible design, the communication apparatus includes a processing module and a transceiver module in a structure, where the processing module is configured to support the communication apparatus to perform the corresponding functions in the first aspect or any design of the first aspect. The transceiver module is configured to support communication between the communication apparatus and other communication devices, for example, when the communication apparatus is a local gateway, the transceiver module may send a first message to the access network device and send a second message to the first core network device. The communication device may also include a memory module, coupled to the processing module, that stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. As an example, the processing module may be a processor, the communication module may be a transceiver, the storage module may be a memory, and the memory may be integrated with the processor or disposed separately from the processor, which is not limited in this application.

In another possible design, the communication device may be configured to include a processor and may also include a memory. The processor is coupled to the memory and is operable to execute computer program instructions stored in the memory to cause the communication device to perform the method of the first aspect or any of the possible designs of the first aspect or to perform the method of the second aspect or any of the possible designs of the second aspect. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a communication interface, the processor being coupled to the communication interface. When the communication device is a local gateway, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input/output interface; when the communication means is a chip comprised in the local gateway, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip. Alternatively, the transceiver may be a transmit-receive circuit and the input/output interface may be an input/output circuit.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, including: a processor coupled to a memory for storing a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system-on-chip to implement the method in any one of the possible designs of the first aspect described above or the method in any one of the possible designs of the second aspect described above.

Optionally, the system on a chip may have one or more processors. The processor may be implemented by hardware or by software. When implemented in hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or the like. When implemented in software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor implemented by reading software code stored in a memory.

Optionally, the memory in the system-on-chip may also be one or more. The memory may be integrated with the processor or may be separate from the processor, which is not limited in this application. For example, the memory may be a non-transitory processor, such as a read only memory ROM, which may be integrated with the processor on the same chip or separately disposed on different chips, and the type of the memory and the arrangement of the memory and the processor are not particularly limited in this application.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method in any one of the possible designs of the first aspect or the method in any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, which when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method in any one of the possible designs of the first aspect or the second aspect.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, including: a first network device, a private data network device, an access network device and at least one terminal device. The first network device has network connection with the private data network device and the access network device, and is used for providing local service for the terminal device under the coverage of the access network device.

In a possible design, the communication system may further include a first core network device and a second core network device, and the first network device has a network connection with the first core network device and the second core network device.

Drawings

Fig. 1a is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 1b is a schematic network architecture of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a paging method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is an example of a paging procedure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: global system for mobile communications (GSM) systems, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) systems, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunications system (universal mobile telecommunications system, UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WIMAX) communication systems, fifth generation (5G) or new NR systems, or the like, for future communication systems or similar communications systems.

Further, the embodiments of the present application may also be applied to an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) system, or a Next Generation (NG) -RAN system, or may also be applied to a next generation communication system or a similar communication system.

Please refer to fig. 1a, which is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application, the communication system including at least one of the following devices: a first network device, a private data network device, an access network device and at least one terminal device. The communication system is a non-public network, which may also be called a private network (called a private network for short), and is used for providing local service for terminal equipment under the coverage of access network equipment. As shown in fig. 1a, the first network device has network connections with the private data network device and the access network device, and the terminal device under the coverage of the access network device can communicate with the private data network device through the access network device and the first network device. In this embodiment of the present application, a terminal device under the coverage of an access network device may also be referred to as a local terminal device or a private terminal device, and a private data network device may also be referred to as a private data network node or a private data network.

The communication system shown in fig. 1a is an example of a scenario in which a non-public network is deployed independently, where independent deployment refers to that a first network device may have a network connection with a core network device in a public network, such as an AMF, an SMF, a UPF, or the like, or may not have a network connection with the core network device, but the first network device does not need authorization or participation of the core network device in the public network when performing a general communication function, and may not receive a processing instruction related to data or signaling from the core network device; wherein the general communication function does not comprise part of the mobility related functions, such as core network devices in a public network may participate in a handover across networks or the like. The first network device shown in fig. 1a may be a locally deployed network node having a part or all of the functions of at least one of the UPF/AMF/SMF, or may be a local gateway or an access network device integrated with a part or all of the functions of at least one of the UPF/AMF/SMF, which is not specifically limited in this application. If the first network device is an access network device that integrates some or all of the functionality of at least one of the UPF/AMF/SMF, it should be understood that there may be no separate first network device in the communication system, and the first network device and the access network device are actually the same device in the communication system, which is different from the network architecture shown in fig. 1 a.

Please refer to fig. 1b, which is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication system comprises at least one of the following devices: a first network device, a private data network device, a UPF entity, an AMF/SMF entity, a public data network device, an access network device 1, an access network device 2 and at least one terminal device. The first network device has network connection with the private data network device and the access network device 1, and they form a non-public network part in the communication system, and are used to provide local service for the terminal device under the coverage of the access network device 1. The terminal device under the coverage of the access network device 1 can communicate with the private data network device through the access network device 1 and the first network device. In fig. 1b, the line between the access network device 1 and the AMF/SMF entity is shown as a dashed line: the access network device 1 and the AMF/SMF entity may or may not have a network connection. The terminal device under the coverage of the access network device 1 may also be referred to as a local terminal device or a private terminal device, and the private data network device may also be referred to as a private data network node or a private data network, which is not limited in this application.

The UPF entity has a network connection with the public data network device, the AMF/SMF entity has a network connection with the access network device 2, and they form a public network part of the communication system for providing public network services to terminal devices under the coverage of the access network device 2. The terminal equipment under the coverage of the access network equipment 2 can communicate with the public data network equipment through the access network equipment 2, the AMF/SMF entity and the UPF entity. The terminal device under the coverage of the access network device 2 may be referred to as a public terminal device, and the public data network device may also be referred to as a public data network node or a public data network, which is not limited in this application.

The communication system shown in fig. 1b is a scenario example of integrated deployment of a non-public network and a public network, where the integrated deployment refers to that a first network device has a network connection with core network devices such as an AMF, an SMF, and a UPF, or needs to perform signaling interaction with at least one of the AMF, the SMF, and the UPF when performing a general communication function. The first network device shown in fig. 1b may be a locally deployed network node having a part or all of the functions of at least one of the UPF/AMF/SMF, or may be a local gateway or an access network device integrated with a part or all of the functions of at least one of the UPF/AMF/SMF, which is not specifically limited in this application. For example, the first network device may be a new network node deployed in the communication system, and it has a function of part or all of at least one of UPF/AMF/SMF, and may be referred to as a local gateway, or may have other names, and this application is not limited in this application.

As shown in fig. 1b, the first network device may also have a network connection with the UPF entity, the AMF/SMF entity, and the first network device may receive data or signaling from the UPF entity or the AMF/SMF entity. In a possible design, the terminal device under the coverage of the access network device 1 may also communicate with the public data network device through the access network device 1 and/or the first network device under the control of the UPF entity or the AMF/SMF entity. Or, the terminal device under the coverage of the access network device 2 may also communicate with the private data network device through the access network device 2, the UPF entity or the AMF/SMF entity, and the first network device.

It should be noted that the non-public network shown in fig. 1a and 1b is only an example. It will be appreciated that one or more first network devices may be included in the non-public network, and each first network device may have a network connection with one or more access network devices. The first network device may be a network node independent from the access network device, or may be a network node that is disposed with the access network device or integrated within the access network device as a part of the access network device to implement the above-described functions. It should also be understood that the number of each type of device involved in the above network architecture is not specifically limited by the present application, and the number of each type of device may be one or more. For example, the first network device, the access network device, and the terminal device referred to in fig. 1a may be one or more, and the first network device, the access network device 1, and the access network device 2 designed in fig. 1b may be one or more.

Based on the deployment scenarios of the two non-public networks, the first network device may have one or more of the following functions:

1) and (3) data buffering: when downlink data reaches the first network device, the first network device may buffer the data and then trigger a paging procedure, or notify other network nodes to trigger a paging procedure. The other network node may be at least one of a UPF/AMF/SMF entity or an access network device or other network device like the first network device; buffering means that downlink data is stored between a section, and after paging is performed on the terminal device and connection is established, the downlink data is sent to the access network device or other network nodes and finally sent to the terminal device.

2) Judging the service type of the data: when the downlink data reaches the first network device, the first network device may determine whether the service type of the downlink data belongs to a local service or a public network service. Or the type of the data service may be the type of the terminal device to which the service is to be determined, that is, the terminal device is a local terminal device or a non-public service terminal device, or a public service terminal device.

3) Initiating local paging: the first network device sends a paging indication message to the access network device connected to the first network device, so that the access network device pages the local terminal device.

4) Updating and maintaining a local Tracking Area (TA) list: and recording the access network equipment or each cell in each TA list and the terminal equipment in each list, and updating the TA lists correspondingly when the TA is changed due to the movement of the terminal equipment.

5) Packet routing/packet forwarding: and judging the destination address of the data, and forwarding the received data to the access network equipment or UPF or other network nodes according to the judgment result.

6) Quality of service (QoS) management: and judging the service characteristics according to the arrived data packet, determining corresponding QoS parameters, and providing corresponding service guarantee for data communication when initiating a session or connection.

7) And performing session management: and establishing, modifying or deleting the session connection or the session bearer or the QoS data flow for the transmission of the corresponding service.

8) Internet Protocol (IP) address or Media Access Control (MAC) address allocation: when the terminal is started to register or a service request is made or in other processes, an IP or MAC address is distributed to the local terminal equipment.

It should be noted that the above functions are only a partial example, and the first network device may further have functions required for performing communication by part or all of at least one of the UPF/AMF/SMF, which is not listed here.

Hereinafter, some terms in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

1) A terminal device, which may also be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), etc., is a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user. The terminal device may communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN), and exchange voice and/or data with the RAN. For example, the terminal device may be a handheld device, a vehicle-mounted device, or the like having a wireless connection function. Currently, some examples of terminal devices are: a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm top computer, a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a wearable device, a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self-driving (self-driving), a wireless terminal in remote surgery (remote medical supply), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), and the like. The terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may also be an on-board module, an on-board component, an on-board chip, or an on-board unit that is embedded in the vehicle as one or more components or units, and the vehicle may implement the method provided in the embodiment of the present application through the embedded on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip, or on-board unit.

2) An access network device is a device in a network for accessing a terminal device to a wireless network. The network device may be a node in a radio access network, which may also be referred to as a base station, and may also be referred to as a Radio Access Network (RAN) node (or device). The network device may be configured to interconvert received air frames and Internet Protocol (IP) packets as a router between the terminal device and the rest of the access network, which may include an IP network. The network device may also coordinate attribute management for the air interface. For example, the network device may include an evolved base station (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB, evolved Node B) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system or an evolved LTE system (LTE-Advanced, LTE-a), or may also include a next generation node B (gNB) in a New Radio (NR) system of a fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th generation, 5G), or may also include a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), or a WiFi Access Point (AP), or the like, or may further include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) in a cloud access network (cloudlan) system, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. As another example, one type of network device in V2X technology is a Road Side Unit (RSU), which may be a fixed infrastructure entity supporting V2X applications and may exchange messages with other entities supporting V2X applications.

3) The AMF is mainly used for access management and mobility management of terminal devices in a mobile network, such as user location update, user registration network, user handover, and the like. In other communication systems evolving in the future, the AMF may also have other names, and the present application is not limited thereto.

4) The SMF is mainly used for session management of terminal devices in a mobile network, such as session establishment, modification and release. The specific functions include allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a user, selecting a user plane network element providing a message forwarding function, and the like. In other communication systems evolving in the future, the SMF may also have other names, and the present application is not limited thereto.

5) And the UPF is mainly used for executing user data packet forwarding according to the routing rule of the SMF. In other communication systems of the future evolution, the UPF may have other names, and the present application is not limited thereto.

The network elements or functions such as AMF, SMF, and UPF may be network elements in a hardware device, or may be software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualization functions instantiated on a platform, and the present application is not limited thereto.

6) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application may be used interchangeably. The "plurality" means two or more, and in view of this, the "plurality" may also be understood as "at least two" in the embodiments of the present application. "at least one" is to be understood as meaning one or more, for example one, two or more. For example, the inclusion of at least one means that one, two or more are included, and does not limit which is included. For example, at least one of A, B and C is included, then inclusion can be A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Similarly, the understanding of the description of "at least one" and the like is similar. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, meaning that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship, unless otherwise specified.

Unless stated to the contrary, the embodiments of the present application refer to the ordinal numbers "first", "second", etc., for distinguishing between a plurality of objects, and do not define the order, sequence, priority, or importance of the plurality of objects, and the descriptions of "first", "second", etc., do not define that the objects are necessarily different.

Please refer to fig. 2, which is a flowchart illustrating a paging method according to an embodiment of the present application, where the method includes steps S201 to S203 as follows:

step S201, the first network device acquires the first data.

In the scenario of independent deployment of the non-public network, the first data may be data in the non-public network, and the first network device may receive the first data from the private data network device. In a scenario where the non-public network is deployed integrally with the public network, the first data may be data in the non-public network, and the first network device may receive the first data from the private data network device, and in this scenario, the first data may also be data in the public network, and the first network device may receive the first data from the UPF entity. The first data is data to be sent to the terminal device by the private data network device or the public data network device, and therefore may also be referred to as downlink data. The first network device may also obtain the first data in other manners, which is not limited in this application.

Step S202, the first network device determines the terminal device according to the first data.

The terminal device refers to a destination terminal device of the first data, that is, a terminal device to receive or need to receive the first data. After receiving the first data, the first network device may buffer the first data, and determine a destination address or a destination terminal device of the first data according to indication information in a header of a data packet of the first data, where the indication information in the header of the data packet of the first data may be the destination address or the terminal device ID.

In a possible design, the first network device may further determine a destination address or a destination terminal device of the first data according to indication information corresponding to a packet of the first data, where the indication information corresponding to the packet of the first data may be the destination address or the terminal device ID. For example, the first network device may receive, from a private data network device or a public data network device or other network devices, indication information corresponding to a data packet of the first data, and further determine a destination address or a destination terminal device of the first data. The indication information corresponding to the data packet of the first data may be sent in the form of control signaling, and the application is not limited specifically.

Step S203, the first network device sends a first message to the access network device, where the first message is used to instruct the access network device to page the terminal device.

After determining the terminal device to receive the first data, the first network device may send a first message to the access network device, where the first message is used to instruct paging of the terminal device. The access network device is the corresponding access network device in the TA list where the terminal device is currently located, and the first message may include the identifier of the terminal device. After receiving the first message, the access network device may send a paging message to the terminal device.

Buffering the first data in the embodiments of the present application means that the first network device may retain the first data for a period of time after receiving the first data. After the access network device pages the terminal device and establishes a connection, the first data is sent to the access network device, so that the access network device forwards the first data to the terminal device.

In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device refers to an access network device having a network connection with a first network device, and may also be understood as a local access network device. In a possible design, after determining the terminal device, the first network device may determine whether the terminal device is a local terminal device, and further send a first message for instructing paging of the terminal device after determining that the terminal device is a local terminal device.

Specifically, the first network device may obtain a first TA list, where the first TA list is a TA list that the first network device is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and updating, and at least one of the following information is recorded in the TA list: each access network device in the TA list, each cell in the TA list, each terminal device in the TA list, and the like. When the network device pages a certain terminal device, it needs to know which TA list the terminal device is in first, and then determines the access network device according to the TA list, where the determination mode may be determined according to the access network device corresponding to the terminal device in the list or according to the cell corresponding to the terminal device in the list.

If the terminal device is in the first TA list, the first network device may determine, according to the first TA list, an access network device corresponding to the terminal device, and send a first message to the access network device therein. The terminal device, the access network device, or the cell in the first TA list all belong to the coverage area of the non-public network, and the access network device and the first network device can communicate with each other.

If the terminal device is not in the first TA list, the first network device may determine that the terminal device is not a local terminal device. At this time, if a public network exists in the communication system, the first network device may send a second message to the first core network device in the public network, where the second message is used to instruct the first core network device to page the terminal device. The first core network device may be an AMF entity or an SMF entity or other core network elements with a paging function, and the second message may include an identifier of the terminal device; optionally, by sending the second message, the first network device may indicate to the AMF entity: the terminal device is not local and a page for the terminal device needs to be initiated by the AMF entity. After receiving the second message, the AMF entity searches the TA list maintained by the AMF entity, finds a third TA list where the terminal device is located, then sends a message to be paged to the access network device of the third TA list, and the access network device sends the paging message to the terminal device.

Further, the second message may further include one or more items of information such as a TA list that does not need to be paged, a type of the terminal device, and a TA list that needs to be paged, so that the AMF entity reduces a paging range and reduces a paging delay. For example, the TA list that does not need to be paged may be a local TA list that the first network device is responsible for maintaining and updating itself, or a TA list that the first network device determines does not include the terminal device to be paged. The fact that the TA lists that do not need to be paged are carried in the second message can help the AMF entity to narrow the paging range, so that the AMF entity does not need to search the terminal equipment in the TA lists. For another example, the TA list to be paged may be a TA list where the terminal device is known by the first network device, where the TA list may be a TA list that other network devices are responsible for maintaining and updating, but the first network device has no network connection with the access network device to which the terminal device is currently accessing, and therefore, paging needs to be initiated by the AMF entity. The second message carries the TA list to be paged, so that the AMF entity can directly initiate paging according to the TA list, thereby avoiding the AMF entity searching for terminal equipment in the global TA list, effectively reducing time delay and improving paging efficiency. For another example, the type of the terminal device refers to whether the terminal device is a local terminal device or a public terminal device. The type of the terminal device is carried in the second message, so that the AMF entity can determine whether to page the terminal device in the TA list of the non-public network or the TA list of the public network, thereby reducing the paging delay.

If the terminal device is not in the first TA list, the first network device may further send the buffered first data to a second core network device in the public network, where the second core network device may be a UPF entity. In this way, after receiving the first data, the UPF entity may send a paging indication message for paging the terminal device to the AMF entity, and the AMF entity triggers paging for the terminal device. Or, if the terminal device is not in the first TA list, the first terminal device may send the first data to the second core network device while sending the second message to the first core network device, so as to reduce the time delay and improve the paging efficiency.

If the terminal device is not in the first TA list, but the first network device may determine that the terminal device is in a second TA list, where the second TA list is a TA list for which the second network device is responsible for maintaining and updating, and the second network device is of the same type as the first network device. In this case, the first network device may send a third message to the second network device, the third message instructing the second network device to page the terminal device according to the second TA list. Alternatively, the first network device may also send the first data to the second network device while sending the third message. For example, a plurality of local gateways exist in the communication system, the first network device is a first local gateway, the second network device is a second local gateway, and the respective TA lists maintained by the respective local gateways are interacted with each other according to a certain period, so that the first local gateway can obtain the TA list which is responsible for maintenance and update by the second local gateway. If the first local gateway receives the first data, it is determined that the terminal device is in a TA list that the second local gateway is responsible for maintaining and updating, the first local gateway may send a third message for indicating paging of the terminal device to the second local gateway, and the second local gateway triggers paging for the terminal device.

In this embodiment of the application, in a scenario where a non-public network and a public network are integrally deployed, a first network device may receive a fourth message from a first core network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate whether the first network device is allowed to initiate paging, and the first core network device may be an AMF entity, an SMF entity, or another management node. It may be understood that, in a possible implementation manner, the first network device may default to start the function of initiating paging, and after the first network device receives the first data, if the terminal device to receive the first data is a local terminal device, the first network device may directly send a first message to an access network device serving the terminal device, where the first message is used to instruct the access network device to page the terminal device. In another possible manner, the first network device may not turn on the function of initiating paging by default, and turn on the function after receiving the indication of allowing to initiate paging sent by the AMF entity. That is, the role of the fourth message is understood as whether the function of initiating paging that the first network device has is enabled. If the first network device receives a fourth message sent by the AMF entity for instructing to start initiating the paging function before receiving the first data, the first network device may send the first message for paging the terminal device to the access network device after determining that the terminal device to receive the first data is the local terminal device. If the first network device does not receive the fourth message sent by the AMF entity before receiving the first data, it indicates that the first network device does not start the function of initiating paging, and even if the first network device determines that the terminal device to receive the first data is the local terminal device, it needs to send a second message for instructing paging of the terminal device to the AMF entity, and the AMF entity triggers the access network device to page the terminal device.

In this embodiment of the present application, after receiving first data and determining a terminal device to receive the first data, the first network device may further send a fifth message to the first core network device, where the fifth message is used to instruct the first core network device to initiate paging for the terminal device, and the first core network device may be an AMF entity. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present application, the first network device may not have or by default not turn on the function of initiating paging. In this way, after the first network device receives the first data and determines the terminal device to receive the first data, it needs to send a fifth message indicating paging of the terminal device to the AMF entity, and the AMF entity initiates paging for the terminal device.

It can be understood that, in a case that the first network device turns on the paging initiation function by default, the first network device may also receive a sixth message sent by the first core network device, where the sixth message is used to indicate that the first network device is not allowed to initiate paging, so as to turn off the paging initiation function of the first network device.

The first network equipment is deployed in the non-public network, so that the function of initiating paging of a core network node in the non-public network can be realized, and for paging of local services, the first network equipment can directly process locally, namely after receiving downlink first data, the first network equipment can directly determine terminal equipment according to the first data and send a first message for paging the terminal equipment to access network equipment without processing through the core network equipment, so that the paging delay and signaling overhead can be effectively reduced, and the paging efficiency is improved.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first network device may maintain and update the TA list in the following manner:

taking the terminal device that needs paging as an example, the terminal device may report its own identifier and the current TA to the AMF entity when the terminal device is turned on for the first time or performs location update. If the TA where the terminal device is currently located is in a TA list maintained by the first network device, the AMF entity may send the identifier of the terminal device and the TA information where the terminal device is located to the first network device. Or, the terminal device may directly send its identifier and the current TA information to the first network device when the terminal device is turned on for the first time or performs location update. Or, the AMF entity may determine the TA in which the terminal device is located according to a current service flow (e.g., a registration flow or service transmission) performed by the terminal device, and then send the identifier of the terminal device and the TA information to the first network device. Or, the first network device may determine the TA where the terminal device is located according to the current service flow of the terminal device.

A paging method provided in an embodiment of the present application is described in detail below by using a specific example. In this example, the first network device is a local gateway, the first core network device is an AMF entity or an SMF entity, the second core network device is a UPF entity, the access network device is a gNB, and the terminal device is a UE. As shown in fig. 3, this example includes steps S300 to S306 as follows:

step S300, the UE performs a TAU procedure, i.e. a tracking area update procedure. When the UE is powered on or performs location update, the ID of the UE and the information of the TA where the UE is currently located may be sent to the AMF/SMF entity, or the AMF/SMF entity may determine the TA where the UE is currently located according to a registration procedure or service transmission with the UE.

Step S301, the AMF/SMF entity sends the ID of the UE and the information of the TA where the UE is currently located to the local gateway, so that the local gateway updates the local TA list. The AMF/SMF entity can also send an indication allowing the local gateway to initiate paging to the local gateway so as to start the function of initiating the paging process by the local gateway.

Step S302, the local gateway receives Downlink (DL) data from the private data network device, and determines a UE that is to receive the DL data according to the downlink data.

Step S303, if the UE is a local UE, for example, the UE is in a TA list maintained by the local gateway, the local gateway may send paging indication information to the gNB to indicate the gNB to send a paging message to the UE, where the gNB is a gNB currently serving the UE in the TA list maintained by the local gateway, and the paging indication information may include an ID of the UE. The local gateway may also send the DL data to the gNB after the gNB receives a response from the UE for the paging message and establishes a connection with the UE.

Step S304, the gNB sends a paging message to the UE.

Step S305, if the UE is not a local UE, for example, the UE may be a UE in a TA list maintained in another local gateway or a UE in a public network, the local gateway may send paging indication information to the AMF/SMF entity to indicate the AMF/SMF to initiate paging for the UE, where the paging indication information may include an ID of the UE.

Step S306, the AMF/SMF entity pages the UE in other TA lists, which may be TA lists maintained by other local gateways or TA lists in the public network.

Referring to fig. 4, a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided, where the communication device 400 includes: a transceiver module 410 and a processing module 420. The communication apparatus may be configured to implement the functionality relating to the first network device in the above-described method embodiments. For example, the communication means may be the first network device or a chip included in the first network device.

When the communication apparatus is used as a first network device to execute the method embodiment shown in fig. 2, the transceiver module 410 may be configured to execute acquiring first data and sending a first message to the access network device; the processing module 420 may be configured to perform determining the terminal device according to the first data.

In one possible design, the processing module 420 may be configured to perform obtaining a first tracking area TA list, determining that the terminal device is in the first TA list, and determining the access network device according to the first TA list.

In one possible design, the transceiver module 410 may be configured to perform operations of buffering the first data and transmitting the first data to the access network device after the access network device pages the terminal device.

In one possible design, the processing module 420 may be configured to perform obtaining the first TA list, and determine that the terminal device is not in the first TA list; the transceiver module 410 may be configured to perform sending a second message to the first core network device, where the second message is used to instruct the first core network device to page the terminal device; and/or, the transceiver module 410 may be further configured to perform transmitting the first data to the second core network device.

In one possible design, the second message includes a list of TAs that do not require paging and/or the type of terminal device.

In a possible design, if the first network device determines that the terminal device receives the first data, the processing module 420 may be configured to determine that the terminal device is in the second TA list, and the transceiver module 410 may be configured to send a third message to the second network device, where the third message is used to instruct the second network device to page the terminal device according to the second TA list.

In one possible design, the transceiver module 410 may be configured to receive a fourth message from the first core network device indicating that the first network device is allowed to initiate paging.

It is to be understood that the processing module 420 involved in the communication device may be implemented by a processor or processor-related circuit components, and the transceiver module 410 may be implemented by a transceiver or transceiver-related circuit components. The operations and/or functions of the modules in the communication apparatus are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows of the methods shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3, and are not described herein again for brevity.

Please refer to fig. 5, which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus 500 includes a processor 510, a memory 520, and a communication interface 530. Optionally, the apparatus 500 further comprises an input device 540, an output device 550, and a bus 560. The processor 510, the memory 520, the communication interface 530, the input device 540, and the output device 560 are connected to each other via the bus 550. The memory 520 stores instructions or programs and the processor 510 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 520. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 520 are executed, the processor 510 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 420 in the above-described method embodiment, and the communication interface 530 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 410 in the above-described embodiment.

It should be noted that the apparatus 500 provided in the embodiment of the present application may correspond to a first network device executing the paging method provided in the embodiment of the present invention, and operations and/or functions of each module in the apparatus 500 are respectively for implementing corresponding flows of the methods shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3, and are not described herein again for brevity.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, including: a processor coupled to a memory for storing a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system-on-chip to implement the method of any of the above method embodiments.

The system-on-chip may be, for example, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a system on chip (SoC), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), a Microcontroller (MCU), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or other integrated chips.

It will be appreciated that the steps of the above described method embodiments may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in a processor or instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where computer-readable instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer-readable instructions are read and executed by a computer, the computer is enabled to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments.

The embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, which when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method in any of the above method embodiments.

An embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, including: a first network device, a private data network device, an access network device and at least one terminal device. The first network device has network connection with the private data network device and the access network device, and is used for providing local service for the terminal device under the coverage of the access network device.

It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), and may also be other general purpose processors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, and the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It will also be appreciated that the memory referred to in the embodiments of the application may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. Volatile memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM, enhanced SDRAM, SLDRAM, Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, the memory (memory module) is integrated in the processor.

It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

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.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application or portions thereof that substantially contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium and including instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

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 paging, the method comprising:

a first network device in a non-public network receives a fourth message from a first core network device in a public network, wherein the fourth message is used for indicating to start a paging function of the first network device;

the first network equipment acquires first data and determines terminal equipment for receiving the first data;

if the first network device determines that the terminal device is in a first Tracking Area (TA) list managed by the first network device, the first network device sends a first message to an access network device, wherein the first message is used for indicating the access network device to page the terminal device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first network equipment acquires a first TA list;

and the first network equipment determines the access network equipment according to the first TA list.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

the first network device buffering the first data;

and after the access network equipment pages to the terminal equipment, the first network equipment sends the first data to the access network equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the first network device determines that the terminal device is not in the first TA list, the first network device sends a second message to the first core network device, where the second message is used to indicate the first core network device to page the terminal device; and/or the first network device sends the first data to a second core network device in the public network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second message comprises a list of TAs that do not require paging and/or a type of the terminal device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the first network device determines that the terminal device is not in the first TA list and is in a second TA list managed by a second network device in the non-public network, the first network device sends a third message to the second network device, and the third message is used for indicating the second network device to page the terminal device according to the second TA list.

7. A communications apparatus in a non-public network, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver module, configured to receive a fourth message from a first core network device in a public network, where the fourth message is used to instruct to start a paging function of the communication apparatus;

the transceiver module is also used for acquiring first data;

the processing module is used for determining the terminal equipment for receiving the first data;

the processing module is further configured to send a first message to an access network device through the transceiver module if it is determined that the terminal device is in a first tracking area TA list managed by the communication apparatus, where the first message is used to instruct the access network device to page the terminal device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing module is further configured to:

acquiring a first TA list;

and determining the access network equipment according to the first TA list.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the transceiver module is further configured to:

buffering the first data;

and after the access network equipment pages to the terminal equipment, sending the first data to the access network equipment.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing module is further configured to:

if the terminal device is determined not to be in the first TA list, sending a second message to a first core network device through the transceiver module, wherein the second message is used for indicating the first core network device to page the terminal device; and/or sending the first data to a second core network device in the public network through the transceiver module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second message comprises a list of TAs that do not require paging and/or a type of the terminal device.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing module is further configured to:

if the terminal device is determined not to be in the first TA list and is in a second TA list managed by a second network device in the non-public network, sending a third message to the second network device through the transceiver module, where the third message is used to instruct the second network device to page the terminal device according to the second TA list.

13. An apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled with at least one memory:

the at least one processor configured to execute computer programs or instructions stored in the at least one memory to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1-6.

14. A computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program or instructions, which, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

15. A chip system, comprising:

a processor coupled with a memory for storing a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system-on-chip to implement the method of any of claims 1 to 6.

16. A communication system, the system comprising:

a first network device, a private data network device, an access network device and at least one terminal device, wherein the first network device has a network connection with both the private data network device and the access network device, the access network device has a network connection with the at least one terminal device, and the first network device performs the method of any of claims 1 to 6 to provide non-public network services to the at least one terminal device.