CN116647832A

CN116647832A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN116647832A
Application number: CN202210142300.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王亚鑫; 李岩
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-02-16
Filing date: 2022-02-16
Publication date: 2023-08-25

Abstract

The application discloses a communication method and a device, wherein the communication method comprises the following steps: the visited domain policy control function network element receives the policy request message from the visited domain session management network element, and obtains the information of the AF request from the visited domain data management network element. The policy request message is used to obtain a session management policy associated with a first HR session of the roaming terminal. The AF request is associated with a first HR session, and information of the AF request is used to determine a session management policy. The method can select the visited domain policy control function network element in the session establishment process, and acquire the information of the AF request from the visited domain data management network element, so that the AF request from the visited domain can be received. For the roaming terminal, although the session anchor point is at the home domain user plane network element, the AF request can be sent to the session management policy control function network element, so that the management of the HR session is realized.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of roaming technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus in home routing roaming.

Background

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) refers to providing faster service and better network performance to users by deploying MEC computing functionality near the device side. Visiting MEC service of visiting domain in roaming (routing) scene of Home-Route, according to current flow of HR roaming, anchor point of session established in roaming access course is set in user plane network element deployed in public land mobile network (Home public land mobile network, HPLMN) of Home domain, visiting domain network element can not realize management of HR session, and MEC service deployed in visiting domain can not be used.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and a communication device, which can enable an application function (application function, AF) request forwarded by a network element of a visited domain to influence a routing path of an HR session, thereby realizing the management of the HR session.

In a first aspect, a first communication method is provided, which may be performed by a first communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting the functions required by the communication apparatus to implement the method, such as a chip system. Illustratively, the communication device is a policy control function network element. The following describes an example of the communication device as a policy control function network element. The method comprises the following steps: the visited domain policy control function network element receives a policy request message from a visited domain session management network element, the policy request message being for obtaining a session management policy associated with a first HR session of the roaming terminal. The visited domain policy control function network element obtains information of an AF request from the visited domain data management network element, the information of the AF request is used for determining the session management policy, and the AF request is associated with the first HR session. In this scenario, the information of the AF request related to the first HR session of the roaming terminal may be stored in the visited domain data management network element. By means of the scheme, namely, the visited domain policy control function network element can acquire an AF request associated with the first HR session from the visited domain data management network element under the request of the visited domain session management function network element. Thus, the information of the AF request related to the first HR session can reach the visited domain policy control function network element. Therefore, even if the anchor point of the policy control of the HR session established by the roaming terminal is deployed in the PCF of the HPLMN, the management of the first HR session can be realized by acquiring the information of the AF request through the visited domain policy control function network element.

Alternatively, the AF request may be sent to a visited domain data management network element, such as a unified data storage network element, by a network opening function (network exposure function, NEF). For example, the NEF queries other information of the roaming terminal, such as a subscriber permanent identifier (subscription permanent identifier, SUPI), according to the universal public subscriber identifier (generic public subscription identifier, GPSI) of the roaming terminal, so as to send the information of the AF request corresponding to the roaming terminal to the visited domain data management network element.

In one possible implementation, the policy request message includes one or more of the following corresponding to the roaming terminal: GPSI, SUPI, data network name (data network name, DNN), single network slice selection assistance information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-NSSAI), or identification information of the first HR session. One or more of the above information may be used to identify the roaming terminal. When the visiting domain session management function network element needs to acquire the session management policy associated with the first HR session of the roaming terminal, the visiting domain session management function network element can request the AF request information associated with the first HR session to the visiting domain policy control function network element based on one or more items of the session management policy information, so that the visiting domain session management function network element is flexible.

In one possible implementation manner, the visited domain data management network element is a visited domain unified data storage network element, and the visited domain policy control function network element obtains information of the AF request from the visited domain data management network element, including: the visit domain policy control function network element sends a subscription request to the visit domain unified data storage network element and receives a notification message. The subscription request is for a notification message requesting subscription to information of the AF request. The notification message carries information of the AF request. For example, the subscription request may include identification information of the roaming terminal and/or identification information of the first HR session, it being understood that the subscription request includes an index for querying information of the AF request.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain policy control function network element may generate a session management policy according to the information of the AF request, and send the session management policy to the visited domain session management network element. In the scheme, the visiting domain policy control function network element can generate a session management policy and inform the visiting domain session management network element. Namely, the session management strategy is interacted in the visit domain, so that the number of information interaction times can be reduced, and the interaction process is simplified.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain policy control function network element may send information of the AF request to the home domain policy control function network element, receive the first session management policy from the home domain policy control function network element, and then send the second session management policy to the visited domain session management network element. Wherein the first session management policy is determined based on the information of the AF request. The second session management policy is generated in accordance with the first session management policy. It is also understood that the first session management policy may be considered as an initial session management policy and the second session management policy may be considered as being obtained after adjusting the first session management policy. The visited domain policy control function network element may adaptively adjust an initial session management policy, e.g. adjust a path of a traffic flow of the first HR session, based on an actual requirement of the first HR session, so as to meet the actual requirement of the first HR session.

In a second aspect, a second communication method is provided, which may be performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting the functions required by the communication apparatus to implement the method, such as a chip system. Illustratively, the communication device is a policy control function network element. The following describes an example in which the communication device is a visited domain policy control function network element. The method comprises the following steps: the visited domain policy control function network element receives the policy request message from the visited domain session management network element, and sends a registration request to the binding support function (binding supports function, BSF) and receives the information of the AF request. Wherein the policy request message is for obtaining a session management policy associated with a first HR session of the roaming terminal, the policy request message including an address of the roaming terminal. The registration request is used for registering the binding relation between the information of the visited domain policy control function network element and the first HR session. The AF request is associated with a first HR session, and information of the AF request is used to determine the session management policy. The visiting domain policy control function network element can register the binding relation between the address information of the roaming terminal and the visiting domain policy control function network element to the BSF, so that the visiting domain can inquire the visiting domain policy control function network element corresponding to the roaming terminal through the BSF. So that the application function of the visited domain can send the information of the AF request to the visited domain policy control function network element corresponding to the roaming terminal. Thus, even if the anchor point of policy control of the first HR session established by the roaming terminal is deployed in the PCF of the HPLMN, the management of the first HR session can be realized by the visited domain policy control function network element for acquiring the information of the AF request.

Optionally, the method further comprises: the visited domain policy control function network element receives a first message from the visited domain session management function network element, the first message comprising an address of the roaming terminal.

In one possible implementation, the registration request includes information of the V-PCF and information of the first HR session. The information of the first HR session may include an address of the roaming terminal, or the information of the first HR session may include GPSI or SUPI of the roaming terminal, or the information of the first HR session may include DNN and S-NSSAI corresponding to the roaming terminal. The information of the V-PCF may include one or more of the following: an Instance (Instance) Identity (ID) of the V-PCF, address information of the V-PCF, or an identity (set ID) of the PCF set in which the V-PCF is located.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain policy control function network element may generate a session management policy according to the information of the AF request, and send the session management policy to the visited domain session management network element.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain policy control function network element may send information of the AF request to the home domain policy control function network element, receive the first session management policy from the home domain policy control function network element, and then send the second session management policy to the visited domain session management network element. Wherein the first session management policy is determined based on the information of the AF request and the second session management policy is generated based on the first session management policy.

With respect to the technical effects brought about by the respective implementations of the second aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the respective implementations of the first aspect.

In a third aspect, a third communication method is provided, which may be performed by a third communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting the functions required by the communication apparatus to implement the method, such as a chip system. Illustratively, the communication device is a policy control function network element. The following describes an example of the communication device as a home domain policy control function network element. The method comprises the following steps: the home domain policy control function network element receives the information of the AF request from the visited domain policy control function network element and sends a first session management policy to the visited domain policy control function network element. The first session management policy is determined according to the information of the AF request, and can be used for the visited domain policy control function network element to generate a second session management policy.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the home domain policy control function network element sends a first session management policy to the home domain session management network element.

With respect to the technical effects brought about by the respective implementations of the third aspect, reference may be made to the description of the first or second aspect and the technical effects of the respective implementations of the first or second aspect.

In a fourth aspect, a fourth communication method is provided, which may be performed by a fourth communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device, such as a chip system, capable of supporting the functions required by the communication apparatus to implement the method. Illustratively, the communication device is a session management network element. The following describes an example in which the communication device is a visited domain session management network element. The method comprises the following steps: the visited domain session management network element determines that the first HR session of the roaming terminal uses the MEC service, sends a policy request message to the visited domain policy control function network element, and receives a session management policy. The policy request message is used to obtain a session management policy associated with the first HR session. In the scheme, the visiting domain session management network element determines that the first HR session uses MEC service, and requests a session management policy associated with the first HR session to the visiting domain policy control function network element, so that the management of the first HR session is realized.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain session management network element receives a second message from the visited domain access and mobility management network element, the second message comprising information of the visited domain policy control function network element and information of the home domain session management network element. The visiting domain session management network element determines that the first HR session uses MEC service according to the information of the visiting domain policy control function network element and the information of the home domain session management network element.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain session management network element determining that the first HR session of the roaming terminal uses MEC service includes: the visiting domain session management network element receives a session establishment request from the visiting domain access and mobile management network element, wherein the session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a first HR session, and the session establishment request contains indication information, the indication information indicates that the first HR session uses MEC service, and the visiting domain session management network element determines that the first HR session uses MEC service according to the indication information; or the visiting domain conversation management network element receives a third message from the home domain conversation management network element, wherein the third message contains indication information which indicates that the first HR conversation uses the MEC service, and the visiting domain conversation management network element determines that the first HR conversation uses the MEC service according to the indication information. The visiting domain session management network element can clearly determine that the first HR session uses MEC service through the indication information, and is direct and simple.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain session management network element receives a session management policy, including: the visiting domain session management network element receives the session management policy of the visiting domain policy control function network element, or the visiting domain session management network element receives the session management policy from the home domain session management network element.

Regarding the technical effects brought about by the respective implementations of the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the first to third aspects, or the respective implementations of the first to third aspects.

In a fifth aspect, a fifth communication method is provided, which may be performed by a fifth communication apparatus, which may be a communication device or a communication apparatus, such as a chip system, capable of supporting the functions required for the communication device to implement the method. The communication device is illustratively an access and mobility management function network element. The following describes an example of the communication device as a visited domain access and mobility management function network element. The method comprises the following steps: the visited domain access and mobility management function network element receives a first session establishment request from the roaming terminal requesting establishment of a first HR session. When the visiting domain access and mobile management function network element determines that the first HR session uses MEC service, a second session establishment request is sent to the visiting domain session management network element, the second session establishment request is used for requesting to establish the first HR session, and the second session establishment request contains indication information. The indication information is used to indicate that the first HR session uses MEC traffic.

In one possible implementation, the visited domain access and mobility management element selects a home domain policy control function element and a home domain session management function element for the first HR session, and notifies the visited domain session management function element of information of the selected home domain policy control function element and home domain session management function element. The visited domain session management function network element may learn, according to the information of the home domain policy control function network element and the home domain session management function network element, that a first HR session is to be established, and that the first HR session needs to use the MEC service.

Regarding the technical effects brought about by the fifth aspect and the respective implementations of the fifth aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the first to fourth aspects and the respective implementations thereof.

In a sixth aspect, a sixth communication method is provided, which may be performed by a sixth communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device, such as a chip system, capable of supporting the functions required by the communication apparatus to implement the method. Illustratively, the communication device develops a functional network element for the network. The following describes an example of the communication device as a network development function network element of the visited domain. The method comprises the following steps: the network element of the visited domain network development function receives the information of the AF request, wherein the information of the AF request comprises the identification information of the public land mobile network of the home domain and/or the identification information of the roaming terminal; the visited domain network development function network element sends the AF request information to the visited domain data management network element according to the identification information of the home domain public land mobile network and/or the identification information of the roaming terminal. Or the network element of the visited domain network development function receives the information of the AF request, sends a query request message to the binding support function, and sends a response message to the application function. Wherein the information of the AF request includes an address of the roaming terminal. The inquiry request message includes the address of the roaming terminal, and is used for inquiring the visited domain policy control function network element corresponding to the roaming terminal. The response message indicates a visited domain policy control function network element corresponding to the first HR session.

Regarding the technical effects brought about by the sixth aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the first to fifth aspects and their respective implementations.

In a seventh aspect, a seventh communication method is provided, which may be performed by a seventh communication apparatus, which may be a communication device or a communication apparatus, such as a chip system, capable of supporting the functions required for the communication device to implement the method. Illustratively, the communication device is an application function. The following describes the communication device as an example of an application function. The method comprises the following steps: the application function sends AF request information to the network element of the visited domain network development function, wherein the AF request information comprises the identification information of the home domain public land mobile network and/or the identification information of the roaming terminal; alternatively, the information of the AF request includes the address of the roaming terminal.

Regarding the technical effects brought about by the seventh aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the first to sixth aspects and their respective implementations.

In an eighth aspect, an eighth communication method is provided, which can be performed by an eighth communication apparatus, which can be a communication device or a communication apparatus, such as a chip system, capable of supporting the functions required for the communication device to implement the method. Illustratively, the communication device is a binding support function. The following describes the communication device as an example of the binding support function. The method comprises the following steps: the binding support function receives a registration request from the visited domain policy control function, where the registration request is used to request a binding relationship between a first home routing session of a roaming terminal and a network element of the visited domain policy control function; the binding support function binds the first HR session with the visited domain policy control function network element according to the registration request.

In a possible implementation, the binding support function further receives a query request from the visited domain network development function network element, the query request being for requesting a visited domain policy control function network element corresponding to the first HR session. The binding support function sends a query response message to the visited domain network development function network element, the query response message indicating a visited domain policy control function network element corresponding to the first HR session.

Regarding the technical effects brought about by the eighth aspect and the implementation manner thereof, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the first to seventh aspects and the respective implementation manners thereof.

In a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication device may be the communication device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. The communication device has the functions of the communication device. The communication device is, for example, a visited domain policy control function network element according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. Alternatively, the communication device is, for example, a visited domain session management network element as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects. Alternatively, the communication device is, for example, a visited domain access and mobility management network element as set forth in any one of the first to fourth aspects. Alternatively, the communication device is, for example, a home domain session management network element as described in the fifth aspect. Alternatively, the communication device is, for example, a visited domain network open function network element in the sixth aspect. Alternatively, the communication device is, for example, the application function described in the seventh aspect. Alternatively, the communication device is, for example, the binding support function described in the eighth aspect.

In an alternative implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). The transceiver unit can realize a transmission function and a reception function, and may be referred to as a transmission unit (sometimes referred to as a transmission module) when the transceiver unit realizes the transmission function, and may be referred to as a reception unit (sometimes referred to as a reception module) when the transceiver unit realizes the reception function. The transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be the same functional module, which is called a transceiver unit, and which can implement a transmitting function and a receiving function; alternatively, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be different functional modules, and the transmitting and receiving unit is a generic term for these functional modules. These units (modules) may perform the corresponding functions in the method examples described in any of the above first to eighth aspects, and are specifically referred to in the method examples and are not described here in detail.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be the communication device in the ninth aspect of the above embodiment, or a chip system provided in the communication device in the ninth aspect. The communication device comprises a communication interface and a processor, and optionally a memory. Alternatively, the communication device includes a processor and a memory. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a transceiver. Wherein the memory is for storing a computer program or instructions or data, and the processor is coupled to the memory, the communication interface (or transceiver) and when the processor reads the computer program or instructions or data, causes the communication device to perform the functions of the method according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus including an input-output interface and a logic circuit. The input-output interface is used for inputting and/or outputting information. The logic circuit is for performing the method described in any one of the first to eighth aspects.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and may further include a memory and/or a communication interface, for implementing the method in any of the first to eighth aspects. In a possible implementation, the chip system further includes a memory for storing a computer program. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, where the communication system includes one or more network elements of a visited domain policy control function network element, a visited domain session management network element, a visited domain access and mobility management network element, a network opening function network element, an application function network element, and a binding support function, and optionally, the communication system may further include a data management network element. The visited domain policy control function network element is a communication device capable of implementing the function of the visited domain policy control function network element according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. The visited domain session management network element is a communication device capable of implementing the functions of the visited domain session management network element according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and a data management network element. The visited domain access and mobility management network element is a communication device capable of implementing the functionality of the visited domain policy control function network element described in the fifth aspect. The network open function element is a communication device capable of realizing the function of the network open function element described in the sixth aspect. The application function network element is a communication device capable of realizing the function of the application function network element described in the seventh aspect. The binding support function is a communication device capable of realizing the function of the binding support function described in the eighth aspect.

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed, implements the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects.

In a fifteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising: computer program code which, when run, causes the method of any one of the first to eighth aspects described above to be performed.

Advantageous effects of the above-described ninth to fifteenth aspects and implementations thereof may be referred to the description of the advantageous effects of the first to eighth aspects, or the first to eighth aspects and implementations thereof.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a network architecture of a local breakout roaming scenario;

fig. 2 is a flow chart of a first communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a flow chart of a second communication method according to 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 a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical scheme provided by the application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: fifth generation (5th generation,5G), e.g., new Radio (NR) systems. The technical scheme provided by the application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as a sixth generation mobile communication system. The technical solution provided by the present application may also be applied to device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (machine to machine, M2M) communication, machine type communication (machine type communication, MTC), and internet of things (internet of things, ioT) communication systems or other communication systems.

As an example, please refer to fig. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a network architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. The network architecture comprises a home domain public land mobile network and a visiting domain public land mobile network. The home domain public land mobile network characterizes a home operator of a subscriber for a public land mobile network subscribed by a User Equipment (UE). The visited domain public land mobile network is the public land mobile network accessed after the UE leaves the coverage of the home domain public land mobile network. It will be appreciated that when a UE leaves the coverage of the home domain public land mobile network for mobility or other reasons, the following conditions are met if there is a certain public land mobile network: 1) Can cover the current location of the UE, 2) the operator signs a roaming agreement with the operator of the public land mobile network of the home domain of the UE, then the UE can access the public land mobile network, which is the visited domain public land mobile network. The behavior of the UE accessing the visited domain public land mobile network may be referred to as roaming. Roaming scenarios can be classified into local outbound (LBO) roaming and HR roaming. Fig. 1 exemplifies an HR roaming architecture as the network architecture.

The visiting domain public land mobile network comprises network slice selection network elements, strategy control network elements, access management network elements, session management network elements and the like, and the network elements can communicate based on a service method. In addition, the access management network element and the UE can communicate through an N1 interface, the access management network element and the access network can communicate through an N2 interface, the session management network element and the user plane network element can communicate through an N4 interface, the UE and the access network can communicate, the access network and the user plane network element can communicate through an N3 interface, and the user plane network element and the data network can communicate through an N6 interface. The policy control network element and the access management network element may communicate via an N15 interface. The visited domain policy control network element and the home domain policy control network element may communicate over an N24 interface.

The home domain public land mobile network comprises unified data management network elements, session management network elements, strategy control network elements, application network elements and the like, and the network elements can communicate with each other based on a service method. The authentication service network element and the unified data management network element can communicate through an N13 interface, and the unified data management network element and the session management network element can communicate through an N10 interface. The session management network element and the policy control network element may communicate via an N7 interface, the policy control network element and the AF may communicate via an N5 interface, and the session management network element and the user plane network element may communicate via an N4 interface. When roaming, the UE accesses the visiting domain public land mobile network, and the visiting domain public land mobile network and the access management network element, the session management network element and the like in the home domain public land mobile network are communicated, so that the network element in the visiting domain public land mobile network can be communicated with the network element in the home domain public land mobile network.

It will be appreciated that the visited domain public land mobile network and the home domain public land mobile network may both have the same functional network element, e.g. the visited domain public land mobile network comprises a session management function (seesion management function, SMF) and the home domain public land mobile network also comprises an SMF. In order to distinguish the visiting domain public land mobile network from the home domain public land mobile network, the network element in the visiting domain public land mobile network is marked as a visiting network element, and the network element in the home domain public land mobile network is marked as a home network element. For example, the visited domain public land mobile network includes an SMF denoted as a visited domain SMF (V-SMF), and the home domain public land mobile network includes an SMF denoted as a home domain SMF (H-SMF).

The following briefly describes the network elements shown in fig. 1.

1) The UE has a wireless transceiving function, and can transmit signals to or receive signals from the network device. User equipment, sometimes also referred to as terminal equipment, terminals, access stations, UE stations, remote stations, wireless communication devices, or user equipment, etc. In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device is used for connecting people, objects, machines and the like, and can be widely used in various scenes, for example, but not limited to the following scenes: cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D), V2X, machine-to-machine/machine-like communication (M2M/MTC), internet of things (internet of things, ioT), virtual Reality (VR), augmented reality (augmented reality, AR), industrial control (industrial control), unmanned driving (self driving), remote medical (remote medical), smart grid (smart grid), smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city (smart city), end devices for scenes such as unmanned aerial vehicle, robot, etc. By way of example, and not limitation, in embodiments of the application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may refer to a device for implementing a function of the terminal, or may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, for example, a chip system, and the device may be installed in the terminal device. For example, the terminal device may also be a vehicle detector. In the embodiment of the application, the chip system can be composed of chips, and can also comprise chips and other discrete devices. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the terminal is a terminal device, which is described in the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal or the terminal device is described by taking UE as an example, and the user device may have other names, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

2) The access network equipment comprises access network equipment and/or core network equipment which are accessed to the mobile communication system by the terminal equipment in a wireless mode. The access network devices include, for example, radio access network (radio access network, RAN) devices. Access network devices include, but are not limited to, evolved base stations (evovednode B) in an LTE system or long term evolution advanced (long term evolution-advanced, LTE-a), which may be referred to simply as enbs or e-nodebs. An eNB is a device deployed in a radio access network to satisfy the fourth generation mobile communication technology (the fourth generation, 4G) standard to provide a wireless communication function for terminal devices. The network device may also be a new radio controller (new radio controller, NR controller), may be a (gnod B, gNB) in the fifth generation mobile communication technology (the 5th generation,5G) system, may be a centralized network element (centralized unit), may be a new radio base station, may be a remote radio module, may be a micro base station (also called a small station), may be a relay, may be a distributed network element (distributed unit), may be a macro base station of various forms, may be a transmission reception point (transmission reception point, TRP), a transmission measurement function (transmission measurement function, TMF) or a transmission point (transmission point, TP), or any other radio access device. The network devices may also include a radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), a wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, wifi) Access Point (AP), or a baseband pool (BBU pool) and RRU in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access netowrk, CRAN), among others. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific technology and the specific equipment form used by the network equipment. The network device may correspond to an eNB in a 4G system and to a gNB in a 5G system. In addition, the base station in the embodiment of the present application may include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU), and a plurality of DUs may be centrally controlled by one CU. In addition, in some embodiments, a Control Plane (CP) and a User Plane (UP) of the CU may be implemented separately and separated into different entities, which are a control plane CU entity (CU-CP entity) and a user plane CU entity (CU-UP entity), respectively. Taking a 5G system as an example, the core network device includes: access and mobility management functions (access and mobility management function, AMF), unified data management (unified data management, UDM), or UPF, etc.

3) An access management network element is mainly used for attachment, mobility management, tracking area update flow of terminals in a mobile network, which terminates non-access stratum (non access stratum, NAS) messages, completes registration management, connection management and reachability management, allocates tracking area list (TA list) and mobility management, and the like, and transparently routes session management (session management, SM) messages to session management network elements. In a 5G communication system, the access management network element may be an access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), and in future communication systems (such as a 6G communication system), the access and mobility management network element may still be an AMF network element, or may have other names, which is not limited by the present application.

4) The session management network element is mainly used for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification and release. Specific functions are for example assigning an internet protocol (internet protocol, IP) address to the terminal, selecting a user plane network element providing a message forwarding function, etc. In a 5G communication system, the session management element may be an SMF element, and in a future communication system (e.g., a 6G communication system), the session management element may still be an SMF element, or may have other names, which is not limited by the present application.

5) The user plane network element is mainly used for processing user messages, such as forwarding, charging, legal monitoring and the like. The user plane network element may also be referred to as a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session anchor (PDU session anchor, PSA). In a 5G communication system, the user plane element may be a user plane function (user plane function, UPF), and in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), the user plane element may still be a UPF element, or may have other names, and the present application is not limited thereto.

6) The policy control function network element has a subscriber subscription data management function, a policy control function, a charging policy control function, a quality of service (quality of service, qoS) control, and the like. In a 5G communication system, the policy control function element may be a PCF, and in a future communication system (e.g., a 6G communication system), the policy control function element may still be a PCF element, or may have other names, which is not limited by the present application.

7) The authentication service network element is mainly used for carrying out security authentication on the terminal equipment. In a 5G communication system, the authentication service element may be an authentication service function (authentication server function, AUSF), and in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), the authentication service element may still be an AUSF element, or may have other names, which is not limited by the present application.

8) The data management network element is mainly used for storing and/or managing subscription information, policy information and the like of the terminal equipment. The data management network element may be a unified data management network element and/or a unified data storage network element. A unified data management element, for example, in a 5G communication system, may be a unified data management (unified data management, UDM) element, which may still be a UDM element in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, although the application is not limited. A unified data storage network element, for example, in a 5G communication system, may be a unified data storage (unified data repository, UDR) network element, and in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), the unified data storage network element may still be a UDR network element, or may have other names, and the application is not limited.

9) Network capabilities open network elements that can controllably expose portions of the functionality of the network to applications. In a 5G communication system, the network capability opening network element may be a NEF, and in a future communication system (e.g., a 6G communication system), the network capability opening network element may still be a NEF network element, or may have other names, and the present application is not limited thereto.

10 Data Network (DN) is mainly used for an operator network providing data services for UEs. Such as the Internet, a third party's service network, an IP Multimedia Services (IMS) network, etc.

11 The binding support network element is mainly used for session binding and is used for selecting a strategy control function network element for a user. In a 5G communication system, the binding support network element may be a BSF, and in a future communication system (e.g., a 6G communication system), the network capability opening network element may still be a BSF network element, or may have other names, which is not limited by the present application.

It should be understood that the network elements described above may be either network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

For convenience of explanation, the present application uses an access management network element as an AMF network element, a session management network element as an SMF network element, an authentication service function network element as an AUSF network element, a unified data storage network element as a UDR network element, a unified data management network element as a UDM network element, a policy control function network element as a PCF network element, and a binding support network element as a BSF network element as an example. Further, the AMF network element is abbreviated as AMF, the SMF network element is abbreviated as SMF, the AUSF network element is abbreviated as AUSF, the UDR network element is abbreviated as UDR, the UDM network element is abbreviated as UDM, the PCF network element is abbreviated as PCF, and the binding support network element is abbreviated as BSF. Namely, the AMF described later in the application can be replaced by an access management network element, the SMF can be replaced by a session management network element, the AUSF can be replaced by an authentication service network element, the UDR can be replaced by a unified data storage network element, the UDM can be replaced by a unified data management network element, the PCF can be replaced by a policy control function network element, and the BSF can be replaced by a binding support function network element or a binding support network element.

12 "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or", describes an association relationship of an association object, and indicates that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may indicate: a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. "at least one item(s)" or the like below refers to any combination of these ten or more items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or plural.

And, unless specified to the contrary, references to "first," "second," etc. ordinal words of embodiments of the present application are used for distinguishing between multiple objects and are not used for limiting the order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. For example, the first session management policy and the second session management policy are merely for distinguishing between different session management policies, and are not indicative of the difference in priority or importance of the two session management policies, etc. In embodiments of the application, "if" and "if" are interchangeable, and "when …" is interchangeable with "case at …" unless otherwise specified.

It will be appreciated that the information of the AF request, which may also be referred to as AF transaction (transaction) etc., may influence the routing decisions of the session traffic. The information of the AF request comprises information for generating a session management policy, i.e. the information of the AF request may be used for determining a session management policy of the processing terminal device. In general, the policy control function network element acquires information of the AF request, so as to determine a session management policy of the processing terminal device according to the information of the AF request.

It should be appreciated that the information of the AF request needs to be sent to the policy control function network element. But visiting MEC service of visiting domain in roaming (routing) scene of Home-Route, according to current flow of HR roaming, anchor point of session established in roaming access course is deployed in user plane network element of public land mobile network (Home public land mobile network, HPLMN) of Home domain, so visiting domain network element can not realize management of HR session, and MEC service deployed in visiting domain can not be used.

In view of this, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may enable the information of the AF request of the VPLMN to be routed to the visited domain policy control function network element.

For example, the information of the AF request may be stored in the data management network element, so that the visited domain policy control function network element may obtain the information of the AF request from the data management network element. The information of the AF request of the VPLMN can be routed to the network element of the visited domain policy control function through the scheme, so that session management in the HR roaming scene is realized.

For another example, the visited domain policy control function network element may register the binding relationship between the roaming terminal and the visited domain policy control function network element with the binding support network element, so that the network opening function network element may obtain the visited domain policy control function network element corresponding to the roaming terminal from the binding support network element. The network opening function network element informs the visit domain application function network element of the visit domain strategy control function network element corresponding to the roaming terminal, so that the visit domain application function network element sends the AF request information to the visit domain strategy control function network element corresponding to the roaming terminal. Through the scheme, the information of the AF request of the VPLMN can be routed to the network element of the visited domain policy control function, so that session management in the HR roaming scene is realized.

The method provided by the embodiment of the application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of the present application, all steps indicated by broken lines are optional steps. The following embodiments are each exemplified as applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 1. It should be noted that, the network architecture shown in fig. 1 is merely taken as an example, and the network architecture to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable is not limited to fig. 1, and any network architecture capable of implementing the functions of the foregoing network elements is applicable to the embodiments of the present application. In addition, other network elements may be further included in the above-described network architecture, such as Network Functions (NF) repository function, NRF. The roaming terminal hereinafter may include a terminal in HR scene. In the embodiment of the application, the data management network element can be UDM or UDR. For convenience of description, the data management network element is hereinafter exemplified as UDR.

Referring to fig. 2, a flowchart of a first communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application is applied to the HR scenario described above. The specific flow of the communication method is described below.

S201, V-SMF receives a session establishment request from the UE, the session establishment request requesting establishment of the first HR session.

When the UE needs to use the MEC service, the UE may request to use the MEC service when requesting to set up a session from the V-SMF. For example, the UE sends a session establishment request to the V-SMF, the session establishment request requesting establishment of the first HR session, and the first session establishment request indicating that the first HR session uses MEC traffic. The first HR session uses MEC traffic, it being understood that the first HR session uses the MEC function of the VPLMN, the MEC traffic of the VPLMN, the MEC service of the VPLMN, or the MEC traffic of the visiting VPLMN, or the first HR session requires local traffic splitting.

The UE may send a session establishment request to the V-SMF through the V-AMF, which may be implemented through S201a and S201b, for example.

S201a, the UE sends a first session establishment request to the V-AMF, and correspondingly, the V-AMF receives the first session establishment request from the UE.

The first session establishment request is for requesting establishment of a first HR session. Alternatively, the first session establishment request may indicate to the V-AMF that the first HR session uses MEC services via the indication information. For example, the session establishment request may include indication information that may be used to indicate that the first HR session uses MEC traffic. It is also understood that the indication information is sent at session establishment. Wherein the indication information may explicitly indicate that the first HR session uses MEC services. For example, the indication information may be 1 bit information, and if the 1 bit value is "0", the first HR session of the UE may be indicated to use MEC service; alternatively, if the 1 bit has a value of "1", it may indicate that the first HR session of the UE uses MEC service. Alternatively, the indication information may occupy more bits, which is not limited. Alternatively, the indication information may also implicitly indicate that the first HR session uses MEC traffic. The indication information comprises, for example, a roaming identity, for example an ID of the VPLMN, by means of which the first HR session may be instructed to use the MEC service of the VPLMN indicated by the ID.

Optionally, the first session establishment request may further include identification information of the UE. The identification information of the UE may include one or more of the following: common public user identity, user permanent identity, data network name, or slicing information. It is understood that the user permanent identity may uniquely identify the UE, e.g., the user permanent identity may be (subscription permanent identifier, SUPI). The common public user identity is for example GPSI. The SUPI of the UE may be determined based on the GPSI of the UE. The data network name is (data network name, DNN), for example. Slice information, such as selection assistance information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-NSSAI) for a single network slice. Together, DNN and S-NSSAI may indicate a UE. The V-AMF may thus determine for which UE to establish a session based on the identification information of the UE included in the first session establishment request. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the name of the first session establishment request is not limited, for example, the first session establishment request may also be referred to as a first session modification request message or the like.

Alternatively, the first session establishment request may not include the indication information. In this case, the V-AMF may determine whether the first HR session needs to be established for the UE according to the subscription information of the UE, and further determine whether the first HR session of the UE needs to use the MEC service according to the MEC service information of the home domain and/or the subscription information of the UE. For example, the UE registers with the V-AMF, so that the V-AMF stores subscription information of the UE. The V-AMF may determine whether a first HR session needs to be established for the UE based on the subscription information of the UE. If the V-AMF does not store the subscription information of the UE, the V-AMF can query other network elements for the subscription information of the UE. For example, the V-AMF may obtain the SUPI of the UE from the H-AUSF, and may obtain the subscription information of the UE from the home domain UDM with the SUPI of the UE as an index. The V-AMF sends SUPI to a home domain UDM, the home domain UDM inquires the subscription information of the UE corresponding to the SUPI, and the inquired subscription information of the UE is sent to the V-AMF.

S201b, the V-AMF sends a second session establishment request to the V-SMF, and correspondingly, the V-SMF receives the second session establishment request from the V-AMF.

After the V-AMF receives the first session establishment request from the UE, the V-SMF may be requested to establish a session. For example, the V-AMF may send a second session establishment request to the V-SMF, which may be used to request establishment of the first HR session. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the name of the second session establishment request is not limited, for example, the second session establishment request may also be referred to as a second session modification request. In addition, the implementation of the second session establishment request is not limited in this embodiment of the present application, for example, the second session establishment request may be an interface message between the V-AMF and the V-SMF, such as an N2 message, or may be other types of messages.

The second session establishment request may include information for establishing the first HR session. For example, the second session establishment request may include the indication information and identification information of the UE, such as SUPI of the UE. It should be appreciated that the V-AMF determines that a first HR session needs to be established for the UE and that the first HR session requires MEC traffic, the V-AMF may select an appropriate V-PCF for the first HR session and send information of the selected V-PCF to the V-SMF so that the V-SMF may request a session management policy to the V-PCF to manage the first HR session. In an example, the V-AMF may query the V-NRF or H-NRF for information of the V-PCF corresponding to the UE, including, for example, an ID of the V-PCF and/or an address of the V-PCF, etc. The V-AMF may send the information of the selected V-PCF to the V-SMF via a second session setup request. That is, the second session establishment request may also include information of the V-PCF. Alternatively, the information of the V-PCF may not be included in the second session establishment request, and the V-AMF may send the information of the selected V-PCF to the V-SMF through other information, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Alternatively, the indication information for indicating that the first HR session uses the MEC service may also be sent during the session establishment procedure, for example, by S201c and S201 d. I.e. the indication information is carried in the information of the interaction of the H-SMF and the V-SMF. Accordingly, after the V-AMF receives the first session establishment request, an appropriate H-SMF may be selected for the first HR session. For example, the V-AMF may query the V-NRF or H-NRF for information of the H-SMF corresponding to the UE, including, for example, an ID of the H-SMF and/or an address of the H-SMF, etc. The V-AMF may send information of the selected H-SMF to the V-SMF. For example, the V-AMF sends a second message to the V-SMF, the second message including information of the V-PCF and information of the H-SMF. The V-SMF may determine from the information of the H-SMF that the first HR session is to be established, and from the V-PCF may determine that the first HR session uses MEC traffic, so that the V-SMF may forward to the H-SMF a first session establishment request of the UE, as will be described in detail below.

Alternatively, the V-AMF may send the information of the V-PCF and the information of the H-SMF to the V-SMF through one message, or may send the information of the V-PCF and the information of the H-SMF to the V-SMF through two messages respectively. For example, the V-AMF may send the information of the selected H-SMF to the V-SMF through the second session setup request, i.e., the second session setup request may include the information of the H-SMF. Alternatively, the information of the H-SMF may not be included in the second session establishment request, and the V-AMF may transmit the information of the selected H-SMF to the V-SMF through other information.

S201c, the V-SMF sends a third session establishment request to the H-SMF, and the H-SMF receives a third session establishment request from the V-SMF, the third session establishment request requesting to establish the first HR session.

If the V-SMF receives a second session setup request from the V-AMF, the first session setup request of the UE may be forwarded to the H-SMF according to information that the second session setup request includes the H-SMF. For example, the V-SMF sends a third session establishment request to the H-SMF. It will be appreciated that the third session establishment request may comprise said indication information. The H-SMF receives the third session establishment request and may establish the first HR session for the UE.

S201d, the H-SMF sends a first response message of the third session establishment request to the V-SMF, and correspondingly, the V-SMF receives the first response message from the H-SMF.

The first response message may indicate a first HR session established by the H-SMF for the UE. For example, the first response message includes identification information of the first HR session, e.g. an ID of the first HR session. Optionally, the first response message may further include the indication information to indicate that the first HR session uses MEC service. Since whether the first HR session uses the MEC service or not can be decided by the H-SMF or the H-PCF according to the subscription information or the configuration information of the UE in the process of the HPLMN performing the first HR session establishment. Thus, when the first response message indicates that the first HR session uses MEC traffic, the V-SMF receives the first response message and may find and select the V-PCF through the V-NRF. It should be noted that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation of the first response message, for example, the first response message may also be referred to as a third message, may be an interface message between H-SMF and V-SMF, such as an N16 message, or may be other types of messages.

S202, the V-SMF sends a strategy request message to the V-PCF, and correspondingly, the V-PCF receives the strategy request message from the V-SMF.

The policy request message may be used to obtain a session management policy (SM policy) associated with the first HR session or request to obtain a policy for managing the first HR session. It should be understood that the session management policy for managing with the first HR session refers to the session management policy of the VPLMN associated with the first HR session. The specific names of the policy request messages are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the policy request message may also be referred to as a session management policy request message, or a session management policy association (SM policy association) message, or an association policy request message, or a session management association request message, etc. Since the first HR session needs to use the MEC traffic of the VPLMN, it can also be considered from this point of view that the policy request message can be used to instruct the UE that the first HR session requests to use the MEC traffic of the VPLMN.

The policy request message may include the indication information and may further include identification information of the UE and/or identification information of the first HR session. The identification information of the first HR session may include DNN and S-nsai corresponding to the UE, or include an ID of the first HR session. It is to be appreciated that DNN and S-NSSAI may indicate the first HR session, may also indicate a UE establishing the first HR session, etc.

S203, the V-PCF sends a subscription request message to the V-UDR, and correspondingly, the V-DUR receives the subscription request message from the V-PCF, wherein the subscription request message is used for requesting a notification message subscribing to the information of the AF request. S203 may also be considered as a subscription notification in which the V-PCF requests information of the AF request from the V-UDR.

The V-UDR may store information of an AF request corresponding to the identification information of the UE and/or the identification information of the first HR session. The V-PCF receives the policy request message and may send a subscription request message to the V-UDR to obtain information of the AF request associated with the first HR session from the V-UDR. The subscription request message is used for requesting a notification message subscribing to information requested by the AF. The subscription request message may include an index for acquiring information of the AF request corresponding to the first HR session, for example, identification information of the UE and/or identification information of the first HR session. The identification information of the UE may include one or more of GPSI, DNN, S-nsai, an ID of a group in which the UE is located, or an application descriptor of the UE. It should be appreciated that the UE may provide a group ID in which the UE is located or an application descriptor of the UE. Or, when the UE is registered, the V-AMF inquires the home domain that the group ID of the UE or the application descriptor of the UE can be obtained. The identification information of the first HR session may include DNN and S-NSSAI corresponding to the UE. The V-PCF may indicate that the information of the AF request corresponding to the UE needs to be acquired by transmitting the identification information of the UE to the V-UDR, and may reduce interaction of signaling without additionally transmitting a message dedicated to acquiring the information of the AF request. Similarly, the V-PCF may indicate that the information of the AF request corresponding to the first HR session needs to be obtained by sending the identification information of the first HR session to the V-UDR, and may also reduce signaling interaction without additionally sending a message dedicated to obtaining the information of the AF request.

S204, the V-UDR sends a notification message to the V-PCF, and the V-PCF correspondingly receives the notification message from the V-UDR, wherein the notification message comprises information of an AF request associated with the first HR session.

It should be appreciated that the AF request may indicate the ID, GPSI, or SUPI of the UE. The AF request is associated with an HR session, which may be understood to be associated with the HR session of the UE, or an HR session established at the VPLMN using a particular DNN-S-NSSAI, which is associated with the AF request. When the V-UDR receives the subscription request message, the V-UDR can query the AF request information corresponding to the first HR session according to the content included in the subscription request message, such as the identification of the first HR session, and then send the AF request information to the V-PCF. For example, the V-UDR sends a notification message to the V-PCF, the notification message including information of the AF request corresponding to the first HR session.

When the session is not established, the embodiment of the application can store the AF request information into the V-UDR. Thus, when the UE uses the MEC service, the V-PCF may be selected by the V-AMF, and the V-PCF obtains information of the AF request associated with the HR session established by the UE from the V-UDR. Thus, the information of the AF request associated with the HR session of the UE can reach the V-PCF. Therefore, even if the anchor point of policy control of the HR session established by the UE is in the H-PCF, the management of the HR session can be realized by acquiring the information of the AF request through the V-PCF.

Alternatively, the information of the AF request may be stored in the data management network element by the V-AF and/or V-NEF, in particular by S200a-S200 d.

S200a, V-AF sends AF request to V-NEF. Accordingly, the V-NEF receives the AF request from the V-AF.

The AF request may include information of the AF request, for example, identification information of the UE, related information of the session, related information of an application of the UE, such as an application descriptor, HPLMN ID, etc.

S200b, V-NEF inquires the identification information of the UE.

After the V-NEF receives the AF request, the UE corresponding to the AF request may be queried. For example, if the AF request includes GPSI, the V-NEF may query the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI according to the GPSI. If the AF request includes the HPLMN ID, when the V-NEF cannot inquire the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI, the V-NEF can inquire the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI from a data management network element (or NEF) of the corresponding HPLMN according to the HPLMN ID. Or if the V-NEF cannot query the UE corresponding to the GPSI and the AF request does not include the HPLMN ID, the V-NEF may query the HPLMN to which the GPSI belongs according to roaming subscription information of other operators, and query the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI to a data management network element (or H-NEF) of the HPLMN. For another example, if the AF request includes an application descriptor of the UE, the application descriptor of the UE may have a correspondence with DNN and S-nsai corresponding to the UE, and the V-NEF may acquire information such as DNN and S-nsai corresponding to the UE according to the application descriptor of the UE, thereby determining the SUPI of the UE.

S200c, the V-NEF sends the AF request information to the V-UDR, and the V-UDR receives the AF request information from the V-NEF.

The V-NEF may store the AF requested information to the V-UDR. For example, the V-NEF may send a storage request message to the V-UDR for requesting information of the storage AF request. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific name of the storage request message, for example, the storage request message may also be called an AF request storage request message, or a storage AF request, etc. The storage request message may include information of the AF request. The V-UDR receives the storage request message and can store the information of the AF request. The information of the AF request is associated with the identification information of the UE and/or the identification information of the first HR session, so that the identification information of the UE and/or the identification information of the first HR session can be used as an index to request the V-UDR for acquiring the information of the AF request.

S200d, the V-NEF sends a second response message of the AF request to the V-AF. Accordingly, the V-AF receives the second response message from the V-NEF.

The second response message may indicate that the information of the AF request has been stored in the V-UDR, i.e. that the information of the AF request has been stored successfully, or the second response message may indicate that the information of the AF request has failed to be stored. After the V-NEF stores the information of the AF request to the V-UDR, a second response message may be sent to the V-AF.

It should be noted that, the execution timing of S200a-S200d is not limited in the embodiment of the present application, as long as the AF request associated with the UE or the first HR session of the UE is stored in the V-UDR. It is also considered that the execution of S200a to S200d is performed independently of S201 to S203, or the order of execution of S200a to S200d and S201 to S203 is not limited. In particular execution, S200a-S200d may not be performed if the V-DUR has stored information of AF requests associated with the UE or the first HR session of the UE.

S205, the V-PCF sends a session management policy to the V-SMF. Accordingly, the V-SMF receives the session management policy from the V-PCF.

A session management policy may be used to manage the first HR session. The V-PCF sends the session management policy to the V-SMF, which may also be considered as a response message to the V-SMF sending a policy request message, the response message including the session management policy. Session management policies, including policy and charging control rules (policy and charging control rule, PCC rule). PCC rule may be used to identify a service, identify which service a message belongs to (network plane), provide policy control information, provide charging information for the service, and thus may be used for V-SMF generation of information including, for example, packet detection rules (packet detection rule, PDR) and corresponding forwarding action rules (forwarding action rule, FAR), qoS enforcement rules (QoS enforcement rules, QER), usage reporting rules (usage reporting rules, URR), etc.

After the V-PCF receives the information of the AF request, a session management policy may be generated according to the information of the AF request, and the session management policy may be sent to the V-SMF. Or the V-PCF receives the AF request information, and the AF request information can be sent to the H-PCF, and the H-PCF generates a session management strategy according to the AF request information so as to realize session adjustment of the home domain. The H-PCF can send the session management policy to the V-SMF through the V-PCF, and can also send the session management policy to the V-SMF through the H-SMF. It is also understood that S205 includes three implementations. For example, a manner in which the V-PCF generates a session management policy based on the information of the AF request and directly transmits the session management policy to the V-SMF is referred to as implementation 1; the manner in which the H-PCF generates a session management policy based on the information of the AF request and forwards the session management policy to the V-SMF through the V-PCF is referred to as implementation 2; the manner in which the H-PCF generates a session management policy based on the information of the AF request and transmits the session management policy to the V-SMF through the H-SMF is referred to as implementation 3.

It should be appreciated that in implementation 1, the V-PCF generates a session management policy from the information of the AF request, which may be forked according to a data network access identity (DN Access Identifier, DNAI) or the like in the AF request. The V-PCF sends the session management policy to the V-SMF with less signaling interaction.

Implementation 2 and implementation 3 are mainly described below.

Implementation 2 may include S205 a-S205 c.

S205a, the V-PCF sends the AF request information to the H-PCF, and the H-PCF receives the AF request information correspondingly.

The V-PCF may send the information of the AF request to the H-PCF via an interface message between the V-PCF and the H-PCF, e.g., an N24 message.

S205b, the H-PCF sends the first session management policy to the V-PCF, and the V-PCF receives the first session management policy from the H-PCF accordingly.

S205c, the V-PCF sends a second session management policy to the V-SMF, and the V-SMF receives the second session management policy from the V-PCF accordingly.

The H-PCF generates a first session management policy according to the AF request information and sends the first session management policy to the V-PCF. Accordingly, the V-PCF receives the first session management policy. The V-PCF receives the first session management policy and forwards the first session management policy to the V-SMF, and the first session management policy and the second session management policy are the same session management policy. Alternatively, the V-PCF may generate a new session management policy, e.g., referred to as a second session management policy, based on the first session management policy and the received AF request, which may or may not be the same. For example, a first session management policy may indicate that local breakout is performed at the VPLMN and a second session management policy determines specific breakout rules.

Implementation 3 may include S205a, S205 d-S205 e.

S205d, the H-PCF sends a first session management policy to the H-SMF. Accordingly, the H-SMF receives the first session management policy from the H-PCF.

S205e, H-SMF sends the first session management policy to V-SMF. Accordingly, the V-SMF receives the first session management policy from the H-SMF.

After the H-SMF receives the first session management policy, the first session management policy may be forwarded to the V-SMF. For example, the H-SMF may forward the first session management policy to the V-SMF via an interface message, such as an N16 message, between the H-SMF and the V-SMF. Optionally, the H-SMF may also send the identification information of the first HR session to the V-SMF, where the H-SMF may send the first session management policy and the identification information of the first HR session through an N16 message. Alternatively, the H-SMF may send the first session management policy and the identification information of the first HR session, respectively, via different N16 messages.

The transmission path of the first HR session may be adjusted according to the received session management policy, either after the V-SMF receives the second session management policy from the V-PCF or after the V-SMF receives the first session management policy from the H-SMF or after the V-SMF receives the packet processing rules from the H-SMF.

It should be noted that, in specific implementations, one or more of implementation 1-implementation 3 may be performed, and the implementation is not limited in particular. In addition, implementation 1-implementation 3 are all optional ways, and thus are illustrated in dashed lines in fig. 2.

Referring to fig. 3, a flowchart of a second communication method according to an embodiment of the present application is applied to the HR scenario described above. The specific flow of the communication method is described below.

S301, V-SMF receives a session establishment request from the UE requesting to establish the first HR session.

The UE may send a session establishment request to the V-SMF through the V-AMF, which may be achieved through S301a and S301b, for example.

S301a, the UE sends a first session establishment request to the V-AMF, and correspondingly, the V-AMF receives the first session establishment request from the UE.

S301b, the V-AMF sends a second session establishment request to the V-SMF, and correspondingly, the V-SMF receives the second session establishment request from the V-AMF.

Wherein S301a may refer to the related content of S201a, and S301b may refer to the related content of S201b, except that the second session establishment request may be a session context establishment request message.

Similar to fig. 2, optionally, indication information for indicating that the first HR session uses MEC service may also be sent during session establishment, e.g. by S301c and S301 d.

S301c, the V-SMF sends a third session establishment request to the H-SMF, and the H-SMF receives a third session establishment request from the V-SMF, the third session establishment request requesting to establish the first HR session. Wherein, S301c may refer to the related content of S201c, which is not described herein.

S301d, the H-SMF sends a first response message to the V-SMF for the third session establishment request, and the V-SMF receives the first response message from the H-SMF, accordingly. Wherein S301d may refer to the related content of S201d, and is different from S201d in that the first response message may further include address information of the UE allocated by the H-SMF for the first HR session, for example, an internet protocol (Internet protocol, IP) address of the UE, and further, for example, a media access control (media access control, MAC) address of the UE, etc.

The V-SMF receives the first response message, and may acquire address information of the UE from the first response message. The address information of the UE may be used for the V-PCF to register with the V-BSF a binding relationship of the V-PCF with the first HR session of the UE. The following is described in detail below and is not described here.

S302, the V-SMF sends a strategy request message to the V-PCF, and correspondingly, the V-PCF receives the strategy request message from the V-SMF. The specific implementation of S302 may refer to the related content of S202, which is different from S202 in that the policy request message further includes address information of the UE. Alternatively, the V-PCF may send the address of the UE to the V-SMF via other information. For example, the V-SMF sends a first message to the V-PCF, the first message including the address of the UE. So that the V-PCF may then register the binding relationship of the V-PCF and the first HR session of the UE with the V-BSF based on the address information of the UE.

S303, the V-PCF sends a registration request to the V-BSF, and correspondingly, the V-BSF receives the registration request from the V-PCF.

The registration request may be used to register the binding of the information of the V-PCF with the V-BSF and the first HR session. If a V-PCF has a binding relationship with a first HR session, the V-PCF may be considered to serve the first HR session, or the V-PCF may manage the first HR session. From this point of view, the registration request may be for registering with the V-BSF for the V-PCF serving the first HR session, or the registration request may be for registering with the V-BSF for the V-PCF managing the first HR session. It should be appreciated that the V-PCF may be used to manage sessions, binding the V-PCF for the first HR session, and that the session management policy, i.e. the registration request may be used to bind the session management policy, may also be understood to be bound for the first HR session. It should be noted that, the specific name of the registration request is not limited in the embodiment of the present application, for example, the registration request may also be referred to as a service registration request, a management registration request, a session management policy binding request, and the like.

The registration request may include information of the V-PCF and information of the first HR session. Wherein the information of the V-PCF may include one or more of the following: an instance (instance) ID of the V-PCF, an address of the V-PCF, or an ID of a collection of PCFs where the V-PCF is located. The information of the first HR session may include SUPI of the UE and address of the UE, or DNN and S-nsai of the UE, and address of the UE. The V-BSF receives the registration request and binds the first HR session with the V-PCF according to the information of the UE and the information of the V-PCF in the registration request.

S304, the V-PCF sends a second response message of the registration request to the V-SMF, and correspondingly, the V-SMF receives the second response message from the V-PCF.

The second response message may indicate that the V-PCF has registered with the V-BSF for the binding of the information of the V-PCF with the first HR session or that the binding of the information of the V-PCF with the first HR session fails to be stored. After the V-PCF registers the binding relationship of the information of the V-PCF with the first HR session with the V-BSF, a second response message may be sent to the V-SMF. It should be noted that, the specific name of the second response message in the embodiment of the present application is not limited. For example, the second response message may also be referred to as a service registration response, a management registration response, a session management policy binding response, and the like.

In the process of establishing the session, when the V-SMF determines that the UE uses the MEC service, the V-PCF can be selected or the V-PCF selected by the V-AMF can be determined. The V-SMF may also obtain the address of the UE from the H-SMF, thereby registering the binding of the first HR session and the V-PCF with the V-BSF according to the address of the UE. Thus the V-AF queries the V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session through the V-BSF, and sends the information of the AF request to the V-PCF. The information of the AF request of the VPLMN can be routed to the V-PCF, so that session management in the HR roaming scene is realized.

Wherein the V-AF may query the V-BSF for the V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session through the V-NEF. Specifically, the method can be realized through S305-S307.

S305, the V-AF sends an AF request to the V-NEF, and the V-NEF receives the AF request from the V-AF.

The AF request may include address information of the UE for querying the V-PCF corresponding to the UE or the first HR session. Optionally, the AF request may further include identification information of the UE, related information of the session, related information of an application of the UE, such as an application descriptor, HPLMN ID, etc.

S306, the V-NEF sends a query request message to the V-BSF, wherein the query request message is used for querying the V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session.

After the V-NEF receives the AF request, the UE corresponding to the AF request may be queried. For example, the V-NEF sends a query request message to the V-BSF for querying the V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session. If the AF request includes GPSI, the V-NEF can inquire the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI according to the GPSI. If the AF request includes the HPLMN ID, when the V-NEF cannot inquire the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI, the V-NEF can inquire the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI from a data management network element or NEF of the corresponding HPLMN according to the HPLMN ID. Or if the V-NEF cannot query the UE corresponding to the GPSI and the AF request does not include the HPLMN ID, the V-NEF may query the HPLMN to which the GPSI belongs according to roaming subscription information of other operators, and query the SUPI corresponding to the GPSI to a data management network element (or H-NEF) of the HPLMN. For another example, if the AF request includes an application descriptor of the UE, the application descriptor of the UE may have a correspondence with DNN and S-NSSAI corresponding to the UE, and the V-NEF may acquire DNN and S-NSSAI corresponding to the UE according to the UE application descriptor, thereby determining SUPI of the UE. The V-NEF may query the V-BSF for the V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session based on the SUPI and/or address information of the UE.

S307, the V-NEF sends a third response message to the V-AF, and correspondingly, the V-AF receives the third response message from the V-NEF.

The third response message may be used to indicate a V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session, e.g., the third response message includes information of the V-PCF, e.g., an address of the V-PCF. Whereby the V-AF receives the third response message, the V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session may be determined. The specific name of the third response message is not limited in the embodiment of the present application, for example, the third response message may be referred to as a query response message.

S308, the V-AF sends the AF request information associated with the first HR session to the V-PCF.

After the V-AF determines the V-PCF associated with the first HR session, information of the AF request associated with the first HR session may be sent to the V-PCF. Thus the AF request of the VPLMN can be routed to the V-PCF, thereby enabling management of the first HR session. It should be appreciated that the AF request may indicate the address of the UE, and that the AF request is associated with the HR session, which may be understood as being associated with the UE at that address.

S309, the V-PCF sends a session management policy to the V-SMF.

Similar to S205, the specific implementation of S309 may also include three implementations. For example, implementation 1, i.e., the V-PCF generates a session management policy based on the AF request and sends it directly to the V-SMF. Implementation 2, namely, the H-PCF generates a session management policy according to the information of the AF request, and the session management policy generated by the H-PCF is forwarded to the V-SMF through the V-PCF. Implementation 3, namely, the H-PCF generates a session management policy according to the information of the AF request, and then forwards the session management policy generated by the H-PCF to the V-SMF through the H-SMF. Implementation 2 may be implemented through S309a-S309 c. Implementation 3 may be implemented through S309a, and S309d-S309 e.

S308a, the V-PCF sends the AF request information to the H-PCF, and the H-PCF receives the AF request information correspondingly.

S308b, the H-PCF sends the first session management policy to the V-PCF.

S308c, the V-PCF sends a second session management policy to the V-SMF.

The specific implementation of S309a-S309c may refer to the relevant content of S205 a-S205 c, which is not described herein.

S308d, the H-PCF sends a first session management policy to the H-SMF.

S308e, H-SMF sends the first session management policy to V-SMF.

The specific implementation of S309a-S309c may refer to the relevant content of S205 d-S205 e, which are not described herein.

It should be noted that, in specific implementations, one or more of implementation 1-implementation 3 may be performed, and the implementation is not limited in particular. In addition, implementation 1-implementation 3 are all optional ways, and thus are illustrated in dashed lines in fig. 3.

In the embodiment provided by the application, the method provided by the embodiment of the application is introduced from the angles of interaction between the HLPMN and the VPLMN comprising network elements respectively. In order to implement the functions of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, correspondingly, the embodiment of the present application also provides a corresponding communication device, where the communication device may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and implement the functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of a hardware structure and a software module. Some of the functions described above are performed in a hardware configuration, a software module, or a combination of hardware and software modules, depending on the specific application of the solution and design constraints.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication device. Communication devices for implementing the above method in the embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 400 may include a processing module 410 and a transceiver module 420. Optionally, a storage unit may be included, which may be used to store instructions (code or programs) and/or data. The processing module 410 and the transceiver module 420 may be coupled to the storage unit, for example, the processing module 410 may read instructions (codes or programs) and/or data in the storage unit to implement the corresponding methods. The units can be independently arranged or partially or fully integrated.

It should be appreciated that the processing module 410 may be a processor or controller, such as a general purpose central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), general purpose processor, digital signal processing (digital signal processing, DSP), application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuits, ASIC), field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic device, transistor logic device, hardware components, or any combination thereof. Which may implement or perform the various exemplary logic blocks, modules and circuits described in connection with this disclosure. The processor may also be a combination that performs the function of a computation, e.g., including one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and so forth. Transceiver module 420 is an interface circuit of the device for receiving signals from other devices. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the transceiver module 420 is an interface circuit of the chip for receiving signals from other chips or devices, or an interface circuit of the chip for transmitting signals to other chips or devices.

The communication device 400 may be a policy control function element, a session management function element, an access and mobility management function element, a network open function element, an application function element, a data management element, or a binding support function in the above embodiments. The communication device 400 may also be a chip for policy control function network elements, session management function network elements, access and mobility management function network elements, network opening function network elements, application function network elements, data management network elements, or binding support functions. For example, when the communication device 400 is a policy control function network element, a session management function network element, an access and mobility management function network element, a network opening function network element, an application function network element, a data management network element, or a binding support function, the processing module 410 may be, for example, a processor, and the transceiver module 420 may be, for example, a transceiver. Alternatively, the transceiver may comprise radio frequency circuitry and the storage unit may be, for example, a memory. For example, when the communication apparatus 400 is a chip for a policy control function network element, a session management function network element, an access and mobility management function network element, a network opening function network element, an application function network element, a data management network element, or a binding support function, the processing module 410 may be, for example, a processor, and the transceiver module 420 may be, for example, an input/output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like. The processing module 410 may execute computer-executable instructions stored in a memory unit, optionally, a memory unit in the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc., and the memory unit may also be a memory unit in the network device, the terminal, or the location management device, which is located outside the chip, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device, a random access memory (random access memory, RAM), etc., that may store static information and instructions.

In one possible implementation, the communications apparatus 400 can correspondingly implement the behavior and functions of the PCF (e.g., V-PCF or H-PCF) in the method embodiment described above, where the communications apparatus 400 may be the PCF, or a component (e.g., a chip or circuit) applied in the PCF, or a chip or chipset in the PCF, or a part of the chip for performing the related method functions. Transceiver module 420 may be used to support communication of the PCF with other network entities, such as between the PCF and the V-SMF, H-SMF, etc. shown in fig. 2 or 3. Processing module 410 is configured to control and manage actions of the PCF, e.g., processing module 410 is configured to support the PCF to perform all operations of the PCF in the embodiment of fig. 2 or fig. 3 except for the transceiving.

For example, in some examples, the transceiver module 420 is configured to receive a policy request message for V-SMF that is used to obtain a session management policy associated with a first HR session of a roaming terminal. The processing module 410 is configured to obtain, from a visited domain data management network element, information of an AF request, where the information of the AF request is used to determine the session management policy, where the AF request is associated with a first HR session.

As an optional implementation manner, the policy request message includes one or more of the following corresponding to the roaming terminal: GPSI, SUPI, DNN, or S-NSSAI, or identification of the first HR session.

As an optional implementation manner, the visited domain data management network element is a V-UDR, and the processing module 410 obtains information of the AF request from the visited domain data management network element, including: the processing module 410 sends a subscription request message to the V-UDR through the transceiving module 420 for requesting a notification message subscribing to the information of the AF request, and receives a notification message carrying the information of the AF request through the transceiving module 420.

As an alternative implementation manner, the processing module 410 is further configured to generate the session management policy according to the information of the AF request; transceiver module 420 is also configured to send the session management policy to the V-SMF.

As an alternative implementation, transceiver module 420 is further configured to send the information of the AF request to the H-PCF, receive the first session management policy from the H-PCF, and send the second session management policy to the V-SMF. The first session management policy is determined based on the information of the AF request, and the second session management policy is generated based on the first session management policy.

In other examples, the transceiver module 420 is configured to receive a policy request message from the V-SMF, the policy request message configured to obtain a session management policy associated with a first HR session of the roaming terminal, the policy request message including an address of the roaming terminal; the transceiver module 420 is further configured to send a registration request to the BSF, where the registration request is used to register the binding relationship between the information of the communication device 400 and the first HR session; the transceiver module 420 is further configured to receive information of an AF request, where the information of the AF request is associated with the first HR session, and the information of the AF request is used to determine the session management policy.

As an alternative implementation, the transceiver module 420 is further configured to receive a first message from the V-SMF, where the first message includes an address of the roaming terminal.

As an alternative implementation, the registration request includes information of the first V-PCF and information of the first HR session, wherein the information of the first HR session includes an address of the roaming terminal.

In other examples, transceiver module 420 receives information from an AF request from a V-PCF and sends a first session management policy to the V-PCF. The first session management policy is determined based on the information of the AF request, and the first session management policy is used by the V-PCF to generate a second session management.

As an alternative implementation, the transceiver module 420 is further configured to send the first session management policy to the H-SMF.

In another possible implementation manner, the communications apparatus 400 can correspondingly implement the behaviors and functions of the SMF (including, for example, V-SMF) in the above method embodiment, where the communications apparatus 400 can be an SMF, a component (for example, a chip or a circuit) applied in the SMF, or a chip or a chipset in the SMF or a part of the chip for performing the related method functions. Transceiver module 420 may be used to support communication of the SMF with other network entities, such as between the SMF and the PCF or the like in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3. The processing module 410 is configured to control and manage the SMF, for example, the processing module 410 is configured to support the SMF to perform all operations except the PCF in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3.

For example, the processing module 410 is configured to determine that the first HR session of the roaming terminal uses MEC service; transceiver module 420 is configured to send a policy request message to the V-PCF and receive a session management policy. The policy request message is used to obtain a session management policy for the session with the first HR.

As an alternative implementation, transceiver module 420 is further configured to receive a second message from the V-AMF, where the second message includes information of the V-PCF and information of the H-SMF. The processing module 410 also uses information from the V-PCF and the H-SMF to determine that the first HR session uses MEC traffic.

As an alternative implementation manner, the transceiver module 420 is specifically configured to receive a session establishment request from the V-AMF, where the session establishment request is used to request establishment of the first HR session, and the session establishment request includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first HR session uses the MEC service; the processing module 410 is configured to determine that the first HR session uses MEC service according to the indication information. Alternatively, the transceiver module 420 is specifically configured to receive a third message from the H-SMF, where the third message includes indication information, where the indication information is used to instruct the first HR session to use the MEC service; the processing module 410 is configured to determine that the first HR session uses MEC service according to the indication information.

As an alternative implementation, transceiver module 420 is specifically configured to receive a session management policy from the V-PCF; alternatively, transceiver module 420 is specifically configured to receive session management policies from the H-SMF.

In another possible implementation manner, the communications apparatus 400 can correspondingly implement the actions and functions of the AMF (including, for example, the V-AMF) in the above method embodiment, where the communications apparatus 400 can be an AMF, a component (such as a chip or a circuit) applied in the AMF, or a chip or a chipset in the AMF or a part of the chip for performing the related method functions. Transceiver module 420 may be used to support communication of the AMF with other network entities, such as between the AMF and the PCF in the embodiment of fig. 2 or fig. 3, etc. The processing module 410 is configured to control and manage actions of the AMF, for example, the processing module 410 is configured to support the AMF to perform all operations except for the sending and receiving of the AMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3.

For example, the transceiver module 420 is configured to receive a first session establishment request from a roaming terminal, where the first session establishment request is configured to request establishment of a first HR session. The processing module 410 is configured to determine that the first HR session uses MEC traffic. The transceiver module 420 is further configured to send a second session establishment request to the V-SMF, where the second session establishment request is for requesting to establish the first HR session, and the second session establishment request includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate that the first HR session uses MEC service.

As an alternative implementation, the processing module 410 is further configured to select a V-PCF and H-SMF for the first HR session;

transceiver module 420 is configured to send a fourth message to the V-SMF, the fourth message including information of the V-PCF and information of the H-SMF.

In another possible implementation manner, the communications apparatus 400 can correspondingly implement the behaviors and functions of the NEF (including, for example, V-NEF) in the above method embodiment, where the communications apparatus 400 can be the NEF, a component (such as a chip or a circuit) applied in the NEF, or a chip or a chipset in the NEF or a part of a chip for performing the related method functions. Transceiver module 420 may be used to support communications of the NEF with other network entities, such as supporting communications between the NEF and AFs or the like in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 or 3. The processing module 410 is configured to control and manage actions of the NEF, for example, the processing module 410 is configured to support the NEF to perform all operations except for transceiving of the NEF in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3.

For example, the transceiver module 420 is configured to receive information of an AF request, where the information of the AF request includes identification information of the HPLMN and/or identification information of the roaming terminal, and the processing module 410 is configured to send, through the transceiver module 420, the information of the AF request to the visited domain data management network element according to the identification information of the HPLMN and/or the identification information of the roaming terminal.

For another example, the transceiver module 420 is configured to receive information of an AF request, where the information of the AF request includes an address of a roaming terminal; the processing module 410 is configured to send a query request message to the BSF through the transceiver module 420 according to the address of the roaming terminal, where the query request message includes the address of the roaming terminal and is used to query the V-PCF corresponding to the roaming terminal; transceiver module 420 is also configured to send a response message to the AF indicating the V-PCF corresponding to the roaming terminal.

In another possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus 400 may be configured to correspondingly implement the actions and functions of the AF in the above method embodiment, where the communication apparatus 400 may be the AF, a component (e.g. a chip or a circuit) applied in the AF, or a chip or a chipset in the AF or a part of the chip for performing the related method functions. Transceiver module 420 may be used to support communications between the AF and other network entities, such as supporting communications between the AF and the NEF or the like in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 or 3. The processing module 410 is configured to control and manage actions of the AF, for example, the processing module 410 is configured to support the AF to perform all operations except for the AF in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3.

For example, the transceiver module 420 is configured to send information of an AF request to the V-NEF, where the information of the AF request includes identification information of the HPLMN and/or identification information of the roaming terminal; alternatively, the information of the AF request includes an address of the roaming terminal.

In another possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus 400 may correspondingly implement the behaviors and functions of the BSF in the above method embodiment, where the communication apparatus 400 may be a BSF, or may be a component (such as a chip or a circuit) applied in the BSF, or may be a chip or a chipset in the BSF or a part of a chip for performing the related method functions. The transceiver module 420 may be used to support communication of the BSF with other network entities, such as supporting communication between the BSF and the PCF shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3, etc. The processing module 410 is configured to control and manage the BSF, for example, the processing module 410 is configured to support the BSF to perform all operations except the BSF in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3.

For example, transceiver module 420 is configured to receive a registration request from the V-PCF requesting registration of a binding relationship of a first HR session of the roaming terminal with the V-PCF. The processing module 410 binds the first HR session with the V-PCF based on the registration request.

As an alternative implementation, the transceiver module 420 is further configured to receive a query request message of the V-NEF and send a query response message to the V-NEF. The query request message is for requesting a V-PCF corresponding to a first HR session. The query response message indicates the V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session.

It should be appreciated that the processing module 410 in embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or processor-related circuit component and the transceiver module 420 may be implemented by a transceiver or transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 5, the communication device 500 provided by the embodiment of the present application is shown, where the communication device 500 may be a policy control function network element, capable of implementing the function of the policy control function network element in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, or the communication device 500 may be a session management network element, capable of implementing the function of the session management function network element in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application; alternatively, the communication device 500 may be an access and mobility management function network element, which can implement the functions of the access and mobility management function network element in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application; alternatively, the communication device 500 may be a network development function network element, which can implement the function of the network development function network element in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application; alternatively, the communication device 500 may be an application function network element, which can implement the function of the application function network element in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application; alternatively, the communication device 500 may be a binding support function network element, which can implement the function of the binding support function network element in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. Alternatively, the communication device 500 may also be a device capable of supporting a policy control function network element or a session management function network element or an access and mobility management function or a network development function network element or an application function network element or a binding support function network element to implement the corresponding function in the method provided by the embodiment of the present application. The communication device 500 may be a system-on-a-chip. In the embodiment of the application, the chip system can be formed by a chip, and can also comprise the chip and other discrete devices.

In a hardware implementation, the transceiver module 420 may be a transceiver, which is integrated in the communication device 500 to form the communication interface 510.

The communication device 500 includes at least one processor 520, where the processor 520 may be a CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits configured to control execution of programs according to aspects of the present application, and configured to implement or support functions of a policy control function element, a session management element, an access and mobility management function element, a network development function element, a data management element, an application function element, or a binding support function element in a method provided by the embodiment of the present application for the communication device 900. Reference is made specifically to the detailed description in the method examples, and details are not described here.

The communications apparatus 500 can also include at least one memory 530 for storing program instructions and/or data. Memory 530 is coupled to processor 520. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms for information interaction between the devices, units, or modules. Processor 520 may cooperate with memory 530. Processor 520 may execute program instructions and/or data stored in memory 530 to cause communications device 500 to implement a corresponding method. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor 520.

The communication device 500 may also include a communication interface 510, using any transceiver or the like, for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as a radio access network (radio access network, RAN), a wireless local area network (wireless local area networks, WLAN), a wired access network, etc. The communication interface 510 is for communicating with other apparatus over a transmission medium so that an apparatus for use in the communication apparatus 500 may communicate with other apparatus. Illustratively, when the communications apparatus 500 is a session management network element, the other device is a policy control function network element; or, when the communication device is a policy control function network element, the other device is a session management network element. Processor 520 may transmit and receive data using communication interface 510. The communication interface 510 may be a transceiver in particular.

The specific connection medium between the communication interface 510, the processor 520, and the memory 530 is not limited to the above embodiments of the present application. The memory 530, the processor 520, and the communication interface 510 are connected in fig. 5 by a bus 540, which is shown in bold lines in fig. 5, and the connection between other components is merely illustrative and not restrictive. The buses may be classified as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 5, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

In an embodiment of the present application, the processor 520 may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or perform the methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be embodied directly in a hardware processor for execution, or in a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor for execution.

The memory 530 may be, but is not limited to, ROM or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, RAM or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact disk, laser disk, optical disk, digital versatile disk, blu-ray disk, etc.), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. The memory may be stand alone and be coupled to the processor via a communication line. The memory may also be integrated with the processor.

Wherein the memory 530 is used for storing computer-executable instructions for performing aspects of the present application, and is controlled for execution by the processor 520. The processor 520 is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 530, thereby implementing the method provided by the above-described embodiment of the present application.

Alternatively, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may be referred to as application program codes, which are not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application.

The communication device in the above embodiment may be a terminal, a circuit, a chip applied to the terminal, or other combination devices, components, etc. having the terminal function. When the communication device is a terminal, the transceiver module may be a transceiver, may include an antenna, a radio frequency circuit, and the like, and the processing module may be a processor, for example: a central processing module (central processing unit, CPU). When the communication device is a component having the above terminal function, the transceiver module may be a radio frequency unit, and the processing module may be a processor. When the communication device is a chip or a chip system, the transceiver module may be an input/output interface of the chip or the chip system, and the processing module may be a processor of the chip or the chip system.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication system, in particular to the communication system which comprises one or more network elements of a strategy control function network element, a session management network element, an access and mobility management function network element, a network opening function network element, an application function network element, a data management network element or a binding support function network element. There is no limitation on the number of each network element.

Illustratively, the communication system includes a policy control function network element and a session management network element for implementing the relevant functions of the embodiments shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3 described above. The policy control function network element is used for implementing the functions of the relevant policy control function network element part of the embodiment of the present application, for example, the functions of the relevant visited domain policy control function network element part or the functions of the home domain policy control function network element part of the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3. The session management network element is configured to implement the functions of the session management network element portion related to the embodiment of the present application, for example, the functions of the session management network element related to the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3. Please refer to the related description in the above method embodiment, and the description is omitted here. Similarly, the AF is used to implement the function of the AF section related to the embodiment of the present application, for example, to implement the function of the AF related to the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3 described above. Please refer to the related description in the above method embodiment, and the description is omitted here. The NEF is used to implement the functions of the related NEF part of the embodiment of the present application, for example, to implement the functions of the related NEF of the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3. Please refer to the related description in the above method embodiment, and the description is omitted here. The UDR is used to implement the functions of the UDR part related to the embodiment of the present application, for example, to implement the functions of the UDR related to the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3. Please refer to the related description in the above method embodiment, and the description is omitted here. The BSF is used to implement the functions of the BSF part related to the embodiment of the present application, for example, to implement the functions of the BSF related to the embodiment shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3. Please refer to the related description in the above method embodiment, and the description is omitted here.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method performed by the policy control function element or session management element or AF, NEF, UDR, or BSF in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method performed by the policy control function element or session management element or AF, NEF, UDR, or BSF, in the embodiments shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3.

The embodiment of the application provides a chip system, which comprises a processor and can also comprise a memory, wherein the memory is used for realizing the functions of a strategy control function network element and a session management network element in the method. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices. The chip system may also include AF, NEF, UDR, BSF, etc.

The method provided by the embodiment of the application can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, produces a flow or function in accordance with embodiments of the present application, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (digital subscriber line, DSL), or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means, the computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc., that contains an integration of one or more available media, the available media may be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, tape), optical media (e.g., digital video disc (digital video disc, DVD)), or semiconductor media (e.g., SSD), etc.

In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise indicated, means "a singular noun or a plural noun", i.e. "one or more". "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or", describes an association relationship of an association object, and indicates that there may be three relationships, for example, a and/or B, and may indicate: a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the context-dependent object is an "or" relationship. For example, A/B, means: a or B. "at least one of" or the like means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c, represents: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, wherein a, b, c may be single or plural.

Various modifications and alterations of this application may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this application. Thus, it is intended that the present application also include such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the visited domain policy control function V-PCF receives a policy request message from a visited domain session management function V-SMF, wherein the policy request message is used for acquiring a session management policy associated with a first home routing HR session of the roaming terminal;

the V-PCF acquires information of an application function AF request from a visiting domain data management network element, wherein the information of the AF request is used for determining the session management policy, and the AF request is associated with the first HR session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the policy request message includes one or more of the following for the roaming terminal: the general public user identity GPSI, the user permanent identity SUPI, the data network name DNN, or the single network slice selection assistance information S-NSSAI, or the identity of said first HR session.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the visited domain data management network element is a visited domain unified data storage network element, and the V-PCF obtaining the information of the AF request from the visited domain data management network element comprises:

the V-PCF sends a subscription request message to the visitor domain unified data storage network element, wherein the subscription request message is used for requesting a notification message subscribing the information requested by the AF;

And the V-PCF receives the notification message, wherein the notification message carries the information of the AF request.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the method further comprises:

the V-PCF generates the session management strategy according to the information of the AF request;

the V-PCF sends the session management policy to the V-SMF.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the method further comprises:

the V-PCF sends the information of the AF request to a home domain PCF;

the V-PCF receives a first session management policy from the home domain PCF, the first session management policy being determined according to the AF request information;

the V-PCF sends a second session management policy to the V-SMF, the second session management policy generated from the first session management policy.

6. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a visiting domain policy control function V-PCF receives a policy request message from a visiting domain session management function V-SMF, wherein the policy request message is used for acquiring a session management policy of a visiting domain public land mobile network VPLMN associated with a first home route HR session of a roaming terminal, and the policy request message comprises an address of the roaming terminal;

The V-PCF sends a registration request to a binding support function BSF, wherein the registration request is used for registering the binding relation between the information of the V-PCF and the first HR session;

the V-PCF receives AF request information, the AF request information is associated with the first HR session, and the AF request information is used for determining the session management policy.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

the V-PCF receives a first message from the V-SMF, the first message comprising an address of the roaming terminal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the registration request includes information of the V-PCF and information of a first HR session, wherein the information of the first HR session includes an address of the roaming terminal.

9. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the method further comprises:

the V-PCF sends the session management policy to the V-SMF.

10. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the method further comprises:

the V-PCF sends the information of the AF request to a home domain PCF;

11. A method of communication, comprising:

the home domain policy control function H-PCF receives the information of the AF request from the visiting domain policy control function V-PCF;

the H-PCF sends a first session management policy to the V-PCF, wherein the first session management policy is determined according to the information of the AF request, and the first session management policy is used for the V-PCF to generate a second session management policy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

the H-PCF sends the first session management policy to a home domain session management function H-SMF.

13. A method of communication, comprising:

the visiting domain session management function V-SMF determines a first home route HR session using edge computing MEC service of the roaming terminal;

the V-SMF sends a policy request message to a visiting domain policy control function V-PCF, wherein the policy request message is used for acquiring a session management policy of the session with the first HR;

The V-SMF receives the session management policy.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: the V-SMF receives a second message from a visiting domain access and mobility management function V-AMF, wherein the second message comprises information of the V-PCF and information of a home domain session management function H-SMF;

the V-SMF determining that the first HR session uses MEC traffic includes: and the V-SMF determines that the first HR session uses MEC service according to the information of the V-PCF and the information of the H-SMF.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the V-SMF determining that the first HR session uses edge computing MEC traffic comprises:

the V-SMF receives a session establishment request from the V-AMF, wherein the session establishment request is used for requesting to establish the first HR session, and the session establishment request comprises indication information which is used for indicating the first HR session to use MEC service; the V-SMF determines that the first HR session uses MEC service according to the indication information;

or the V-SMF receives a third message from the home domain SMF, the third message including indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that the first HR session uses MEC services; and the V-SMF determines that the first HR session uses MEC service according to the indication information.

16. The method of any of claims 13-15, wherein the V-SMF receiving the session management policy comprises:

the V-SMF receives the session management policy from the visited domain PCF;

alternatively, the V-SMF receives the session management policy from a home domain SMF.

17. A method of communication, comprising:

the visiting domain access and mobile management function V-AMF receives a first session establishment request from a roaming terminal, wherein the first session establishment request is used for requesting to establish a first home route HR session;

the V-AMF determines that the first HR session uses edge computing MEC traffic;

the V-AMF sends a second session establishment request to a visiting domain session management function V-SMF, wherein the second session establishment request is used for requesting to establish the first HR session, and the second session establishment request contains indication information, and the indication information is used for indicating the first HR session to use MEC service.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

the V-AMF selects a visited domain policy control function V-PCF and a home domain session management function H-SMF for the first HR session;

The V-AMF sends a fourth message to the V-SMF, wherein the fourth message comprises information of the V-PCF and information of the H-SMF.

19. A method of communication, comprising:

the network element V-NEF of the visited domain network development function receives the information of the AF request, wherein the information of the AF request comprises the identification information of the home domain public land mobile network HPLMN and/or the identification information of the roaming terminal;

and the V-NEF sends the AF request information to a visiting domain data management network element according to the identification information of the HPLMN and/or the identification information of the roaming terminal.

20. A method of communication, comprising:

the network element V-NEF of the visited domain network development function receives the information of the AF request, wherein the information of the AF request comprises the address of the roaming terminal;

the V-NEF sends a query request message to a Binding Support Function (BSF), wherein the query request message comprises the address of the roaming terminal and is used for querying a visited domain policy control function (V-PCF) corresponding to the roaming terminal;

and the V-NEF sends a response message to the application function AF, wherein the response message indicates the V-PCF corresponding to the roaming terminal.

21. A method of communication, comprising:

The application function AF sends AF request information to the visited domain network development function network element V-NEF, wherein the AF request information comprises home domain public land mobile network HPLMN identification information and/or roaming terminal identification information; alternatively, the information of the AF request includes an address of the roaming terminal.

22. A method of communication, comprising:

the binding support function BSF receives a registration request from a visiting domain policy control function V-PCF, wherein the registration request is used for requesting to register the binding relation between a first home route HR session of a roaming terminal and the V-PCF;

the BSF binds the first HR session with the V-PCF according to the registration request.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

the BSF receives a query request message from a visiting domain network development function network element V-NEF, wherein the query request message is used for requesting a V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session;

the BSF sends a query response message to the V-NEF, the query response message indicating a V-PCF corresponding to the first HR session.

24. A communication device, comprising: a processor and interface circuitry to receive signals from or transmit signals to the processor from or send signals to other communication devices than the communication device, the processor to implement the method of any of claims 1-5 by logic circuitry or executing code instructions; alternatively, the processor is configured to implement the method of any of claims 6-10 by logic circuitry or executing code instructions; alternatively, the processor is configured to implement the method of any of claims 11-12 by logic circuitry or executing code instructions; alternatively, the processor is configured to implement the method of any of claims 13-16 by logic circuitry or executing code instructions; alternatively, the processor is configured to implement the method of any of claims 17-18 by logic circuitry or executing code instructions; alternatively, the processor is configured to implement the method of claim 19 or 20 or 21 by logic circuits or executing code instructions; alternatively, the processor is configured to implement the method of any of claims 22-23 by logic circuitry or executing code instructions.

25. A computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions which, when executed, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-5, or to perform the method of any one of claims 6-10, or to perform the method of any one of claims 11-12, or to perform the method of any one of claims 13-16, or to perform the method of any one of claims 17-18, or to perform the method of claim 19 or 20 or 21, or to perform the method of any one of claims 22-23.

26. A computer program product, characterized in that the computer program product comprises a computer program which, when run, causes the method of any one of claims 1-5 or the method of any one of claims 6-10 or the method of any one of claims 11-12 or the method of any one of claims 13-16 or the method of any one of claims 17-18 or the method of claim 19 or 20 or 21 or the method of any one of claims 22-23 to be performed.

27. The communication system is characterized by comprising one or more network elements of session management network elements, strategy control function network elements, access and mobile management network elements, network development function network elements, application function network elements and binding support functions and data management network elements; wherein the policy control function network element is configured to perform the method according to any of claims 1-5 or the policy control function network element is configured to perform the method according to any of claims 6-10; the session management network element being adapted to perform the method of any of claims 13-16, the access and mobility management network element being adapted to perform the method of any of claims 17-18, the network development function network element being adapted to perform the method of claim 19 or 20, the application function network element being adapted to perform the method of claim 21, the binding support function being adapted to perform the method of any of claims 22-23.