WO2022033246A1 - Method and apparatus for managing session connection - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for managing a session connection. The method comprises: an SMF receiving a first message sent from an AMF, and according to the first message, determining whether a terminal moves out of a service area of the SMF; and when it is determined that the terminal has moved out of the service area of the SMF, the SMF modifying the current multi-access session connection into a single-access session connection, and sending, to the AMF, first indication information for indicating the single-access session connection. That is to say, in the embodiments of the present application, when it is determined that a terminal has moved out of a service area of an SMF and cannot execute a multi-access session connection, the SMF modifies the multi-access session connection into a single-access session connection, and informs an AMF of same, such that communication can be performed in a subsequent service by means of the single-access session connection, i.e. the subsequent service is prevented from being interrupted, thereby improving the user experience.

Description

Method and apparatus for managing session connections

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application with the application number 202010797810.X and the application title "Method and Apparatus for Managing Session Connections" filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on August 10, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference in this application.

technical field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and more for example, to a method and apparatus for managing session connections.

Background technique

The feature of access traffic steering, switching, splitting (ATSSS) mainly studies how to access the network in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) and non-3GPP (Non-3GPP, N3GPP) The selection, switching and distribution of service distribution paths are performed between access networks.

In the 5G architecture supporting ATSSS, a terminal can establish a single-access protocol data unit (PDU) session or a multi-access PDU (multi-access PDU session) between the terminal and a data network (DN). MA PDU) session. That is, the terminal can establish a PDU session through a 3GPP access network or an N3GPP access network, and can also establish a MA PDU session through a 3GPP access network and an N3GPP access network.

In the traditional solution, for an MA PDU session, when the terminal moves out of the service area (service area, SA) of the session management function (session management function, SMF) network element corresponding to the MA PDU session, the MA PDU session is released. After the MA PDU session is released, the terminal may re-initiate the MA PDU session establishment process. Since the terminal is not in the SMF SA corresponding to the MA PDU session, the session establishment request for requesting the MA PDU session will be rejected, resulting in service interruption and poor user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application provides a method and apparatus for managing session connections, which can avoid service interruption when a terminal moves out of an SMF SA, thereby improving user experience.

In a first aspect, a method for managing a session connection is provided, the method comprising: a first SMF receiving a first message from an AMF; and the first SMF determining, according to the first message, that a terminal has moved out of the first SMF's service area; when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the first SMF determines to modify the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection; the first SMF sends a message to the AMF first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection.

The first SMF receives the first message sent from the AMF, and determines whether the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the first message. In the case of determining that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the first SMF modifies the current multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection, and sends the first SMF indicating the single-access session connection to the AMF. an instruction message. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present application, the first SMF modifies the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when it is determined that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF and cannot perform the multi-access session connection, and informs the AMF helps subsequent services to communicate through a single-access session connection, that is, to avoid interruption of subsequent services, thereby improving user experience. It should be noted that the movement of the terminal out of the service area of the first SMF affects the 3GPP session branch in the original multi-access call-back link. Therefore, if the SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the SMF can change the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection, which is a non-3GPP session, so that the service will not be interrupted. Or, if the SMF changes the multi-access session connection to a 3GPP session, a single-access session connection, the subsequent network side will insert a second SMF (for example, I-SMF), and the service area of the third SMF includes the terminal's service area. The current location, therefore, can continue to provide services for the terminal through the second SMF. In this way, the service of the terminal will not be interrupted.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the first SMF receives a second message from the AMF; and the first SMF determines, according to the second message, that the terminal has moved into the first The service area of the SMF; the first SMF determines to modify the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection when the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF; the first SMF The SMF sends second indication information to the AMF, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection.

The AMF detects the location of the terminal and sends a second message to the first SMF. If the first SMF determines according to the second message that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF after moving out of the service area of the first SMF, the first SMF modifies the single-access session connection to the multiple-access session connection, and Send second indication information for indicating the connection of the multiple access session to the AMF. That is to say, in this embodiment of the present application, the first SMF modifies the single-access session connection to a multiple-access session connection when it is determined that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF again, and informs the AMF, which is helpful for subsequent Services can be communicated through multi-access session connections, thereby improving communication efficiency and improving user experience.

In some possible implementations, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

The multi-access session connection may include two branches, 3GPP session connection and N3GPP session connection. The single-access session connection may include any branch of the multi-access session connection, that is, the single-access session connection may be a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection. This increases the flexibility of single-access session connections.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the first SMF acquires policy information; and the first SMF determines, according to the policy information, when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF Next, the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

The policy information may directly indicate a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection, so that the first SMF can determine which branch of the multi-access session connection the single-access session connection is specifically according to the session connection indicated by the policy information. That is, through the direct indication of the policy information, the power consumption overhead of the first SMF is reduced.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the first SMF obtains load information; the first SMF determines, according to the load information, the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the Non-3GPP session The load status of the connection; the first SMF determines, according to the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the Non-3GPP session connection, when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the The single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

The first SMF may acquire load information, and indirectly determine the specific content of the single-access session connection through the load information. In this way, the first SMF can flexibly select the appropriate branch of the MA PDU session according to the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the N3GPP session connection, thereby ensuring that the service is not interrupted, and improving the communication quality of the subsequent services, further improving the user experience.

In some possible implementations, it is determined at the first SMF that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, and the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection In this case, the method further includes: the first SMF sends third indication information to the terminal through the second SMF, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal to transfer the service corresponding to the Non-3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection, and/or instructing the terminal to delete the Non-3GPP session connection.

If the first SMF determines that the terminal retains the branch of the 3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection after the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the second SMF may inform the terminal to transfer the service of the branch of the unreserved session connection to the terminal. Branch to the reserved session connection, thus avoiding service loss and further improving the user experience.

In some possible implementations, it is determined at the first SMF that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, and the single-access session connection is a Non-3GPP session in the multi-access session connection In the case of connection, the method further includes: the first SMF sends fourth indication information to the terminal, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the Non - 3GPP session connection, and/or instructing the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection.

If the first SMF determines that after the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the branch of the N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection is reserved, the terminal may be instructed to migrate the services of the branch of the unreserved session connection to the reserved session. Connected branches, thus avoiding the loss of business and further improving the user experience.

In some possible implementations, it is determined at the first SMF that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, and the single-access session connection is an N3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection In this case, the method further includes: when the first SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF again, sending fifth indication information to the terminal, where the fifth indication information uses to instruct the terminal to establish a 3GPP session connection.

If the first SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF again, the terminal can be informed to establish another branch 3GPP session connection again, so that the terminal communicates through the MA PDU session again, and the communication efficiency is improved.

In some possible implementations, when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, and the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, the method It also includes: in the case that the first SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF again, sending sixth indication information to the terminal through the second SMF, where the sixth indication information is used to indicate The terminal establishes a Non-3GPP session connection.

If the first SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF again, the second SMF can inform the terminal to establish another branch N3GPP session connection again, so that the terminal communicates through the MA PDU session again, and the communication efficiency is improved.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the first SMF sends the first indication information to the terminal.

The sending of the first indication information by the first SMF to the terminal may be implemented through transparent transmission of the AMF. The terminal modifies the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection according to the first indication information, which helps subsequent services to communicate through the single-access session connection, that is, avoids the interruption of subsequent services, thereby improving user experience .

In some possible implementations, the first message instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the first SMF.

If the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA, the AMF sends the first message to the first SMF. That is, the AMF instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the first SMF SA through the first message. That is to say, the AMF detects the movement of the terminal, and informs the first SMF that the first SMF SA has been moved out, and the first SMF can directly learn that the terminal has moved out of the first SMF SA. This saves the power consumption overhead of the first SMF judging whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

In some possible implementations, the first message includes location information of the terminal, and the method further includes: determining, by the first SMF, that the terminal moves out of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal service area.

The first SMF may determine whether the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal. For example, the first SMF may determine that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal. Or the first SMF determines that the terminal has not moved out of the service area of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal. That is, the AMF sends the location information of the terminal, and the first SMF determines whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA according to the location information, which saves the power consumption overhead of the AMF to determine whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

In a second aspect, a method for managing a session connection is provided, the method comprising: an AMF sending a first message to an SMF, where the first message is used to determine that a terminal moves out of a service area of the SMF; the AMF receives a message from the SMF; The first indication information of the SMF, where the first indication information is used to indicate a single-access session connection.

The first message sent by the AMF to the SMF, so that the SMF determines whether the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF according to the first message, and when it is determined that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, modifies the current multi-access session connection to Single access session connection. After that, the AMF receives the first indication information from the SMF. That is to say, when the SMF determines that the terminal cannot perform the multi-access session connection when it moves out of the service area of the SMF, it modifies the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection and informs the AMF, which helps subsequent services to be connected through a single-access session. The access session is connected for communication, that is, the interruption of subsequent services is avoided, thereby improving the user experience.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the AMF sends a second message to the SMF, where the second message is used to determine that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF; the AMF receives a message from the SMF. The second indication information of the SMF, where the second indication information is used to indicate a multi-access session connection.

The AMF detects the location of the terminal and sends a second message to the SMF. If the SMF determines according to the second message that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF again after moving out of the service area of the SMF, the SMF modifies the single-access session connection to a multi-access session connection, and sends a message indicating the multi-access session connection to the AMF. The second indication information of the connection of the access session. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present application, when the SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF again, the SMF modifies the single-access session connection to the multiple-access session connection, and informs the AMF, which helps subsequent services to be processed through multiple access sessions. The access session connection is used for communication, thereby improving communication efficiency and improving user experience.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the AMF, according to the second indication information, modifies the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection, so The association relationship of the single-access session connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID, SMF ID of the single-access session connection The association relationship between the identifier and the session identifier of the multi-access session connection.

In this way, the AMF updates the saved association relationship in time according to the second indication information, so that the association information saved by the AMF is consistent with the characteristics of the session.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: modifying, by the AMF, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection to the association relationship of the single-access session connection according to the first indication information, The association relationship of the single-access session connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID, SMF ID of the single-access session connection The association relationship between the identifier and the session identifier of the multi-access session connection.

In this way, the AMF updates the saved association relationship in time according to the first indication information, so that the association information saved by the AMF is consistent with the characteristics of the session.

In some possible implementations, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

The multi-access session connection may include two branches, 3GPP session connection and N3GPP session connection. The single-access session connection may include any branch of the multi-access session connection, that is, the single-access session connection may be a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection. This increases the flexibility of single-access session connections.

In some possible implementations, the first message instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the SMF.

If the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the SMF SA, the AMF sends the first message to the SMF. That is, the AMF instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the SMF SA through the first message. That is to say, the AMF detects the movement of the terminal, and informs the SMF when the SMF SA is detected, and the SMF can directly learn that the terminal has moved out of the SMF SA. This saves the power consumption overhead of SMF judging whether the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

In some possible implementations, the first message includes location information of the terminal, where the location information of the terminal is used to determine that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF.

The AMF sends the location information of the terminal, and the SMF determines whether the terminal moves out of the SMF SA according to the location information, which saves the power consumption overhead of the AMF to determine whether the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

In a third aspect, a method for managing session connections is provided, the method comprising: a terminal receiving first indication information from an SMF, where the first indication information is used to indicate a single-access session connection; An indication message, modifying the multi-access session connection to the single-access session connection.

The terminal receives the first indication information, and modifies the multi-access session connection to the single-access session connection according to the first indication information. That is to say, when the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF and cannot perform the multi-access session connection, the multi-access session connection is modified to a single-access session connection, which helps subsequent services to be connected through a single-access session. Session connection is used for communication, that is, interruption of subsequent services is avoided, thereby improving user experience.

In some possible implementations, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

The multi-access session connection may include two branches, 3GPP session connection and N3GPP session connection. The single-access session connection may include any branch of the multi-access session connection, that is, the single-access session connection may be a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection. This increases the flexibility of single-access session connections.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the terminal receives second indication information from the SMF, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection; The second indication information is to modify the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection.

The terminal modifies the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection, which helps subsequent services to communicate through the multi-access session connection, thereby improving communication efficiency and improving user experience.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the terminal receiving third indication information from the SMF; the terminal connecting the Non-3GPP session to a corresponding service according to the third indication information migrating to the 3GPP session connection; and/or the terminal deletes the Non-3GPP session connection according to the third indication information.

If the SMF determines that after the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, the branch of the 3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection is reserved, the terminal can be instructed to migrate the services of the branch of the unreserved session connection to the branch of the reserved session connection, Thus, the loss of services is avoided, and the user experience is further improved.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving, by the terminal, fourth indication information from the SMF; and, according to the fourth indication information, corresponding the terminal to the 3GPP session connection. and/or the terminal deletes the 3GPP session connection according to the fourth indication information.

If the SMF determines that the terminal retains the branch of the N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection after the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, it can inform the terminal to migrate the services of the branch of the unreserved session connection to the branch of the reserved session connection, Thus, the loss of services is avoided, and the user experience is further improved.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the terminal receives fifth indication information; and the terminal establishes the 3GPP session connection according to the fifth indication information.

If the SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF again, it can inform the terminal to establish another branch 3GPP session connection again, so that the terminal can communicate through the MA PDU session again, and the communication efficiency is improved.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: modifying, by the terminal, the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection according to the fifth indication information, The association relationship of the single-access session connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID, SMF ID of the single-access session connection The association relationship between the identifier and the session identifier of the multi-access session connection.

In this way, the terminal updates the saved association relationship in time according to the fifth indication information, so that the association information saved by the terminal is consistent with the characteristics of the session.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the terminal receiving sixth indication information; and the terminal establishing the Non-3GPP session connection according to the sixth indication information.

If the SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF again, it can inform the terminal to establish another branch N3GPP session connection again, so that the terminal can communicate through the MA PDU session again, and the communication efficiency is improved.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the terminal, according to the sixth indication information, modifies, by the terminal, the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection, where The association relationship of the single-access session connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID, SMF ID of the single-access session connection The association relationship between the identifier and the session identifier of the multi-access session connection.

In this way, the terminal updates the saved association relationship in time according to the sixth indication information, so that the association information saved by the terminal is consistent with the characteristics of the session.

In a fourth aspect, a method for establishing a multi-access session connection is provided, the method comprising: when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the AMF selects a second SMF for the terminal; the AMF sends the terminal to the The first SMF sends a first message, where the first message is used to trigger the first SMF to pass through a third SMF (for example, an I-SMF connected to the first SMF, the service area of the I-SMF includes the current location of the terminal) Send indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish a multi-access session connection through the second SMF (the service area of the second SMF also includes the current location of the terminal. That is, the terminal can directly service through the second SMF).

When the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the AMF may select a second SMF for the terminal in the new area. After finding the second SMF, the AMF may send the first message to the first SMF. When receiving the first message, the first SMF sends, to the terminal through the third SMF, instruction information indicating that the terminal establishes a multi-access session connection through the second SMF. The terminal re-establishes a multi-access session connection through the indication information, thereby improving communication efficiency.

In some possible implementations, the selecting, by the AMF, the second SMF for the terminal when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF includes: the AMF moves out of the service area of the first SMF when the terminal In the network access AN release process, the second SMF is selected for the terminal.

The AMF may move the terminal out of the service area of the first SMF, and in the AN release procedure, select the second SMF for the terminal. That is, the present application provides another trigger condition for selecting the second SMF.

A fifth aspect provides a method for establishing a multi-access session connection, the method comprising: a terminal receiving an indication message from a first SMF, where the indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish a multi-access session directly through the second SMF session connection, the terminal currently performs service transmission through a single-access session connection, where the single-access session connection is a session connection established through the third SMF and the first SMF; the terminal according to the indication information , establishing the multi-access session connection.

In the case that the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the AMF may select a second SMF for the terminal in the new area. After finding the second SMF, the AMF may send the first message to the first SMF. When receiving the first message, the first SMF sends indication information to the terminal through the third SMF. The terminal establishes a multi-access session connection through the second SMF according to the indication information. That is, the terminal re-establishes a multi-access session connection through the indication information, thereby improving communication efficiency.

In some possible implementations, the method further includes: after the terminal completes the multi-access session connection, migrating the service of the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection for service transmission .

Before receiving the indication information, the terminal can perform service transmission through the single-access session connection. The single-access session connection is a session connection established through the third SMF and the first SMF. After completing the multi-access session connection, the terminal can migrate the service of the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection for service transmission, thereby improving communication efficiency.

In some possible implementations, after the terminal migrates the service of the single-access session connection to the session of the multi-access session connection for service transmission, the method further includes: the terminal releases the service Single access session connection.

After the terminal migrates the service of the single-access session connection to the session of the multi-access session connection for service transmission, the terminal may also release the single-access session connection, thereby avoiding the single-access session connection. Waste of resources.

In some possible implementations, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

In a sixth aspect, an apparatus is provided, and the apparatus may be an SMF or a chip in the SMF. The device has the function of implementing the above-mentioned first aspect and various possible implementation manners. This function can be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a possible design, the device includes: a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module includes a receiving module and a sending module, the transceiver module may be, for example, at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the receiving module and the sending module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor. Optionally, the apparatus further includes a storage module, which can be, for example, a memory. When included, the memory module is used to store the instructions. The processing module is connected to the storage module, and the processing module can execute the instructions stored in the storage module or other instructions, so that the apparatus executes the above-mentioned first aspect and the communication method of various possible implementations. In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module includes a receiving module and a sending module. The receiving module and the sending module can be, for example, input/output interfaces, pins or circuits on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module can execute instructions to cause the chip in the SMF to perform the above-mentioned first aspect and any possible communication method of implementation. Optionally, the processing module may execute instructions in a storage module, and the storage module may be an in-chip storage module, such as a register, a cache, and the like. The memory module can also be located in the communication device, but located outside the chip, such as read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, random access memory (random access memory) memory, RAM), etc.

Wherein, the processor mentioned in any one of the above may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more of the above An integrated circuit for executing the program of the method described in the first aspect.

In a seventh aspect, an apparatus is provided, and the apparatus may be an AMF or a chip in the AMF. The device has the function of implementing the above-mentioned second aspect or the fourth aspect, and various possible implementation manners. This function can be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a possible design, the device includes: a transceiver module. The transceiver module includes a receiving module and a sending module. Optionally, the apparatus further includes a processing module. The receiving module and the sending module may be, for example, at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the transceiver module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor.

Optionally, the apparatus further includes a storage module, which may be, for example, a memory. When included, the memory module is used to store the instructions. The processing module is connected to the storage module, and the processing module can execute instructions stored in the storage module or instructions derived from other instructions, so that the apparatus executes the method of the second aspect or any one thereof.

In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a transceiver module. The transceiver module includes a receiving module and a sending module, and optionally, the chip further includes a processing module. The receiving module and the sending module can be, for example, input/output interfaces, pins or circuits on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module can execute instructions to cause the chip in the AMF to execute the second aspect or the fourth aspect and any possible communication method.

Optionally, the processing module may execute instructions in a storage module, and the storage module may be an in-chip storage module, such as a register, a cache, and the like. The memory module can also be located in the communication device, but located outside the chip, such as read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, random access memory (random access memory) memory, RAM), etc.

Wherein, the processor mentioned in any one of the above may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more of the above An integrated circuit for program execution of various aspects of the communication method.

In an eighth aspect, an apparatus is provided, and the apparatus may be a terminal or a chip in the terminal. The device has the function of implementing the third aspect or the fifth aspect and various possible implementation manners. This function can be implemented by hardware or by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

In a possible design, the device includes: a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module includes a receiving module and a sending module, the transceiver module may be, for example, at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the receiving module and the sending module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor. Optionally, the apparatus further includes a storage module, which may be, for example, a memory. When included, the memory module is used to store the instructions. The processing module is connected with the storage module, and the processing module can execute the instructions stored in the storage module or other instructions, so that the apparatus executes the third aspect or the fifth aspect, or the methods of various possible implementations .

In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module includes a receiving module and a sending module. The receiving module and the sending module can be, for example, input/output interfaces, pins or circuits on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module can execute the instructions, so that the chip in the terminal executes the third aspect or the fifth aspect, or any possible communication method implemented. Optionally, the processing module may execute instructions in a storage module, and the storage module may be an in-chip storage module, such as a register, a cache, and the like. The memory module can also be located in the communication device, but located outside the chip, such as read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, random access memory (random access memory) memory, RAM), etc.

Wherein, the processor mentioned in any one of the above may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more of the above The third aspect or the fifth aspect, or an integrated circuit for program execution of the method of various possible implementation manners.

In a ninth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, where program codes are stored in the computer storage medium, and the program codes are used to instruct instructions for executing the methods in the first aspect and any possible implementations thereof.

A tenth aspect provides a computer storage medium, where program codes are stored in the computer storage medium, and the program codes are used to instruct instructions for executing the methods in the second aspect or the fourth aspect and any possible implementations thereof. .

In an eleventh aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, and program codes are stored in the computer storage medium, and the program codes are used to instruct the execution of the third aspect or the fifth aspect and the method in any possible implementation manner thereof. instruction.

A twelfth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the above-mentioned first aspect, or any possible implementations thereof.

A thirteenth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the second aspect or the fourth aspect, or any possible implementations thereof.

A fourteenth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the third aspect or the fifth aspect, or any possible implementation thereof.

A fifteenth aspect provides a communication system, the communication system comprising a device having functions for implementing the methods and various possible designs of the above-mentioned first aspect, the above-mentioned methods and various possible designs for implementing the above-mentioned second aspect The functional device of the above-mentioned third aspect and the functional device of various possible designs.

A sixteenth aspect provides a communication system, which includes a device having functions for implementing the methods and various possible designs of the fourth aspect, and the above-mentioned methods and various possible designs for implementing the fifth aspect. functional device.

A seventeenth aspect provides a chip, the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface is used for communicating with an external device or an internal device, and the processor is used to implement any aspect or any possibility of the above-mentioned first aspect method in the implementation.

Optionally, the chip may further include a memory in which instructions are stored, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory or derived from other instructions. When the instructions are executed, the processor is configured to implement the method of the first aspect above, or any possible implementation thereof.

Alternatively, the chip can be integrated on the SMF.

An eighteenth aspect provides a chip, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface is used to communicate with an external device or an internal device, and the processor is used to implement the second aspect or the fourth aspect or any possibility thereof method in the implementation.

Optionally, the chip may further include a memory in which instructions are stored, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory or derived from other instructions. When the instructions are executed, the processor is configured to implement the method of the second aspect or the fourth aspect, or any possible implementation thereof.

Optionally, the chip can be integrated on the AMF.

A nineteenth aspect provides a chip, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, where the communication interface is used to communicate with an external device or an internal device, and the processor is used to implement the third aspect or the fifth aspect, or any of the above methods in possible implementations.

Optionally, the chip may further include a memory in which instructions are stored, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory or derived from other instructions. When the instructions are executed, the processor is configured to implement the method of the third aspect or the fifth aspect, or any possible implementation thereof.

Optionally, the chip can be integrated on the terminal.

Based on the above technical solution, the SMF receives the first message sent from the AMF, and determines whether the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF according to the first message. When determining that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, the SMF modifies the current multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection, and sends first indication information for indicating the single-access session connection to the AMF. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present application, when the SMF determines that the terminal cannot perform the multi-access session connection after moving out of the service area of the SMF, it modifies the multi-access session connection to the single-access session connection, and informs the AMF, which helps Subsequent services can be communicated through a single access session connection, that is, interruption of subsequent services is avoided, thereby improving user experience.

Description of drawings

1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G architecture supporting ATSSS of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of an embodiment of the present application;

3 is a schematic diagram of another scenario of an embodiment of the present application;

4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for managing session connections according to an embodiment of the present application;

5 is a schematic flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-access session connection according to an embodiment of the present application;

6 is a schematic flowchart of a method for managing a session connection according to another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for managing session connections according to still another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for managing session connections according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for managing session connections according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for managing session connection according to another embodiment of the present application;

11 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for managing session connections according to another embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for managing session connection according to still another embodiment of the present application;

13 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for managing session connections according to still another embodiment of the present application;

14 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for managing session connections according to another specific embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for managing session connections according to another specific embodiment of the present application.

detailed description

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

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex) , TDD), fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) system or new radio (new radio, NR) and future mobile communication systems, etc.

The terminal device in the embodiments of this application may refer to a device with a wireless transceiver function, which may be referred to as a terminal device (terminal), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (mobile station, MS), a mobile terminal device ( mobile terminal, MT), vehicle terminal equipment, remote station, remote terminal equipment, etc. The specific form of the terminal device can be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wearable device tablet computer (pad), a desktop computer, a notebook computer, an all-in-one computer, a car Terminal equipment, wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), etc. Terminal equipment can be applied to the following scenarios: virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control (industrial control), unmanned driving (self driving), remote medical surgery (remote medical surgery), intelligent Power grid (smart grid), transportation safety (transportation safety), smart city (smart city), smart home (smart home), etc. Terminal devices can be stationary or mobile. It should be noted that the terminal device may support at least one wireless communication technology, such as LTE, NR, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), and the like.

The network device in this embodiment of the present application may be a device that provides a wireless communication function for a terminal device, and may also be referred to as a radio access network (radio access network, RAN) device or the like. Network equipment includes but is not limited to: next generation node B (gNB), evolved node B (evolved node B, eNB), baseband unit (BBU), transmitting and receiving point (transmitting and receiving point, TRP), transmitting point (TP), relay station, access point, etc. The network device may also be a wireless controller, a centralized unit (centralized unit, CU), a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU), etc. in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario. The network device may support at least one wireless communication technology, such as LTE, NR, WCDMA, and the like.

In some deployments, the gNB may include centralized units CU and DU. The gNB may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some functions of the gNB, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, and implementing functions of radio resource control (RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, and implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer and the physical (PHY) layer. AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing and related functions of active antennas. Since the information of the RRC layer will eventually become the information of the PHY layer, or be transformed from the information of the PHY layer, therefore, in this architecture, the higher-layer signaling, such as the RRC layer signaling, can also be considered to be sent by the DU. , or, sent by DU and AAU. It can be understood that the network device may be a device including one or more of a CU node, a DU node, and an AAU node. In addition, the CU can be divided into network devices in an access network (radio access network, RAN), and the CU can also be divided into network devices in a core network (core network, CN), which is not limited in this application.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device or the network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. This hardware layer includes hardware such as central processing unit (CPU), memory management unit (MMU), and memory (also called main memory). The operating system may be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes, such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a Windows operating system. The application layer includes applications such as browsers, address books, word processing software, and instant messaging software. In addition, the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution body of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application, as long as the program that records the codes of the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application can be executed to provide the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application. For example, the execution subject of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application may be a terminal device or a network device, or a functional module in the terminal device or network device that can call and execute a program.

Additionally, various aspects or features of the present application may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. For example, computer readable media may include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices (eg, hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes, etc.), optical disks (eg, compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs) etc.), smart cards and flash memory devices (eg, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), card, stick or key drives, etc.). Additionally, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instructions and/or data.

It can be understood that network equipment and terminal equipment can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld or vehicle; can also be deployed on water; and can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons and satellites in the air. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the wireless access network device and the terminal device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G architecture supporting ATSSS according to the present application. The 5G architecture includes terminals, 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) access network networks, non-3GPP (N3GPP) access network networks, access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, SMF network element, user plane function (UPF) network element and DN. Hereinafter, the SMF network element and the UPF network element are abbreviated as SMF and UPF.

Among them, the terminal mainly accesses the 5G network through the wireless air interface and obtains services. The terminal interacts with 3GPP (and/or N3GPP) through the air interface, and communicates with the AMF of the core network through non-access stratum (NAS) signaling. interact.

AMF is a core network element and is mainly responsible for signaling processing, such as access control, mobility management, registration and de-registration, and gateway selection. AMF can also provide services for sessions in terminals. A storage resource of the control plane is provided for the session to store the session ID, the SMF network element ID associated with the session ID, and the like. The mobility management may be user location update, user registration network, or user switching.

SMF is mainly responsible for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification and release. Specific functions include allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to users, selecting UPFs that provide message forwarding functions, establishing, modifying and releasing bearers, and quality of service (QoS) control.

It should be noted that in the R16 stage, SMF has a certain coverage, which is called SMF SA. SMF SA can be understood as the sum of the service scope of all UPFs it manages. Assuming that the terminal establishes a session, the session control plane is provided with the session management service by the SMF, and the user plane is provided with the forwarding service by the UPF. When the UE moves out of the SMF SA, an intermediate SMF (I-SMF) needs to be inserted into the control plane to connect to the SMF, and an intermediate UPF (I-UPF) needs to be inserted into the user plane to connect to the UPF to ensure service continuity sex.

UPF is mainly responsible for processing user packets, such as forwarding and accounting statistics. The UPF directly connected to the DN through the N6 in the session may be called a PDU session anchor (PDU session anchor, PSA) network element.

DN is a network that provides data services for users, such as IP multimedia services (IP multi-media service, IMS), the Internet (internet), and so on.

The terms involved in this application are introduced below:

1. ATSSS:

access traffic steering: Select an access network (3GPP access network or N3GPP access network) for the service flow to transmit the service of the data flow.

access traffic switching: Switch the service flow from one access network to another access network and ensure the continuity of the service flow.

access traffic splitting: Distribute the service packets of a service flow to different access networks. Some of the service packets are transmitted through one access technology, and some service packets are transmitted through another access technology.

2. 3GPP access technology:

The access network technologies proposed by 3GPP, such as time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), etc.

3. N3GPP access technology:

Access technologies made by other organizations, such as code division multiple access (CDMA) technology, etc. The corresponding access devices include but are not limited to wireless network access points (WiFi access points, WiFi AP), global Microwave access interoperability (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX) BS, etc.

4. MA PDU session:

Under the ATSSS feature, the terminal can complete the data transmission between the terminal and the DN by establishing a MA PDU session. For example, the terminal may access the DN through the 3GPP access technology and the N3GPP access technology, respectively. In other words, the terminal can establish a PDU session called "MA PDU session" between the 3GPP access network and the non-3GPP access network. The MA PDU session can use two access networks for data transmission at the same time, and data aggregation is performed in the UPF. Among them, the connection on each access technology side is called one leg of the MA PDU session.

It can be understood that, when the terminal registers with 3GPP or N3GPP at the same time, the terminal can request to establish a MA PDU session. The terminal may also request the establishment of a MA PDU session when the terminal is registered with only one of the access technologies (eg, 3GPP or N3GPP).

It can also be understood that, in the process of establishing the MA PDU session, the terminal can obtain the ATSSS rules (rules) provided by the network side, and the UPF can also obtain the N4 rules provided by the network side. In this way, the terminal can decide how to distribute the upstream traffic flow between the two access technologies according to the ATSSS rules and local conditions (for example, signal loss situation or user preference, etc.). Correspondingly, the UPF can also determine how to distribute the downlink service flow between the two access technologies according to the N4 rules and the feedback information of the terminal (for example, whether the access network is available).

In the traditional solution, for an MA PDU session, when the terminal moves out of the SMF SA corresponding to the MA PDU session, the MA PDU session is released. After the MA PDU session is released, the terminal may re-initiate the MA PDU session establishment process. Since the terminal is not in the SMF SA corresponding to the MA PDU session, the session establishment request for requesting the MA PDU will be rejected, resulting in service interruption and poor user experience.

In contrast, the PDU session means that the terminal communicates only through the session established by 3GPP, or the terminal communicates only through the session established by N3GPP. The present invention is abbreviated as a session or a common session or a single-access session, and a connection corresponding to a common session or a single-access session is abbreviated as a single-access session connection.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a scenario of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, after the terminal moves out of the SMF SA corresponding to the MA PDU session, the system retains the session branch (one leg) established by 3GPP of the MA PDU session.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of another scenario of an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, after the terminal moves out of the SMF SA corresponding to the MA PDU session, the system retains the session branch of the MA PDU session established through N3GPP.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for managing session connections according to an embodiment of the present application.

401. The AMF sends the first message to the first SMF. Accordingly, the first SMF receives the first message from the AMF.

402. The first SMF determines, according to the first message, that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF.

In one embodiment, the first message instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the first SMF.

For example, the AMF may determine whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA based on the first SMF SA obtained from a network repository function (NRF) network element according to the movement of the terminal. If the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA, the AMF sends the first message to the first SMF. That is, the AMF instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the first SMF SA through the first message. That is to say, the AMF detects the movement of the terminal, and informs the first SMF that the first SMF SA has been moved out, and the first SMF can directly learn that the terminal has moved out of the first SMF SA. This saves the power consumption overhead of the first SMF judging whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

In another embodiment, the first message includes location information of the terminal, so that the first SMF can determine whether the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal.

For example, the AMF can detect the location of the terminal in real time, and send the location information to the first SMF. The first SMF may determine whether the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal. For example, the first SMF may determine that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal. Or the first SMF determines that the terminal has not moved out of the service area of the first SMF according to the location information of the terminal. That is, the AMF sends the location information of the terminal, and the first SMF determines whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA according to the location information, which saves the power consumption overhead of the AMF to determine whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

It can be understood that, before the AMF sends the first message to the first SMF, due to the movement of the terminal, the terminal may perform a mobility management (mobility management, MM) procedure (for example, a handover (HO) procedure, a mobility registration update or service request (service request, SR, etc.).

403, the first SMF determines to modify the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF.

404. The first SMF sends first indication information to the AMF, where the first indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the first indication information from the first SMF.

For example, the first SMF receives the first message sent from the AMF, and determines whether the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the first message. In the case of determining that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the first SMF modifies the current multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection, and sends the first SMF indicating the single-access session connection to the AMF. an instruction message. That is to say, in this embodiment of the present application, the first SMF modifies the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when it is determined that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF and cannot perform the multi-access session connection, and informs the AMF helps subsequent services to communicate through a single-access session connection, that is, to avoid interruption of subsequent services, thereby improving user experience.

Optionally, after receiving the first indication information, the AMF may modify the association relationship of the multi-access session connection to the association relationship of the single-access session connection, and the association relationship of the single-access session connection is the single-access session connection. The association relationship between the session identification of the session connection and the first SMF identification, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the association of the session identification of the single-access session connection, the first SMF identification and the session identification of the multi-access session connection relation.

For example, the AMF can save the corresponding association relationship according to the current session connection. For example, after receiving the first indication information, the AMF may modify the association relationship of the multi-access session connection to the association relationship of the single-access session connection. Wherein, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection includes the session identification (for example, MA PDU session indication) of the multi-access session connection, the first SMF identification (identity, ID) and the session identification (PDU session ID) of the session connection, that is, PDU session ID--first SMF ID--MA PDU session indication. The association relationship of the single-access session connection includes the PDU session ID and the first SMF ID, that is, the PDU session ID--the first SMF ID. In this way, the AMF updates the saved association relationship in time according to the first indication information, so that the association information saved by the AMF is consistent with the characteristics of the session. That is, when the session is a MA PDU session, the AMF saves the session as a MA PDU session, that is, the association relationship is PDU session ID--first SMF ID--MA PDU session indication; when the session is a single-access session, AMF saves the session The session is a single-access session, that is, the association relationship is the PDU session ID--the first SMF ID.

It can be understood that the PDU session connection may include a single-access session connection and a multi-access session connection. The identifier of the PDU session connection may be collectively referred to as the identifier of the session connection. For a single-access session connection, it can be represented by the ID and SMF ID of the PDU session connection saved by AMF, and for a multi-access session connection, it can be represented by the ID, SMF ID and MA PDU session indication of the PDU session connection saved by AMF.

Optionally, the AMF also saves a special mark, which is used to indicate that the session is a special session, that is, the AMF performs the following actions for the session: judging whether the terminal moves into or out of the first SMF service range, and when the terminal moves into or out of the first SMF service range. When an SMF serves the scope, the first message is sent to the first SMF, so that the first SMF determines whether the session is an MA PDU session or a single-access session according to the first message. Further, when the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is modified to the association relationship of the single-access session connection, the AMF marks the session as a special session. Wherein, the special mark can be represented by MA PDU session indication or other identifiers. In this way, it is helpful for the AMF to determine to perform special processing on the session according to the special mark, that is, to monitor whether the terminal moves into or out of the service range of the first SMF, so as to realize the processing of the session by the first SMF and ensure the normal progress of the session connection.

Optionally, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection.

For example, the multi-access session connection may include two branches, the 3GPP session connection and the N3GPP session connection. The single-access session connection may include any branch of the multi-access session connection, that is, the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection.

It can be understood that, if the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection, a second SMF (ie, I-SMF) may also be inserted between the first SMF and the terminal. That is, when the first SMF moves out of the first SMF SA, the first SMF can communicate with the terminal through the second SMF.

If the single-access session connection is an N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection, the first SMF may communicate directly with the terminal through the N3GPP session. In other words, the second SMF may not be inserted between the first SMF and the terminal.

Optionally, after step 402, the first SMF may also receive a second message from the AMF, and determine according to the second message that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF, and then modify the single-access session connection to multiple Access session connection. Afterwards, the first SMF sends second indication information to the terminal, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection.

For example, the AMF detects the location of the terminal and sends the second message to the first SMF. If the first SMF determines according to the second message that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF after moving out of the service area of the first SMF, the first SMF modifies the single-access session connection to the multiple-access session connection, and Send second indication information for indicating the connection of the multiple access session to the AMF.

Optionally, after receiving the second indication information, the AMF may modify the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection, and the association relationship of the single-access session connection is the association relationship of the session connection. The association relationship between the session identification and the first SMF identification, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the association relationship between the session identification of the session connection, the first SMF identification and the session identification of the multi-access session connection.

For example, the AMF can save the corresponding association relationship according to the current session connection. For example, after receiving the second indication information, the AMF may modify the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection. Wherein, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection includes the session identification of the multi-access session connection (for example, MA PDU session indication), SMF identification (identity, ID) and PDU session ID, that is, PDU session ID--SMF ID-- MA PDU session indication. The association relationship of a single-access session connection includes PDU session ID and SMF ID, that is, PDU session ID--SMF ID.

Optionally, the first SMF may also acquire policy information. If the first SMF determines according to the policy information that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the multi-access session connection is modified to a single-access session connection; if the first SMF determines according to the policy information that the terminal moves in In the case of the service area of the first SMF, the single-access session connection is modified into a multi-access session connection.

For example, step 403 may specifically be to modify the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the policy information after receiving the policy information.

It can be understood that the first SMF may acquire the policy information before any step before step 404 . For example, the first SMF may acquire the policy information before step 401 .

In a possible implementation manner, the first SMF may specifically determine, according to the policy information, whether the specific content of the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in a multi-access session connection or an N3GPP session connection.

For example, the policy information may directly indicate a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection, so that the first SMF can determine which branch of the multi-access session connection the single-access session connection is specifically according to the session connection indicated by the policy information. That is, through the direct indication of the policy information, the power consumption overhead of the first SMF is reduced.

Optionally, the session connection indicated by the policy information may be a currently established session connection or a session connection that has not been established yet. If the session connection indicated by the current policy information is a session connection that has not yet been established, the first SMF may trigger the terminal to first establish the session connection indicated by the policy information.

It can be understood that the first SMF may acquire the policy information from a policy control function (policy control function, PCF) network element, or may configure the policy information locally. Among them, PCF mainly supports the provision of a unified policy framework to control network behavior, provides policy rules to control layer network functions, and is responsible for acquiring user subscription information related to policy decisions.

In another possible implementation manner, after step 404, the first SMF may further acquire load information, and determine the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the N3GPP session connection according to the load information, and then according to the 3GPP session connection The load status of the connection and the load status of the N3GPP session connection determine whether the single-access session connection is specifically a 3GPP session connection in a multi-access session connection or an N3GPP session connection.

For example, the first SMF may acquire load information, and determine the specific content of the single-access session connection through the load information. In this way, the first SMF can flexibly select the appropriate branch of the MA PDU session according to the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the N3GPP session connection, thereby ensuring that the service is not interrupted, and improving the communication quality of the subsequent services, further improving the user experience.

It can be understood that the first SMF obtains policy information from the PCF, where the policy information indicates that the first SMF can determine the specific content of the single-access session connection according to the load information. In this case, the present application does not limit the manner in which the first SMF obtains the load information.

It can also be understood that the first SMF may obtain the load information from the AMF, the UPF or the RAN, or obtain the load information from other network elements, which is not limited in this application.

Optionally, the load information may include the congestion situation of the network (eg, the congestion situation of the access network or the UPF), or the delay situation in the network (eg, end-to-end (E2E) delay).

In one embodiment, after step 403, if the first SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, and the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection, the first SMF Third indication information may also be sent to the terminal through the second SMF, where the third indication information may be used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection.

For example, if the first SMF determines that after the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the branch of the 3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection is reserved, the terminal may be instructed to migrate the service of the branch of the unreserved session connection to the reserved branch. The branch of the session connection, thus avoiding the loss of business and further improving the user experience.

It can be understood that the sending of the third indication information to the terminal by the first SMF may be implemented through transparent transmission of the AMF.

Optionally, the third indication information may also be used to instruct the terminal to delete the N3GPP session connection.

For example, when determining that the branch of the N3GPP session connection is not reserved, the first SMF may notify the terminal to release the N3GPP session connection, thereby avoiding waste of resources.

It can be understood that, the third indication information may also only instruct the terminal to delete the N3GPP session connection. The terminal can actively transfer the services of the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection before deleting the N3GPP session connection.

Optionally, the first SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF and moves into the service area of the first SMF again, and the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection. In this case, the second SMF sends sixth indication information to the terminal, where the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish an N3GPP session connection.

For example, if the first SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF again, the terminal can be informed to establish another branch N3GPP session connection again, so that the terminal communicates through the MA PDU session again, and the communication efficiency is improved.

It can be understood that, after receiving the sixth indication information, the terminal can modify the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection.

In another embodiment, after step 403, if the first SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, and the single-access session connection is an N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection, the SMF further Fourth indication information may be sent to the terminal, where the fourth indication information may be used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection.

For example, if the first SMF determines that after the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the branch of the N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection is reserved, the terminal may be instructed to migrate the service of the branch of the unreserved session connection to the reserved branch. The branch of the session connection, that is, the connection branch on the N3GPP side, thus avoiding the loss of services and further improving the user experience.

It can be understood that the sending of the fourth indication information to the terminal by the first SMF may be implemented through transparent transmission of the AMF.

Optionally, the fourth indication information may also be used to instruct the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection.

For example, when determining that the branch of the 3GPP session connection is not reserved, the first SMF may notify the terminal to release the 3GPP session connection, thereby avoiding waste of resources.

It can be understood that, the fourth indication information may also only instruct the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection. Before deleting the 3GPP session connection, the terminal may actively transfer the services of the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection.

Optionally, the first SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF and moves into the service area of the first SMF again, and the single-access session connection is the N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection. In this case, fifth indication information is sent to the terminal, where the fifth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish an N3GPP session connection.

For example, if the first SMF determines that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF again, the terminal can be informed to establish another branch 3GPP session connection again, so that the terminal communicates through the MA PDU session again, and the communication efficiency is improved.

It can be understood that, after receiving the fifth indication information, the terminal can modify the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the first SMF may also send the foregoing first indication information to the terminal after step 403 .

For example, sending the first indication information to the terminal by the first SMF may be implemented through transparent transmission of the AMF. In addition, the first indication information may be respectively carried in the same message as the third indication information, the fourth indication information, the fifth indication information or the sixth indication information and sent in the same message, which is not limited in this application.

It can be understood that, when the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection, a second SMF (ie, I-SMF) may also be inserted between the first SMF and the terminal. That is, when the first SMF moves out of the first SMF SA, the first SMF can send the first indication information to the terminal through the second SMF.

If the single-access session connection is an N3GPP session connection of the multi-access session connection, the first SMF may directly send the first indication information to the terminal through the N3GPP session connection. In other words, the second SMF may not be inserted between the first SMF and the terminal.

In the above solution description, the terminal communicates through the MA PDU session in the service area of the first SMF. In the event that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the AMF selects an I-SMF (eg, the third SMF). After that, in the case of moving out of the service area of the first SMF, the first SMF provides services for the terminal through the third SMF. For example, the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF and moves into a new area. For example, the moved position of the terminal is within the service area of the third SMF. If the terminal communicates through the MA PDU session when the terminal is in the first SMF service area, the session is a multi-access session connection; when the terminal moves out of the first SMF service area, the multi-access session connection is changed to a single-access session connection. For example, when the terminal moves out of the first SMF service area, the reserved single-access session connection corresponds to the 3GPP access technology, and at this time, the third SMF and the first SMF jointly provide session management services for the terminal. For another example, when the terminal moves out of the first SMF service area, the reserved single-access session connection corresponds to the N3GPP access technology, and the first SMF provides session management services for the terminal at this time. Therefore, it can be known from the above description that the terminal can only communicate through a single-access session connection in a new area, and cannot communicate through a multi-access session connection.

In order to further improve the communication efficiency of the above scenario, FIG. 5 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for establishing a multi-access session connection according to an embodiment of the present application.

It can be understood that, in the case of no special description or no logical contradiction, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has the same meaning as the same terms in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 . To avoid repetition, here No further description will be given.

It can also be understood that, in the case where there is no logical contradiction, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 may be combined with any one of the foregoing embodiments, which is not limited in this application.

501. When the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the AMF selects a second SMF for the terminal.

For example, if the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, the AMF may select the second SMF for the terminal in the new area.

For example, the first SMF may be a network element that provides services for the terminal at the terminal A. The second SMF may be a network element that directly provides services for the terminal when the terminal is at B. Among them, place B can be a resident place. For example, the terminal moves from the permanent location B to A, establishes a MA PDU session at A, and communicates through the session. After that, when the terminal moves from place A to place B again, the second SMF can be selected for the terminal.

It should be noted that the B ground is outside the SMF SA corresponding to the first SMF.

It can be understood that, the second SMF can provide services for the terminal without passing through the I-SMF.

In a possible implementation manner, when the AMF may detect in real time and determine that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, step 501 is performed.

In another possible implementation manner, the AMF may perform step 501 when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF, and in the access network (access network, AN) release process.

Wherein, the AN release procedure is used to release the relevant resources of the AN, so that the terminal enters an idle state.

502. The AMF sends a first message to the first SMF.

503. After receiving the first message, the first SMF sends indication information to the terminal through the third SMF.

It can be understood that the first SMF may send the indication information to the terminal through the third SMF and the AMF in sequence.

For example, the first message in step 502 is used to trigger the first SMF to send indication information to the terminal, where the indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish a multi-access session connection through the second SMF. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the indication information from the first SMF.

For example, after finding the second SMF, the AMF may send the first message to the first SMF. When receiving the first message, the first SMF sends, to the terminal, indication information indicating that the terminal establishes a multi-access session connection through the second SMF.

Optionally, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or an N3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

504, the terminal establishes a multi-access session connection according to the indication information.

For example, the terminal re-establishes a multi-access session connection through the indication information, thereby improving communication efficiency.

Optionally, after completing the multi-access session connection, the terminal migrates the service of the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection for service transmission.

For example, before receiving the indication information, the terminal may perform service transmission through a single-access session connection. The single-access session connection is a session connection established through the third SMF and the first SMF. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the terminal may establish the single-access session connection through the AMF, the first SMF and the third SMF. After the terminal completes the multi-access session connection, the service of the single-access session connection can be migrated to the multi-access session connection (as shown in FIG. session connection) for service transmission, thereby improving communication efficiency.

Optionally, the terminal may also release the single-access session connection after the terminal migrates the service of the single-access session connection to the session of the multi-access session connection for service transmission.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for managing session connections according to another embodiment of the present application.

It should be noted that, the same terms in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 have the same meanings, which are not repeated here to avoid repetition.

It should also be noted that, in the case where there is no logical contradiction, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 may be combined with any one of the foregoing embodiments, which is not limited in this application.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the terminal communicates through the MA PDU session within the first SMF SA. After the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA, the first SMF determines to retain the 3GPP session connection according to the policy information.

601. The first SMF acquires policy information.

It can be understood that the step 601 may occur at any time before the step 607, which is not limited in this application.

602. During the movement of the terminal, the MM process is started.

It can be understood that the current communication of the terminal adopts the MA PDU session connection.

603. The AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

For example, the present application may perform step 603 after performing step 602 . That is, one or more steps in the MM procedure can trigger the AMF to detect whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

For example, the terminal currently registers with the network through the 3GPP access technology, and initiates the establishment of the MA PDU session, thereby establishing the MA PDU session connection. The UE moves and executes the MM process, and the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA. For details of this step, refer to step 603.

Optionally, the terminal may not execute step 602, but execute the session establishment process to establish another branch of the MA PDU session, that is, the 3GPP side session connection.

For example, one or more steps in the session establishment process may trigger the AMF to detect whether the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

For example, the terminal currently registers with the network through the N3GPP access technology, and initiates the establishment of the MA PDU session, thereby establishing the MA PDU session connection. The UE initiates the session establishment procedure through the 3GPP access technology to establish another branch of the MA PDU session. In the session establishment procedure, the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

604. The AMF sends a first message to the first SMF when it is determined that the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

It should be noted that, after step 603 and before step 604, if the current access technology is 3GPP, the AMF determines that the UE selects and inserts the I-SMF (for example, the second SMF) after moving out of the first SMF SA, that is, between the AMF and the first SMF SA. A second SMF is inserted between one SMF; if the current access technology is N3GPP, the AMF selects and inserts an I-SMF (eg, the second SMF) in the process of establishing a session connection on the 3GPP side.

In addition, it should be noted that the specific implementation manner of the first message in step 604 is as follows: the AMF sends a request message for creating a session management context to the second SMF, and the second SMF sends a request message for creating a session to the first SMF. In this way, step 605 may specifically be that the first SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first SMF according to the received creation request message.

605. The first SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA according to the first message.

606. The first SMF determines to modify the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA.

607. The first SMF determines, according to the policy information, that when the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA, the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

For example, the policy information may directly indicate which session connection the single-access session connection is when the terminal moves out or moves into the first SMF SA. Or, the policy information may also indirectly indicate which session connection the single-access session connection is when the terminal moves out or moves into the first SMF SA. For example, the policy information indicates that the first SMF can determine the specific content of the single-access session connection according to the load information. After receiving the policy information, the first SMF acquires the load information of each branch of the multi-access session connection, and determines the specific content of the single-access session connection according to the acquired load information.

Optionally, the system may pre-configure the first SMF in advance: when the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA, the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection; In the case of moving into the first SMF SA, the single-access session connection is modified to a multi-access session connection. In this way, steps 601 and 607 may not be performed in this embodiment. For example, the policy information indicates that the SMF may determine to reserve the 3GPP side session connection or the N3GPP side session connection of the multi-access session according to the load information. After receiving the policy information, the SMF determines the 3GPP side session connection or the N3GPP side session connection to retain the multi-access session according to the acquired load information.

Optionally, in step 601, the first SMF may also acquire load information, and determine the load status of the N3GPP session connections and the load status of the 3GPP session connections in the multiple access session connections according to the load information, and determine the load status of the N3GPP session connections according to the N3GPP session connections. The load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the 3GPP session connection determine whether the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection or an N3GPP session connection when the terminal moves out of the first SMF SA. For example, the first SMF may use the lightly loaded session connection as the single-access session connection. It should be noted that this description is applicable to the MA PDU session connection established by the terminal, and has both a 3GPP side branch and an N3GPP side branch.

608. The first SMF sends seventh indication information to the AMF, where the seventh indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection.

Optionally, the seventh indication information may specifically indicate that the single-access session connection is specifically a 3GPP session connection.

For example, similar to step 604, the specific implementation manner of step 608 is: the first SMF sends a create response message to the second SMF, and the second SMF sends a create session management context response message to the AMF. In this way, step 609 may specifically be that the AMF changes the association relationship of the multi-access session connection to the association relationship of the single-access session according to the received response message for creating a session management context.

609. After receiving the seventh indication information, the AMF saves the association relationship of the single-access session connection.

It should be noted that this step may also be performed before step 604 .

610. The first SMF may also send first indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection.

It can be understood that the first SMF may send the first indication information to the terminal through the transparent transmission of the AMF.

It can also be understood that the content of the seventh indication information and the first indication information may be the same.

Optionally, similar to step 604, the first SMF may send the first indication information to the terminal through the second SMF and AMF.

It can also be understood that the present application does not limit the sequence of step 608 and step 610 .

611. The terminal receives the first indication information, and modifies the multi-access session connection to the single-access session connection.

It can be understood that, according to the first indication information, the terminal can learn that the specific content of the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection.

612. The first SMF sends third indication information to the terminal, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection, and/or instruct the terminal to delete the N3GPP session connection.

It can be understood that if the terminal can communicate through the N3GPP session before step 601, and the first SMF determines to retain the 3GPP session connection according to the policy information, the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal to delete the N3GPP session connection. Optionally, the third indication information is further used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection.

It can also be understood that, if the terminal can communicate through a 3GPP session before step 601, and the first SMF determines to retain the 3GPP session connection according to the policy information, steps 612 to 614 may not be performed in this application.

Optionally, similar to step 604, the first SMF may send the third indication information to the terminal through the second SMF and the AMF.

It should be noted that the third indication information can be applied to the following scenario: the terminal establishes a MA PDU session connection in N3GPP, and then initiates a session establishment process in 3GPP to establish another branch of the MA PDU session. In the above scenario, the first SMF may send third indication information to the terminal to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection.

It can be understood that, the step 612 and the step 610 may be performed simultaneously, or the third indication information and the first indication information are carried in the same message, which is not limited in this application.

613. The terminal receives the third indication information, and migrates the service corresponding to the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection according to the third indication information.

614. The terminal receives the third indication information, and deletes the N3GPP session connection according to the third indication information.

It can be understood that, if the third indication information only instructs the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection, the terminal executes step 613 after executing step 612, and does not need to execute step 614. If the third indication information only instructs the terminal to delete the N3GPP session connection, the terminal performs step 614, but may not perform step 613. If the third indication information instructs the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the N3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection, and instructs the terminal to delete the N3GPP session connection, the terminal may perform step 613 first and then step 614 .

It can be understood that, steps 612 to 614 may not be performed in this embodiment, which is not limited in this application.

615. The AMF determines that the terminal moves into the first SMF SA.

For example, as the terminal moves, the AMF may detect that the terminal moves into the first SMF SA.

It can be understood that step 615 may occur at any step after step 611, which is not limited in this application.

616. The AMF sends a second message to the first SMF when it is determined that the terminal has moved into the first SMF SA.

Optionally, the specific implementation of the second message is similar to step 604, and the difference from step 604 is that the AMF sends an update session management context request message to the second SMF, and the second SMF sends an update request message to the first SMF.

617. The first SMF may determine, according to the second message, that the terminal moves into the service area of the first SMF.

618. The first SMF determines to modify the single-access session connection to a multi-access session connection when it is determined that the terminal moves into the first SMF SA.

619. The first SMF sends second indication information to the terminal, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the first SMF sends the second indication information to the terminal through the second SMF and the AMF in sequence.

620. The terminal modifies the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection according to the second indication information.

It can be understood that the modification of the single-access session connection by the terminal to the multi-access session connection may specifically be modifying the saved association relationship of the single-access session connection to the saved association relationship of the multi-access session connection.

621. The first SMF may also send sixth indication information to the terminal through the second SMF, where the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish an N3GPP session connection.

622. The terminal may establish the N3GPP session connection according to the sixth indication information.

It can be understood that, steps 615 to 622 are scenarios in which the terminal moves into the first SMF SA again after moving out of the first SMF SA. If the terminal does not move into the first SMF SA again, steps 615-622 are not performed.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for managing session connections according to still another embodiment of the present application.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and the same terms in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , the same terms have the same meanings, which are not repeated here to avoid repetition.

It should also be noted that, in the case where there is no logical contradiction, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 may be combined with any of the foregoing embodiments, which is not limited in this application.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the terminals communicate within the SMF SA through MA PDU sessions. After the terminal moves out of the SMF SA, the SMF retains the N3GPP session connection determined by the policy information.

701. The SMF obtains policy information.

It can be understood that the step 701 may occur at any time before the step 707, which is not limited in this application.

702. During the movement of the terminal, the MM process is started.

It can be understood that the current communication of the terminal adopts the MA PDU session connection.

703. The AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

For example, the present application may perform step 703 after performing step 702 . That is, one or more steps in the MM procedure can trigger the AMF to detect whether the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

For example, the terminal currently registers with the network through the 3GPP access technology, and initiates the establishment of the MA PDU session, thereby establishing the MA PDU session connection. The UE moves and executes the MM process, and the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the SMF SA. For details of this step, refer to step 703.

Optionally, the terminal may not execute step 702, but execute the session establishment process to establish another branch of the MA PDU session, that is, the N3GPP side session connection.

For example, one or more steps in the session establishment process may trigger the AMF to detect whether the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

For example, the terminal currently registers with the network through the N3GPP access technology, and initiates the establishment of the MA PDU session, thereby establishing the MA PDU session connection. The UE initiates the session establishment procedure through the 3GPP access technology to establish another branch of the MA PDU session. In the session establishment procedure, the AMF determines that the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

704. The AMF sends a first message to the SMF when it is determined that the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

705. The SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the SMF SA according to the first message.

706, the SMF determines to modify the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

707. The SMF determines, according to the policy information, that the single-access session connection is an N3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection when the terminal moves out of the SMF SA.

For example, the policy information may directly indicate which session connection the single-access session connection is when the terminal moves out or moves into the SMF SA. Or the policy information may also indirectly indicate which session connection the single-access session connection is when the terminal moves out or moves into the SMF SA. For example, the policy information indicates that the SMF can determine the specific content of the single-access session connection according to the load information. After receiving the policy information, the SMF acquires the load information of each branch of the multi-access session connection, and determines the specific content of the single-access session connection according to the acquired load information.

Optionally, the system can be pre-configured in advance: when the terminal moves out of the SMF SA, the single-access session connection is an N3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection; when the terminal moves into the SMF SA again Next, the single access session connection is an N3GPP session connection among the multiple access session connections. In this way, steps 701 and 707 may not be performed in this embodiment. For example, the policy information indicates that the SMF may determine to reserve the 3GPP side session connection or the N3GPP side session connection of the multi-access session according to the load information. After receiving the policy information, the SMF determines the 3GPP side session connection or the N3GPP side session connection to retain the multi-access session according to the acquired load information.

Optionally, in step 701, the SMF may also obtain load information, and determine the load status of the N3GPP session connection and the load status of the 3GPP session connection in the multiple access session connections according to the load information, and determine the load status of the N3GPP session connection according to the load status of the N3GPP session connection. The status and the load status of the 3GPP session connection determine whether the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection or an N3GPP session connection in the case that the terminal moves out of the SMF SA. For example, the SMF may consider the lightly loaded session connection as the single-access session connection. It should be noted that this description is applicable to the MA PDU session connection established by the terminal, and has both a 3GPP side branch and an N3GPP side branch.

708. The SMF sends seventh indication information to the AMF, where the seventh indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection.

Optionally, the seventh indication information may specifically indicate that the single-access session connection is specifically an N3GPP session connection.

709. After receiving the seventh indication information, the AMF saves the association relationship of the single-access session connection.

It should be noted that, in the scenario where the terminal is currently registered to the network through the 3GPP access technology, the UE also initiates the N3GPP side session establishment process after step 709 to establish the N3GPP side session branch. The following steps 710 to 713 may all occur in the session establishment process on the N3GPP side.

In addition, it should be noted that this step may also be performed before step 704 .

710. The SMF may also send the first indication information to the terminal, where the first indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection.

It can be understood that the SMF may send the first indication information to the terminal through the transparent transmission of the AMF.

It can also be understood that the content of the seventh indication information and the first indication information may be the same.

It can also be understood that the present application does not limit the sequence of step 708 and step 710 .

711. The terminal receives the first indication information, and modifies the multiple access session connections to the single access session connection.

It can be understood that, according to the first indication information, the terminal can learn that the specific content of the single-access session connection is the N3GPP session connection.

712. The SMF may also send fourth indication information to the terminal, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection, and/or instruct the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection.

It should be noted that the fourth indication information can be applied to the following scenario: the terminal establishes a MA PDU session connection in 3GPP, and then initiates a session establishment process in N3GPP to establish another branch of the MA PDU session. In the above scenario, the SMF may send fourth indication information to the terminal to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection.

It can be understood that if the terminal can communicate through the 3GPP session before step 701, and the first SMF determines to retain the N3GPP session connection according to the policy information, the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection. Optionally, the fourth indication information is further used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection.

It can also be understood that, if the terminal can communicate through the N3GPP session before step 701, and the first SMF determines to retain the N3GPP session connection according to the policy information, the present application may not perform steps 712-714.

713. The terminal receives the fourth indication information, and migrates the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection according to the fourth indication information.

It can be understood that, the step 712 and the step 710 may be performed simultaneously, or the fourth indication information and the first indication information are carried in the same message, which is not limited in this application.

714. The terminal receives the fourth indication information, and deletes the 3GPP session connection according to the fourth indication information.

It can be understood that, if the fourth indication information only instructs the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection, the terminal executes step 713 after executing step 712, and does not need to execute step 714. If the fourth indication information only instructs the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection, the terminal performs step 714 without performing step 713 . If the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection, and to instruct the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection, the terminal may perform step 713 first and then step 714 .

It can be understood that, steps 712 to 714 may not be performed in this embodiment, which is not limited in this application.

715, the AMF determines that the terminal moves into the SMF SA.

For example, as the terminal moves, the AMF can detect that the terminal moves into the SMF SA.

It can be understood that step 715 may occur at any step after step 711, which is not limited in this application.

716. The AMF sends a second message to the SMF when it is determined that the terminal has moved into the SMF SA.

Optionally, the specific implementation of the second message is similar to step 704, and the difference from step 704 is that the AMF sends an update session management context request message to the I-SMF, and the I-SMF sends an update request message to the first SMF.

717. The SMF may determine, according to the second message, that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF.

718. The SMF determines to modify the single-access session connection to a multi-access session connection when it is determined that the terminal moves into the SMF SA.

719. The SMF sends second indication information to the terminal, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the SMF sends the second indication information to the terminal through the I-SMF and the AMF in sequence.

720. The terminal modifies the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection according to the second indication information.

It can be understood that the modification of the single-access session connection by the terminal to the multi-access session connection may specifically be modifying the saved association relationship of the single-access session connection to the saved association relationship of the multi-access session connection.

721. The SMF may also send fifth indication information to the terminal, where the fifth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish a 3GPP session connection.

722. The terminal establishes the 3GPP session connection according to the fifth indication information.

It can be understood that, steps 715 to 722 are scenarios in which the terminal moves into the SMF SA again after the terminal moves out of the SMF SA. If the terminal does not move into the SMF SA again, steps 715-722 are not performed.

It should be noted that the interaction between AMF and SMF in FIG. 7 , such as step 704 , step 708 , step 710 , step 712 , etc., the specific implementation method can also be that AMF interacts with SMF through I-SMF, and the specific interaction method can refer to In FIG. 6 , the interaction between the AMF and the first SMF through the second SMF will not be repeated here. The I-SMF is the I-SMF selected and inserted by the AMF when the terminal moves out of the SMF SA in step 703, and the I-SMF and the SMF provide session management services for the terminal at this time.

The various embodiments described herein may be independent solutions, or may be combined according to internal logic, and these solutions all fall within the protection scope of the present application.

It can be understood that, in the foregoing method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by each device may also be implemented by a component (for example, a chip or a circuit) of a corresponding device.

The foregoing mainly introduces the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspectives of various interactions. It can be understood that each network element, such as a transmitter device or a receiver device, includes hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to performing each function in order to implement the above functions. Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in conjunction with the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed by hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality using different methods for each particular application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

In this embodiment of the present application, the transmitting-end device or the receiving-end device may be divided into functional modules according to the foregoing method examples. For example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. middle. The above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware, or can be implemented in the form of software function modules. It should be noted that, the division of modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic, and is only a logical function division, and there may be other division manners in actual implementation. The following description will be given by using the division of each function module corresponding to each function as an example.

It should be understood that the specific examples in the embodiments of the present application are only for helping those skilled in the art to better understand the embodiments of the present application, rather than limiting the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

It should be understood that, in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the sequence of execution, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its functions and internal logic, and should not be dealt with in the embodiments of the present application. implementation constitutes any limitation.

In the above, the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 . Hereinafter, the device provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 15 . It should be understood that the description of the apparatus embodiment corresponds to the description of the method embodiment. Therefore, for the content not described in detail, reference may be made to the above method embodiment, which is not repeated here for brevity.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 800 for managing session connections according to an embodiment of the present application.

It should be understood that the apparatus 800 may correspond to the SMF in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 , and may have any function of the SMF in the method. The apparatus 800 includes a transceiver module 810 and a processing module 820 .

The transceiver module 810 is configured to receive the first message from the AMF;

The processing module 820 is configured to determine, according to the first message, that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF;

The processing module 820 is further configured to determine to modify the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF;

The transceiver module 810 is further configured to send first indication information to the AMF, where the first indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection.

Optionally, the transceiver module 810 is further configured to receive the second message from the AMF;

The processing module 820 is further configured to determine, according to the second message, that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF;

The processing module 820 is further configured to determine to modify the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection when the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF;

The transceiver module 810 is further configured to send second indication information to the AMF, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the processing module 820 is also used for:

get policy information;

According to the policy information, it is determined that when the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the processing module 820 is also used for:

Get load information;

According to the load information, determine the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the Non-3GPP session connection;

According to the load condition of the 3GPP session connection and the load condition of the Non-3GPP session connection, it is determined that the single-access session connection is the multi-access connection when the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF 3GPP session connection or Non-3GPP session connection in session connection.

Optionally, when the SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, and the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, the transceiver module 810 further is used to send third indication information to the terminal, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the Non-3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection, and/or instruct the terminal to delete all Non-3GPP session connection described above.

Optionally, when the SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, and the single-access session connection is a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, the transceiver module 810 is further configured to send fourth indication information to the terminal, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the Non-3GPP session connection, and/or instruct the terminal Delete the 3GPP session connection.

Optionally, when the SMF determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, and the single-access session connection is an N3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, if it is determined that the terminal Moving into the service area of the SMF again, the transceiver module 810 is further configured to send fifth indication information to the terminal, where the fifth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish a 3GPP session connection.

Optionally, when the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF, and the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, if it is determined that the terminal moves into the SMF again. In the case of the service area of the SMF, the transceiver module 810 is further configured to send sixth indication information to the terminal, where the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish a Non-3GPP session connection.

Optionally, the transceiver module 810 is further configured to send the first indication information to the terminal.

Optionally, the first message instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the SMF.

Optionally, the first message includes location information of the terminal, and the processing module 820 is further configured to determine, according to the location information of the terminal, that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF.

FIG. 9 shows an apparatus 900 for managing a session connection provided by an embodiment of the present application, and the apparatus 900 may be the SMF described in FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 , or FIG. 7 . The device may adopt the hardware architecture shown in FIG. 9 . The apparatus may include a processor 910 and a transceiver 930, and optionally, the apparatus may further include a memory 940, and the processor 910, the transceiver 930 and the memory 940 communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The related functions implemented by the processing module 820 in FIG. 8 can be implemented by the processor 910 , and the related functions implemented by the transceiver module 810 can be implemented by the processor 910 controlling the transceiver 930 .

Alternatively, the processor 910 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a special-purpose processor, or one or more An integrated circuit for implementing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (eg, computer program instructions). For example, it may be a baseband processor, or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control devices (such as base stations, terminals, or chips, etc.) that manage session connections, execute software programs, and process data of software programs. .

Optionally, the processor 910 may include one or more processors, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs). In the case where the processor is a CPU, the CPU may be a single Core CPU, can also be a multi-core CPU.

The transceiver 930 is used to transmit and receive data and/or signals, and to receive data and/or signals. The transceiver may include a transmitter for transmitting data and/or signals and a receiver for receiving data and/or signals.

The memory 940 includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable memory (EPROM), read-only memory (EPROM), and erasable programmable memory (EPROM). A compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), the memory 940 is used to store related instructions and data.

The memory 940 is used to store program codes and data of the terminal, and can be a separate device or integrated in the processor 910 .

For example, the processor 910 is used to control the transceiver to transmit information with the AMF. For details, refer to the description in the method embodiment, which is not repeated here.

In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the apparatus 900 may further include an output device and an input device. The output device communicates with the processor 910 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector (projector), etc. . The input device communicates with the processor 601 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device, or the like.

It will be appreciated that FIG. 9 merely shows a simplified design of the apparatus for managing session connections. In practical applications, the device may also include other necessary components, including but not limited to any number of transceivers, processors, controllers, memories, etc., and all terminals that can implement the present application are within the protection scope of the present application within.

In a possible design, the apparatus 900 may be a chip, for example, a communication chip that can be used in an SMF, for implementing the relevant functions of the processor 910 in the SMF. The chip can be a field programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated chip, a system chip, a central processing unit, a network processor, a digital signal processing circuit, a microcontroller, and a programmable controller or other integrated chips for realizing related functions. The chip may optionally include one or more memories for storing program codes, and when the codes are executed, make the processor implement corresponding functions.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a device, and the device may be an SMF or a circuit. The apparatus may be used to perform the actions performed by the SMF in the above method embodiments.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1000 for managing session connections according to an embodiment of the present application.

It should be understood that the apparatus 1000 may correspond to the AMF in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 , and may have any function of the AMF in the method. The apparatus 1000 includes a transceiver module 1010 .

The transceiver module 1010 is configured to send a first message to the SMF, where the first message is used to determine that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF;

The transceiver module 1010 is further configured to receive first indication information from the SMF, where the first indication information is used to indicate a single-access session connection.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1010 is further configured to send a second message to the SMF, where the second message is used to determine that the terminal moves into the service area of the SMF; the transceiver module 1010 is further configured to receive a message from the SMF. The second indication information of the SMF, where the second indication information is used to indicate a multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the apparatus 10000 further includes a processing module 1020, configured to modify the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association of the multi-access session connection according to the second indication information The association relationship of the single-access session connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session of the single-access session connection. The association relationship between the ID, the SMF ID and the session ID of the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the processing module 1020 is configured to, according to the first indication information, modify the association relationship of the multi-access session connection to the association relationship of the single-access session connection, the single-access session connection The association relationship is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID, SMF ID of the single-access session connection and the multi-access session ID. The association relationship of the session ID of the incoming session connection.

Optionally, the processing module 1020 is further configured to, according to the first indication information, modify the association relationship of the multi-access session connection to the association relationship of the single-access session connection, the single-access session connection The association relationship of the connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID of the single-access session connection, the SMF ID, and the multi-access session connection. The association relationship between the session IDs of the access session connection.

Optionally, the first message instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the SMF.

Optionally, the first message includes location information of the terminal, and the location information of the terminal is used to determine that the terminal moves out of the service area of the SMF.

FIG. 11 shows an apparatus 1100 for managing a session connection provided by an embodiment of the present application, where the apparatus 1100 may be the AMF described in FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 , or FIG. 7 . The device may adopt the hardware architecture shown in FIG. 11 . The apparatus may include a processor 1110 and a transceiver 1120, and optionally, the apparatus may further include a memory 1130, and the processor 1110, the transceiver 1120 and the memory 1130 communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The related functions implemented by the processing module 1020 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 may be implemented by the processor 1110 , and the related functions implemented by the transceiver module 1010 may be implemented by the processor 1110 controlling the transceiver 1120 .

Alternatively, the processor 1110 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a special-purpose processor, or one or more An integrated circuit for implementing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (eg, computer program instructions). For example, it may be a baseband processor, or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process the communication protocol and communication data, and the central processor can be used to control the device (eg, AMF or chip, etc.) for managing the session connection, execute the software program, and process the data of the software program.

Optionally, the processor 1110 may include one or more processors, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs). In the case where the processor is a CPU, the CPU may be a single Core CPU, can also be a multi-core CPU.

The transceiver 1120 is used to transmit and receive data and/or signals, and to receive data and/or signals. The transceiver may include a transmitter for transmitting data and/or signals and a receiver for receiving data and/or signals.

The memory 1130 includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable memory (EPROM), and read-only memory (EPROM). A compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), the memory 1130 is used to store related instructions and data.

The memory 1130 is used to store program codes and data of the AMF, and may be a separate device or integrated in the processor 1110 .

For example, the processor 1110 is used to control the transceiver and the SMF, or perform information transmission with the terminal. For details, refer to the description in the method embodiment, which is not repeated here.

In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the apparatus 1100 may further include an output device and an input device. The output device communicates with the processor 1110 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector (projector), etc. . The input device communicates with the processor 601 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device, or the like.

It will be appreciated that FIG. 11 only shows a simplified design of the apparatus for managing session connections. In practical applications, the device may also include other necessary elements, including but not limited to any number of transceivers, processors, controllers, memories, etc., and all AMFs that can implement the present application are within the protection scope of the present application within.

In a possible design, the apparatus 1100 may be a chip, for example, a communication chip that can be used in the AMF, for implementing the relevant functions of the processor 1110 in the AMF. The chip can be a field programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated chip, a system chip, a central processing unit, a network processor, a digital signal processing circuit, a microcontroller, and a programmable controller or other integrated chips for realizing related functions. The chip may optionally include one or more memories for storing program codes, and when the codes are executed, make the processor implement corresponding functions.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a device, and the device may be an AMF or a circuit. The apparatus may be used to perform the actions performed by the AMF in the above method embodiments.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1200 for managing session connections according to an embodiment of the present application.

It should be understood that the apparatus 1200 may correspond to the terminal in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 , and may have any function of the terminal in the method. The apparatus 1200 includes a transceiver module 1210 and a processing module 1220 .

The transceiver module 1210 is configured to receive first indication information from the SMF, where the first indication information is used to indicate a single-access session connection;

The processing module 1220 is configured to receive first indication information from the SMF, where the first indication information is used to indicate a single-access session connection.

Optionally, the single-access session connection includes a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1210 is further configured to receive second indication information from the SMF, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection;

The processing module 1220 is further configured to modify the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection according to the second indication information.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1210 is further configured to receive third indication information from the SMF;

The processing module 1220 is further configured to migrate the service corresponding to the Non-3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection according to the third indication information; and/or

The processing module is further configured to delete the Non-3GPP session connection according to the third indication information.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1210 is further configured to receive fourth indication information from the SMF;

The processing module 1220 is further configured to migrate, by the terminal, the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the N3GPP session connection according to the fourth indication information; and/or

The processing module 1220 is further configured to delete the 3GPP session connection according to the fourth indication information.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1210 is further configured to receive fifth indication information;

The processing module 1220 is further configured to establish the 3GPP session connection according to the fifth indication information.

Optionally, the processing module 1220 is further configured to, according to the fifth indication information, modify the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection, the single-access session connection The association relationship of the connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID of the single-access session connection, the SMF ID, and the multi-access session connection. The association relationship between the session IDs of the access session connection.

Optionally, the transceiver module 1210 is further configured to receive sixth indication information;

The processing module 1220 is further configured to establish the Non-3GPP session connection according to the sixth indication information.

Optionally, the processing module 1220 is further configured to, according to the sixth indication information, modify the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection, the single-access session connection The association relationship of the connection is the association relationship between the session ID of the single-access session connection and the SMF ID, and the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID of the single-access session connection, the SMF ID, and the multi-access session connection. The association relationship between the session IDs of the access session connection.

FIG. 13 shows an apparatus 1300 for managing a session connection provided by an embodiment of the present application, where the apparatus 1300 may be the terminal described in FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 , or FIG. 7 . The device may adopt the hardware architecture shown in FIG. 13 . The apparatus may include a processor 1310 and a transceiver 1320, and optionally, the apparatus may further include a memory 1330, and the processor 1310, the transceiver 1320 and the memory 1330 communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The related functions implemented by the processing module 1220 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 may be implemented by the processor 1310 , and the related functions implemented by the transceiver module 1210 may be implemented by the processor 1310 controlling the transceiver 1320 .

Alternatively, the processor 1310 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a special-purpose processor, or one or more An integrated circuit for implementing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (eg, computer program instructions). For example, it may be a baseband processor, or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control a device (eg, terminal or chip, etc.) for managing session connections, execute software programs, and process data of software programs.

Optionally, the processor 1310 may include one or more processors, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs). In the case where the processor is a CPU, the CPU may be a single Core CPU, can also be a multi-core CPU.

The transceiver 1320 is used to transmit and receive data and/or signals, and to receive data and/or signals. The transceiver may include a transmitter for transmitting data and/or signals and a receiver for receiving data and/or signals.

The memory 1330 includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable memory (EPROM), read-only memory (EPROM). A compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), the memory 1330 is used to store related instructions and data.

The memory 1330 is used to store program codes and data of the terminal, and may be a separate device or integrated in the processor 1310 .

For example, the processor 1310 is used to control the transceiver to transmit information with the SMF. For details, refer to the description in the method embodiment, which is not repeated here.

In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the apparatus 1300 may further include an output device and an input device. The output device communicates with the processor 1310 and can display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector (projector), etc. . The input device communicates with the processor 601 and can receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device, or the like.

It will be appreciated that FIG. 13 only shows a simplified design of the apparatus for managing session connections. In practical applications, the device may also include other necessary components, including but not limited to any number of transceivers, processors, controllers, memories, etc., and all terminals that can implement the present application are within the protection scope of the present application within.

In a possible design, the device 1300 may be a chip, for example, a communication chip that can be used in a terminal, for implementing the relevant functions of the processor 1310 in the terminal. The chip can be a field programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated chip, a system chip, a central processing unit, a network processor, a digital signal processing circuit, a microcontroller, and a programmable controller or other integrated chips for realizing related functions. The chip may optionally include one or more memories for storing program codes, and when the codes are executed, make the processor implement corresponding functions.

An embodiment of the present application further provides an apparatus, and the apparatus may be a terminal or a circuit. The apparatus may be configured to perform the actions performed by the terminal in the foregoing method embodiments.

Optionally, when the apparatus in this embodiment is a terminal, FIG. 14 shows a schematic structural diagram of a simplified terminal. For the convenience of understanding and illustration, in FIG. 14 , the terminal takes a mobile phone as an example. As shown in FIG. 14 , the terminal includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input and output device. The processor is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, control terminals, execute software programs, and process data of software programs. The memory is mainly used to store software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for the conversion of the baseband signal and the radio frequency signal and the processing of the radio frequency signal. Antennas are mainly used to send and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, and keyboards, are mainly used to receive data input by users and output data to users. It should be noted that some types of terminals may not have input and output devices.

When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and sends the radio frequency signal through the antenna in the form of electromagnetic waves. When data is sent to the terminal, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor, which converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data. For ease of illustration, only one memory and processor are shown in FIG. 14 . In an actual end product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device or the like. The memory may be set independently of the processor, or may be integrated with the processor, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In the embodiments of the present application, an antenna with a transceiver function and a radio frequency circuit may be regarded as a transceiver unit of the terminal, and a processor with a processing function may be regarded as a processing unit of the terminal. As shown in FIG. 14 , the terminal includes a transceiver unit 1410 and a processing unit 1420 . The transceiving unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, a transceiving device, or the like. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, a processing single board, a processing module, a processing device, and the like. Optionally, the device for implementing the receiving function in the transceiver unit 1410 may be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device for implementing the transmitting function in the transceiver unit 1410 may be regarded as a transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver unit 1410 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The transceiver unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit. The receiving unit may also sometimes be referred to as a receiver, receiver, or receiving circuit, or the like. The transmitting unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, or the like.

It should be understood that the transceiving unit 1410 is configured to perform the sending and receiving operations on the terminal side in the above method embodiments, and the processing unit 1420 is configured to perform other operations on the terminal except the transceiving operations in the above method embodiments.

For example, in an implementation manner, the processing unit 1420 is configured to perform the processing steps on the terminal side in FIG. 6 . The transceiving unit 1410 is configured to perform the transceiving operation in FIG. 6 , and/or the transceiving unit 1410 is further configured to perform other transceiving steps on the terminal side in this embodiment of the present application.

When the communication device is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit may be an input/output circuit or a communication interface; the processing unit may be a processor, a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip.

Optionally, when the apparatus is a terminal, reference may also be made to the device shown in FIG. 15 . As an example, the device may perform functions similar to the processor 1410 in FIG. 14 . In FIG. 15 , the device includes a processor 1501 , a transmit data processor 1503 , and a receive data processor 1505 . The processing module 1220 in the above-mentioned embodiment may be the processor 1501 in FIG. 15, and performs corresponding functions. The transceiver module 1210 in the above embodiment may be the sending data processor 1503 and the receiving data processor 1505 in FIG. 15 . Although the channel encoder and the channel decoder are shown in FIG. 15 , it can be understood that these modules do not constitute a limiting description of this embodiment, but are only illustrative.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can 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 the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be downloaded from a website site, computer, server or data center Transmission to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wire (eg, coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line, DSL) or wireless (eg, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). 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 includes an integration of one or more available media. The available media may be magnetic media (eg, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (eg, high-density digital video discs (DVDs)), or semiconductor media (eg, solid state disks, SSD)) etc.

It should be understood that the processor may be an integrated circuit chip, which has signal processing capability. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiments may be completed by a hardware integrated logic circuit in a processor or an instruction in the form of software. The above-mentioned processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA), or other possible solutions. Programming logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. The methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or executed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application may be directly embodied as executed by a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory or electrically erasable programmable memory, registers and other storage media mature in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory, and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware.

It can be understood that the memory in this embodiment of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically programmable Erase programmable read-only memory (electrically EPROM, EEPROM) or flash memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM), which acts as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (double data rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (synchronous link DRAM, SLDRAM) and direct memory bus random access memory (direct rambus RAM, DR RAM).

In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And/or", which describes the association relationship of the associated objects, indicates that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can indicate: the existence of A alone, the existence of A and B at the same time, and the existence of B alone, where A, B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the associated objects are an "or" relationship. "At least one item(s) below" or similar expressions thereof refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one item (a) of a, b, or c may represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c may be single or multiple .

It is to be understood that reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic associated with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It should be understood that, in various embodiments of the present invention, the size of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the sequence of execution, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its functions and internal logic, rather than the embodiments of the present invention. implementation constitutes any limitation.

The terms "component", "module", "system" and the like are used in this specification to refer to a computer-related entity, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device may be components. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between 2 or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. A component may, for example, be based on a signal having one or more data packets (eg, data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system, and/or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems via signals) Communicate through local and/or remote processes.

It should also be understood that the first, second, and various numerical numbers involved in this document are only for the convenience of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" in this document is only an association relationship to describe associated objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships, for example, A and/or B, which can mean that A exists alone, and A and B exist at the same time , there are three cases of B alone. Among them, A or B exists alone, and the number of A or B is not limited. Taking the existence of A alone as an example, it can be understood as having one or more A.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality using different methods for each particular application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the above-described systems, devices and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are only illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or Can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented. On the other hand, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, may be located in one place, or may be distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution in this embodiment.

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

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art or the part of the technical solution. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including Several instructions are used to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes .

The above are only specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this. should be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims (30)

A method for managing session connections, comprising: The first session management function network element receives the first message from the mobility management function network element; The first session management function network element determines, according to the first message, that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element; The first session management function network element determines to modify the multi-access session connection to a single-access session connection when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element; The first session management function network element sends first indication information to the mobility management function network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate the single-access session connection. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: the first session management function network element receives a second message from the mobility management function network element; The first session management function network element determines, according to the second message, that the terminal moves into the service area of the first session management function network element; The first session management function network element determines to modify the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection when the terminal moves into the service area of the first session management function network element; The first session management function network element sends second indication information to the mobility management function network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the single-access session connection comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP session connection or a non-3rd Generation Partnership Project Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection session connection. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises: the first session management function network element obtains policy information; The first session management function network element determines, according to the policy information, that the single-access session connection is the multi-access when the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element 3GPP session connection or Non-3GPP session connection in session connection. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises: the first session management function network element obtains load information; The first session management function network element determines the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the Non-3GPP session connection according to the load information; The first session management function network element determines a situation in which the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element according to the load status of the 3GPP session connection and the load status of the Non-3GPP session connection Next, the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection or a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first session management function network element determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element, and the In the case where the single-access session connection is a 3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, the method further includes: The first session management function network element sends third indication information to the terminal through the second session management function network element, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the Non-3GPP session connection to the terminal. the 3GPP session connection, and/or instruct the terminal to delete the Non-3GPP session connection. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first session management function network element determines that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element, and the When the single-access session connection is a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, the method further includes: The first session management function network element sends fourth indication information to the terminal, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to migrate the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection to the Non-3GPP session connection, and/ Or instruct the terminal to delete the 3GPP session connection. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, or claim 7, wherein the first session management function network element determines that the terminal moves out of the first session management function network element In the case where the single-access session connection is a Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection, the method further includes: The first session management function network element sends fifth indication information to the terminal when it is determined that the terminal moves into the service area of the first session management function network element again, where the fifth indication information is used for The terminal is instructed to establish a 3GPP session connection. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element, and the single-access session connection is the multi-access session In the case where the 3GPP session in the connection is connected, the method further includes: The first session management function network element sends sixth indication information to the terminal through the second session management function network element when it is determined that the terminal moves into the service area of the first session management function network element again, The sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal to establish a Non-3GPP session connection. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the method further comprises: The first session management function network element sends the first indication information to the terminal. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first message instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the first session management function network element. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first message includes location information of the terminal, and the method further comprises: The first session management function network element determines, according to the location information of the terminal, that the terminal moves out of the service area of the first session management function network element. A method for managing session connections, comprising: The mobility management function network element sends a first message to the session management function network element, where the first message is used to determine that the terminal moves out of the service area of the session management function network element; The mobility management function network element receives first indication information from the session management function network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate a single-access session connection. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: The mobility management function network element sends a second message to the session management function network element, where the second message is used to determine that the terminal moves into the service area of the session management function network element; The mobility management function network element receives second indication information from the session management function network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate a multi-access session connection. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: The mobility management function network element modifies the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection according to the second indication information, and the association relationship of the single-access session connection is: The association relationship between the session ID of the session connection and the session management function network element ID, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID of the session connection, the session management function network element ID and the session ID of the multi-access session connection association relationship. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the method further comprises: The mobility management function network element modifies the association relationship of the multi-access session connection to the association relationship of the single-access session connection according to the first indication information, and the association relationship of the single-access session connection is: The association relationship between the session ID of the session connection and the session management function network element ID, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID of the session connection, the session management function network element ID and the session ID of the multi-access session connection association relationship. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the single-access session connection comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP session connection or a non-3rd generation partner in the multi-access session connection Schedule Non-3GPP session connections. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the first message instructs the terminal to move out of the service area of the session management function network element. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the first message includes location information of the terminal, and the location information of the terminal is used to determine that the terminal moves out of the session management function The service area of the network element. A method for managing session connections, comprising: The terminal receives first indication information from the session management function network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate a single-access session connection; The terminal modifies the multi-access session connection to the single-access session connection according to the first indication information. The method according to claim 20, wherein the single-access session connection comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP session connection or a non-3rd Generation Partnership Project Non-3GPP session connection in the multi-access session connection . The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises: The terminal receives second indication information from the session management function network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate the multi-access session connection; The terminal modifies the single-access session connection to the multi-access session connection according to the second indication information. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal, third indication information from the session management function network element; The terminal migrates the service corresponding to the Non-3GPP session connection to the 3GPP session connection according to the third indication information; and/or The terminal deletes the Non-3GPP session connection according to the third indication information. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal, fourth indication information from the session management function network element; The terminal migrates the service corresponding to the 3GPP session connection by the terminal to the N3GPP session connection according to the fourth indication information; and/or The terminal deletes the 3GPP session connection according to the fourth indication information. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal, fifth indication information; The terminal establishes the 3GPP session connection according to the fifth indication information. The method of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises: The terminal modifies the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection according to the fifth indication information, and the association relationship of the single-access session connection is the single-access session connection. The association relationship between the session ID of the incoming session connection and the session management function network element ID, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID of the single-access session connection, the session management function network element ID, and the multi-access session connection. The association relationship of the session ID of the incoming session connection. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal, sixth indication information; The terminal establishes the Non-3GPP session connection according to the sixth indication information. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises: The terminal modifies, according to the sixth indication information, the association relationship of the single-access session connection to the association relationship of the multi-access session connection, and the association relationship of the single-access session connection is the single-access session connection. The association relationship between the session ID of the incoming session connection and the session management function network element ID, the association relationship of the multi-access session connection is the session ID of the single-access session connection, the session management function network element ID, and the multi-access session connection. The association relationship of the session ID of the incoming session connection. An apparatus, characterized by comprising a processor for invoking a program stored in a memory to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 28. A computer storage medium, characterized in that, the computer storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 28 is implemented.

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