TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a network slicing-based communication method and a network slicing-based communications apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In the era of 5th-generation (5G) communications, hundreds of billions of internet of things devices access networks, and network requirements in different types of application scenarios are differentiated. In a network slicing technology, virtualized independent logical networks are created on a same network infrastructure to provide isolated network environments for different application scenarios, so that network functions and features can be customized based on requirements in the different application scenarios, thereby meeting requirements of different services.

Because user equipment has different requirements on a rate, a capacity, a coverage ratio, a delay, reliability, security, and bandwidth, different network slice types are required. Different network slice types may be identified by using network slice identification information. For example, the network slice identification information is single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI).

To meet different service requirements, an operator may deploy different network slice instances (NSI) in a network slice to provide different services for user equipment. For example, in a core network, two network slice instances NSI-1 and NSI-2 are deployed in a network slice whose network slice identification information is S-NSSAI-1. A user accessing NSI-1 may use a service of the network slice identified by S-NSSAI-1 free of charge, but a user accessing NSI-2 needs to pay for using the service of the network slice identified by S-NSSAI-1. In this way, the operator may implement some function optimization or charging differentiation for different network slice instances.

Currently, when user equipment needs to access a network slice, the user equipment provides, to a core network, identification information of a network slice required by the user equipment. The core network determines, based on the identification information, a network slice meeting a network slice type, and selects a network slice instance deployed in the network slice to provide a service for the user equipment. After moving, the user equipment needs to access a new network slice instance. According to the solution in the prior art, a network slice instance selected by the user equipment based on the network slice identification information meets only the network slice type required by the user equipment, and a network slice instance after the user equipment moves may be different from the network slice instance before the user equipment moves. Consequently, a session of the user before the user moves cannot be maintained, and user experience deteriorates.

For example,FIG.1shows a scenario in which user equipment selects network slice instances before and after moving, where the user equipment is located within coverage of a radio access network (RAN) RAN-1 before moving, and in a core network, two network slice instances NSI-1 and NSI-2 are deployed in a network slice whose network slice identification information is S-NSSAI-1. The user equipment accesses the network slice instance NSI-1, and establishes a session by using a network element in NSI-1. When the user equipment moves to a coverage area of a radio access network RAN-2, in the core network, two network slice instances NSI-1 and NSI-3 are deployed in a network slice whose network slice identification information is S-NSSAI-1. The core network determines, based on network slice identification information provided by the user equipment, the network slice whose network slice identification information is S-NSSAI-1, and then selects the network slice instance NSI-3 to provide a service for the user equipment. Because a network element providing a session service in the network slice instance NSI-3 is different from that in NSI-1, the session before the user equipment moves cannot be maintained.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a network slicing-based communication method and a network slicing-based communications apparatus.

According to an aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

receiving, by a radio access network device (for example, a RAN device), a registration request from user equipment, where the registration request includes first information and second information, the first information is used to indicate a type of a first network slice (for example, first S-NSSAI), and the second information is used to identify a first network slice instance (for example, a first NSI) in the first network slice; determining, by the radio access network device, an access and mobility management function network element (for example, an AMF network element) based on the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance; and sending, by the radio access network device, the registration request to the access and mobility management function network element, where the first information and the second information are used for network slice instance determining.

According to the foregoing method, the radio access network device can select the access and mobility management function network element that supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance to serve the user equipment. The access and mobility management function network element further determines, based on a requirement of the user equipment, a network slice instance that can serve the user equipment. When the user equipment moves, the user equipment may learn of a network slice instance that serves the user equipment before the movement. After the movement, the user equipment requests the same network slice instance from the core network, to ensure that a session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the method further includes: receiving, by the radio access network device, capability information from the access and mobility management function network element, where the capability information is used to indicate a network slice type and a network slice instance that are supported by the access and mobility management function network element. The determining, by the radio access network device, an access and mobility management function network element based on the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance includes: determining, by the radio access network device, the access and mobility management function network element based on the type of the first network slice, the first network slice instance, and the capability information. In this way, the radio access network device can obtain the type of the network slice and the network slice instance that are supported by the access and mobility management function network element, and then select, based on the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance that are requested by the user equipment, the access and mobility management function network element to serve the user equipment.

In a possible design, the determined access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance. Therefore, assuming that the user equipment accesses the first network slice instance in the first network slice before moving, after the user equipment moves, the radio access network device can select the access and mobility management function network element that supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance to serve the user.

According to another aspect, this application further discloses a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

receiving, by an access and mobility management function network element, a registration request from a radio access network device, where the registration request includes first information and second information, the first information is used to indicate a type of a first network slice, and the second information is used to identify a first network slice instance in the first network slice; and determining, by the access and mobility management function network element based on the first information and the second information, a network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that serves user equipment.

According to the foregoing method, the access and mobility management function network element may determine, based on a requirement of the user equipment, a network slice instance that can serve the user equipment. When the user equipment moves, the user equipment may learn of a network slice instance that serves the user equipment before the movement. After the movement, the user equipment requests the same network slice instance from the core network, to ensure that a session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the method further includes: sending, by the access and mobility management function network element, capability information to the radio access network device, where the capability information is used to indicate the type of the first network slice and a network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that is supported by the access and mobility management function network element, and the capability information is used for determining the access and mobility management function network element. In this way, the radio access network device can obtain the type of the network slice and the network slice instance that are supported by the access and mobility management function network element, and then select, based on the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance that are requested by the user equipment, the access and mobility management function network element to serve the user equipment.

In a possible design, the network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that serves the user equipment is the first network slice instance. In this way, after moving, the user equipment requests, from the core network, a network slice instance the same as that accessed by the user equipment before moving, to ensure that the session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the determining, by the access and mobility management function network element based on the first information and the second information, a network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that serves user equipment includes: when the access and mobility management function network element does not support the first network slice instance identified by the second information, sending, by the access and mobility management function network element, the first information and indication information to a network slice selection function network element, where the indication information is used to request to determine a network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that serves the user equipment; and receiving, by the access and mobility management function network element from the network slice selection function network element, identification information of a second network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that is supported by the access and mobility management function network element. In this way, when the access and mobility management function network element serving the user equipment does not support the network slice instance requested by the user equipment, the core network may select a network slice instance supported by the access and mobility management function network element to serve the user equipment.

In a possible design, the method further includes: sending, by the access and mobility management function network element, the identification information of the second network slice instance to the user equipment. In this way, when the access and mobility management function network element serving the user equipment does not support the network slice instance requested by the user equipment, the core network sends, to the user equipment, information about the network slice instance selected to serve the user equipment, so that the user equipment requests the core network to select the same network slice instance to serve the user equipment after next movement. In this way, it can be ensured that the session currently established by the user equipment is not interrupted after the next movement, thereby improving user experience.

According to another aspect, this application further discloses a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

obtaining, by user equipment, first information and second information, where the first information is used to indicate a type of a first network slice, and the second information is used to identify a first network slice instance in the first network slice; and sending, by the user equipment, a registration request to a radio access network device, where the registration request includes the first information and the second information, the first information and the second information are used for determining a first access and mobility management function network element, and the first information and the second information are further used for determining a network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that serves the user equipment.

According to the foregoing method, the user equipment can obtain information about a network slice instance that the user equipment accesses before moving. After the user equipment moves, the user equipment may request, from a core network, the same network slice instance to serve the user equipment, to ensure that a session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the obtaining, by user equipment, first information and second information includes: receiving, by the user equipment, a registration accept message from a second access and mobility management function network element, where the registration accept message includes the first information and the second information, and the second access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance; receiving, by the user equipment, a session establishment accept message from a third access and mobility management function network element, where the session establishment accept message includes the first information and the second information, and the third access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance; or receiving, by the user equipment, the first information and the second information from an interworking network element, where the interworking network element supports a session management function of a first network and a session management function of a second network. In this way, the user equipment may obtain, in a registration process or a session establishment process, information about a network slice instance corresponding to S-NSSAI associated with the session. After the user equipment moves, the user equipment may request, from the core network, the same network slice instance to serve the user equipment, to ensure that the session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience. In addition, when the user equipment supports interworking between 4G and 5G, after creating PDN connectivity in a 4G network, the user equipment can obtain the information about the network slice instance corresponding to the S-NSSAI associated with the session. When the user equipment uses the 5G network, the user equipment may request, from the core network, the network slice instance associated with the current session to serve the user equipment, to ensure that the session established when the user equipment switches from the 4G network to the 5G network is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience.

According to another aspect, this application further discloses a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

receiving, by a first access and mobility management function network element after receiving a registration request, first information and second information from a data management function network element, where the first information is used to indicate a type of a first network slice, and the second information is used to identify a first network slice instance in the first network slice; and when the first access and mobility management function network element does not support the first network slice instance identified by the second information, sending, by the first access and mobility management function network element, the first information, the second information, and indication information to a network slice selection function network element, where the indication information is used to request to determine a second access and mobility management function network element that supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance.

According to the foregoing method, assuming that user equipment accesses the first network slice instance in the first network slice before moving, the user equipment stores the type of the first network slice and information about the first network slice instance in the data management function network element. After the user equipment moves, the first access and mobility management function network element requests the network slice selection function network element to select the second access and mobility management function network element that supports the first network slice type and the first network slice instance to serve the user equipment. Thereby, the second access and mobility management function network element can determine a network slice instance to serve the user equipment, to ensure that a session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the method further includes: receiving, by the first access and mobility management function network element, identification information of the second access and mobility management function network element from the network slice selection function network element. Therefore, when an access and mobility management function network element that supports the first network slice type and the first network slice instance exists in a network, the first access and mobility management function network element can obtain an identifier of the access and mobility management function network element, to make the second access and mobility management function network element serve the user.

In a possible design, the method further includes: receiving, by the first access and mobility management function network element, identification information of a second network slice instance in the first network slice from the network slice selection function network element; and sending, by the first access and mobility management function network element, the identification information of the second network slice instance to the data management function network element. In this way, when there is no access and mobility management function network element that supports the first network slice type and the first network slice instance in the network, the core network may select the second access and mobility management function network element that supports the first network slice type to serve the user equipment, and requests the network slice selection function network element to determine a network slice instance supported by the second access and mobility management function network element to serve the user equipment. In addition, the data management function network element saves information about the network slice instance selected to serve the user equipment, so that after the user equipment moves next time, the core network can select the same network slice instance to serve the user equipment. In this way, it can be ensured that the session currently established by the user equipment is not interrupted after the next movement, thereby improving user experience.

According to another aspect, this application further discloses a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

obtaining, by a data management function network element, first information and second information from a first access and mobility management function network element, where the first information is used to indicate a type of a network slice, the second information is used to identify a network slice instance in the network slice, and the first access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the network slice and the network slice instance; and sending, by the data management function network element, the first information and the second information to a second access and mobility management function network element, where the first information and the second information are used for determining a third access and mobility management function network element, and the third access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the network slice and the network slice instance.

According to the foregoing method, before the user equipment moves, a network slice instance serving the user equipment is stored in the data management function network element. After the user equipment moves, the core network can select a network slice instance that is the same as that before the movement to serve the user equipment. In this way, it is ensured that a session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience. In addition, the data management function network element stores the information about the network slice instance that is before the movement, so that the user equipment and a RAN device do not learn of the information about the network slice instance, thereby saving storage space of the user equipment.

According to another aspect, this application further discloses a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

receiving, by a network slice selection function network element, first information, second information, and indication information from a first access and mobility management function network element, where the first information is used to indicate a type of a first network slice, the second information is used to identify a first network slice instance in the first network slice, and the indication information is used to request to determine a second access and mobility management function network element that supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance; and determining, by the network slice selection function network element, whether the second access and mobility management function network element exists in an area in which user equipment is located.

According to the foregoing method, before moving, the user equipment stores, in a data management function network element, information about the type of the first network slice serving the user equipment and about the first network slice instance. After the user equipment moves, the network slice selection function network element receives the information about the type of the first network slice and about the first network slice instance from the first access and mobility management function network element. The network slice selection function network element determines whether the access and mobility management function network element supporting the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance exists in the area in which the user equipment is located, to select an appropriate access and mobility management function network element to serve the user equipment.

In a possible design, the method further includes: when the second access and mobility management function network element exists in the area in which the user equipment is located, sending, by the network slice selection function network element, identification information of the second access and mobility management function network element to the first access and mobility management function network element. Therefore, when an access and mobility management function network element that supports the first network slice type and the first network slice instance exists in a network, the first access and mobility management function network element can obtain an identifier of the access and mobility management function network element, to request the second access and mobility management function network element to serve the user.

In a possible design, the method further includes: when the second access and mobility management function network element does not exist in the area in which the user equipment is located, sending, by the network slice selection function network element, identification information of a second network slice instance in the first network slice to the first access and mobility management function network element. In this way, when there is no access and mobility management function network element that supports the first network slice type and the first network slice instance in the network, the core network may select the second access and mobility management function network element that supports the first network slice type to serve the user equipment, and requests the network slice selection function network element to determine a network slice instance supported by the second access and mobility management function network element to serve the user equipment.

According to another aspect, this application further discloses a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

obtaining, by a first access and mobility management function network element, first information and second information, where the first information is used to indicate a type of a first network slice, the second information is used to identify a first network slice instance in the first network slice, and the first access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the first network slice and the first network slice instance; and sending, by the first access and mobility management function network element, the first information and the second information to user equipment or a data management function network element, where the first information and the second information are used for determining a second access and mobility management function network element, the second access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the first network slice and the network slice instance, and the first information and the second information are further used for determining a network slice instance that is in the first network slice and that serves the user equipment.

According to the foregoing method, before the user equipment moves, the user equipment or a core network may learn of a network slice instance that serves the user equipment. After the user equipment moves, the core network selects the same network slice instance that serves the user equipment before the movement, to ensure that a session established before the user equipment moves is not interrupted, thereby improving user experience.

In a possible design, the sending, by the first access and mobility management function network element, the first information and the second information to user equipment or a data management function network element includes: sending, by the first access and mobility management function network element, a registration accept message to the user equipment, where the registration accept message includes the first information and the second information; or sending, by the first access and mobility management function network element, a session establishment accept message to the user equipment, where the session establishment accept message includes the first information and the second information. Therefore, the user equipment may learn of, in a registration process or a session establishment process, a type of a network slice that serves the user equipment before the movement and a corresponding network slice instance.

According to another aspect, this application further discloses a network slicing-based communication method, and the method includes:

receiving, by a network slice selection function network element, first information and indication information from an access and mobility management function network element, where the first information is used to indicate a type of a network slice, the indication information is used to request to determine a network slice instance that is in the network slice and that serves user equipment, and the access and mobility management function network element supports the type of the network slice and the network slice instance; and sending, by the network slice selection function network element, second information to the access and mobility management function network element, where the second information is used to identify a network slice instance in the network slice.

According to the foregoing method, when there is no access and mobility management function network element that supports a type of a first network slice and a first network slice instance in the network, a core network may select the network slice instance supported by the access and mobility management function network element to serve the user equipment.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a network slicing-based communications apparatus. The network slicing-based communications apparatus has a function of implementing behavior of the radio access network device in the foregoing methods. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware by executing corresponding software. The hardware or the software includes one or more modules corresponding to the foregoing functions. In a possible design, a structure of the network slicing-based communications apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to process the network slicing-based communications apparatus to perform a corresponding function in the foregoing method. The transceiver is configured to implement communication between the network slicing-based communications apparatus and user equipment/an access and mobility management function network element. The network slicing-based communications apparatus may further include a memory. The memory is configured to couple to the processor, and stores a program instruction and data that are necessary for the network slicing-based communications apparatus.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a network slicing-based communications apparatus. The network slicing-based communications apparatus has a function of implementing behavior of the access and mobility management function network element in the foregoing methods. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware by executing corresponding software. The hardware or the software includes one or more modules corresponding to the foregoing functions. In a possible design, a structure of the network slicing-based communications apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to process the network slicing-based communications apparatus to perform a corresponding function in the foregoing method. The transceiver is configured to implement communication between the network slicing-based communications apparatus and a radio access network device/a network slice selection function network element/user equipment. The network slicing-based communications apparatus may further include a memory. The memory is configured to couple to the processor, and stores a program instruction and data that are necessary for the network slicing-based communications apparatus.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides user equipment. The user equipment has a function of implementing behavior of the user equipment in the foregoing methods. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware by executing corresponding software. The hardware or the software includes one or more modules corresponding to the foregoing functions. In a possible design, a structure of the user equipment includes a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to implement communication between the user equipment and a radio access network device/a second access and mobility management function network element/a third access and mobility management function network element/an interworking network element. The user equipment may further include a memory. The memory is configured to couple to the processor, and stores a program instruction and data that are necessary for the user equipment.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a network slicing-based communications apparatus. The network slicing-based communications apparatus has a function of implementing behavior of the first access and mobility management function network element in the foregoing methods. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware by executing corresponding software. The hardware or the software includes one or more modules corresponding to the foregoing functions. In a possible design, a structure of the network slicing-based communications apparatus includes a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to implement communication between the network slicing-based communications apparatus and a data management function network element/a network slice selection function network element. The network slicing-based communications apparatus may further include a memory. The memory is configured to couple to the processor, and stores a program instruction and data that are necessary for the network slicing-based communications apparatus.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a network slicing-based communications apparatus. The network slicing-based communications apparatus has a function of implementing behavior of the data management function network element in the foregoing methods. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware by executing corresponding software. The hardware or the software includes one or more modules corresponding to the foregoing functions. In a possible design, a structure of the network slicing-based communications apparatus includes a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to implement communication between the network slicing-based communications apparatus and a first access and mobility management function network element/a second access and mobility management function network element. The network slicing-based communications apparatus may further include a memory. The memory is configured to couple to the processor, and stores a program instruction and data that are necessary for the network slicing-based communications apparatus.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a network slicing-based communications apparatus. The network slicing-based communications apparatus has a function of implementing behavior of the network slice selection function network element in the foregoing methods. This function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware by executing corresponding software. The hardware or the software includes one or more modules corresponding to the foregoing functions. In a possible design, a structure of the network slicing-based communications apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor is configured to process the network slicing-based communications apparatus to perform a corresponding function in the foregoing method. The transceiver is configured to implement communication between the network slicing-based communications apparatus and a first access and mobility management function network element. The network slicing-based communications apparatus may further include a memory. The memory is configured to couple to the processor, and stores a program instruction and data that are necessary for the network slicing-based communications apparatus.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium stores an instruction, and when the instruction runs on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the methods in the foregoing aspects.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a computer program product including an instruction. When the computer program product runs on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the methods in the foregoing aspects.

According to another aspect, this application provides a chip system. The chip system includes a processor, configured to support the foregoing network slicing-based communications apparatus or user equipment in implementing the functions in the foregoing aspects, for example, generating or processing information in the foregoing methods. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, and the memory is configured to store a program instruction and data that are necessary for a data sending device. The chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and another discrete components.

