Session information management method and apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to session information management methods. One example method includes sending, by a session management function (SMF) network element, identification information of a terminal device, a data network name (DNN), and slice information to a data management network element to request first subscription data that is of the terminal device and that is associated with the DNN and the slice information, where the slice information is used to identify a network slice served by the SMF network element, and receiving, by the SMF network element, the first subscription data from the data management network element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A session information management method, comprising:
 sending, by a session management function network element, identification information of a terminal device, a data network name (DNN), and slice information to a data management network element to request first subscription data that is of the terminal device and that is associated with the DNN and the slice information, wherein the slice information is used to identify a network slice served by the session management function network element; and 
 sending, by the session management function network element to the data management network element, a message comprising the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, the slice information, and session management function information, wherein the message is for subscribing updated subscription data of the first subscription data from the data management network element; and 
 receiving, by the session management function network element, the first subscription data from the data management network element. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending, by the session management function network element, the identification information of the terminal device, session management function information, the DNN, and the slice information to the data management network element to register the session management function network element with the data management network element, wherein the session management function information comprises at least one of identification information of the session management function network element or address information of the session management function network element. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim  2  1, further comprising:
 receiving, by the session management function network element, the identification information of the terminal device, second subscription data, the DNN, and the slice information from the data management network element; and 
 updating, by the session management function network element, the first subscription data associated with the DNN and the slice information to the second subscription data. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim  2  1, further comprising:
 receiving, by the session management function network element, the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, and the slice information from the data management network element; and 
 deleting, by the session management function network element from the session management function network element, the first subscription data that is of the terminal device and that is associated with the DNN and the slice information. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim  2  1, further comprising:
 determining, by the session management function network element, that a last session of the terminal device is released; and 
 sending, by the session management function network element in response to the determination, the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, and the slice information to the data management network element to delete the session management function information associated with the DNN and the slice information. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the slice information is used to identify a network slice accessed by the terminal device. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first subscription data comprises a subscribed aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR) and a session and service continuity (SSC) mode. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first subscription data further comprises a static internet protocol (IP) address or static IP prefix. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first subscription data further comprises at least one of a subscribed quality of service (QoS) profile or a subscribed charging feature. 
     
     
       10. A session management function network element, comprising:
 a communications interface; 
 at least one processor; and 
 a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by the at least one processor, wherein the computer executable instructions instruct the session management function network element to:
 send identification information of a terminal device, a data network name (DNN), and slice information to a data management network element to request first subscription data that is of the terminal device and that is associated with the DNN and the slice information, wherein the slice information is used to identify a network slice served by the session management function network element; and 
 send, to the data management network element, a message comprising the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, the slice information, and session management function information, wherein the message is for subscribing updated subscription data of the first subscription data from the data management network element; and 
 receive the first subscription data from the data management network element. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The session management function network element according to  claim 10 , wherein the computer executable instructions instruct the session management function network element to send the identification information of the terminal device, session management function information, the DNN, and the slice information to the data management network element to register the session management function network element with the data management network element, wherein the session management function information comprises at least one of identification information of the session management function network element or address information of the session management function network element. 
     
     
       12. The session management function network element according to  claim 10 , wherein the slice information is used to identify a network slice accessed by the terminal device. 
     
     
       13. The session management function network element according to  claim 10 , wherein the first subscription data comprises a subscribed aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR) and a session and service continuity (SSC) mode. 
     
     
       14. The session management function network element according to  claim 13 , wherein the first subscription data further comprises a static internet protocol (IP) address or static IP prefix. 
     
     
       15. A data management network element, comprising:
 a communications interface; 
 at least one processor; and 
 a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by the at least one processor, wherein the computer executable instructions instruct the data management network element to:
 receive identification information of a terminal device, a data network name (DNN), and slice information from a session management function network element that are used to request first subscription data that is of the terminal device and that is associated with the DNN and the slice information, wherein the slice information is used to identify a network slice served by the session management function network element; and 
 receive, from the session management function network element, a message comprising the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, the slice information, and session management function information, wherein the message is for subscribing updated subscription data of the first subscription data to the session management function network element; and 
 send the first subscription data to the session management function network element. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The data management network element according to  claim 15 , wherein the computer executable instructions instruct the data management network element to:
 receive the identification information of the terminal device, session management function information, the DNN, and the slice information from the session management function network element to register the session management function network element with the data management network element, wherein the session management function information comprises at least one of identification information of the session management function network element or address information of the session management function network element; and 
 store the session management function information associated with the DNN and the slice information into context information of the terminal device, wherein the session management function information comprises at least one of identification information of the session management function network element or address information of the session management function network element. 
 
     
     
       17. A session information management method, comprising:
 receiving, by a data management network element, identification information of a terminal device, a data network name (DNN), and slice information from a session management function network element, wherein the slice information is used to identify a network slice served by the session management function network element; and 
 receiving, by the data management network element from the session management function network element, a message comprising the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, the slice information, and session management function information, wherein the message is for subscribing updated subscription data of the first subscription data to the session management function network element; and 
 sending, by the data management network element, first subscription data that is of the terminal device and that is associated with the DNN and the slice information to the session management function network element. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the data management network element, the identification information of the terminal device, session management function information, the DNN, and the slice information from the session management function network element to register the session management function network element with the data management network element, wherein the session management function information comprises at least one of identification information of the session management function network element or address information of the session management function network element; and wherein the method further comprises: 
 storing, by the data management network element, the session management function information associated with the DNN and the slice information into context information of the terminal device. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to claim  18  17, further comprising:
 updating, by the data management network element, the first subscription data of the terminal device to second subscription data; 
 determining, by the data management network element in response to the message, the DNN and the slice information that are associated with the first subscription data; and 
 sending, by the data management network element, the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, the slice information, and the second subscription data to the session management function network element associated with the DNN and the slice information. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to claim  18  17, further comprising:
 deleting, by the data management network element, the first subscription data from the data management network element; 
 deleting, by the data management network element, the session management function information from the context information of the terminal device; and 
 sending, by the data management network element, the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, and the slice information to the session management function network element. 
 
     
     
       21. The method according to claim  18  17, further comprising:
 receiving, by the data management network element, the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, and the slice information from the session management function network element; and 
 deleting, by the data management network element from the context information of the terminal device, the session management function information associated with the DNN and the slice information in a situation when a last session of the terminal device is released. 
 
     
     
       22. The session management function network element according to claim 10, wherein the computer executable instructions further instruct the session management function network element to:
 determine that a last session of the terminal device is released; and   send, in response to the determination, the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, and the slice information to the data management network element to delete the session management function information associated with the DNN and the slice information.   
     
     
       23. The data management network element according to claim 15, wherein the computer executable instructions instruct the data management network element to:
 update the first subscription data of the terminal device to second subscription data;   determine, in response to the message, the DNN and the slice information that are associated with the first subscription data; and   send the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, the slice information, and the second subscription data to the session management function network element associated with the DNN and the slice information.   
     
     
       24. The data management network element according to claim 15, wherein the computer executable instructions instruct the data management network element to:
 receive the identification information of the terminal device, the DNN, and the slice information from the session management function network element; and   delete, from the context information of the terminal device, the session management function information associated with the DNN and the slice information in a situation when a last session of the terminal device is released.