Communication method and network device

1. A communication method, performed by a first network function entity including a PCF (policy control function) entity or a UDM (unified data management) entity, the method comprising:

determining a service zone ID; and

transmitting the service zone ID to a second network function entity including an AMF (access and mobility management function) entity or an SMF (session management function) entity, wherein the service zone ID is used for the second network function entity to select a service producer instance from a service producer, wherein the service zone ID includes a first service zone ID and a second service zone ID, and wherein transmitting the service zone ID comprises:

transmitting, by the PCF entity of the first network function entity, in a registration process of a UE (user equipment), the first service zone ID to the AMF entity of the second network function entity;

transmitting, in a PDU (protocol data unit) session establishment process of the UE, the second service zone ID to the second network function entity; and

assigning to the first service zone ID a first use priority and assigning to the second service zone ID a second use priority higher than the first use priority, wherein the second network function entity, in response to receiving both the first service zone ID and the second service zone ID, uses the second service zone ID ahead of or instead of the first service zone ID.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the service zone ID comprises:

determining the service zone ID according to at least one of the following: an operator policy; application function (“AF”) requirements; local configuration data; and operation requirements of management and operations.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving the AF requirements from a network exposure function (“NEF”) entity or an AF entity.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second network function entity includes the AMF entity, the first network function entity includes the PCF entity, and the registration process includes an access management policy update process, and wherein transmitting, in the registration process of the UE, the first service zone ID to the second network function entity comprises:

transmitting, by the PCF entity in the AM policy update process, the first service zone ID to the AMF entity.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second network function entity includes the AMF entity, the first network function entity includes the UDM entity, and the registration process includes a subscription data obtaining process, and wherein transmitting, in the registration process of the UE, the first service zone ID to the second network function entity comprises:

transmitting, by the UDM entity in the subscription data obtaining process, the first service zone ID to the AMF entity.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second network function entity includes the SMF entity, the first network function entity includes the PCF entity, and the PDU session establishment process includes a session management (SM) policy association establishment or modification process, and wherein transmitting, in the PDU session establishment process of the UE, the second service zone ID to the second network function entity comprises:

transmitting, by the PCF entity in the SM policy association establishment or modification process, the second service zone ID to the SMF entity.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein transmitting the service zone ID to the second network function entity comprises:

transmitting, to the second network function entity, the service zone ID and at least one of the following: information of an applicable service type of the service zone ID; and an applicable time range of the service zone ID.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first service zone ID corresponds to a first service zone, and the method further comprises:

obtaining a determination that the service producer upgrades a service; and

determining to use the second service ID to route the UE from the first service zone to a second service zone corresponding to the second service ID.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the second service zone ID along with a service type to the second network function entity, wherein the second network function entity selects a service producer according to the second service zone ID and the service type; or

transmitting the second service zone ID without the service type to the second network function entity, wherein the second network function entity selects the service producer according to the second service zone ID for all service types.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second network function entity is an old second network function entity, and the old second network function entity forwards the second service zone ID to a new second network function entity, and the method further comprises:

transmitting, by the first network function entity, a third service zone ID to the new second network function entity; and

assigning, by the first network function entity, a third use priority to the third service zone ID, the third use priority being higher than the second use priority, wherein the new second network function entity, in response to receiving both the second service zone ID and the third service zone ID, uses the third service zone ID ahead of or instead of the second service zone ID.

11. A first network function (“NF”) entity including a PCF (policy control function) entity or a UDM (unified data management) entity, the first NF entity comprising: a memory storing computer program instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to executing the computer program instructions and perform:

determining a service zone ID; and

transmitting the service zone ID to a second network function entity including an AMF (access and mobility management function) entity or an SMF (session management function) entity, wherein the service zone ID is used for the second network function entity to select a service producer instance from a service producer, wherein the service zone ID includes a first service zone ID and a second service zone ID, and wherein transmitting the service zone ID comprises:

transmitting, by the PCF entity of the first network function entity, in a registration process of a UE (user equipment), the first service zone ID to the AMF entity of the second network function entity;

transmitting, in a PDU (protocol data unit) session establishment process of the UE, the second service zone ID to the second network function entity; and

assigning to the first service zone ID a first use priority and assigning to the second service zone ID a second use priority higher than the first use priority, wherein the second network function entity, in response to receiving both the first service zone ID and the second service zone ID, uses the second service zone ID ahead of or instead of the first service zone ID.

12. The first network function entity according to claim 11 , wherein the service zone ID is determined according to at least one of the following: an operator policy; application function (AF) requirements; local configuration data; and operation requirements of management and operations.

13. The first network function entity according to claim 11 , wherein the second network function entity includes the AMF entity, the first network function entity includes the PCF entity, and the registration process includes an access management policy update process, and wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

transmitting, by the PCF entity in the AM policy update process, the first service zone ID to the AMF entity.

14. The first network function entity according to claim 11 , wherein the second network function entity includes the AMF entity, the first network function entity includes the UDM entity, and the registration process includes a subscription data obtaining process, and wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

transmitting, by the UDM entity in the subscription data obtaining process, the first service zone ID to the AMF entity.

15. The first network function entity according to claim 11 , wherein the second network function entity includes the SMF entity, the first network function entity includes the PCF entity, and the PDU session establishment process includes a session management (SM) policy association establishment or modification process, and wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

transmitting, by the PCF entity in the SM policy association establishment or modification process, the second service zone ID to the SMF entity.

16. The first network function entity according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

transmitting, to the second network function entity, the service zone ID and at least one of the following: information of an applicable service type of the service zone ID; and an applicable time range of the service zone ID.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable by at least one processor of a first network function entity to perform a method, wherein the first network function includes a PCF (policy control function) entity or a UDM (unified data management) entity, and the method includes:

determining a service zone ID; and

transmitting the service zone ID to a second network function entity including an AMF (access and mobility management function) entity or an SMF (session management function) entity, wherein the service zone ID is used for the second network function entity to select a service producer instance from a service producer, wherein the service zone ID includes a first service zone ID and a second service zone ID, and wherein transmitting the service zone ID comprises:

transmitting, by the PCF entity of the first network function entity, in a registration process of a UE (user equipment), the first service zone ID to the AMF entity of the second network function entity;

transmitting, in a PDU (protocol data unit) session establishment process of the UE, the second service zone ID to the second network function entity; and

assigning to the first service zone ID a first use priority and assigning to the second service zone ID a second use priority higher than the first use priority, wherein the second network function entity, in response to receiving both the first service zone ID and the second service zone ID, uses the second service zone ID ahead of or instead of the first service zone ID.