Communications method and apparatus

A communications apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• one or more memories coupled to the at least one processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the communications apparatus to:
• receive a first message from an access and mobility management function (AMF) node, wherein the first message comprises specified area related information of a terminal device, and the specified area related information indicates an area of interest;
• determine, based on the specified area related information and first location information of the terminal device, that the terminal device moves out of the area of interest;
• send, to the AMF node, first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has moved out of the area of interest;
• upon prior to determining that the terminal device has moved out of the area of interest, switch the terminal device from a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected state to a RRC inactive state;
• determine a radio access network notification area (RNA) of the terminal device based on a second location information of the terminal device;
• and
• send a second message carrying the RNA to the terminal device, where the second message is used to release an RRC connection between the terminal device and the communications apparatus.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing programs, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

• receiving a first message from an access and mobility management function (AMF) node, wherein the first message comprises specified area related information of a terminal device, and the specified area related information indicates an area of interest;
• determining, based on the specified area related information and first location information of the terminal device, that the terminal device moves out of the area of interest;
• sending, to the AMF node, first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates that the terminal device has moved out of the area of interest;
• upon prior to determining that the terminal device has moved out of the area of interest, switching the terminal device from a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected state to a RRC inactive state;
• determining a radio access network notification area (RNA) of the terminal device based on a second location information of the terminal device;
• and
• sending a second message carrying the RNA to the terminal device, where the second message is used to release an RRC connection between the terminal device and a radio access network (RAN) node.