Method and apparatus for controlling disorder of downlink data

A method for controlling disorder of downlink data, wherein the method comprises:

• determining, by a control plane device, to switch from a first user plane device to a second user plane device;
• and
• sending, by the control plane device, indication information to the second user plane device, wherein the indication information indicates to the second user plane device to buffer downlink data received from a session anchor,
• wherein a transmission path, before the switch from the first user plane device to the second user plane device, passes through a data network, the session anchor, and the first user plane device, a transmission path after the switch passes through the data network, the session anchor, and the second user plane device, and there is a connection between the first user plane device and the second user plane device, and
• wherein the indication information indicates to the second user plane device to send the downlink data from the session anchor after reception, by the second user plane device, of an end marker from the first user plane device via the connection.

An apparatus configured to operate as a user plane device, comprising:

• an interface;
• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to implement a method of:
• receiving indication information from a control plane device, wherein a transmission path before switching passes through a data network, a session anchor, and a first user plane device, and a transmission path after switching passes through the data network, the session anchor, and the apparatus;
• receiving downlink data from the session anchor;
• buffering, according to the indication information, the downlink data received from the session anchor;
• and
• sending the buffered downlink data after reception, by the apparatus, of an end marker from the first user plane device,
• wherein there is a connection between the first user plane device and the apparatus through which the end marker is passed from the first user plane device to the apparatus.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an interface;
• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to implement a method of:
• determining to switch from a first user plane device to a second user plane device;
• and
• sending indication information to the second user plane device, wherein the indication information indicates to the second user plane device to buffer downlink data from a session anchor,
• wherein a transmission path, before the switch from the first user plane device to the second user plane device, passes through a data network, the session anchor, and the first user plane device, a transmission path after the switch passes through the data network, the session anchor, and the second user plane device, and there is a connection between the first user plane device and the second user plane device, and
• wherein the indication information indicates to the second user plane device to send the downlink data from the session anchor after reception, by the second user plane device, of an end marker from the first user plane device via the connection.