# US 12,004,066 B2 · Path, path information processing method and device, storage medium and electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,066 B2 - Document ID: US12004066B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/123,664 - Filed: 2023-03-20 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-30 - Assignees: Zte Corporation - Applicants: ZTE Corporation - Inventors: Shuang Liang; Jinguo Zhu; Zhijun Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004066B2 ## CPC - H04W 40/02: Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing - H04W 8/22: Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Provided are a path, a path information processing method and device, a storage medium, and an electronic device. The path processing method may be performed by an I-SMF and include: receiving a first message sent by an anchor-session management function (A-SMF), wherein the first message comprises context information associated with a User Equipment (UE); determining, according to the context information, a mode corresponding to a data path established by the I-SMF, wherein the mode is indicative of whether the data path supports a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session with multi-homing function; and determining a node type of a node according to the mode, wherein the node type comprises an uplink classifier (UL-CL) or a branching point (BP). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A path processing method, performed by an intermediate-session management function (I-SMF), comprising: receiving a first message sent by an anchor-session management function (A-SMF), wherein the first message comprises context information associated with a User Equipment (UE); determining, according to the context information, a mode corresponding to a data path established by the I-SMF, wherein the mode is indicative of whether the data path supports a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session with multi-homing function; and determining a node type of a node according to the mode, wherein the node type comprises an uplink classifier (UL-CL) or a branching point (BP). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein before receiving the first message, the method further comprises: transmitting, to the A-SMF, a second message requesting the context information associated with the UE. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the node type is associated with a capability information of the UE or a preference information of the UE. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the node type is BP, the method further comprising: transmitting address information corresponding to the data path to the UE. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the address information comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) address allocated to the UE, the method further comprising: acquiring the address information from at least one of: a User Plane Function (UPF) selected by the I-SMF; a network repository function (NRF); or a dynamic host configuration protocol/authentication, authorization, accounting (DHCP/AAA) server. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting the address information corresponding to the data path to the UE comprises at least one of: instructing the A-SMF to transmit the address information and a routing rule corresponding to the data path to the UE; or transmitting the address information and the routing rule corresponding to the data path to the UE. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the A-SMF, a notification message notifying the A-SMF to update a connection between the A-SMF and the I-SMF. ### Claim 8 A path processing method, performed by an anchor-session management function (A-SMF), comprising: receiving, from a Policy Control Function (PCF), a second message indicating a routing policy for the UE needs to be updated, wherein the second message comprises a data network access identifier (DNAI); and transmitting a first message to an intermediate-session management function (I-SMF), wherein the message comprises context information associated with a User Equipment (UE) and indicative of a mode corresponding to a data path established by the I-SMF, the mode being indicative of whether the data path supports a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session with multi-homing function. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining, based on the second message, that a new I-SMF needs to be selected; and transmitting, to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a third message to trigger the AMF to select the I-SMF. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the third message comprises at least one of: a PDU session identifier; the DNAI; or an indicator indicating whether a BP can be inserted. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the node type is BP, the method further comprising: notifying the I-SMF to send an address information corresponding to the data path to the UE, wherein the address information comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address allocated to the UE. ### Claim 12 A network element comprising a memory for storing computer instructions and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein, when the processor executes the computer instructions, the processor is configured to cause the network element to: receive a first message sent by an anchor-session management function (A-SMF), wherein the first message comprises context information associated with a User Equipment (UE); determine, according to the context information, a mode corresponding to a data path established by the network element, wherein the mode is indicative of whether the data path supports a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session with multi-homing function; and determine a node type of a node according to the mode, wherein the node type comprises an uplink classifier (UL-CL) or a branching point (BP). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The network element of claim 12, wherein, before the processor is configured to cause the network element to receive the first message, the processor is configured to cause the network element to: transmit, to the A-SMF, a second message requesting the context information associated with the UE. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The network element of claim 12, wherein the node type is BP, and wherein, when the processor executes the computer instructions, the processor is configured to further cause the network element to: transmit address information corresponding to the data path to the UE. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The network element of claim 14, wherein the address information comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) address allocated to the UE, and wherein, when the processor executes the computer instructions, the processor is configured to further cause the network element to: acquire the address information from at least one of: a User Plane Function (UPF) selected by the network element; a network repository function (NRF); or a dynamic host configuration protocol/authentication, authorization, accounting (DHCP/AAA) server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The network element of claim 15, wherein, when the processor is configured to cause the network element to transmit the address information corresponding to the data path to the UE, the processor is configured to cause the network element to perform at least one of: instructing the A-SMF to transmit the address information and a routing rule corresponding to the data path to the UE; or transmitting the address information and the routing rule corresponding to the data path to the UE.