Information sending method, key generation method, and apparatus

An information sending method implemented by an access and management function network element, wherein the information sending method comprises:

• receiving a request message from an access network element, wherein the request message comprises an explicit indication indicating whether an access stratum (AS) security mode command (SMC) procedure needs to be triggered;
• determining, based on the explicit indication carried in the request message and based on a terminal device type of a terminal device, whether the AS SMC procedure is to be performed by:
• determining that the AS SMC procedure needs to be performed when the terminal device type is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) type;
• and
• determining that the AS SMC procedure does not need to be performed when the terminal device type is one of a massive machine type of communication (mMTC) type or an ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) type;
• and
• sending, to the access network element and when the AS SMC procedure is to be performed, an initial context setup request message that carries a necessary parameter for performing the AS SMC procedure.

An access and management function network element comprising:

• a communications interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the communications interface and configured to:
• receive, using the communications interface, a request message from an access network element, wherein the request message comprises an explicit indication indicating whether an access stratum (AS) security mode command (SMC) procedure needs to be triggered;
• determine, based on the explicit indication carried in the request message and based on a terminal device type of a terminal device, whether the AS SMC procedure is to be triggered by:
• determining that the AS SMC procedure needs to be performed when the terminal device type is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) type;
• and
• determining that the AS SMC procedure does not need to be performed when the terminal device type is one of a massive machine type of communication (mMTC) type or an ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) type;
• and
• send, using the communications interface, to the access network element and when the AS SMC procedure is to be performed, an initial context setup request message, wherein the initial context setup request message carries a necessary parameter for performing the AS SMC procedure.

A communication system comprising an access network element and an access and management function network element, wherein:

• the access network element is configured to:
• send, to the access and management function, a request message that comprises an explicit indication indicating whether an access stratum (AS) security mode command (SMC) procedure needs to be triggered;
• the access and management function network element is configured to:
• receive the request message;
• determine, based on the explicit indication carried in the request message and based on a terminal device type of a terminal device, whether the AS SMC procedure is to be performed by:
• determining that the AS SMC procedure needs to be performed when the terminal device type is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) type;
• and
• determining that the AS SMC procedure does not need to be performed when the terminal device type is one of a massive machine type of communication (mMTC) type or an ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) type;
• send, when the AS SMC procedure is to be performed, an initial context setup request message to the access network element, wherein the initial context setup request message carries a necessary parameter for performing the AS SMC procedure;
• the access network element is further configured to:
• receive the necessary parameter from the access and management function network element;
• and
• send, based on the necessary parameter from the access and management function network element, an AS SMC message to a terminal.