Communication method and communication apparatus

A communication apparatus, comprising at least one processor and a memory, wherein the at least one processor is coupled to the memory, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory, to cause the communication apparatus to:

• broadcast a first message that is used to notify that a first multicast session is to be released or is to be deactivated;
• send a third message to a core network device, wherein the third message is used to request to release or deactivate the first multicast session;
• detect whether the communication apparatus receives, within a first preset time period after sending the third message, a second message that corresponds to the first message;
• and
• if the communication apparatus receives, within the first preset time period, no second message that responds to the first message, release or deactivate the first multicast session;
• and
• if the communication apparatus receives, within the first preset time period, the second message that responds to the first message, retain the first multicast session, and send a fifth message to the core network device, wherein the fifth message is used to request the core network device to retain the first multicast session.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program code for execution by a processor of an access network device, the computer program code comprising instructions for:

• broadcasting a first message, wherein the first message is used to notify that a first multicast session is to be released or is to be deactivated;
• sending a third message to a core network device, wherein the third message is used to request to release or deactivate the first multicast session;
• detecting whether the access network device receives, within a first preset time period after sending the third message, a second message that corresponds to the first message;
• and
• if the access network device receives, within the first preset time period, no second message that responds to the first message, releasing or deactivating the first multicast session;
• and
• if the access network device receives, within the first preset time period, the second message that responds to the first message, retaining the first multicast session, and sending a fifth message to the core network device, wherein the fifth message is used to request the core network device to retain the first multicast session.