Patent Description:
<NUM>th-Generation (<NUM>th Generation, <NUM>) communications system may include a new radio (New Radio, NR) network element and an enhanced long term evolution (enhanced Long Term Evolution, eLTE) network element. The NR network element (e.g., an NR base station) is a real <NUM> network element, while the eLTE network element (e.g., an eLTE base station) is a cell eLTE network element accessing a <NUM> core network. Currently, the <NUM> communications system includes various radio access networks, and there is an urgent need to provide a scheme for a terminal to perform relevant operations on services effectively.

Patent literature <CIT> discloses a system and method for accessing voice services using a user equipment in a communication system.

Non-patent literature named "<NPL>" discusses the IMS voice over PS Session Supported Indication.

Non-patent literature named "<NPL>" discusses to add RRC release with re-direction for "EPS fallback" functionality in the <NUM> System.

The scope of the present invention is determined only by the scope of the appended claims. More precisely, in one aspect, the present disclosure provides a service indication method performed by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) according to claim <NUM> and further detailed in the dependent claims referring back to this claim.

Furthermore, in another aspect, the present disclosure provides a service indication method performed by a Radio Access Network (RAN) according to claim <NUM> and further detailed in the dependent claims referring back to this claim.

Furthermore, in yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an AMF according to claim <NUM> and further detailed in the dependent claims referring back to this claim.

Furthermore, in still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an RAN according to claim <NUM> and further detailed in the dependent claims referring back to this claim.

In order to illustrate the technical solutions of embodiments of the present disclosure in a clearer manner, the drawings used by embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter briefly. Obviously, the following drawings merely relate to embodiments of the present disclosure, and based on these drawings, a person skilled in the art may obtain the other drawings without any creative effort.

The present disclosure will be described hereinafter in a clear and complete manner in conjunction with a drawing in an embodiment. Obviously, the following embodiments merely relate to a part of, rather than all of, the embodiments of the present disclosure, and based on these embodiments, a person skilled in the art may, without any creative effort, obtain the other embodiments, which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

<FIG> shows a structural figure of an available service indication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the service indication system includes a terminal <NUM>, a first network element <NUM> and a second network element <NUM>.

The terminal <NUM> may be a user equipment (UE), e.g., mobile phone, tablet personal computer (Tablet Personal Computer), laptop computer (Laptop Computer), personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA), mobile Internet device (Mobile Internet Device, MID) or wearable device. It should be appreciated that, a specific type of the terminal <NUM> will not be particularly defined herein.

The first network element <NUM> may be any network side device or network function. For example, the first network element <NUM> may be a radio access network network element or a core network network element. In addition, the first network element <NUM> may interact with the terminal <NUM> or any other network element. The second network element <NUM> may be any network side device or network function different from the first network element <NUM>, and it may be a radio access network network element or a core network network element.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the core network network element may include at least one of a core network device, a core network node, a core network function, a core network network unit, a mobility management entity (Mobility Management Entity, MME), an access management function (Access Management Function, AMF), a session management function (Session Management Function, SMF), a user plane function (User Plane Function, UPF), a serving gateway (serving GW, SGW), a PDN gateway (PDN Gate Way, PDN gateway), a policy control function (Policy Control Function, PCF), a policy and charging rules function (Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF), a serving general packet radio service support node (Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN), a gateway GPRS support node (Gateway GPRS Support Node, GGSN) wireless access network device.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the RAN network element may include at least one of an RAN device, an RAN node, an RAN function, an RAN unit, a <NUM>rd-Generation partnership project (3GPP) RAN, a non-3GPP RAN, a centralized unit (Centralized Unit, CU), a distributed unit (Distributed Unit, DU), a base station, an evolved Node B (eNB), a gNB, a radio network controller (Radio Network Controller, RNC), a Node B, a non-3GPP InterWorking function (Non-3GPP InterWorking Function, N3IWF), an access controller (Access Controller, AC) node, an access point (Access Point, AP) device, or a wireless local area networks (Wireless Local Area Networks, WLAN) node.

The base station may be a base transceiver station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS) in a global system for mobile communications or CDMA, a Node B in a WCDMA, an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB, evolutional Node B) in LTE, or a <NUM> base station (gNB), which will not be particularly defined herein.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, service support type information may also be represented as service support mode information or service support method information. The service support type information may indicate information that the service is supported by different implementation modes.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in a mode in which the service is supported in a fallback mode, a terminal may initiate a service request and then a network may perform a subsequent operation. The subsequent operation may include rolling back the terminal to the network directly supporting the service, e.g., handing over the terminal to an eLTE, handing over the terminal to an evolved packet system (EPS), or re-directing the terminal to an EPS. The eLTE or the EPS may directly support the service.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a service support indicator may be used to indicate whether the terminal is initiating packet data unit (PDU) session establishment for the service, and then the network may perform a subsequent operation. For example, the subsequent operation may include establishing the service for the terminal on a current network, handing over the terminal to the eLTE, handing over the terminal to an EPS, or re-directing the terminal to an EPS.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, eLTE is a mode where EUTRA is directly connected to 5GC, and an EPS may also be called as LTE.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an emergency service may also be called as one of emergency voice service, or emergency Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) voice service.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a voice service may also be called as IMS voice service over PS domain session mode.

The present disclosure provides in an embodiment a service indication method for a terminal which, as shown in <FIG>, includes the following steps.

Step <NUM>: acquiring service indication information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service.

The service indication information may be received from a network side device, e.g., from the first network element or the second network element in the system as shown in <FIG>. In addition, it should be appreciated that, when the service includes at least one of the emergency service and the voice service, the service may include the emergency service or the voice service, or both. The emergency service may be an emergency voice service, e.g., making a police call or an emergency call, which will not be particularly defined herein. The voice service may be an IP multimedia subsystem (IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS) voice service over PS domain session (IMS voice over PS Session Supported Indication), or any other voice service, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The support information about the service may be used to indicate whether the above service is supported, e.g., indicate that the above service is supported by the network side device, so the terminal may initiate a corresponding service in accordance with the support information about the service, so as to improve the service performance of the terminal.

The preference information about the service may be used to indicate a preference of performing, by the network side device, an operation for the service, e.g., a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the service, a preference of initiating a service request for the service, a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the service preferentially and then initiating a service request for the service, or a preference of initiating a service request for the service preferentially and then initiating PDU session establishment for the service. Based on the preference information about the service, it is able for the terminal to initiate the service in a corresponding mode, such that a problem where the terminal can hardly determine in which mode the service should be initiated is prevented, thereby to improve the service performance of the terminal.

Step <NUM>: performing a relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information.

The performing the relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information may include: determining whether the service is supported in accordance with the support information about the service in the service indication information, and when the service is supported, initiating the service; or performing an operation corresponding to the preference information about the service, e.g., initiating the service request or the session establishment, which will not be particularly defined herein.

Through the above steps, the terminal may acquire the service indication information and perform the relevant operation on the service effectively, so as to improve the service performance of the terminal.

It should be appreciated that, the above method may be applied to, but not limited to, a <NUM> system. In other words, the method may be applied to any other communications system, e.g., a <NUM>th-Generation (<NUM>th Generation, <NUM>) system or any other communications system where the service indication information is used, as long as a substantially same function may be achieved.

Optionally, the service indication information may further include service operation information.

Optionally, prior to acquiring the service indication information, the service indication method may further include transmitting service capability information about the terminal to a first network element, and the service capability information may be used to indicate whether the terminal supports the service.

Optionally, the support information about the service may include at least one of a service support indicator and service support type information.

Optionally, the service support indicator may be used to indicate whether the service is supported, or the service support indicator may be used to indicate at least one of whether the service is supported by an NR, whether the service is supported by an eLTE, and whether the service is supported by an EPS.

Optionally, whether the service is supported by an EPS may include at least one of whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service and whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service.

Optionally, the service support type information may be used to indicate support type for the service, or the service support type information may be used to indicate at least one of whether supporting the service by an NR is possible or not, whether supporting the service by an eLTE is possible or not, whether supporting the service by an EPS is possible or not, whether handing over the terminal to an EPS to support the service is possible or not, or whether re-directing the terminal to an EPS to support the service is possible or not.

Optionally, the service indication information may further include indication information indicating whether the service is supported in a fallback mode. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the indication information indicating whether the service is supported in the fallback mode may include one of whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to the eLTE for a fallback operation, whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS for the fallback operation, and whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS for the fallback operation. A target network (e.g., an eLTE or an EPS) acquired through the fallback operation may directly support the service.

Optionally, the preference information about the service may include at least one of preference information indicating a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the service, preference information indicating a preference of initiating a service request for the service, preference information indicating a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the service preferentially and then initiating a service request for the service, and preference information indicating a preference of initiating a service request for the service preferentially and then initiating PDU session establishment for the service.

Optionally, the service indication information may be a piece of service indication information at a location area, and a different piece of service indication information may correspond to a different location area respectively, i.e., the pieces of service indication information at different location areas (e.g., tracking areas (Tracking Areas, TAs)) may be different.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the service indication information may be acquired, the service indication information may include at least one the support information about the service and the preference information about the service, and the service may include at least one of the emergency service and the voice service. Next, the relevant operation may be on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information. As a result, it is able for the terminal to perform the relevant operation on the services effectively in accordance with the service indication information.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a service indication method for a terminal which, as shown in <FIG>, includes the following steps.

Step <NUM>: transmitting service capability information about the terminal to a first network element, the service capability information being used to indicate whether the terminal supports the service.

The service capability information may be transmitted during a registration procedure, a connection establishment procedure or a service request procedure. Based on the service capability information, it is able for the first network element to determine a terminal capability, thereby to determine the corresponding service indication information in accordance with the terminal capability.

It should be appreciated that, Step <NUM> may be optional. For example, the first network element may acquire the capability information about the terminal in advance, or determine that the terminal supports the service by default, which will not be particularly defined herein.

Step <NUM>: acquiring service indication information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about the service and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service.

The service indication information may be received from the first network element. For example, the terminal may transmit the capability information via a registration request message, and the first network element may transmit to the terminal a registration acceptance message including the service indication information. Of course, the terminal may transmit a service request or a session establishment request for the service to the first network element, and the first network element may transmit to the terminal a corresponding fallback message including the service indication information.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support information about the service may include at least one of a service support indicator and service support type information.

The service support indicator may be used to indicate whether the service is supported. For example, when the service is supported by one or more of an NR, an eLTE or an EPS, the service support indicator may be used to indicate that the service is to be supported by one bit. In this regard, it is able to simplify a procedure of determining whether to initiate the service by the terminal.

The <NUM> system may support the service in, but not limited to, at least one of the following modes.

In a first mode, the <NUM> system supports the service (at least one of the emergency service and the voice service), e.g., the NR and the <NUM> core network (5GC) may directly support the emergency service.

In a second mode, when a quality of service (Quality of Service, QoS flow or a PDU session has been established for the service (at least one of the emergency service and the voice service), an evolved-UMTS terrestrial radio access (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access, E-UTRAN) may be connected to the <NUM> core network (5GC) to support the service, and a <NUM> radio access network (NG RAN) may switch the terminal to the E-UTRAN of the 5GC.

In a third mode, when the QoS flow or PDU session has been established for the service (at least one of the emergency service and the voice service), the <NUM> RAN may switch the terminal to an EPS, and the EPS may support an emergency session.

In a fourth mode, when the QoS flow or PDU session has been established for the service (at least one of the emergency service and the voice service), the <NUM> RAN may trigger the terminal to be re-directed to an EPS, and the EPS may support the emergency session.

In this regard, in any one of the above modes, the service support indicator may indicate that the service is supported.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when the service support type information indicates that the emergency service is supported by the NR, the service support indicator may indicate that the service is supported.

In another possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when the service support type information indicates that the emergency service is supported by the eLTE, the service support indicator may indicate that the service is supported.

In yet another possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when the service support type information indicates that the emergency service is not supported by the eLTE nor the NR but the terminal is supported by the network to be handed over or re-directed to an EPS, the service support indicator may indicate that the service is supported.

For example, Table <NUM> and Table <NUM> show situations by taking a TA and the emergency service as an example.

In the above tables, TA_NR=Y represents that the NR supports the emergency service within the TA, TA_eLTE=N represents that the eLTE does not support the emergency service within the TA, TA_NR=N represents that the NR does not support the emergency service, and TA_eLTE=Y represents that the eLTE supports the emergency service within the TA.

In addition, the service support type information may be used to indicate at least one of whether the service is supported by an NR, whether the service is supported by an eLTE, whether the service is supported by an EPS, whether the service is supported by handing over the terminal to an EPS, and whether the service is supported by re-directing the terminal to an EPS. In this regard, an NR service support indicator, an eLTE service support indicator and an EPS service support indicator may be indicated through three bits respectively, so as to reduce signaling overhead.

The service support indicator may be used to indicate at least one of whether the service is supported by an NR, whether the service is supported by an eLTE, whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service and whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service. When the terminal supported to be handed over or re-directed to an EPS to support the service, an EPS may support the service by default. In this regard, an NR emergency service support indicator, EPS handing over support information and EPS re-directing support information may be indicated through four bits.

Of course, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the service support indicator may be used to indicate, apart from whether the service is supported, at least one of whether the service is supported by an NR, whether the service is supported by an eLTE, whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service, and whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service. In this regard, the terminal may determine whether the service is supported and a corresponding service support mode when the service is supported. At this time, a user may know how the emergency service is realized, so it is able to prevent the occurrence of cheating.

In addition, the service support type information may be used to indicate an implementation mode of the service in the network. For example, the service support type information may be used to indicate support type for the service; or the service support type information may be used to indicate at least one of whether the service is supported by an NR, whether the service is supported by an eLTE, and whether the service is supported by an EPS.

Whether the service is supported by the EPS may include at least one of whether handing over the terminal to an EPS to support the service is possible or not or whether re-directing the terminal to an EPS to support the service is possible or not.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, based on the service support type information, it is able for the terminal to determine the service support mode. As a result, it is able for the user to know how the emergency service is realized, thereby to prevent the occurrence of cheating.

Optionally, the service indication information may further include indication information indicating whether the service is supported in a fallback mode. The indication information may be called as support information about the service in a fallback mode.

In Step <NUM>, the support information about the service may be support information about the service in a non-fallback mode. Of course, in Step <NUM>, the support information about the service may include at least one of the support information about the service in a non-fallback mode and the support information about the service in a fallback mode. The support information about the service in a non-fallback mode may be used to indicate whether the service is supported in any mode other than the fallback mode (i.e., the non-fallback mode), e.g., whether the service is supported to be initiated directly by the terminal, or whether the service is to supported to be initiated through scheduling by the network side device.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the support information about the service in a fallback mode may be used to indicate the terminal whether the service is supported in a fallback mode, so it is able for the terminal to transmit the service in a fallback mode.

Optionally, when a predetermined condition has been met, the service indication information may include the preference information about the service.

The preference information about the service may include at least one of preference information about the emergency service and preference information about the voice service.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the first network element determines that the predetermined condition has been met, the preference information about the service may be carried in the transmitted service indication information.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the service indication information may include both the preference information about the service and the support information about the service in a fallback mode. Of course, in the absence of the support information about the service in a fallback mode, the service indication information may also include the preference information about the service, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The predetermined condition may be predefined in a protocol, or configured by the network side device.

Optionally, the predetermined condition may include, but not limited to, at least one of a condition where the support information about the service indicates that the service is supported, and a condition where the support information about the service in a fallback mode indicates that the service is supported in a fallback mode.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case that the service is supported, the preference information about the service may be configured for the terminal, so as to enable the terminal to initiate the service in a corresponding mode.

To be specific, the predetermined condition may include at least one of a condition where the support information about the service indicates that the emergency service is to be supported and to be supported in a fallback mode, a condition where the support information about the service indicates that the voice service is to be supported, a condition where the support information about the service indicates that the voice service is to be supported in a fallback mode, and a condition where the support information about the service indicates that the voice service is to be supported and to be supported in a fallback mode.

For example, when at least one of a condition where the emergency service support indicator indicates that the emergency service is to be supported, a condition where the emergency service support indicator indicates that the emergency service is to be supported in a fallback mode, a condition where the emergency service support indicator indicates that the emergency service is to be supported and to be supported in a fallback mode, a condition where a PS voice service support indicator indicates that the voice service is to be supported, a condition where an EPS fallback indicator indicates that the service is supported in a service request mode, and a condition where the PS voice service support indicator indicates that the voice service is to be supported and the EPS fallback indicator indicates that the service is supported in a service request mode has been met, the service indication information may include at least one of the preference information about the emergency service and the preference information about the voice service.

Optionally, when the emergency service support indicator indicates that the emergency service is to be supported and to be supported in a fallback mode, the preference information about the service may include preference information about the emergency service. When the PS voice service support indicator indicates that the voice service is to be supported and the EPS fallback indicator indicates that the service is supported in a service request mode, the preference information about the service may include preference information about the emergency service.

In addition, when the support information about the service indicates that the service is supported, the terminal is initiating PDU session establishment for the service. When the service support information in a fallback mode indicates that the service is supported in a fallback mode, the terminal is initiating a service request for the service. Hence, the terminal may initiate different requests at different conditions, so as to further improve the service performance of the terminal.

For example, the preference information about the emergency service may include at least one of preference information indicating a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the emergency service, preference information indicating a preference of initiating a service request for the emergency service, preference information indicating a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the emergency service preferentially and then initiating the service request for the emergency service, and preference information indicating a preference of initiating the service request for the emergency service preferentially and then initiating PDU session establishment for the emergency service.

The preference information about the voice service may include at least one of preference information indicating a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the voice service, preference information indicating a preference of initiating a service request for the voice service, preference information indicating a preference of initiating PDU session establishment for the voice service preferentially and then initiating the service request for the voice service, and preference information indicating a preference of initiating the service request for the voice service preferentially and then initiating PDU session establishment for the voice service.

Through the preference information about the service, it is able for the terminal to initiate the service in a corresponding mode, i.e., determine the mode for initiating the service, thereby to improve the service performance of the terminal.

It should be appreciated that, the terminal may initiate a corresponding service behavior in accordance with the preference information about the service. For example, when the emergency service or voice service needs to be initiated, a service request or a PDU session request may be initiated in accordance with the preference information; or when merely the PDU session establishment for the emergency service tends to be initiated, the PDU session establishment for the emergency service may be initiated; or when merely the service request for the emergency service tends to be initiated, the service request for the emergency service may be initiated; or when the PDU session establishment for the emergency service needs to be initiated preferentially, the PDU session establishment for the emergency service may be initiated preferentially; or when the service request for the emergency service needs to be initiated preferentially, the service request for the emergency service may be initiated preferentially.

Optionally, the service indication information may be a piece of service indication information at a location area, and a different piece of service indication information may correspond to a different location area respectively.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the service indication information may be provided in accordance with the location areas (e.g., TAs), and different location areas (e.g., TAs) may correspond to different pieces of service indication information. Further, radio access technologies (Radio Access Technologies, RATs) may also be differentiated from each other, so as to provide different pieces of service indication information at different location areas (e.g., TAs) using different RATs, thereby to improve the accuracy of the service indication information.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, on the basis of the method in <FIG>, various possible implementation modes have been added, so as to enable the terminal to perform the relevant operation on the service effectively, thereby to improve the service performance of the terminal.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a service indication method for a first network element which, as shown in <FIG>, includes: Step <NUM> of acquiring service capability information; and Step <NUM> of determining service indication information in accordance with the acquired service capability information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service, service operation information and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service.

Optionally, the acquiring the service capability information may include at least one of: receiving the service capability information about a terminal from the terminal, the service capability information being used to indicate whether the terminal supports the service; and receiving the service capability information about a second network element from the second network element, the service capability information being used to indicate whether the second network element supports the service.

Optionally, the service capability information about the terminal may include at least one of whether the service is supported in a non-fallback mode, whether the service is supported in a fallback mode, whether an EPS is to be supported, whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS, whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS, whether PDU session establishment for the service is supported to be initiated, and whether a service request for the service is supported to be initiated; and/or the service capability information about the second network element may include at least one of whether the service is supported in a non-fallback mode, whether the service is supported in a fallback mode, whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to a network supporting the service, whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS, whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS, and whether the service is supported directly.

Optionally, subsequent to determining the service indication information, the service indication method may further include at least one of transmitting the service indication information to the terminal and transmitting the service indication information to the second network element.

It should be appreciated that, the transmitting the service indication information to the terminal may be optional. For example, the service indication information may be merely transmitted to the second network element, and then the second network element may schedule the terminal to perform the relevant operation on the service in accordance with the service indication information, or the second network element may transmit the service indication information to the terminal.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, whether the service is supported by the EPS may include at least one of whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service and whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service.

Optionally, the service support type information may be used to indicate support type for the service, or the service support type information may be used to indicate at least one of whether the service is supported by an NR, whether the service is supported by an eLTE, and whether the service is supported by an EPS.

Optionally, the service indication information may further include indication information indicating whether the service is supported in a fallback mode.

Optionally, the service operation information may include at least one of indication information indicating that a PDU session for the service is to be accepted or a request for establishing a QoS flow is to be accepted, indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE, indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS, and indication information indicating that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS.

Optionally, the predetermined condition may include at least one of a condition where the support information about the service indicates that the service is supported, and a condition where the support information about the service in a fallback mode indicates that the service is supported in a fallback mode.

Optionally, the service indication information may be a piece of service indication information at a location area, and a different piece of service indication information may correspond to a different location area respectively, i.e., the pieces of service indication information at different location areas (e.g., TAs) may be different.

It should be appreciated that, the implementation of the method in an embodiment of the present disclosure may refer to the relevant description about the first network element in <FIG> and <FIG> with a same beneficial effect, and thus will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a service indication method for a second network element which, as shown in <FIG>, includes: Step <NUM> of acquiring service indication information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service, service operation information, and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service; and Step <NUM> of preforming a relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information.

The performing the relevant operation on the service may include, in accordance with the service indication information, accepting a PDU session or QoS flow establishment request for the service initiated by a terminal, handing over the terminal to an eLTE, handing over the terminal to an EPS or re-directing the terminal to an EPS, which will not be particularly defined herein.

Optionally, prior to acquiring the service indication information, the service indication method may further include transmitting service capability information about the second network element to a first network element, and the service capability information may be used to indicate whether the second network element supports the service.

Optionally, the service operation information may include at least one of indication information indicating that a PDU session for the service is to be accepted or a request for establishing a QoS flow is to be accepted, indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE, indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS, and indication information indicating that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the service support information includes the service support indicator (e.g., indicating whether the service is supported), the session operation information may include one of indication information indicating that the PDU session for the service is to be accepted, indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE, indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS, and indication information indicating that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS. In another possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the service support information includes the indication information indicating that the service is supported in a fallback mode, the session operation information may include indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE, indication information indicating that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS, and indication information indicating that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS.

Optionally, the performing the relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information may include receiving a request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service, and/or receiving the session operation information.

Optionally, when the second network element has received the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service or has received the session operation information, the performing the relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information may include at least one of: when a first condition has been met, receiving the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service, the first condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is supported by the NR, a condition where the second network element is an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is supported by the eLTE condition, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service is to be accepted; when a second condition has been met, handing over the terminal to the eLTE, the second condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is the NR base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by the NR condition and the service is supported by the eLTE condition, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE; when a third condition has been met, handing over the terminal to an EPS, the third condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station or an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by an NR and an eLTE and the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS; and when a fourth condition has been met, re-directing the terminal to an EPS, the fourth condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station or an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by an NR and an eLTE and the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS.

Optionally, when the second network element has received the session operation information, the performing the relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information may include at least one of: when the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE, handing over the terminal to the eLTE; when the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS, handing over the terminal to an EPS; and when the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS, re-directing the terminal to an EPS.

It should be appreciated that, the implementation of the method in an embodiment of the present disclosure may refer to the relevant description about the second network element in <FIG> with a same beneficial effect, and thus will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a service indication method which, as shown in <FIG>, includes the following steps.

Step <NUM>: transmitting, by a terminal, a registration request message to a core network element. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the registration request message may include service capability information about the terminal.

Step <NUM>: transmitting, by the core network element, a registration acceptance message to the terminal.

Upon the receipt of the registration request message, the core network element (e.g., an AMF), may determine at least one of support information about an emergency service, preference information about the emergency service, support information about a voice service, and preference information about the voice service. Next, the core network element (e.g., the AMF) may transmit the registration acceptance message to the terminal. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the registration acceptance message may include at least one of the support information about the emergency service, the preference information about the emergency service, the support information about the voice service, and the preference information about the voice service.

It should be appreciated that, the support information about the emergency service, the preference information about the emergency service, the support information about the voice service, and the preference information about the voice service may refer to the description about the service indication information in the embodiments as shown in <FIG> with a same beneficial effect, and thus will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a service indication method which, as shown in <FIG>, includes: Step <NUM> of transmitting, by an RAN element, an NG interface establishment request message to a core network element; and Step <NUM> of transmitting, by the core network element, an NG interface establishment response message to the RAN element. An NG interface may be an interface between the RAN element and the core network element.

The NG interface establishment request message may include a capability of the RAN element, e.g., at least one of support information about an emergency service and support information about a voice service.

The NG interface establishment response message may include a capability of the core network element, e.g., at least one of the support information about the emergency service and the support information about the voice service.

It should be appreciated that, the support information about the emergency service and the support information about the voice service may refer to the description about the service indication information in the embodiments as shown in <FIG> with a same beneficial effect, and thus will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a service indication method which, as shown in <FIG>, includes: Step <NUM> of transmitting, by a first RAN element, an Xn interface establishment request message to a second RAN element; and Step <NUM> of transmitting, by the second RAN element, an Xn interface establishment response message to the first RAN element. An Xn interface may be an interface between the first RAN element and the second RAN element.

The Xn interface establishment request message may include a capability of the first RAN element, e.g., at least one of support information about an emergency service and support information about a voice service.

The Xn interface establishment response message may include a capability of the second RAN element, e.g., at least one of the support information about the emergency service and the support information about the voice service.

Step <NUM>: when a terminal needs to initiate an emergency service, transmitting, by the terminal, a PDU session establishment request message to an AMF in accordance with service indication information.

Step <NUM>: transmitting, by the AMF, a session text creation request to an SMF.

Step <NUM>: transmitting, by the SMF, a session text creation response to the AMF.

Step <NUM>: performing an N4 session procedure between the SMF and a UPF.

Step <NUM>: transmitting an N1/N2 message between the AMF and the SMF.

Steps <NUM> to <NUM> relate to a PDU session establishment procedure for a core network, which will not be particularly defined herein.

Step <NUM>: transmitting, by the AMF, a PDU session resource establishment request message to the terminal. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the PDU session resource establishment request message may include the service indication information.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an RAN may determine, in accordance with the service indication information, at least one of whether to accept an establishment request of a PDU session or QoS flow for the service, whether to switch the terminal to an eLTE, whether to switch the terminal to an EPS, and whether to re-direct the terminal to an EPS, which correspond to Steps 907a, 907b, 907c and 907d respectively.

Step <NUM>: when a terminal needs to initiate an emergency service, transmitting, by the terminal, a service request to an AMF in accordance with service indication information. A network may determine that the emergency service is to be supported in a fallback mode.

Step <NUM>: transmitting, by the AMF, the service indication information to an RAN. The service indication information may include service operation information, i.e., emergency service operation information, and it may be transmitted through an N2 message.

The RAN may determine, in accordance with the service indication information, at least one of whether to switch the terminal to an eLTE, whether to switch the terminal to an EPS, and whether to re-direct the terminal to an EPS, which correspond to Steps 1003a, 1003b and 1003c respectively.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a terminal <NUM> which, as shown in <FIG>, includes: an acquisition module <NUM> configured to acquire service indication information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service; and an operation module <NUM> configured to perform a relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the terminal <NUM> may further include a transmission module <NUM> configured to transmit service capability information about the terminal to a first network element, and the service capability information may be used to indicate whether the service is supported by the terminal.

Optionally, whether the service is supported by the EPS may include at least one of whether the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service and whether the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service.

The terminal in an embodiment of the present disclosure is capable of implementing the procedures for the terminal in <FIG> and <FIG> to effectively perform the relevant operation on the service, which will thus not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a network element which is a first network element. As shown in <FIG>, the network element <NUM> includes: an acquisition module <NUM> configured to acquire service capability information; and a determination module <NUM> configured to determine service indication information in accordance with the acquired service capability information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service, service operation information, and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the acquisition module <NUM> may include at least one of: a first reception unit <NUM> configured to receive service capability information about a terminal from the terminal, the service capability information being used to indicate whether the service is supported by the terminal; and a second reception unit <NUM> configured to receive service capability information about a second network element from the second network element, the service capability information being used to indicate whether the service is supported by the second network element.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the network element <NUM> may further include at least one of: a first transmission module <NUM> configured to transmit the service indication information to the terminal; and a second transmission module <NUM> configured to transmit the service indication information to the second network element.

The network element in an embodiment of the present disclosure is capable of implementing the procedures for the first network element in <FIG> to enable the terminal to effectively perform the relevant operation on the service, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a network element which is a second network element. As shown in <FIG>, the network element <NUM> includes: an acquisition module <NUM> configured to acquire service indication information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service, service operation information, and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service; and an operation module <NUM> configured to perform a relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the network element <NUM> may further include a transmission module <NUM> configured to transmit service capability information about the second network element to a first network element, and the service capability information may be used to indicate whether the service is supported by the second network element.

Optionally, the operation module <NUM> is further configured to receive a request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service, and/or receive session operation information.

Optionally, when the second network element has received the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service or has received the session operation information, the operation module <NUM> is further configured to perform at least one of the following operations: when a first condition has been met, receiving the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service, the first condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is supported by the NR, a condition where the second network element is an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is supported by the eLTE condition, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service is to be accepted; when a second condition has been met, handing over the terminal to the eLTE, the second condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is the NR base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by the NR condition and the service is supported by the eLTE condition, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE; when a third condition has been met, handing over the terminal to an EPS, the third condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station or an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by an NR and an eLTE and the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS; and when a fourth condition has been met, re-directing the terminal to an EPS, the fourth condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station or an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by an NR and an eLTE and the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS.

Optionally, the operation module <NUM> is further configured to perform the relevant operation on the service indicated by the service operation information in accordance with the service operation information.

The network element in an embodiment of the present disclosure is capable of implementing the procedures for the second network element in <FIG> to enable the terminal to effectively perform the relevant operation on the service, which will thus not be particularly defined herein.

<FIG> shows a hardware structure of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the terminal <NUM> may include, but not limited to, a radio frequency (Radio Frequency, RF) unit <NUM>, a network module <NUM>, an audio output unit <NUM>, an input unit <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, a user input unit <NUM>, an interface unit <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and a power source <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, the structure in <FIG> shall not be construed as limiting the UE. The UE may include more or fewer members, or some members may be combined, or the UE may include some other members not shown in <FIG>. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE may include, but not limited to, mobile phone, flat-panel computer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assistant, PDA), vehicle-mounted terminal, wearable device or pedometer.

The RF unit <NUM> is configured to: acquire service indication information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service; and perform a relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information.

Optionally, prior to acquiring the service indication information, the RF unit <NUM> is further configured to transmit service capability information about the terminal to a first network element, and the service capability information may be used to indicate whether the service is supported by the terminal.

Optionally, the service indication information may be a piece of service indication information at a location area, and a different piece of service indication information may correspond to a different location area.

The terminal <NUM> may perform the relevant operation on the service effectively.

It should be appreciated that, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the RF unit <NUM> is configured to transmit and receive signals during the information transmission or phone call. To be specific, the RF unit <NUM> may, upon the receipt of downlink data from a base station, transmit the downlink data to the processor <NUM> for subsequent treatment. In addition, the RF unit <NUM> may transmit uplink data to the base station. Usually, the RF unit <NUM> may include, but not limited to, an antenna, at least one amplifier, a transceiver, a coupler, a low-noise amplifier and a duplexer. In addition, the RF unit <NUM> may communicate with a network and the other devices via a wireless communications system.

The network module <NUM> is configured to enable the terminal to access the broadband Internet in a wireless manner, e.g., help a user to receive and send an e-mail, browse a web page or access a streaming media.

The audio output unit <NUM> is configured to convert audio data received by the RF unit <NUM> or the network module <NUM>, or audio data stored in the memory <NUM>, into an audio signal and output the audio signal as a sound. In addition, the audio output unit <NUM> is further configured to provide an audio output related to a specific function executed by the terminal <NUM> (e.g., a sound occurring when a calling signal or a message has been received). The audio output unit <NUM> may include a loudspeaker, a buzzer and a receiver.

The input unit <NUM> is configured to receive an audio or video signal. It may include a graphics processing unit (Graphics Processing Unit, GPU) <NUM> and a microphone <NUM>. The GPU <NUM> is configured to process image data of a static image or video acquired by an image collection unit (e.g., a camera) in a video capturing mode or an image capturing mode, and a processed image frame may be displayed by the display unit <NUM>. The image frame processed by the GPU <NUM> may be stored in the memory <NUM> (or any other storage medium) or transmitted via the RF unit <NUM> or network module <NUM>. The microphone <NUM> is configured to receive a sound, and convert the sound into voice data. In a call mode, the processed audio data may be converted into data in a format capable of being transmitted by the RF unit <NUM> to a mobile communications base station.

The at least one sensor <NUM> may include a light sensor, a movement sensor and the other sensors. To be specific, the light sensor may include an ambient light sensor or a proximity sensor. The ambient light sensor is configured to adjust a brightness value of a display panel <NUM> in accordance with ambient light. The proximity sensor is configured to turn off the display panel <NUM> and/or a backlight source when the terminal <NUM> moves close to an ear. As one of the movement sensors, an accelerometer may detect acceleration in various directions (usually a three-axis accelerometer), and detect a level and a direction of a gravity force in a static state. Through the accelerometer, it is able to identify a posture of the terminal (e.g., perform a handing over operation between portrait and landscape orientations, play relevant games, and calibrate a posture of a magnetometer), and perform vibration-related functions (e.g., count steps and strikes). The sensor <NUM> may further include a fingerprint sensor, a pressure sensor, an iris sensor, a molecule sensor, a gyroscope, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer or an infrared sensor, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The display unit <NUM> is configured to display information inputted by the user or provided to the user. The display unit <NUM> may include the display panel <NUM>, e.g., a liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display, LCD) panel, or an organic light-emitting diode (Organic Light-Emitting Diode, OLED) panel.

The user input unit <NUM> is configured to receive digital or character information inputted by the user, and generate a key signal input related to user settings and function control of the terminal. To be specific, the user input unit <NUM> may include a touch panel <NUM> and an input device <NUM>. The touch panel <NUM>, also called as touch screen, is configured to collect a touch operation made by the user on or in proximity to the touch panel (e.g., an operation made by the user through any appropriate object or attachment (e.g., finger or stylus) on or in the proximity to the touch panel <NUM>). The touch panel <NUM> may include a touch detection unit and a touch controller. The touch detection unit is configured to detect a touch position and a signal generated due to the touch operation, and to transmit the signal to the touch controller. The touch controller is configured to receive touch information from the touch detection unit, convert it into coordinates of a touch point, transmit the coordinates to the processor <NUM>, and receive and execute a command from the processor <NUM>. In addition, the touch panel <NUM> may be of a resistive type, a capacitive type, an infrared type or a surface acoustic wave (SAW) type. The other input device <NUM> may include, but not limited to, a physical keyboard, a functional button (e.g., a volume control button or an on/off button), a trackball, a mouse, and a joystick, which will not be particularly defined herein.

Further, the touch panel <NUM> may cover the display panel <NUM>. When the touch operation made on or in proximity to the touch panel <NUM> has been detected, the touch panel <NUM> may transmit the touch information to the processor <NUM>, so as to determine a type of a touch event. Then, the processor <NUM> may control the display panel <NUM> to provide a corresponding visual output in accordance with the type of the touch event. Although the touch panel <NUM> and the display panel <NUM> are configured as two separate members in <FIG>, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, they may be integrated so as to achieve the input and output functions of the electronic device, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The interface unit <NUM> is configured to provide an interface between an external device and the terminal <NUM>. For example, the external device may include a wired or wireless headset port, an external power source port (or a charging port), a wired or wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for a device having an identification module, an audio input/output (I/O) port, a video I/O port, and an earphone port. The interface unit <NUM> is configured to receive an input from the external device (e.g., data information and electricity) and transmit the input to one or more elements of the terminal <NUM>, or transmit data between the terminal <NUM> and the external device.

The memory <NUM> is configured to store therein a software application and various data. It may mainly include an application storage area and a data storage area. An operating system and at least one application for the functions (e.g., an audio/image playing function) may be stored in the application storage area. Data created in accordance with the operation of the mobile phone (e.g., audio data and textbook) may be stored in the data storage area. In addition, the memory <NUM> may include a high-speed random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), or a non-volatile memory (e.g., at least one magnetic disk or flash memory), or any other volatile solid state memory.

As a control center of the electronic device, the processor <NUM> may be connected to the other members of the electronic device via various interfaces and circuits, and configured to run or execute the software program and/or module stored in the memory <NUM>, and call the data stored in the memory <NUM>, so as to execute the functions of the electronic device and process the data, thereby to monitor the entire electronic device. The processor <NUM> may include one or more processing units. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an application processor and a modem may be integrated into the processor <NUM>. The application processor is mainly configured to process the operating system, a user interface and the application. The modem is mainly configured to process wireless communications. It should be appreciated that, the modem may also not be integrated into the processor <NUM>.

The power source <NUM> (e.g., a battery) is configured to supply power to the members of the terminal <NUM>. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the power source <NUM> is logically connected to the processor <NUM> via a power source management system, so as to achieve such functions as charging, discharging and power consumption management through the power source management system.

In addition, the terminal <NUM> may include some functional modules not shown in <FIG>, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a terminal, which includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a computer program stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to execute the computer program so as to implement the above service indication method with a same technical effect, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment an available network element which is a first network element. As shown in <FIG>, the network element <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, a memory <NUM> and a bus interface. The transceiver <NUM> is configured to acquire service capability information. The processor <NUM> is configured to determine service indication information in accordance with the acquired service capability information. The service indication information may include at least one of support information about a service, service operation information, and preference information about the service, the service may include at least one of an emergency service and a voice service.

Optionally, during the acquisition of the service capability information, the transceiver <NUM> is configured to perform at least one of the following operations: receiving service capability information about a terminal from the terminal, the service capability information being used to indicate whether the service is supported by the terminal; and receiving service capability information about a second network element from the second network element, the service capability information being used to indicate whether the service is supported by the second network element.

Optionally, subsequent to determining the service indication information, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to perform at least one of the following operations: transmitting the service indication information to the terminal; and transmitting the service indication information to the second network element.

Optionally, when a predetermined condition has been met, the service indication information may include the preference information about the service, and the preference information about the service may include at least one of preference information about the emergency service, and preference information about the voice service. Optionally, the predetermined condition may include at least one of a condition where the support information about the service indicates that the service is supported, and a condition where the support information about the service in a fallback mode indicates that the service is supported in a fallback mode.

Through the network element <NUM>, it is able for the terminal to initiate the service effectively.

The transceiver <NUM> is configured to receive and transmit data under the control of the processor <NUM>, and it may include at least two antenna ports.

In <FIG>, bus architecture may include a number of buses and bridges connected to each other, so as to connect various circuits for one or more processors <NUM> and one or more memories <NUM>. In addition, as is known in the art, the bus architecture may be used to connect any other circuits, such as a circuit for a peripheral device, a circuit for a voltage stabilizer and a power management circuit. The bus interface may be provided, and the transceiver <NUM> may consist of a plurality of elements, i.e., a transmitter and a receiver for communication with any other devices over a transmission medium. With respect to different UEs, a user interface <NUM> may also be provided for devices which are to be arranged inside or outside the UE, and these devices may include but not limited to a keypad, a display, a speaker, a microphone and a joystick. The processor <NUM> may take charge of managing the bus architecture as well as general processings. The memory <NUM> may store therein data for the operation of the processor <NUM>.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a network element which includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a computer program stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to execute the computer program so as to implement the above-mentioned service indication method with a same technical effect, which will not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment an available network element which is a second network element. As shown in <FIG>, the network element <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, a memory <NUM> and a bus interface. The transceiver <NUM> is configured to: acquire service indication information, the service indication information including at least one of support information about a service, service operation information, and preference information about the service, the service including at least one of an emergency service and a voice service; and perform a relevant operation on the service in accordance with the acquired service indication information.

Optionally, prior to acquiring the service indication information, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to transmit service capability information about the second network element to a first network element, and the service capability information may be used to indicate whether the service is supported by the second network element.

Optionally, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to receive a request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service, and/or receive session operation information.

Optionally, when the second network element has received the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service or has received the session operation information, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to perform at least one of the following operations: when a first condition has been met, receiving the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service, the first condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is supported by the NR, a condition where the second network element is an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is supported by the eLTE condition, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the request for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow for the service is to be accepted; when a second condition has been met, handing over the terminal to the eLTE, the second condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is the NR base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by the NR condition and the service is supported by the eLTE condition, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to the eLTE; when a third condition has been met, handing over the terminal to an EPS, the third condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station or an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by an NR and an eLTE and the terminal is supported to be handed over to an EPS to support the service, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be handed over to an EPS; and when a fourth condition has been met, re-directing the terminal to an EPS, the fourth condition including at least one of a condition where the second network element is an NR base station or an eLTE base station and the service support indicator indicates that the service is not supported by an NR and an eLTE and the terminal is supported to be re-directed to an EPS to support the service, and a condition where the session operation information indicates that the terminal is to be re-directed to an EPS.

The present disclosure further provides in an embodiment a computer-readable storage medium storing therein a computer program. The computer program is executed by a processor, so as to implement the above-mentioned service indication method for the terminal, or implement the above-mentioned service indication method for the first network element, or implement the service indication method for the second network element. The computer-readable storage medium may be an ROM, an RAM, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

It should be appreciated that, such words as "include" or "including" or any other variations involved in the present disclosure intend to provide non-exclusive coverage, so that a procedure, method, article or device including a series of elements may also include any other elements not listed herein, or may include any inherent elements of the procedure, method, article or device. If without any further limitations, for the elements defined by such sentence as "including one. ", it is not excluded that the procedure, method, article or device including the elements may also include any other identical elements.

Through the above-mentioned description, it may be apparent for a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be implemented by software as well as a necessary common hardware platform, or by hardware, and the former may be better in most cases. Based on this, the technical solutions of the present disclosure, partial or full, or parts of the technical solutions of the present disclosure contributing to the related art, may appear in the form of software products, which may be stored in a storage medium (e.g., ROM/RAM, magnetic disk or optical disk) and include several instructions so as to enable a terminal device (mobile phone, computer, server, air conditioner or network device) to execute the methods in embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A service indication method performed by an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), the service indication method comprising:
acquiring (<NUM>) service capability information; and
determining (<NUM>) service indication information in accordance with the acquired service capability information and transmitting the service indication information to a Radio Access Network, RAN (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), the service indication information comprising support information about a service, the service comprising at least one of an emergency service and a voice service,
the service indication method further comprising:
wherein the support information about a service comprises service support type information;
wherein the service support type information is used to indicate whether redirection to Evolved Packet System, EPS, for supporting the service is possible or not;
wherein the acquiring (<NUM>) the service capability information comprises receiving service capability information about a terminal (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) from the terminal (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), the service capability information being used to indicate whether the service is supported by the terminal (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>).