Communication method and device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and device, and the method comprises the steps that a first network element sends a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the network element discovery message is used for discovering an analysis function network element, the network element discovery message comprises a first interoperation identifier, and the first interoperation identifier comprises a first manufacturer identifier list; the first network element receives information of one or more analysis function network elements from the network storage function network element; wherein the identification of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one in the first manufacturer identification list. By adopting the method, the network storage function network element can use the model provided by the model training function network element corresponding to the first interoperation identifier for the analysis function network element discovered by the first network element, so that the first network element can select the analysis function network element as the target analysis function network element; therefore, the service can be better provided for the service consumption network element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0002] Due to internal (e.g. load balancing, graceful shutdown) or external triggers (e.g. user equipment (UE) mobility), a service consuming network element may transfer one or more analytics subscriptions from one analytics logical function (AnLF) network element to another AnLF network element, i.e. from a source AnLF network element to a target AnLF network element.

[0003] Currently, the service consumption network element or the source AnLF network element needs to use the network element discovery process to discover the target AnLF network element, and then the source AnLF network element transfers the analysis context of the analysis subscription that needs to be transferred to the target AnLF network element. How to select a suitable target AnLF network element so that the target AnLF network element can better provide services for the service consumption network element is a problem worthy of attention. Summary of the invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus for selecting a suitable target AnLF.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising: a first model training function network element receives a model request message from a first analysis function network element, the model request message comprising an analysis identifier, the model request message being used to request a model that provides a service corresponding to the analysis identifier; the first model training function network element sends information about a first model and first indication information to the first analysis function network element, the first indication information comprising at least one of an identifier of a model training function network element that provides information about the first model, an identifier of a first manufacturer, or a first interoperability identifier, the identifier of the first manufacturer being used to indicate a manufacturer of a network element that provides the first model, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0006] By adopting the above method, the first model training function network element can provide the first analysis function network element with the first model information and the first indication information, so that when the first analysis function network element determines that a new analysis function network element (or target analysis function network element) needs to be selected, the network element discovery message used to discover the analysis function network element can be determined according to the first indication information.

[0007] Exemplarily, the model training function network element that provides information about the first model can also be described as a network element that provides the first model, a network element that provides information about the first model, a model training function network element that provides the first model, or a model training function network element that trains the first model, or a model training function network element that produces the first model, etc. Exemplarily, the first analysis function network element can obtain the information about the first model from the first model training function network element, and then obtain the first model based on the information about the first model. For example, the information about the first model may include the URL of the first model, etc.

[0008] In a possible design, the first model is trained by the first model training function network element; the identifier of the model training function network element that provides information about the first model is the identifier of the first model training function network element; the identifier of the first manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the first model training function network element; the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element. The first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identifier list are allowed to obtain models from the first model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identifier list can obtain models from the first model training function network element.

[0009] In one possible design, the first model is trained by a second model training function network element; the identifier of the network element that provides information about the first model is the identifier of the second model training function network element; the identifier of the first manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the second model training function network element; the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second model training function network element; the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identifier list are allowed to obtain models from the second model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identifier list can obtain models from the second model training function network element.

[0010] In one possible design, the first model training function network element sends information about a second model and second indication information to the first analysis function network element, where the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes at least one of the identifier of the model training function network element providing the second model, the identifier of the second manufacturer, or a second interoperability identifier, where the identifier of the second manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element providing the second model, and the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0011] In one possible design, the model training function network element that provides the second model is different from the model training function network element that provides the first model; the identifier of the first manufacturer is different from the identifier of the second manufacturer; and the second interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the model training function network element that provides the second model.

[0012] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0013] The first network element sends a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, wherein the network element discovery message is used to discover an analysis function network element, and the network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list; the first network element receives information of one or more analysis function network elements from the network storage function network element; wherein the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0014] By adopting the above method, the first network element sends a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, and the network element discovery message may include the first interoperability identifier, so that the information of the analysis function network element whose manufacturer's identifier belongs to the manufacturer identifier list of the first interoperability identifier can be obtained from the network storage function network element. Therefore, the analysis function network element can use the model provided by the model training function network element corresponding to the first interoperability identifier, and then the first network element can select the analysis function network element as the target analysis function network element, and the target analysis function network element can better provide services for the service consumption network element.

[0015] In one possible design, the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list can obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list can retrieve or use the models provided by the model training function network element; or, the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to retrieve or use the models provided by the model training function network element.

[0016] Exemplarily, the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to obtain the model from the model training function network element, which can be understood as the model training function network element, the manufacturer of the model training function network element or the network management function entity allowing the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list to obtain the model from the model training function network element. The model training function network element can also be understood as the production network element of the model, the network element that sends model information, etc.

[0017] It can be understood that if the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element, or the interoperability identifier of the first model training function network element, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identifier list are allowed to obtain models from the first model training function network element. If the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second model training function network element, or the interoperability identifier of the second model training function network element, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identifier list are allowed to obtain models from the second model training function network element.

[0018] In one possible design, the network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, and the analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0019] In one possible design, after the first network element receives information from one or more analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element, the first network element selects a target function network element, the manufacturer's identifier of the target function network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list, and the target analysis function network element is one of the one or more analysis function network elements.

[0020] With the above design, the first network element can verify whether the identifier of the analysis function network element provided by the network storage function network element belongs to the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0021] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; the first analysis function network element sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target analysis function network element, and the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

[0022] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; before sending a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element sends a fourth network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the fourth network element discovery message is used to discover a model training function network element, and the fourth network element discovery message includes an analysis identifier; information of a first model training function network element is received from the network storage function network element, the information of the first model training function network element includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0023] By adopting the above design, the network storage function network element can provide the first interoperability identifier for the first analysis function network element.

[0024] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; before sending a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element sends a model request message to a first model training function network element, and the model request message includes an analysis identifier; information about a first model and first indication information are received from the first model training function network element, wherein the first model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0025] By adopting the above design, the first model training functional network element can provide the first interoperability identifier for the first analysis functional network element.

[0026] In one possible design, before sending a model request message to the first model training function network element, the first analysis function network element receives a first analysis subscription message from the service consumption network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; after receiving the first model information and first indication information from the first model training function network element, the first analysis function network element uses the first model to provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0027] In one possible design, before sending a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element receives information of a second model and second indication information, wherein the second model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes a second interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list.

[0028] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target analysis function network element, and the second analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

[0029] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; before sending a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the service consumption network element sends a first analysis subscription message to a first analysis function network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier; a first message is received from the first analysis function network element, and the first message is an analysis subscription response or an analysis subscription notification, and the first message includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0030] With the above design, the first analysis function network element can provide the first interoperability identifier for the service consumption network element.

[0031] In one possible design, the first message also includes a second interoperability identifier, where the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second vendor identifier list.

[0032] In a possible design, the network element discovery message also includes the second interoperability identifier; the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one of the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0033] With the above design, if the network element discovers that the message includes multiple interoperability identifiers, the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element belongs to the intersection of the manufacturer identifier lists corresponding to the multiple interoperability identifiers.

[0034] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0035] The network storage function network element receives a network element discovery message from a first network element, wherein the network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier; the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list; the network storage function network element determines one or more analysis function network elements based on the first interoperability identifier, wherein the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list; the network storage function network element sends information of the one or more analysis function network elements to the first network element.

[0036] Using the above method, the network storage function network element receives the network element discovery message from the first network element, and determines one or more analysis function network elements whose manufacturer's identifier belongs to the manufacturer identifier list included in the first interoperability identifier according to the first interoperability identifier in the network element discovery message.

[0037] In one possible design, the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list can obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list can retrieve or use the models provided by the model training function network element; or, the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to retrieve or use the models provided by the model training function network element.

[0038] In one possible design, the network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, and the analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0039] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element or a first analysis function network element.

[0040] In a possible design, the network element discovery message also includes the second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second vendor identifier list; the identifier of the vendor of the analysis function network element is one of the second vendor identifier list.

[0041] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0042] The first network element sends a first network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the first network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element, the first network element discovery message includes the identifier and analysis identifier of the first model training function network element; the first network element receives information of one or more second analysis function network elements from the network storage function network element, wherein the identifier of the manufacturer of the second analysis function network element is one of the manufacturer identifier list included in the first interoperability identifier; the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0043] Using the above method, the first network element sends a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, and the network element discovery message may include the identifier and analysis identifier of the first model training function network element, so that the analysis function network element whose manufacturer's identifier belongs to the manufacturer identifier list of the first interoperability identifier can be obtained from the network storage function network element. Among them, the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element. Therefore, the analysis function network element can use the model provided by the model training function network element corresponding to the first interoperability identifier, and the first network element can select the analysis function network element as the target analysis function network element, and the target analysis function network element can better provide services for the service consumption network element.

[0044] In one possible design, after the first network element receives information from one or more second analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element, the first network element selects a target function network element, the manufacturer's identifier of the target function network element is one of the first manufacturer identifier list, and the target analysis function network element is one of the one or more second analysis function network elements.

[0045] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; the first analysis function network element sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target analysis function network element, and the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

[0046] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; before sending a first network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element sends a model request message to the first model training function network element, and the model request message includes the analysis identifier; receive information about the first model and first indication information from the first model training function network element, wherein the first model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, the first model is trained by the first model training function network element, and the first indication information includes the identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0047] By adopting the above design, the first model training function network element can provide the first analysis function network element with the identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0048] In one possible design, before sending a model request message to the first model training functional network element, the first analysis functional network element receives a first analysis subscription message from the service consumption network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; after receiving the first model information and first indication information from the first model training functional network element, the first model is used to provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0049] In one possible design, before sending a first network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, information of a second model and second indication information are received, wherein the second model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, the second model is trained by the second model training function network element, and the second indication information includes the identifier of the second model training function network element.

[0050] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target analysis function network element, the second analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier, and the information of the second analysis function network element includes the information of the target analysis function network element.

[0051] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; before sending a first network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the service consumption network element sends a first analysis subscription message to a first analysis function network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; a first message is received from the first analysis function network element, and the first message is an analysis subscription response or an analysis subscription notification, and the first message includes the identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0052] By adopting the above design, the first analysis function network element can provide the service consumption network element with the identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0053] In one possible design, the first message also includes an identifier of a second model training functional network element.

[0054] In one possible design, the first network element discovery message also includes the identifier of the second model training function network element; the identifier of the manufacturer of the second analysis function network element is also one of the manufacturer identifiers in the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the second interoperability identifier; and the second interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second model training function network element.

[0055] Using the above design, if the first network element discovers that the message includes the identifiers of multiple model training function network elements, the identifier of the manufacturer of the first analysis function network element belongs to the intersection of the manufacturer identifier lists corresponding to the multiple interoperability identifiers, and the multiple model training function network elements correspond one-to-one to the multiple interoperability identifiers.

[0056] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0057] The network storage function network element receives a first network element discovery message from a first network element, where the first network element discovery message is used to discover an analysis function network element, and the first network element discovery message includes an identifier and an analysis identifier of a first model training function network element; the network storage function network element determines one or more second analysis function network elements based on the identifier of the first model training function network element and the analysis identifier, wherein the identifier of the manufacturer of the second analysis function network element is one of the manufacturer identifiers in the list included in the first interoperability identifier; the first interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element; the network storage function network element sends information of the one or more second analysis function network elements to the first network element.

[0058] Using the above method, the network storage function network element receives a network element discovery message from the first network element, and determines, based on the identifier and analysis identifier of the first model training function network element in the network element discovery message, that the manufacturer's identifier belongs to one or more analysis function network elements in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first interoperability identifier. The first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0059] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element or a first analysis function network element.

[0060] In one possible design, the first network element discovery message also includes the identifier of the second model training function network element; the identifier of the manufacturer of the second analysis function network element is also one of the manufacturer identifiers in the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the second interoperability identifier; and the second interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second model training function network element.

[0061] A sixth aspect is a communication method, the method comprising:

[0062] The first network element sends a third network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, wherein the third network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element, and the third network element discovery message includes the identifier of the first manufacturer; the first network element receives information of one or more fourth analysis function network elements from the network storage function network element, wherein the fourth analysis function network element supports models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is one of the manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list.

[0063] Using the above method, the first network element sends a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element. The network element discovery message may include the identifier of the first manufacturer, so that the information of one or more fourth analysis function network elements can be obtained from the network storage function network element. Since the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is one of the manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list, it can be ensured that the fourth analysis function network element can use the model provided by the first manufacturer. Furthermore, the first network element selects a target analysis function network element from one or more fourth analysis function network elements, so that the target analysis function network element can use the model provided by the first manufacturer used by the first analysis function network element, so as to better provide services to the service consumption network element.

[0064] Among them, the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier. It can be understood that the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of models provided by the model training function network element whose manufacturer identifier belongs to the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier. The model provided by the first manufacturer can be understood as the model provided by the manufacturer for the model training function network element of the first manufacturer.

[0065] In one possible design, the third network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, the fourth analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first operation identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0066] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; after receiving information from one or more fourth analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element selects a target analysis function network element; the target analysis function network element is one of the one or more fourth analysis function network elements; an analysis subscription transfer message is sent to the target analysis function network element, and the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

[0067] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; before sending a third network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element sends a model request message to the first model training function network element, and the model request message includes an analysis identifier; and receives information about the first model and first indication information from the first model training function network element, wherein the first model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes an identifier of the first manufacturer, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element that provides the first model.

[0068] In one possible design, before sending a model request message to the first model training function network element, the first analysis function network element receives a first analysis subscription message from the service consumption network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; after receiving the information of the first model and the first indication information from the first model training function network element, the first model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier to the service consumption network element.

[0069] In one possible design, before sending a third network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element receives information of a second model and second indication information, wherein the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes an identifier of a second manufacturer, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element providing the second model.

[0070] In one possible design, a registration message is sent to the network storage function network element, and the registration message includes a first operation identifier of the first analysis function network element.

[0071] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; after receiving information from one or more fourth analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element, the service consumption network element selects a target analysis function network element; the target analysis function network element is one of the one or more fourth analysis function network elements; a second analysis subscription message is sent to the target analysis function network element, and the second analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

[0072] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; before sending a third network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the service consumption network element sends a first analysis subscription message to the first analysis function network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; and receives a first message from the first analysis function network element, the first message being an analysis subscription response or an analysis subscription notification, and the first message including the identifier of the first manufacturer.

[0073] In one possible design, the first message also includes an identifier of the second manufacturer.

[0074] In one possible design, the third network element discovery message also includes the identifier of the second manufacturer; the identifier of the second manufacturer is another one in the manufacturer identifier list.

[0075] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0076] The network storage function network element receives a third network element discovery message from the first network element, wherein the third network element discovery message is used to discover an analysis function network element, and the third network element discovery message includes an identifier of the first manufacturer; the network storage function network element determines one or more fourth analysis function network elements based on the identifier of the first manufacturer, wherein the fourth analysis function network element supports models of manufacturers in the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the first operation identifier, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is one of the manufacturers in the list of manufacturer identifiers; the network storage function network element sends information of the one or more fourth analysis function network elements to the first network element.

[0077] By adopting the above method, the network storage function network element receives the network element discovery message from the first network element, and determines one or more fourth analysis function network elements according to the identifier of the first manufacturer in the network element discovery message, and the manufacturer identifier belongs to one or more analysis function network elements in the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the first interoperability identifier. Among them, the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of the model of the manufacturer in the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the first operation identifier, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is one of the manufacturers in the list of manufacturer identifiers, thereby ensuring that the fourth analysis function network element can use the model provided by the first manufacturer.

[0078] In one possible design, the third network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, and the first operation identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0079] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element or a first analysis function network element.

[0080] In one possible design, the third network element discovery message also includes an identifier of a second manufacturer; the identifier of the second manufacturer is another one in the manufacturer identifier list.

[0081] In one possible design, before the network storage function network element receives the third network element discovery message from the first network element, the network storage function network element receives a registration message from the fourth analysis function network element, and the registration message includes the first operation identifier.

[0082] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0083] The first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element, the second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list; the first network element receives information from one or more third analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element; the third analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier, and the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0084] Using the above method, the first network element sends a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, and the network element discovery message may include the first interoperability identifier, so that one or more third analysis function network elements can be obtained from the network storage function network element. Among them, the third analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identifier, and the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identifier includes the first manufacturer identification list. Therefore, the analysis function network element can use the model provided by the model training function network element corresponding to the first interoperability identifier, and the first network element can select the analysis function network element as the target analysis function network element, and the target analysis function network element can better provide services for the service consumption network element.

[0085] In one possible design, the second network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, the third analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first operation identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0086] In one possible design, the first network element selects a target functional network element, the manufacturer's identifier of the target functional network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list, and the target analysis functional network element is one of the one or more third analysis functional network elements.

[0087] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; the first analysis function network element sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target analysis function network element, the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier, and the information of the third analysis function network element includes the information of the target analysis function network element.

[0088] In one possible design, before sending the second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element sends a fourth network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the fourth network element discovery message is used to discover the model training function network element, and the fourth network element discovery message includes an analysis identifier. Information about the first model training function network element is received from the network storage function network element, the information about the first model training function network element includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0089] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; before sending a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element sends a model request message to the first model training function network element, and the model request message includes an analysis identifier; information about a first model and first indication information are received from the first model training function network element, wherein the first model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0090] In one possible design, before sending a model request message to the first model training function network element, the first analysis function network element receives a first analysis subscription message from the service consumption network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; after receiving the first model information and first indication information from the first model training function network element, the first model is used to provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0091] In one possible design, before sending a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the first analysis function network element receives information of a second model and second indication information, wherein the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes a second interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list.

[0092] In one possible design, the first analysis function network element sends a registration message to the network storage function network element, and the registration message includes a first operation identifier of the first analysis function network element.

[0093] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target analysis function network element, the second analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier, and the information of the third analysis function network element includes the information of the target analysis function network element.

[0094] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; before sending a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the service consumption network element sends a first analysis subscription message to the first analysis function network element, and the first analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier; a first message is received from the first analysis function network element, and the first message is an analysis subscription response or an analysis subscription notification, and the first message includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0095] In one possible design, the first message also includes a second interoperability identifier, where the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second vendor identifier list.

[0096] In a possible design, the second network element discovery message also includes the second interoperability identifier; the vendor identifier list included in the first operation identifier also includes the second vendor identifier list.

[0097] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the method comprising:

[0098] The network storage function network element receives a second network element discovery message from a first network element, wherein the second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier; the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list; the network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the first interoperability identifier, wherein the manufacturer identifier of the third analysis function network element is one of the first manufacturer identifier list; the network storage function network element sends information of the one or more third analysis function network elements to the first network element.

[0099] Using the above method, the network storage function network element receives a network element discovery message from the first network element, and determines one or more third analysis function network elements according to the first interoperability identifier in the network element discovery message. The third analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier, and the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0100] In one possible design, the second network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, the third analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first operation identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0101] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element or a first analysis function network element.

[0102] In one possible design, before the network storage function network element receives the second network element discovery message from the first network element, the network storage function network element receives a registration message from the third analysis function network element, and the registration message includes the first operation identifier of the third analysis function network element.

[0103] In a possible design, the second network element discovery message also includes the second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list; the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier also includes the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0104] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first device, or a module or unit (for example, a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit) in the first device that corresponds one-to-one to the method / operation / step / action described in any one of the first to ninth aspects, or may be capable of being used in combination with the first device.

[0105] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein the at least one storage element is used to store programs and data, and the at least one processing element is used to read and execute the programs and data stored in the storage element, so that any method described in any one of the above aspects of the present application is implemented.

[0106] In a twelfth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0107] In the thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising: an interface circuit and at least one processor; the interface circuit is used to provide the at least one processor with input and / or output of programs or instructions; the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions so that the communication device can implement any method described in any of the above aspects.

[0108] In a possible manner, the communication device includes the at least one memory, and the at least one memory is used to store the program or instruction.

[0109] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer storage medium storing a software program, which, when read and executed by one or more processors, can implement any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0110] In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0111] In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, comprising at least one chip and a memory, wherein the at least one chip is used to read and execute a program stored in the memory to implement any of the methods described in any of the above aspects.

[0112] In the seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, the system comprising a service consumption network element, a first analysis function network element, a network storage function network element and a first model training function network element, the first analysis function network element and the service consumption network element perform any of the methods in the second, fourth, sixth or eighth aspects, the network storage function network element performs any of the methods in the third, fifth, seventh or ninth aspects, and the model training function network element performs any of the methods in the first aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0113] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the background technology, the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application or the background technology will be described below.

[0114] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the 5G network architecture based on the service-oriented architecture in this application;

[0115] Figure 2 One of the flow charts for summarizing a communication method in this application;

[0116] Figure 3 One of the flow charts for determining the target AnLF for the first AnLF in this application;

[0117] Figure 4 One of the flow charts for determining the target AnLF for the service consuming network element in this application;

[0118] Figure 5 Determine the target AnLF 2 for the service consumption network element in this application;

[0119] Figure 6 This is the second flow chart of an overview of a communication method in this application;

[0120] Figure 7 Flowchart 2 for determining target AnLF for the first AnLF in this application;

[0121] Figure 8 Flowchart 3 for determining the target AnLF for the service consumption network element in this application;

[0122] Fig. 9 Flowchart 4 for determining the target AnLF for the service consumption network element in this application;

[0123] Fig.10 This is a third flow chart of an overview of a communication method in this application;

[0124] Fig.11 Flowchart 3 for determining target AnLF for the first AnLF in this application;

[0125] Fig.12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device in this application;

[0126] Fig.13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0127] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WIMAX) communication system, fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR), or applied to future communication systems or other similar communication systems.

[0128] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of 5G network architecture based on service-oriented architecture. Figure 1The 5G network architecture shown may include terminal equipment, access network equipment and core network equipment. The terminal equipment accesses the data network (DN) through the access network equipment and the core network equipment. Among them, the core network equipment includes a variety of network functions (NF) or network elements, for example, including some or all of the following network elements: unified data management (UDM) network element, unified data repository (UDR) network element, application function (AF) network element, policy control function (PCF) network element, access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, session management function (SMF) network element, user plane function (UPF) network element, network data analytics function (NWDAF) network element, network storage function (NRF) network element (not shown in the figure), etc.

[0129] The access network device may be a radio access network (RAN) device. For example: a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, etc.; it may also be a module or unit that completes part of the functions of a base station, for example, a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The radio access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the radio access network device.

[0130] Terminal devices can be user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver functions, wearable devices, vehicles, urban air vehicles (such as drones, helicopters, etc.), ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc.

[0131] The access network equipment and terminal equipment can be fixed or movable. The access network equipment and terminal equipment can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on the water surface; they can also be deployed on airplanes, balloons and artificial satellites in the air. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the access network equipment and terminal equipment.

[0132] The following is a brief introduction to some core network equipment:

[0133] AMF network element, referred to as AMF, includes functions such as mobility management and access authentication / authorization. In addition, it is also responsible for transmitting user policies between terminal devices and PCF.

[0134] SMF network element, referred to as SMF, includes functions such as session management, execution of control policies issued by PCF, selection of UPF, and allocation of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for terminal devices.

[0135] UPF network element, referred to as UPF, is an interface with the data network, including functions such as user plane data forwarding, session / flow-level billing statistics, and bandwidth limitation.

[0136] UDM network element, referred to as UDM, includes functions such as execution management of contract data and user access authorization.

[0137] The UDR network element, referred to as UDR, includes the access functions of executing contract data, policy data, application data and other types of data.

[0138] NEF network element, referred to as NEF, is used to support the opening of capabilities and events.

[0139] AF network element, referred to as AF, transmits the requirements of the application side to the network side, such as quality of service (QoS) requirements or user status event subscription, etc. AF can be a third-party functional entity or an application server deployed by an operator.

[0140] PCF network element, referred to as PCF, includes policy control functions such as billing for session and service flow levels, QoS bandwidth guarantee and mobility management, and terminal device policy decision-making.

[0141] NRF network element, referred to as NRF, can be used to provide network element discovery function, based on the request of other network elements, provide network element information corresponding to the network element type. NRF network element also provides network element management services, such as network element registration, update, deregistration, network element status subscription and push, etc.

[0142] NWDAF network element, referred to as NWDAF, is mainly used to collect data (including one or more of terminal device data, access network device data, core network network element data and third-party application device data), wherein these data can be the terminal device, access network device, core network network element or third-party application device data itself, or the data of the terminal device on the access network device, the core network network element or the third-party application device, and then perform data analysis based on the collected data, and output the data analysis results for use by the network, network management equipment and application execution policy decision-making. NWDAF can use machine learning models for data analysis. In an embodiment of the present application, an NWDAF can be a separate network element, or it can be jointly set up with other network elements, for example, NWDAF is set up in a PCF network element or an AMF network element.

[0143] In Release 17 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the training function and the reasoning function of NWDAF are split. An NWDAF can support only the model training function, or only the data reasoning function, or both the model training function and the data reasoning function.

[0144] In the present application, the model training function network element may be a NWDAF supporting the model training function, which may also be referred to as a training NWDAF, or a NWDAF supporting a model training logical function (model training logical function, MTLF), referred to as MTLF. For example, the MTLF may perform model training based on the acquired data to obtain a trained model.

[0145] The analysis function network element may be an NWDAF supporting data reasoning function, which may also be referred to as reasoning NWDAF, or an NWDAF supporting analysis logical function (AnLF), referred to as AnLF. For example, AnLF may request a model from MTLF through a model subscription (MLModelProvision_Subscribe) service or message, and the model may be obtained by MTLF according to relevant data of the model training. Furthermore, AnLF may input input data into the trained model to obtain analysis results or reasoning data.

[0146] It is understandable that MTLF can be understood as NWDAF that at least supports model training function. As a possible implementation method, MTLF can also support data reasoning function. AnLF can be understood as NWDAF that at least supports data reasoning function. As a possible implementation method, AnLF can also support model training function.

[0147] It can be understood that the above network elements are examples of one implementation method, and the present application does not exclude the existence of network elements or devices with the above network element functions having other names or other forms in 6G or newer wireless communication systems.

[0148] It is understandable that the above network element or function can be a network element in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). As a possible implementation method, the above network element or function can be implemented by one device, or by multiple devices together, or can be a functional module in one device, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0149] Figure 1 Among them, Nudr, Npcf, Namf, Nudm, Nsmf, Naf, and Nnwdaf are service interfaces provided by the above-mentioned UDR, PCF, AMF, UDM, SMF, AF, and NWDAF respectively, which are used to call corresponding service operations.

[0150] The following is an explanation of the basic technical concepts involved in this application:

[0151] 1. Analysis ID

[0152] The analysis identifier can be used to indicate an analysis business or an analysis service, or service for short. The service is associated with a model, that is, the model can be used to perform the service. Alternatively, the analysis identifier is associated with a model, that is, the model is used to perform the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0153] Or it can also be understood that MTLF is related to the analysis identifier, that is, the model support provided by MTLF is used to execute the service corresponding to the analysis identifier. Exemplarily, MTLF can be related to one or more analysis identifiers. It can be understood that the MTLF can provide a model of the service corresponding to each analysis identifier in one or more analysis identifiers. For example, MTLF1 is related to analysis identifier 1 and analysis identifier 2, that is, MTLF1 corresponds to analysis identifier 1 and analysis identifier 2, then MTLF1 can provide a model of the service corresponding to analysis identifier 1, and a model of the service corresponding to analysis identifier 2.

[0154] 2. Vendor ID

[0155] The manufacturer identifier can be used to identify a device manufacturer. A manufacturer identifier can correspond to one or more network elements (NFs), such as NWDAF, including NWDAF of MTLF. For example, MTLF1 and MTLF2 correspond to manufacturer identifier 1, that is, MTLF1 and MTLF2 belong to the same manufacturer, and the manufacturer identifier of the manufacturer is manufacturer identifier 1.

[0156] For NF, the manufacturer ID corresponds to the manufacturer of the network element. It can also be understood as network element information (NFinformation), which identifies the manufacturer information (vendor) of the network element.

[0157] 3. Interoperability indicator

[0158] Exemplarily, the interoperability identifier may correspond to the MTLF, or to the analysis identifier, or to the analysis identifier of the MLTF. Alternatively, it may be described as the interoperability identifier being related to the MTLF, or the interoperability identifier being related to the analysis identifier. The interoperability identifier may also be referred to as an interoperability indicator, or a machine learning (ML) model interoperability identifier, or a model interoperability identifier (ML Model interoperability Indicator).

[0159] The interoperability identifier includes a list of vendors or a list of vendor identifiers, or is described as a list of NWDAF providers (or suppliers). The vendors in the first vendor identifier list are allowed to obtain models from MTLF, or the vendors in the vendor identifier list are allowed to retrieve or use models provided by MTLF, or the vendors in the first vendor identifier list can obtain models from MTLF, or the vendors in the vendor identifier list can retrieve or use models provided by MTLF. The interoperability identifier also indicates that MTLF supports vendors to request models provided by the MTLF for the NWDAF of the vendors in the vendor identifier list.

[0160] Exemplarily, analysis identifier 1 is related to model 1, that is, model 1 is used to execute the service corresponding to analysis identifier 1, and analysis identifier 1 is related to interoperability identifier 1, that is, model 1 is related to interoperability identifier 1. Assume that interoperability identifier 1 includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, that is, model 1 can be provided to manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2 for use, or it can be understood that if the manufacturer of NWDAF is manufacturer 1 or manufacturer 2, then the NWDAF can use model 1.

[0161] Exemplarily, one MTLF may have one or more interoperability identifiers. If there are multiple interoperability identifiers, the multiple interoperability identifiers may correspond to different analysis identifiers. For example, MTLF1 corresponds to analysis identifier 1 and analysis identifier 2, wherein interoperability identifier 1 corresponds to analysis identifier 1, and interoperability identifier 2 corresponds to analysis identifier 2.

[0162] In addition, the present application also provides a new operation identifier, hereinafter referred to as the first operation identifier.

[0163] Exemplarily, the first operation identifier corresponds to AnLF, that is, the first operation identifier is at the AnLF granularity.

[0164] Alternatively, the first operation identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, that is, the first operation identifier is at the granularity of the analysis identifier.

[0165] In a possible implementation, if the first operation identifier corresponds to AnLF, that is, one AnLF corresponds to one first operation identifier. The first operation identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list (or manufacturer list), or is described as a NWDAF provider (or supplier) list. AnLF allows retrieval or use of models provided by manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list, or AnLF allows models to be obtained from manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list. The first operation identifier also indicates that AnLF supports the use of models provided by manufacturers for network elements (such as NWDAF) of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list. That is, the first operation identifier applies to each analysis identifier.

[0166] Exemplarily, the first operation identifier includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, that is, AnLF can use the model provided by manufacturer 1 and the model provided by manufacturer 2, or it can be understood that if the manufacturer of MTLF1 is manufacturer 1 or manufacturer 2, then AnLF can use the model trained by MTLF1. For example, assuming that the model provided by manufacturer 1 includes a model corresponding to analysis identifier 1 and a model corresponding to analysis identifier 2, then AnLF can use these two models.

[0167] It can be understood that the model provided by Manufacturer 1 can be understood as a model produced (or trained) by Manufacturer 1, or a model produced (or trained) by MTLF, and the manufacturer of the MTLF is Manufacturer 1.

[0168] In another possible implementation, if the first operation identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, that is, one AnLF can correspond to one or more first operation identifiers. Different first operation identifiers correspond to different analysis identifiers. Among them, the first operation identifier corresponding to the first analysis identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list (or manufacturer list), or is described as a NWDAF provider (or supplier) list. AnLF allows the retrieval or use of models provided by manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list, or AnLF allows models to be obtained from manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list. The first operation identifier also indicates that AnLF supports the use of models provided by manufacturers for network elements (such as: NWDAF) of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list. And these models correspond to the first analysis identifier.

[0169] Exemplarily, it is assumed that the first operation identifier of AnLF includes a first operation identifier corresponding to analysis identifier 1 and a first operation identifier corresponding to analysis identifier 2. The first operation identifier corresponding to analysis identifier 1 includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, that is, AnLF can use the model provided by manufacturer 1 and the model provided by manufacturer 2, and the model corresponds to analysis identifier 1. For example, assuming that the model provided by manufacturer 1 includes a model corresponding to analysis identifier 1 and a model corresponding to analysis identifier 2, then AnLF can use the model corresponding to analysis identifier 1, but cannot use the model corresponding to analysis identifier 2. The first operation identifier corresponding to analysis identifier 2 includes the identifier of manufacturer 4, that is, AnLF can use the model provided by manufacturer 4, and the model corresponds to analysis identifier 2. For example, assuming that the model provided by manufacturer 4 includes a model corresponding to analysis identifier 1 and a model corresponding to analysis identifier 2, then AnLF can use the model corresponding to analysis identifier 2, but cannot use the model corresponding to analysis identifier 1.

[0170] Exemplarily, the AnLF sends a registration message to the NRF, the registration message includes a first operation identifier. The first operation identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list, that is, one or more manufacturer identifiers. The NRF may save the first operation identifier to the NF information (profile) of the AnLF.

[0171] Currently, the service consumption network element or the source AnLF network element needs to use the network element discovery process to discover the target AnLF network element. However, since the NRF does not know the manufacturer information of the model being used by the source AnLF network element, it is impossible to accurately select the target AnLF network element that supports the model used by the source AnLF, so that the target AnLF network element may not be able to use the analysis context obtained from the source AnLF network element, or it can be understood that it cannot be guaranteed that the AnLF network element discovered by the network element discovery process supports the use of the analysis context obtained from the source AnLF network element, which leads to the failure of the analysis context transfer, affecting the continuity of the analysis service and causing network failure.

[0172] Or it can also be understood that the source AnLF network element is not clear about the manufacturer information of the model provided by MTLF, and therefore cannot accurately select the target AnLF network element that supports the use of the model used by the source AnLF, so that the target AnLF network element may not be able to use the model used by the source AnLF network element, that is, it cannot guarantee that the service consuming network element or the source AnLF network element selects a target AnLF network element that supports the use of the model information contained in the analysis context, which in turn leads to the failure of the analysis context transfer, affecting the continuity of the analysis service and causing network failure.

[0173] Based on the above Figure 1 Based on the network system architecture shown and the contents of the above-mentioned related technical introduction, several possible communication methods are provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0174] The present application provides a communication method, such as Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0175] Step 200: The first network element sends a third network element discovery message to the network storage function network element. Correspondingly, the network storage function network element receives the third network element discovery message from the first network element.

[0176] The third network element discovery message includes the first manufacturer's identifier, or the first manufacturer's identifier and the analysis identifier. For how the first network element obtains the first manufacturer's identifier and the analysis identifier, please refer to the following Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The relevant steps are shown.

[0177] The third network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element. Exemplarily, the third network element discovery message includes the expected service name (service name). The expected service name can be used to determine the network element requested for discovery. For example, when the expected service name included in the third network element discovery message is analysis subscription (Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe service operation), the third network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element.

[0178] Step 210: The network storage function network element determines one or more fourth analysis function network elements according to the identifier of the first manufacturer.

[0179] In a possible implementation, the network storage function network element determines one or more fourth analysis function network elements according to the identifier of the first manufacturer.

[0180] The fourth analysis function network element supports the model of the manufacturer in the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identifier, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is one of the manufacturers in the manufacturer identification list. As a possible implementation method, the third network element discovery message may also include the identifier of the second manufacturer, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is also one of the manufacturers in the manufacturer identification list.

[0181] Alternatively, it can be described as that the network storage function network element determines that the first operation identifier includes the analysis function network element of the first manufacturer's identifier.

[0182] For example, assuming that the third network element discovery message includes the identifier of manufacturer 1, if the first operation identifier of an analysis function network element includes the identifier of manufacturer 1, the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is the analysis function network element requested to be discovered by the first network element. In addition, the first operation identifier may also include identifiers of other manufacturers, such as the identifier of manufacturer 2, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0183] For another example, assuming that the third network element discovery message includes the identifier of manufacturer 1, if the first operation identifier of an analysis function network element does not include the identifier of manufacturer 1, the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is not the analysis function network element requested to be discovered by the first network element.

[0184] For another example, assuming that the third network element discovery message includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, if the first operation identifier of an analysis function network element includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, then the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is the analysis function network element requested to be discovered by the first network element. In addition, the first operation identifier may also include the identifiers of other manufacturers.

[0185] In another possible implementation, the network storage function network element may determine one or more fourth analysis function network elements based on the first manufacturer's identifier and the analysis identifier.

[0186] Among them, the fourth analysis function network element corresponds to one or more first operation identifiers. Different first operation identifiers correspond to different analysis identifiers. Among the above-mentioned one or more first operation identifiers, the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier in the third network element discovery message includes a manufacturer identifier list, and the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list, and these models correspond to the analysis identifier. The identifier of the first manufacturer is one of the manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list. As a possible implementation method, the third network element discovery message may also include the identifier of the second manufacturer, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is also one of the manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list.

[0187] Alternatively, it can be described as that the analysis function network element determined by the network storage function network element supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the identifier of the first manufacturer.

[0188] For example, assuming that the third network element discovery message includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and analysis identifier 1, if an analysis function network element supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier 1, and the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier 1 includes the identifier of manufacturer 1, then the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is the analysis function network element requested to be discovered by the first network element. In addition, the first operation identifier may also include identifiers of other manufacturers, such as the identifier of manufacturer 2, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0189] For another example, assuming that the third network element discovery message includes the manufacturer 1 identifier and analysis identifier 1, if an analysis function network element does not exist and supports the provision of the service corresponding to the analysis identifier 1, or an analysis function network element supports the provision of the service corresponding to the analysis identifier 1, but the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier 1 does not include the manufacturer 1 identifier, then the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is not the analysis function network element requested to be discovered by the first network element.

[0190] For another example, assuming that the third network element discovery message includes the identifier of manufacturer 1, the identifier of manufacturer 2, and the analysis identifier 1, if an analysis function network element supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier 1, and the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier 1 includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, then the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is the analysis function network element requested to be discovered by the first network element. In addition, the first operation identifier may also include the identifiers of other manufacturers.

[0191] Step 220: The network storage function network element sends information of one or more fourth analysis function network elements to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives information of one or more fourth analysis function network elements from the network storage function network element.

[0192] Exemplarily, the information of the fourth analysis function network element may be the NF profile of the fourth analysis function network element.

[0193] Using the above method, the first network element carries the identifier of the first manufacturer, or the identifier and analysis identifier of the first manufacturer in the third network element discovery message. The network storage function network element can determine one or more fourth analysis function network elements based on the third network element discovery message, and send information of one or more fourth analysis function network elements to the first network element. Since the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is one of the manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list, it can be ensured that the fourth analysis function network element can use the model provided by the first manufacturer. Furthermore, the first network element selects a target analysis function network element from one or more fourth analysis function network elements, so that the target analysis function network element can use the model provided by the first manufacturer that has been used by the first analysis function network element, so as to better provide services to the service consumption network element.

[0194] Among them, the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of models of manufacturers in the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier. It can be understood that the fourth analysis function network element supports the use of models provided by the model training function network element whose manufacturer identifier belongs to the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier. The model provided by the first manufacturer can be understood as the model provided by the manufacturer for the model training function network element of the first manufacturer.

[0195] Exemplarily, the first network element may be a first analysis function network element (or referred to as a source analysis function network element), or a service consumption network element. Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The embodiments shown are described separately. In the following, the analysis function network element is AnLF, the model training function network element is MTLF, and the network storage function network element is NRF as an example for description.

[0196] like Figure 3 As shown, if the first network element is the first AnLF, the process of the first AnLF determining the target AnLF is specifically as follows:

[0197] Step 301: A service consumption network element sends a first analysis subscription message to a first AnLF, wherein the first analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

[0198] Exemplarily, the analysis subscription message may be Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe.

[0199] Among them, the service consumption network element requests the analysis identifier corresponding to the service through the first analysis subscription message. For example, the service consumption network element can be AMF, SMF or other core network elements.

[0200] Step 302: The first AnLF sends a NF discovery message 1 to the NRF, wherein the NF discovery message 1 includes an analysis identifier.

[0201] Exemplarily, the NF discovery message may be Nnrf_NF Discovery. The NF discovery message 1 is used to discover the MTLF, or to discover the NWDAF of the included MTLF. For example, the NF discovery message 1 may include the expected service name, and the expected service name may be ML model provision (Nnwdaf_MLModelProvision), or ML model information (Nnwdaf_MLModelInfo).

[0202] Step 303: The NRF sends an NF discovery response message 1 to the first AnLF.

[0203] Exemplarily, the NF discovery response message 1 includes information of the first MTLF, wherein the information of the first MTLF may include at least one of an identifier of the first MTLF, an analysis identifier, and a first interoperability identifier. The first interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first MTLF. For example, the information of the first MTLF is the NF profile of the first MTLF.

[0204] As a possible implementation method, NRF can determine that MTLF needs to be discovered based on the expected service name in NF discovery message 1, and NRF can save the association relationship between multiple groups of analysis identifiers and MTLFs. NRF queries the above association relationship based on the analysis identifier in NF discovery message 1 to determine one or more MTLFs. At this time, NF discovery response message 1 may include information about the one or more MTLFs. The above first MTLF can be understood as any one of the one or more MTLFs.

[0205] For example, NRF saves the association relationship between multiple groups of analysis identifiers and MTLFs, which are: MTLF1 and MTLF2 correspond to analysis identifier 1, MTLF2 and MTLF3 correspond to analysis identifier 2, and MTLF4 corresponds to analysis identifier 3. If the NF discovery message includes analysis identifier 1, NPR determines MTLF1 and MTLF2. NRF sends NF discovery response message 1 to the first AnLF, and NF discovery response message 1 includes information of MTLF1 and information of MTLF2.

[0206] Step 304: The first AnLF sends a model request message to the first MTLF, wherein the model request message includes an analysis identifier.

[0207] Exemplarily, the model request message is a model provision subscription (Nnwdaf_MLModelProvision_Subscribe) message. The model request message is used to request the provision of a model of a service corresponding to an analysis identifier.

[0208] As a possible implementation method, the first AnLF sends a model request message to any one or more MTLFs in the MTLFs indicated by the NF discovery response message 1 according to the received NF discovery response message 1. The following only takes the example of the first AnLF sending a model request message to the first MTLF for explanation.

[0209] For example, if the NF discovery response message 1 includes the identifier of MTLF1 and the identifier of MTLF2, the first AnLF may send a model request message to MTLF1 and / or MTLF2.

[0210] Step 305: The first MTLF sends the first model information and the first indication information to the first AnLF.

[0211] Exemplarily, the first MTLF sends a model provision notification (Nnwdaf_MLModelProvision_Notify) message to the first AnLF, and the model provision notification message includes information of the first model and first indication information. The first model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes an identifier of the first manufacturer, and the identifier of the first manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element that provides the first model. Exemplarily, if the first model is trained by the first MTLF, the identifier of the first manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the first MTLF. In addition, the first MTLF may also send the identifier of the first MTLF to the first AnLF. If the first model is trained by the second MTLF, the identifier of the first manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the second MTLF. In addition, the first MTLF may also send the identifier of the second MTLF to the first AnLF.

[0212] As a possible implementation, the model provides a notification message including a unique ML model identifier and ML model information associated with the analysis identifier. The ML model information includes the first indication information. In addition, the ML model information may also include an ML model file address (e.g., a uniform resource locator (URL) or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), or an analytics data repository functional (ADRF) ID or an ADRF set ID. When the ML model information includes an ADRFID or ADRF set ID, it may also include a storage transaction ID). It is understandable that the model provides a notification message may also include other content, which is not limited in this application.

[0213] It is understandable that the first MTLF sends information of at least one model to the first AnLF, as well as the identifier of the manufacturer providing the at least one model, and the at least one model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier. The at least one model corresponds to the analysis identifier. The at least one model may include a model trained by the first MTLT, and may also include models trained by other MTLTs. That is, the first MTLF may provide a model trained by itself, or may obtain models trained by other MTLFs from other MTLFs. The number of models trained by the first MTLT may be one or more, and the number of models trained by other MTLFs may also be one or more.

[0214] It can be understood that the model provided by the first MTLF, such as the first model, may refer to a model generated (or trained) by the first MTLF itself, or a model generated (or trained) by other MTLFs, or a model generated (or trained) jointly by the first MTLF and other MTLFs.

[0215] In one example, the first MTLF sends information of the second model and second indication information to the first AnLF, the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes the identifier of the second manufacturer, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element providing the second model. Among them, the identifier of the second manufacturer is different from the identifier of the first manufacturer. Exemplarily, the second model is trained by the second MTLF, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the second MTLF. In addition, the first MTLF can also send the identifier of the second MTLF to the first AnLF.

[0216] Example 1: The first MTLF sends the identification of model 1 and indication information 1, the identification of model 2 and indication information 2, the identification of model 3 and indication information 3 to the first AnLF, and indication information 1, indication information 2 and indication information 3 all include the identification of manufacturer 1. That is, manufacturer 1 provides model 1, model 2 and model 3.

[0217] Example 2: The first MTLF sends the identification and indication information 1 of model 1, the identification and indication information 2 of model 2, and the identification and indication information 3 of model 3 to the first AnLF. Indication information 1 and indication information 2 both include the identification of manufacturer 1, and indication information 3 includes the identification of manufacturer 2. That is, manufacturer 1 provides model 1 and model 2, and manufacturer 2 provides model 3.

[0218] In addition, as a possible implementation manner, the model provided by the first MTLF is a model jointly trained by multiple manufacturers, and the first indication information includes at least one in the list of manufacturer identifiers that jointly train the model.

[0219] Exemplarily, the first indication information includes a list of manufacturer identifiers that jointly train the model, or some of the manufacturer identifiers in the list of manufacturer identifiers.

[0220] For example, assuming that model 1 is trained jointly by manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2, model 1 corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the first MTLF sends information about model 1 and first indication information to the first AnLF, where the first indication information includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2.

[0221] For example, assuming that model 1 is trained jointly by manufacturer 1, manufacturer 2 and manufacturer 3, model 1 corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the first MTLF sends information about model 1 and first indication information to the first AnLF, where the first indication information includes the identifier of at least one manufacturer, wherein the identifier of at least one manufacturer includes at least one of the identifier of manufacturer 1, the identifier of manufacturer 2 or the identifier of manufacturer 3.

[0222] For example, if the first MTLF can determine that consumers who support the use of models produced by manufacturer X have the ability to use models trained by multiple manufacturers, then the first MTLF can only provide one or more of the multiple manufacturer's logos, wherein one or more of the multiple manufacturer's logos include the logo of manufacturer X.

[0223] For example, assuming that model 1 is trained jointly by manufacturers 1, 2, and 3, if the first MTLF can determine that consumers who support the use of the model produced by manufacturer 1 have the ability to use models trained jointly by multiple manufacturers, then the first MTLF can only provide the identification of manufacturer 1.

[0224] Step 306: The first AnLF uses the first model to provide the service consuming network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0225] Exemplarily, the first AnLF obtains the first model according to the information of the first model, and uses the first model to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consuming network element.

[0226] Exemplarily, the information of the first model may include a model file address, such as a URL, and the first AnLF may obtain the first model according to the URL. Alternatively, the information of the first model may include an ADRFID, and the first AnLF may send a model acquisition request to an ADRF identified by the ADRFID, and the ADRF may send the first model to the first AnLF.

[0227] It is understandable that if the first AnLF obtains information of multiple models, it can select at least one model from the multiple models to provide the service consumption network element with a service corresponding to the analysis identifier. This application does not limit the specific manner in which the first AnLF selects a model.

[0228] Exemplarily, the first AnLF uses a model provided by a MTLF to provide services to the service consumption network element. Alternatively, the first AnLF uses models provided by multiple MTLFs to provide services to the service consumption network element at the same time. The first AnLF can integrate the prediction results of the models provided by multiple MTLFs, and then obtain analysis results to provide services to the service consumption network element.

[0229] Exemplarily, the first AnLF further receives information of the second model and second indication information from the first MTLF or the second MTLF, and the first AnLF may further use the second model to provide the service consuming network element with a service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0230] Based on the above steps 303 and 304, it can be known that the first AnLF can send a model request message to at least one MTLF, and then obtain information about the models provided by the at least one MTLF, and select at least one model to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consuming network element based on the obtained information about the models provided by the at least one MTLF.

[0231] Example A: The first AnLF can obtain information about model 1, model 2, and model 3 from the first MTLF. The first AnLF then selects at least one of model 1, model 2, and model 3 based on the information about model 1, model 2, and model 3 to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consuming network element.

[0232] Example B: The first AnLF can obtain information about model 1, model 2, and model 3 from the first MTLF, and the first AnLF can obtain information about model 6 and model 9 from the second MTLF. Then, the first AnLF can select at least one of model 1, model 2, model 3, model 6, or model 9 based on the information about model 1, model 2, model 3, model 6, and model 9 to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consuming network element.

[0233] In addition, the first AnLF may also send a first message to the service consuming network element, where the first message may be an analysis subscription response and / or an analysis subscription notification.

[0234] Step 307: The first AnLF determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0235] For example, if the first AnLF determines that it is in an overload state, or is close to or exceeds the service uptime according to the network element state, or the first AnLF is ready to shut down and stop providing services, the first AnLF determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0236] Step 308: The first AnLF sends the NF discovery message 2 to the NRF. Step 308 corresponds to the above step 200.

[0237] The NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the first manufacturer, or the identifier of the first manufacturer and the analysis identifier.

[0238] The NF discovery message 2 is used to discover the AnLF, or to discover the NWDAF containing the AnLF. Exemplarily, the NF discovery message 2 may include an expected service name, and the expected service name is analysis subscription.

[0239] It can be understood that if the first AnLF uses the first model to provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, the NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the manufacturer providing the first model, that is, the identifier of the first manufacturer. If the first AnLF also uses other models to provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer providing the model is not the first manufacturer, the NF discovery message 2 may also include the identifiers of other manufacturers.

[0240] Exemplarily, if the first AnLF can also use the second model to provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, wherein the manufacturer providing the second model is the second manufacturer, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is different from the identifier of the first manufacturer. Then the NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the manufacturer providing the second model, that is, the identifier of the second manufacturer.

[0241] Step 309: The NRF determines one or more fourth AnLFs according to the NF discovery message 2. Step 309 corresponds to the above step 210.

[0242] Exemplarily, the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identification of the fourth AnLF includes the identification of the first manufacturer.

[0243] If the NF finds that the message 2 includes the identifier of the first manufacturer, the NRF can determine one or more fourth AnLFs according to the identifier of the first manufacturer; if the NF finds that the message 2 includes the identifier and analysis identifier of the first manufacturer, the NRF can determine one or more fourth AnLFs according to the identifier and analysis identifier of the first manufacturer. For details, please refer to the relevant content of the above step 210, which will not be repeated here.

[0244] In addition, if the NF discovery message 2 also includes identifiers of other manufacturers, such as the identifier of the second manufacturer, then the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier of the fourth AnLF includes the identifier of the first manufacturer and / or the identifier of the second manufacturer.

[0245] That is, if the NF finds that the request message 2 includes the identifiers of x manufacturers, the NRF determines that the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier of the AnLF includes part or all of the identifiers of the x manufacturers, where x is a positive integer.

[0246] Step 310: The NRF sends a NF discovery response message 2 to the first AnLF. Step 310 corresponds to the above step 220.

[0247] Exemplarily, the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of one or more fourth AnLFs.

[0248] Step 311: The first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF, wherein the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

[0249] Exemplarily, the first AnLF determines the target AnLF according to the received NF discovery response message 2, and sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF.

[0250] In an example, when the NF finds that the response message 2 includes information of a fourth AnLF, the first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the fourth AnLF, and the fourth AnLF is the target AnLF.

[0251] In another example, when the NF finds that the response message 2 includes information of multiple fourth AnLFs, the first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF, wherein the target AnLF is one of the multiple fourth AnLFs. The present application does not limit the specific manner in which the first AnLF determines the target AnLF from the multiple fourth AnLFs.

[0252] Using the above Figure 3 In the method shown, the first AnLF adopts the first model provided by the first manufacturer to provide services for the service consumption network element. When the first AnLF determines the target AnLF, the first AnLF can obtain one or more AnLFs that can use the model provided by the first manufacturer through the NRF, and determine the target AnLF therefrom. Then, after analyzing the subscription transfer to the target ANLF, the target AnLF can use the model provided by the first manufacturer, thereby better providing services to the service consumption network element and ensuring the continuity of the service.

[0253] like Figure 4 As shown, if the first network element is a service consumption network element, the process of the service consumption network element determining the target AnLF is specifically as follows:

[0254] Steps 401 to 406 may refer to the above-mentioned steps 301 to 306 and will not be described in detail here.

[0255] Step 407: The first AnLF sends a first message to the service consuming network element. The first message includes the identifier of the first manufacturer.

[0256] Exemplarily, the first message may be an analysis subscription response and / or an analysis subscription notification.

[0257] It can be understood that if the first AnLF uses the first model to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements, the first message includes the identifier of the manufacturer providing the first model, that is, the identifier of the first manufacturer. If the first AnLF also uses other models to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements, and the manufacturer providing the model is not the first manufacturer, the first message may also include the identifiers of other manufacturers.

[0258] Exemplarily, if the first AnLF can also use the second model to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, wherein the manufacturer providing the second model is the second manufacturer, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is different from the identifier of the first manufacturer. Then the first message includes the identifier of the manufacturer providing the second model, that is, the identifier of the second manufacturer.

[0259] Step 408: The service consuming network element determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0260] Exemplarily, the service consuming network element may determine that a target AnLF needs to be selected according to internal logic or external trigger conditions. For example, the service consuming network element starts requesting related analysis, or receives a stop subscription request for an existing analysis, and then selects a new AnLF to continue serving it.

[0261] Step 409: The service consumption network element sends the NF discovery message 2 to the NRF. Step 409 corresponds to the above step 200.

[0262] The NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the first manufacturer, or the identifier of the first manufacturer and the analysis identifier.

[0263] The NF discovery message 2 is used to discover the AnLF, or to discover the NWDAF containing the AnLF.

[0264] It can be understood that the first message may also include one or more manufacturer identifiers, and the NF discovery message 2 may also include one or more manufacturer identifiers.

[0265] Exemplarily, the first message also includes the identifier of the second manufacturer, and therefore, the NF discovery message 2 also includes the identifier of the second manufacturer.

[0266] Step 410: The NRF determines one or more fourth AnLFs according to the NF discovery message 2. Step 410 corresponds to the above step 210.

[0267] For details, please refer to the above step 309, which will not be repeated here.

[0268] Step 411: NRF sends NF discovery response message 2 to the service consuming network element. Step 411 corresponds to the above step 220.

[0269] Exemplarily, the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of one or more fourth AnLFs.

[0270] Step 412: The service consuming network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF, wherein the second analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

[0271] Exemplarily, the service consuming network element determines the target AnLF according to the received NF discovery response message 2, and sends a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF.

[0272] In an example, when the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of a fourth AnLF, the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the fourth AnLF, and the fourth AnLF is the target AnLF.

[0273] In another example, when the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of multiple fourth AnLFs, the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF, wherein the target AnLF is one of the multiple fourth AnLFs. This application does not limit the specific manner in which the service consumption network element determines the target AnLF from the multiple fourth AnLFs.

[0274] like Figure 5 As shown, if the first network element is a service consumption network element, the process of the service consumption network element determining the target AnLF is specifically as follows:

[0275] Steps 501 to 506 may refer to the above-mentioned steps 301 to 306 and will not be described in detail here.

[0276] Step 507: The service consuming network element determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0277] Step 508: The service consumption network element sends a second message to the first AnLF. The second message is used to request the service consumption network element to provide the identifier of the manufacturer of the service model corresponding to the analysis identifier. The second message may also be called an AnLF transfer request message.

[0278] Step 509: The first AnLF sends a third message to the service consumption network element, wherein the third message includes the identifier of the first manufacturer and may also be referred to as an AnLF transfer response message.

[0279] It can be understood that if the first AnLF uses the first model to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements, the third message includes the identifier of the manufacturer providing the first model, that is, the identifier of the first manufacturer. If the first AnLF also uses other models to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements, and the manufacturer providing the model is not the first manufacturer, the third message may also include the identifiers of other manufacturers.

[0280] Exemplarily, if the first AnLF can also use the second model to provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, wherein the manufacturer providing the second model is the second manufacturer, and the identifier of the second manufacturer is different from the identifier of the first manufacturer. Then the third message includes the identifier of the manufacturer providing the second model, that is, the identifier of the second manufacturer.

[0281] Step 510: The service consumption network element sends the NF discovery message 2 to the NRF. Step 510 corresponds to the above step 200.

[0282] The NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the first manufacturer, or the identifier of the first manufacturer and the analysis identifier.

[0283] The NF discovery message 2 is used to discover the AnLF, or to discover the NWDAF containing the AnLF.

[0284] It can be understood that the third message may also include one or more manufacturer identifiers, and the NF discovery message 2 also includes one or more manufacturer identifiers.

[0285] Exemplarily, the third message also includes the identifier of the second manufacturer, and therefore, the NF discovery message 2 also includes the identifier of the second manufacturer.

[0286] Steps 511 to 513 may refer to the above-mentioned steps 410 to 412 and will not be described in detail here.

[0287] Using the above Figure 4 or Figure 5 The method comprises the following steps: a first AnLF adopts a first model provided by a first manufacturer to provide services for a service consumption network element; when the service consumption network element determines a target AnLF, the service consumption network element can determine, through an NRF, one or more fourth AnLFs that can use the model provided by the first manufacturer, and determine the target AnLF therefrom; and then, after sending a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF, the target AnLF can use the model provided by the first manufacturer, thereby providing better services to the service consumption network element and ensuring the continuity of the service.

[0288] The present application also provides a communication method, such as Figure 6 As shown, the method includes:

[0289] Step 600: The first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element. Correspondingly, the network storage function network element receives the second network element discovery message from the first network element.

[0290] The second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier, or the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier. The first interoperability identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list, which is recorded as the first manufacturer identifier list. For how the first network element obtains the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, please refer to the following Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The relevant steps are shown.

[0291] As a possible implementation method, the second network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element. Exemplarily, the second network element discovery message includes the expected service name. The expected service name can be used to determine the network element requested for discovery. For example, when the expected service name included in the second network element discovery message is analysis subscription, the second network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element.

[0292] Step 610: The network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements according to the first interoperability identifier.

[0293] Step 620: The network storage function network element sends information of one or more third analysis function network elements to the first network element.

[0294] Exemplarily, the information of the third analysis function network element may be the NF profile of the third analysis function network element.

[0295] With respect to the above step 610, several possible implementations are introduced below:

[0296] A first possible implementation manner: the network storage function network element may determine one or more third analysis function network elements according to the first interoperability identifier.

[0297] The first possible implementation method may specifically include but is not limited to the following two implementation methods:

[0298] Possible implementation 1:

[0299] Scenario (1) The second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier, that is, the second network element discovery message includes an interoperability identifier.

[0300] If the second network element discovers that the message includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, the network storage function network element selects an analysis function network element whose manufacturer identifier belongs to the first manufacturer identifier list, that is, the manufacturer identifier of the third analysis function network element is one of the ones in the first manufacturer identifier list, or is described as the manufacturer identifier of the third analysis function network element belonging to the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0301] In addition, after the first network element receives information from one or more third analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element, the first network element selects a target analysis function network element, and the target analysis function network element is one of the one or more third analysis function network elements, that is, the manufacturer's identifier of the target analysis function network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list, or it can be understood that the first network element verifies whether the manufacturer's identifier of the analysis function network element provided by the network storage function network element belongs to the first manufacturer identifier list. For example, if the information of analysis function network element A sent by the network storage function network element includes the manufacturer's identifier of analysis function network element A, the first network element can verify whether the manufacturer's identifier belongs to the first manufacturer identifier list. If so, the first network element can select analysis function network element A as the target analysis function network element. If there are multiple analysis function network elements whose manufacturer identifiers belong to the first manufacturer identifier list, the first network element can randomly select or select a target analysis function network element from multiple analysis function network elements in combination with other information.

[0302] For example, if the second network element discovers that the message includes a first interoperability identifier, assuming that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, the first manufacturer identifier list includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, the network storage function network element selects the manufacturer identifier as the analysis function network element of the identifier of manufacturer 1 or the identifier of manufacturer 2.

[0303] Scenario (2) The second network element discovery message may also include a second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list, which is recorded as a second manufacturer identifier list. That is, the second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. It is understandable that the second network element discovery message may include one or more interoperability identifiers, which is not limited in this application. The following description only takes two interoperability identifiers as an example.

[0304] If the second network element discovers that the message includes the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier, the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes the second manufacturer identifier list, the network storage function network element selects an analysis function network element whose manufacturer identifier belongs to the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list, that is, selects an analysis function network element whose manufacturer identifier belongs to the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0305] Or it can be described as follows: if the manufacturer's identifier of the third analysis function network element selected by the network storage function network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list, and at the same time the manufacturer's identifier of the third analysis function network element is also one in the second manufacturer identifier list, that is, the manufacturer's identifier of the third analysis function network element is one in the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0306] In one example, a first network element sends a second network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier and a second interoperability identifier, and the network storage function network element determines the intersection of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list based on the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. The first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. The network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list. The identifier of the manufacturer of the third analysis function network element belongs to the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0307] In another example, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, and the second network element discovery message may include manufacturer information, and the manufacturer information includes at least one manufacturer's identifier. Exemplarily, the at least one manufacturer's identifier includes the intersection of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list. Among them, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. Furthermore, the network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the manufacturer information, and the manufacturer identifier of the third analysis function network element belongs to the identifier of at least one manufacturer included in the manufacturer information.

[0308] For example, it is assumed that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 6.

[0309] Example A: The first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element. The second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier and a second interoperability identifier. The network storage function network element determines the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list, and the intersection includes the identifier of manufacturer 1. The network storage function network element determines that the manufacturer identifier is the analysis function network element of the identifier of manufacturer 1.

[0310] Example B, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes the intersection of the first manufacturer identification list and the second manufacturer identification list, the intersection includes the identification of manufacturer 1, then the network storage function network element determines that the manufacturer identification is the analysis function network element of the identification of manufacturer 1.

[0311] Possible implementation 2:

[0312] Scenario (1) The second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier, that is, the second network element discovery message only includes one interoperability identifier.

[0313] If the second network element finds that the message includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, the network storage function network element selects the analysis function network element whose manufacturer identifier list included in the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0314] That is, the vendor identification list included in the first operation identification of the third analysis function network element selected by the network storage function network element includes the first vendor identification list. Alternatively, it can be described as follows: the first vendor identification list is a subset of the vendor identification list included in the first operation identification of the third analysis function network element.

[0315] For example, assuming that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the first manufacturer identifier list includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, if the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier of an analysis function network element includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, then the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, and the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is a third analysis function network element. In addition, the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier may also include identifiers of other manufacturers, for example, the identifier of manufacturer 5, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0316] For another example, assuming that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, the first manufacturer identifier list includes the identifier of manufacturer 1, the identifier of manufacturer 4, and the identifier of manufacturer 5, if the first operation identifier of an analysis function network element includes a manufacturer identifier list that includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, then the first operation identifier of the analysis function network element includes a manufacturer identifier list that includes the first manufacturer identifier list, and the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is not a third analysis function network element.

[0317] Scenario (2) The second network element discovery message may also include a second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list, which is recorded as a second manufacturer identifier list. That is, the second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. It is understandable that the second network element discovery message may include one or more interoperability identifiers, which is not limited in this application. The following description only takes two interoperability identifiers as an example.

[0318] If the second network element discovers that the message includes the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier, the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes the second manufacturer identifier list, the network storage function network element selects the analysis function network element in which the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list and the third manufacturer identifier list. Alternatively, it can also be understood that the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier includes the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0319] In one example, a first network element sends a second network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier and a second interoperability identifier, and the network storage function network element determines the union of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list based on the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. The first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. The network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list. The manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier of the third analysis function network element includes the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0320] In another possible implementation, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, and the second network element discovery message may include manufacturer information, and the manufacturer information includes at least one manufacturer's identifier. Exemplarily, the at least one manufacturer's identifier includes a union of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list. Among them, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. Furthermore, the network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the manufacturer information. The manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier of the third analysis function network element includes a union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0321] For example, it is assumed that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 6.

[0322] Example A: The first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element. The second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier and a second interoperability identifier. The network storage function network element determines the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list, and the union includes the identifier of manufacturer 1, the identifier of manufacturer 2, and the identifier of manufacturer 6. The network storage function network element determines that the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier includes the analysis function network element of the union.

[0323] Example B, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes the union of the first manufacturer identification list and the second manufacturer identification list, the union includes the identification of manufacturer 1, the identification of manufacturer 2 and the identification of manufacturer 6, then the network storage function network element determines that the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identification includes the analysis function network element of the union.

[0324] A second possible implementation manner: the network storage function network element may determine one or more analysis function network elements according to the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, and the third analysis function network element in step 610 is any one of the one or more analysis function network elements.

[0325] The second possible implementation may specifically include but is not limited to the following two implementations:

[0326] Possible implementation 1:

[0327] Scenario (1) The second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier, that is, the second network element discovery message only includes one interoperability identifier.

[0328] If the second network element finds that the message includes the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, and the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, the network storage function network element selects an analysis function network element that supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer identifier belongs to the first manufacturer identifier list. That is, if the third analysis function network element selected by the network storage function network element supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer identifier of the third analysis function network element is one of the ones in the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0329] For example, if the second network element discovers that the message includes a first interoperability identifier and an analysis identifier 1, assuming that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the first manufacturer identifier list includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, the network storage function network element selects an analysis function network element that supports providing the service corresponding to analysis identifier 1, and the manufacturer identifier is the identifier of manufacturer 1 or the identifier of manufacturer 2.

[0330] Scenario (2) The second network element discovery message may also include a second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list, which is recorded as a second manufacturer identifier list. That is, the second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. It is understandable that the second network element discovery message may include one or more interoperability identifiers, which is not limited in this application. The following description only takes two interoperability identifiers as an example.

[0331] If the second network element discovers that the message includes the first interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes the second manufacturer identifier list, the network storage function network element selects to support the provision of the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer's identifier belongs to the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list. In other words, it selects to support the provision of the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer's identifier belongs to the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0332] Or it can be described as follows: if the third analysis function network element selected by the network storage function network element supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer's identifier of the third analysis function network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list, and the manufacturer's identifier of the third analysis function network element is also one in the second manufacturer identifier list, that is, the manufacturer's identifier of the third analysis function network element is one in the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0333] In one example, a first network element sends a second network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, a second interoperability identifier, and an analysis identifier, and the network storage function network element determines the intersection of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list based on the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. Among them, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. The network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list and the analysis identifier. The identifier of the manufacturer of the third analysis function network element belongs to the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list, and supports providing services corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0334] In another example, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element. The second network element discovery message may include manufacturer information and an analysis identifier. The manufacturer information includes an identifier of at least one manufacturer. Exemplarily, the identifier of at least one manufacturer includes the intersection of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list. The first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. Furthermore, the network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the manufacturer information and the analysis identifier. The manufacturer identifier of the third analysis function network element belongs to the identifier of at least one manufacturer included in the manufacturer information, and supports providing services corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0335] For example, it is assumed that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 6.

[0336] Example A: A first network element sends a second network element discovery message to a network storage function network element. The second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, a second interoperability identifier and an analysis identifier. The network storage function network element determines the intersection of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list, and the intersection includes the identifier of manufacturer 1. The network storage function network element determines the analysis function network element that supports providing the service corresponding to analysis identifier 1, and the manufacturer identifier is the identifier of manufacturer 1.

[0337] Example B, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes the intersection of the first manufacturer identification list and the second manufacturer identification list and the analysis identification, the intersection includes the identification of manufacturer 1, then the network storage function network element determines that it supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identification 1, and the manufacturer identification is the analysis function network element of the identification of manufacturer 1.

[0338] Possible implementation 2:

[0339] Scenario (1) The second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier, that is, the second network element discovery message only includes one interoperability identifier.

[0340] If the second network element finds that the message includes the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, and the first interoperability identifier includes the first vendor identifier list, the network storage function network element selects an analysis function network element that supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the vendor identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the first vendor identifier list. Among them, the third analysis function network element corresponds to one or more first operation identifiers, different first operation identifiers correspond to different analysis identifiers, and the one or more first operation identifiers include the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0341] That is, if the third analysis function network element selected by the network storage function network element supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the first manufacturer identification list. Alternatively, it can be described as that the first manufacturer identification list is a subset of the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0342] For example, assuming that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the first manufacturer identifier list includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, if an analysis function network element supports providing services corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the identifier of manufacturer 1 and the identifier of manufacturer 2, then the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, and the network storage function network element determines that the analysis function network element is a third analysis function network element. In addition, the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier may also include identifiers of other manufacturers, such as the identifier of manufacturer 5, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0343] Scenario (2) The second network element discovery message may also include a second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a manufacturer identifier list, which is recorded as a second manufacturer identifier list. That is, the second network element discovery message includes the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. It is understandable that the second network element discovery message may include one or more interoperability identifiers, which is not limited in this application. The following description only takes two interoperability identifiers as an example.

[0344] If the second network element discovers that the message includes the first interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, the first interoperability identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes the second manufacturer identifier list, the network storage function network element selects the analysis function network element that supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list and the third manufacturer identifier list. The manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the first manufacturer identifier list and the third manufacturer identifier list, and it can also be understood that the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0345] In one example, a first network element sends a second network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, a second interoperability identifier, and an analysis identifier, and the network storage function network element determines the union of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list based on the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier. Among them, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. The network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list and the analysis identifier. The third analysis function network element supports providing services corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0346] In another possible implementation, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, and the second network element discovery message may include manufacturer information and an analysis identifier, and the manufacturer information includes the identifier of at least one manufacturer. Exemplarily, the identifier of at least one manufacturer includes the union of a first manufacturer identifier list and a second manufacturer identifier list. Among them, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. Furthermore, the network storage function network element determines one or more third analysis function network elements based on the manufacturer information and the analysis identifier. The third analysis function network element supports providing services corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the manufacturer identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the union of the first manufacturer identifier list and the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0347] For example, it is assumed that the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list including the identifiers of manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 6.

[0348] Example A: A first network element sends a second network element discovery message to a network storage function network element. The second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, a second interoperability identifier and an analysis identifier. The network storage function network element determines a union of a first vendor identifier list and a second vendor identifier list, the union including the identifier of vendor 1, the identifier of vendor 2 and the identifier of vendor 6. The network storage function network element determines that it supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the vendor identifier list included in the first operation identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier includes the analysis function network element in the union.

[0349] Example B, the first network element sends a second network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the second network element discovery message includes the union of the first manufacturer identification list and the second manufacturer identification list and the analysis identification, the union includes the identification of manufacturer 1, the identification of manufacturer 2 and the identification of manufacturer 6, then the network storage function network element determines that it supports providing the service corresponding to the analysis identification, and the manufacturer identification list included in the first operation identification corresponding to the analysis identification includes the analysis function network element of the union.

[0350] In addition, it can be understood that if the network storage function network element fails to find the third analysis function network element, the network storage function network element can also provide information of other analysis function network elements.

[0351] Using the above method, the first network element carries the first interoperability identifier, or the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier in the second network element discovery message, and then the network storage function network element can determine the candidate analysis function network element (i.e., one or more third analysis function network elements) according to the second network element discovery message, and send the information of the candidate analysis function network element to the first network element. The first network element determines the target analysis function network element based on the information of the candidate analysis function network element. The target analysis function network element can better provide services for the service consumption network element and ensure the continuity of the service.

[0352] Exemplarily, if the first network element is a first analysis function network element, the first analysis function network element uses the first model to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, and the first analysis function network element determines that a target analysis function network element needs to be selected, then a second network element discovery message is sent to the network storage function network element, wherein the second network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, or a first interoperability identifier and an analysis identifier. The first interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the model training function network element that provides information about the first model, or an interoperability identifier of the model training function network element that provides information about the first model. The following description takes the case where the first model is trained by the first model training function network element, and the first interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element, or an interoperability identifier of the first model training function network element as an example.

[0353] The network storage function network element can determine the candidate analysis function network element (i.e., one or more third analysis function network elements) based on the second network element discovery message, and send the information of the candidate analysis function network element to the first analysis network element. The first analysis function network element determines the target analysis function network element based on the information of the candidate analysis function network element. The manufacturer's identifier of the target analysis function network element belongs to the manufacturer identifier list of the first interoperability identifier.

[0354] Since the manufacturer's identifier of the target analysis function network element belongs to the first interoperability identifier, the target analysis function network element can use the model provided by the first model training function network element, that is, it can use the first model, or it can be understood that the target analysis function network element can use the model used by the first analysis function network element. Since the target analysis function network element can use the model used by the first analysis function network element, the target analysis function network element can better utilize the analysis context obtained from the first analysis function network element, and better provide the service consumption network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0355] Exemplarily, the first network element may be a first analysis function network element (or referred to as a source analysis function network element), or a service consumption network element. Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The embodiments shown are described separately. In the following, the analysis function network element is AnLF, the model training function network element is MTLF, and the network storage function network element is NRF as an example for description.

[0356] like Figure 7 As shown, if the first network element is the first AnLF, the process of the first AnLF determining the target AnLF is specifically as follows:

[0357] Step 701: A service consumption network element sends a first analysis subscription message to a first AnLF, wherein the first analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

[0358] Exemplarily, the analysis subscription message may be Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe.

[0359] Step 702: The first AnLF sends a NF discovery message 1 to the NRF, wherein the NF discovery message 1 includes an analysis identifier.

[0360] Exemplarily, the NF discovery message may be Nnrf_NF Discovery. NF discovery message 1 is used to discover MTLF, or to discover NWDAF containing MTLF.

[0361] Step 703: The NRF sends an NF discovery response message 1 to the first AnLF.

[0362] Exemplarily, the NF discovery response message 1 includes information of the first MTLF, wherein the information of the first MTLF may include at least one of an identifier of the first MTLF, an analysis identifier, and a first interoperability identifier. The first interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first MTLF, or an interoperability identifier of the first MTLF. For example, the information of the first MTLF is the NF profile of the first MTLF.

[0363] The NF discovery response message 1 may include information of the one or more MTLFs. The first MTLF may be understood as any one or more of the one or more MTLFs.

[0364] Step 704: The first AnLF sends a model request message to the first MTLF, wherein the model request message includes an analysis identifier.

[0365] Exemplarily, the model request message is a model provision subscription (Nnwdaf_MLModelProvision_Subscribe) message. The model request message is used to request the provision of a model of a service corresponding to an analysis identifier.

[0366] As a possible implementation method, the first AnLF sends a model request message to any one or more MTLFs in the MTLFs indicated by the NF discovery response message 1 according to the received NF discovery response message 1. The following only takes the example of the first AnLF sending a model request message to the first MTLF for explanation.

[0367] For example, if the NF discovery response message 1 includes the identifier of MTLF1 and the identifier of MTLF2, the first AnLF may send a model request message to MTLF1 and / or MTLF2.

[0368] Step 705: The first MTLF sends the first model information and the first indication information to the first AnLF.

[0369] Exemplarily, the first MTLF sends a model provision notification message to the first AnLF, and the model provision notification message includes information of the first model and first indication information. The first model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes a first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list. Exemplarily, if the first model is trained by the first MTLF, the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier of the first MTLF, or the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first MTLF. If the first model is trained by the second MTLF, the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier of the second MTLF, or the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second MTLF.

[0370] As a possible implementation, the model providing notification message includes a unique ML model identifier associated with the analysis identifier and ML model information, wherein the information of the first model is the unique ML model identifier associated with the analysis identifier, and the ML model information includes the first indication information.

[0371] It is understandable that the first MTLF sends information of at least one model to the first AnLF. The at least one model may include a model trained by the first MTLT, and may also include a model trained by other MTLTs. That is, the first MTLF may provide a model trained by itself, or may obtain a model trained by other MTLFs from other MTLFs. The number of models trained by the first MTLT may be one or more, and the number of models trained by other MTLFs may also be one or more.

[0372] In one example, the first MTLF sends information of the second model and second indication information to the first AnLF, the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, the second indication information includes a second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list. Exemplarily, if the second model is trained by the second MTLF, the second interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier of the second MTLF, or the second interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second MTLF.

[0373] Example 1: The first MTLF sends the identification and indication information 1 of model 1, the identification and indication information 2 of model 2, the identification and indication information 3 of model 3 to the first AnLF. Indication information 1, indication information 2 and indication information 3 all include interoperability identification 1. That is, model 1, model 2 and model 3 are produced by the same MTLF, and all correspond to the same analysis identification and the same interoperability identification.

[0374] Example 2: The first MTLF sends the identification and indication information 1 of model 1, the identification and indication information 2 of model 2, and the identification and indication information 3 of model 3 to the first AnLF. Indication information 1 and indication information 2 both include interoperability identification 1, and indication information 3 includes interoperability identification 2. That is, model 1 and model 2 are produced by the same MTLF, and both correspond to the same analysis identification and the same interoperability identification. Model 3 and model 1 are produced by different MTLFs, so the interoperability identification is generally different.

[0375] The following description is made by taking as an example that the first model is trained for the first MTLF, the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier of the first MTLF, or the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first MTLF.

[0376] Step 706: The first AnLF uses the first model to provide the service consuming network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0377] For details, please refer to the above step 306, which will not be repeated here.

[0378] Step 707: The first AnLF determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0379] Step 708: The first AnLF sends the NF discovery message 2 to the NRF. Step 708 corresponds to the above step 600.

[0380] The NF discovery message 2 includes a first interoperability identifier, or a first interoperability identifier and an analysis identifier.

[0381] The NF discovery message 2 is used to discover the AnLF, or to discover the NWDAF containing the AnLF.

[0382] It can be understood that, in combination with 706, the first AnLF uses the first model to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, and the first AnLF determines the MTLF that produces (or trains) the first model. It can be seen from the above step 705 that the information of the first model is provided by the first MTLF. Further, the first AnLF determines the interoperability identifier of the first MTLF, or the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first MTLF. It can be seen from the above step 703 that the NRF discovers the first MTLF for the first ANLF and can provide the first interoperability identifier at the same time. Alternatively, it can be seen from the above step 705 that the first MTLF also sends the first indication information to the first AnLF, and the first indication information may include the first interoperability identifier. In other words, the first AnLF can obtain the first interoperability identifier from step 703 or step 705, and then generate the NF discovery request message 2. Of course, the first AnLF can also obtain the first interoperability identifier in other ways, such as being pre-configured in the first AnLF by a third party, and this application does not limit this.

[0383] If the first AnLF also uses other models to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, and the model is not produced by the same MTLF as the first model, the first AnLF also needs to determine the interoperability identifier of the MTLF that produces the model. The specific method is similar to the above process and will not be repeated here. At this time, the NF discovery message 2 also includes other interoperability identifiers. That is, the NF discovery message 2 can include one or more interoperability identifiers.

[0384] Exemplarily, if the first AnLF can also use the second model to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, wherein the second model is trained by the second MTLF, the interoperability identifier of the second MTLF, or the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second MTLF is the second interoperability identifier, then the NF discovery message 2 also includes the second interoperability identifier.

[0385] Step 709: The NRF determines one or more third AnLFs according to the NF discovery message 2. Step 709 corresponds to the above step 610.

[0386] For details, please refer to the above 610. In addition, if the NF discovery message 2 also includes other interoperability identifiers, such as the second interoperability identifier, the NRF can determine one or more third AnLFs based on the first interoperability identifier and the second interoperability identifier, or the NRF can determine one or more third AnLFs based on the first interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier.

[0387] For example, if the NF discovery message 2 includes the first interoperability identifier, the identifier of the manufacturer of the third ANLF belongs to the first interoperability identifier.

[0388] Step 710: The NRF sends a NF discovery response message 2 to the first AnLF. Step 310 corresponds to the above step 220.

[0389] Exemplarily, the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of one or more third AnLFs.

[0390] Step 711: The first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF, wherein the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

[0391] Exemplarily, the first AnLF determines the target AnLF according to the received NF discovery response message 2, and sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF.

[0392] In an example, when the NF finds that the response message 2 includes information of a third AnLF, the first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the third AnLF, and the third AnLF is the target AnLF.

[0393] In another example, when the NF finds that the response message 2 includes information of multiple third AnLFs, the first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF, wherein the target AnLF is one of the multiple third AnLFs. The present application does not limit the specific manner in which the first AnLF determines the target AnLF from the multiple third AnLFs.

[0394] Using the above Figure 7 In the method shown, when the first AnLF determines the target AnLF, the NRF can determine one or more third AnLFs for the first AnLF based on the first interoperability identifier or the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, and the first ANLF can determine the target AnLF therefrom. Then, after the analysis subscription is transferred to the target ANLF, the target AnLF can provide better services for the service consumption network element and ensure the continuity of the service.

[0395] like Figure 8 As shown, if the first network element is a service consumption network element, the process of the service consumption network element determining the target AnLF is specifically as follows:

[0396] Steps 801 to 806 may refer to the above-mentioned steps 301 to 306 and will not be described in detail here.

[0397] Step 807: The first AnLF sends a first message to the service consuming network element. The first message includes a first interoperability identifier.

[0398] Exemplarily, the first message may be an analysis subscription response or an analysis subscription notification.

[0399] It can be understood that if the first AnLF uses the first model to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, the first message includes the first interoperability identifier. If the first AnLF also uses other models to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, and the model is not trained by the same MTLF as the first model, the first message also includes other interoperability identifiers.

[0400] Exemplarily, if the first AnLF can also use the second model to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consumption network element, and the second model is trained by the second MTLF, then the first message includes the second interoperability identifier. The second interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier of the analysis identifier of the second MTLF, or the interoperability identifier of the second MTLF.

[0401] Step 808: The service consuming network element determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0402] Step 809: The service consuming network element sends the NF discovery message 2 to the NRF. Step 808 corresponds to the above step 600.

[0403] The NF discovery message 2 includes a first interoperability identifier, or a first interoperability identifier and an analysis identifier.

[0404] The NF discovery message 2 is used to discover the AnLF, or to discover the NWDAF containing the AnLF.

[0405] It can be understood that the first message may also include other interoperability identifiers, and the NF discovery message 2 may also include other interoperability identifiers.

[0406] Exemplarily, the first message also includes a second interoperability identifier, and therefore, the NF discovery message 2 also includes a second interoperability identifier.

[0407] Step 810: The NRF determines one or more third AnLFs according to the NF discovery message 2. Step 810 corresponds to the above step 610.

[0408] For details, please refer to the above step 709, which will not be repeated here.

[0409] Step 811: NRF sends NF discovery response message 2 to the service consuming network element. Step 811 corresponds to the above step 620.

[0410] Exemplarily, the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of one or more third AnLFs.

[0411] Step 812: The service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF, wherein the second analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

[0412] Exemplarily, the service consuming network element determines the target AnLF according to the received NF discovery response message 2, and sends a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF.

[0413] In an example, when the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of a third AnLF, the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the third AnLF, and the third AnLF is the target AnLF.

[0414] In another example, when the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of multiple third AnLFs, the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF, wherein the target AnLF is one of the multiple third AnLFs. This application does not limit the specific manner in which the service consumption network element determines the target AnLF from the multiple third AnLFs.

[0415] like Fig. 9 As shown, if the first network element is a service consumption network element, the process of the service consumption network element determining the target AnLF is specifically as follows:

[0416] Step 901 to step 906 may refer to the above-mentioned steps 301 to step 306, which will not be repeated here.

[0417] Step 907: The service consuming network element determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0418] Step 908: The service consuming network element sends a fourth message to the first AnLF. The fourth message is used to request the service consuming network element to provide an interoperability identifier of a model of a service corresponding to the analysis identifier. The fourth message may also be called an AnLF transfer request message.

[0419] Step 909: The first AnLF sends a fifth message to the service consuming network element. The fifth message includes the first interoperability identifier. The fourth message may also be called an AnLF transfer response message.

[0420] It can be understood that if the first AnLF uses the first model to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements, the fifth message includes the first interoperability identifier. If the first AnLF also uses other models to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements and the model is not trained by the same MTLF as the first model, the fifth message may also include other interoperability identifiers.

[0421] Exemplarily, if the fifth message further includes the second interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier of the analysis identifier of the second MTLF, or the interoperability identifier of the second MTLF.

[0422] Step 910: The service consumption network element sends the NF discovery message 2 to the NRF. Step 910 corresponds to the above step 600.

[0423] The NF discovery message 2 includes a first interoperability identifier, or a first interoperability identifier and an analysis identifier.

[0424] The NF discovery message 2 is used to discover the AnLF, or to discover the NWDAF containing the AnLF.

[0425] It can be understood that the fifth message may also include a second interoperability identifier, and the NF discovery message 2 also includes the second interoperability identifier.

[0426] Steps 911 to 913 may refer to the above-mentioned steps 810 to 812 and will not be repeated here.

[0427] Using the above Figure 8 or Fig. 9 The method is as follows: when a service consumption network element determines a target AnLF, the NRF can determine one or more third AnLFs for the service consumption network element according to the first interoperability identifier or the first interoperability identifier and the analysis identifier, and the service consumption network element determines the target AnLF therefrom, and then after sending a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF, the target AnLF can better provide services for the service consumption network element, and the continuity of the service can be guaranteed.

[0428] The present application also provides a communication method, such as Fig.10 As shown, the method includes:

[0429] Step 1000: A first network element sends a first network element discovery message to a network storage function network element. Correspondingly, the network storage function network element receives the first network element discovery message from the first network element.

[0430] The first network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element. The first network element discovery message includes the identifier and analysis identifier of the first model training function network element. For how the first network element obtains the identifier and analysis identifier of the first manufacturer, please refer to the following Fig.11 The relevant steps are shown.

[0431] Step 1010: The network storage function network element determines the second analysis function network element based on the identifier and analysis identifier of the first model training function network element, wherein the manufacturer identifier of the second analysis function network element is one of the manufacturer identifiers in the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the first interoperability identifier; the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element, or the interoperability identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0432] Exemplarily, the network storage function network element can determine the information of the first model training function network element according to the identifier of the first model training function network element, for example, the NF profile of the first model training function network element, and further determine the first interoperability identifier from the information of the first model training function network element according to the analysis identifier. The first interoperability identifier includes a list of manufacturer identifiers, and then the network storage function network element determines one or more second analysis function network elements according to the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the first interoperability identifier, and the identifier of the manufacturer of the second analysis function network element belongs to the list of manufacturer identifiers included in the first interoperability identifier.

[0433] Step 1020: The network storage function network element sends information of one or more second analysis function network elements to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives information of one or more second analysis function network elements from the network storage function network element.

[0434] Using the above method, the first network element carries the identifier and analysis identifier of the first model training function network element in the first network element discovery message, and then the network storage function network element can determine the candidate analysis function network element (i.e., one or more second analysis function network elements) according to the first network element discovery message, and send the information of the candidate analysis function network element to the first network element. The first network element determines the target analysis function network element based on the information of the candidate analysis function network element. The target analysis function network element can better provide services for the service consumption network element and ensure the continuity of the service.

[0435] Exemplarily, the first network element may be a first analysis function network element (or referred to as a source analysis function network element), or a service consumption network element. Fig.11 In the following, the analysis function network element is AnLF, the model training function network element is MTLF, and the network storage function network element is NRF.

[0436] like Fig.11 As shown, if the first network element is the first AnLF, the process of the first AnLF determining the target AnLF is specifically as follows:

[0437] Steps 1101 to 1104 may refer to the above-mentioned steps 301 to 304 .

[0438] Step 1105: The first MTLF sends the first model information and the first indication information to the first AnLF.

[0439] Exemplarily, the first MTLF sends a model provision notification message to the first AnLF, and the model provision notification message includes information of the first model and first indication information. The first model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes information of the MTLF that provides information of the first model. If the first model is trained by the first MTLF, the first indication information includes the identifier of the first MTLF. If the first model is trained by the second MTLF, the first indication information includes the identifier of the second MTLF. The following description only uses the first indication information including the identifier of the first MTLF for illustration.

[0440] It is understandable that the first MTLF sends information of at least one model to the first AnLF. The at least one model may include a model trained by the first MTLT, or may include a model trained by other MTLTs. The number of models trained by the first MTLT may be one or more, and the number of models trained by other MTLFs may also be one or more.

[0441] In one example, the first MTLF sends information about the second model and second indication information to the first AnLF, the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, the second indication information includes the identifier of the MTLF that provides the information about the second model, and if the second model is trained by the second MTLF, the second indication information includes the identifier of the second MTLF.

[0442] Example 1: The first MTLF sends the identification of model 1 and indication information 1, the identification of model 2 and indication information 2, the identification of model 3 and indication information 3 to the first AnLF. Indication information 1, indication information 2 and indication information 3 all include the identification of MTLF 1. That is, MTLF 1 trains model 1, model 2 and model 3.

[0443] Example 2: The first MTLF sends the identification of model 1 and indication information 1, the identification of model 2 and indication information 2, the identification of model 3 and indication information 3 to the first AnLF. Indication information 1 and indication information 2 both include the identification of MTLF1, and indication information 3 includes the identification of MTLF2. That is, MTLF1 trains model 1 and model 2, and MTLF2 trains model 3.

[0444] In another example, the first model is a model jointly trained by multiple MTLFs, and the first indication information includes at least one in the list of MTLF identifiers that jointly train the model.

[0445] For example, the first indication information includes a list of MTLF identifiers for jointly training the model, or some MTLF identifiers in the list of MTLF identifiers.

[0446] Step 1106: The first AnLF uses the first model to provide the service consuming network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0447] Exemplarily, the first AnLF obtains the first model according to the information of the first model, and uses the first model to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consuming network element.

[0448] It is understandable that if the first AnLF obtains information of multiple models, at least one model can be selected from the multiple models according to the information of the multiple models to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consuming network element. This application does not limit the specific way in which the first AnLF selects the model.

[0449] In addition, the first AnLF may also send a first message to the service consuming network element, where the first message may be an analysis subscription response and / or an analysis subscription notification.

[0450] Step 1107: The first AnLF determines that a target AnLF needs to be selected.

[0451] Step 1108: The first AnLF sends the NF discovery message 2 to the NRF. Step 1108 corresponds to the above step 1000.

[0452] The NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the first MTLF and the analysis identifier. The NF discovery message 2 is used to discover the AnLF, or to discover the NWDAF containing the AnLF.

[0453] It can be understood that if the first AnLF uses the first model to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements, the NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the MTLF that trained the first model. If the first AnLF also uses other models to provide services corresponding to the analysis identifier for service consumption network elements, and the model is not trained by the same MTLF as the first model, the NF discovery message 2 also includes the identifier of the trained other MTLF.

[0454] Exemplarily, if the first AnLF also uses the second model to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier for the service consuming network element, and the second model and the first model are not trained by the same MTLF, the NF discovery message 2 includes the identifier of the MTLF that trained the second model.

[0455] Step 1109: The NRF determines one or more second AnLFs according to the NF discovery message 2. Step 1109 corresponds to the above step 1110.

[0456] Exemplarily, the NRF may determine one or more second AnLFs according to the NF discovery message 2. The manufacturer's identifier of the second AnLF belongs to the manufacturer identifier list included in the first interoperability identifier. The first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first MTLF, or the interoperability identifier of the first MTLF.

[0457] In addition, if NF finds that message 2 also includes the identifier of other MTLFs, such as the identifier of the second MTLF, at this time, the identifier of the manufacturer of the second AnLF belongs to the manufacturer identifier list included in the second interoperability identifier. The second interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second MTLF, or the interoperability identifier of the second MTLF. That is, the identifier of the manufacturer of the second AnLF belongs to the intersection of the manufacturer identifier list included in the first interoperability identifier and the manufacturer identifier list included in the second interoperability identifier.

[0458] That is, if the NF finds that the request message 2 includes x MTLF identifiers, the NRF determines that the AnLF vendor identifier belongs to the intersection of the vendor identifier lists included in the x interoperability identifiers, where x is a positive integer. The x interoperability identifiers correspond one-to-one to the x MTLFs.

[0459] Step 1110: The NRF sends a NF discovery response message 2 to the first AnLF. Step 1110 corresponds to the above step 1020.

[0460] Exemplarily, the NF discovery response message 2 includes information of one or more second AnLFs.

[0461] Step 1111: The first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF, wherein the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

[0462] Exemplarily, the first AnLF determines the target AnLF according to the received NF discovery response message 2, and sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF. Step 1111 is described only by taking the target AnLF as the second AnLF as an example.

[0463] In an example, when the NF finds that the response message 2 includes information of a second AnLF, the first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the second AnLF, and the second AnLF is the target AnLF.

[0464] In another example, when the NF finds that the response message 2 includes information of multiple second AnLFs, the first AnLF sends an analysis subscription transfer message to the target AnLF, wherein the target AnLF is one of the multiple second AnLFs. The present application does not limit the specific manner in which the first AnLF determines the target AnLF from the multiple second AnLFs.

[0465] Using the above Fig.11 In the method shown, the first AnLF adopts the first model trained by the first MTLF to provide services for the service consumption network element. When the first AnLF determines the target AnLF, the first AnLF can determine the target AnLF that can use the model trained by the first MTLF through the NRF, so that after analyzing the subscription transfer, the target AnLF can use the model trained by the first MTLF.

[0466] In addition, similar to the first AnLF determining the target AnLF, when the service consumption network element determines the target AnLF, the service consumption network element can determine the target AnLF that can use the model trained by the first MTLF through NRF, so that after the service consumption network element sends a second analysis subscription message to the target AnLF, the target AnLF can use the model trained by the first MTLF.

[0467] It should be noted that in the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0468] It is understandable that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the first network element, the first model training function network element and the network storage function network element include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and method steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0469] Fig.12 and Fig.13 A schematic diagram of the structure of possible communication devices provided for embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the first network element, the first model training function network element and the network storage function network element in the above method embodiment, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiment.

[0470] like Fig.12 As shown, the communication device 1200 includes a processing unit 1210 and a transceiver unit 1220. The communication device 1200 is used to implement the functions of the first network element, the first model training function network element and the network storage function network element in the above method embodiment.

[0471] When the communication device 1200 is used to implement the function of the first model training function network element in the above method embodiment:

[0472] The processing unit 1210 calls the transceiver unit 1220 to receive a model request message from the first analysis function network element, wherein the model request message includes an analysis identifier, and the model request message is used to request a model that provides a service corresponding to the analysis identifier; and sends information about the first model and first indication information to the first analysis function network element, wherein the first indication information includes at least one of an identifier of a model training function network element that provides information about the first model, an identifier of a first manufacturer, or a first interoperability identifier, wherein the identifier of the first manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element that provides the first model, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0473] In a possible design, the first model is trained by the first model training function network element; the identifier of the model training function network element that provides information of the first model is the identifier of the first model training function network element; the identifier of the first manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the first model training function network element; and the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element.

[0474] In a possible design, the first model is trained by the second model training function network element; the identifier of the network element that provides information about the first model is the identifier of the second model training function network element; the identifier of the first manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the second model training function network element; and the first interoperability identifier is the interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second model training function network element.

[0475] In one possible design, the transceiver unit 1220 is used to send information of a second model and second indication information to the first analysis function network element, where the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes at least one of an identifier of a model training function network element that provides information of the second model, an identifier of a second manufacturer, or a second interoperability identifier, where the identifier of the second manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element that provides the second model, and the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0476] In one possible design, the model training function network element that provides information about the second model is different from the model training function network element that provides information about the first model; the identifier of the first manufacturer is different from the identifier of the second manufacturer; and the second interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the model training function network element that provides information about the second model.

[0477] When the communication device 1200 is used to implement the function of the first network element in the above method embodiment:

[0478] The processing unit 1210 calls the transceiver unit 1220 to execute: sending a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element, the network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list; receiving information of one or more analysis function network elements from the network storage function network element; wherein the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one in the first manufacturer identifier list.

[0479] In one possible design, the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to retrieve or use models provided by the model training function network element.

[0480] In one possible design, the network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, and the analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0481] In one possible design, after receiving information from one or more analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element, the processing unit 1210 is used to select a target function network element, the manufacturer's identifier of the target function network element is one of the first manufacturer identifier list, and the target analysis function network element is one of the one or more analysis function network elements.

[0482] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; the transceiver unit 1220 is used to send an analysis subscription transfer message to the target analysis function network element, and the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

[0483] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; the transceiver unit 1220 is used to send a fourth network element discovery message to the network storage function network element before sending a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the fourth network element discovery message is used to discover the model training function network element, and the fourth network element discovery message includes an analysis identifier; receive information about the first model training function network element from the network storage function network element, the information of the first model training function network element includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0484] In one possible design, the first network element is a first analysis function network element; the transceiver unit 1220 is used to send a model request message to the first model training function network element before sending a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, and the model request message includes an analysis identifier; receive information about the first model and first indication information from the first model training function network element, wherein the first model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0485] In one possible design, before sending a model request message to the first model training functional network element, the transceiver unit 1220 is used to receive a first analysis subscription message from the service consumption network element, where the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; after receiving the information of the first model and the first indication information from the first model training functional network element, the processing unit 1210 is used to use the first model to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier to the service consumption network element.

[0486] In one possible design, the transceiver unit 1220 is used to receive information of a second model and second indication information before sending a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, wherein the second model is used to provide a service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes a second interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list.

[0487] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element; the transceiver unit 1220 is used to send a second analysis subscription message to the target analysis function network element, and the second analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

[0488] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element;

[0489] The transceiver unit 1220 is used to send a first analysis subscription message to a first analysis function network element before sending a network element discovery message to a network storage function network element, wherein the first analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier; and receive a first message from the first analysis function network element, wherein the first message is an analysis subscription response or an analysis subscription notification, and the first message includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

[0490] In one possible design, the first message also includes a second interoperability identifier, where the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second vendor identifier list.

[0491] In a possible design, the network element discovery message also includes the second interoperability identifier; the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one of the second manufacturer identifier list.

[0492] When the communication device 1200 is used to implement the function of the network storage function network element in the above method embodiment:

[0493] The transceiver unit 1220 is configured to receive a network element discovery message from a first network element, wherein the network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier; the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list;

[0494] The processing unit 1210 is configured to determine one or more analysis function network elements according to the first interoperability identifier, wherein the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one of the first manufacturer identifier list;

[0495] The transceiver unit 1220 is used to send the information of the one or more analysis function network elements to the first network element.

[0496] In one possible design, the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to retrieve or use models provided by the model training function network element.

[0497] In one possible design, the network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, and the analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

[0498] In one possible design, the first network element is a service consumption network element or a first analysis function network element.

[0499] In a possible design, the network element discovery message also includes the second interoperability identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second vendor identifier list; the identifier of the vendor of the analysis function network element is one of the second vendor identifier list.

[0500] A more detailed description of the processing unit 1210 and the transceiver unit 1220 can be directly obtained by referring to the relevant description in the above method embodiment, which is not repeated here.

[0501] like Fig.13As shown, the communication device 1300 includes a processor 1310 and an interface circuit 1320. The processor 1310 and the interface circuit 1320 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1320 can be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1300 may also include a memory 1330 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1310 or storing input data required by the processor 1310 to execute instructions or storing data generated after the processor 1310 executes instructions.

[0502] When the communication device 1300 is used to implement Figure 5 When the method is shown, the processor 1310 is used to implement the function of the above-mentioned processing unit 1210, and the interface circuit 1320 is used to implement the function of the above-mentioned transceiver unit 1220.

[0503] It is understandable that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0504] In the present application, another example of a device is provided, the notification device includes at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one processor is coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one memory is used to store instructions, when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, the communication device executes the method in the above embodiment. Take the communication device including a processor and a memory as an example, Fig.13 As shown, the communication device 1300 includes a processor 1310 and a memory 1330. The processor 1310 and the memory 1330 are coupled, and the memory 1330 stores instructions. When the instructions stored in the memory 1330 are executed by the processor 1310, the communication device 1300 executes the method executed by each network element in the above embodiment.

[0505] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disks, mobile hard disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in the above-mentioned network element. The processor and the storage medium can also exist in the above-mentioned network element as discrete components.

[0506] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instruction may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0507] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of the present application, the character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of the present application, the character " / " indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B and C.

[0508] It is understood that the various numbers involved in the embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: The first model training function network element receives a model request message from the first analysis function network element, wherein the model request message includes an analysis identifier, and the model request message is used to request a model of a service corresponding to the analysis identifier; The first model training function network element sends information of the first model and first indication information to the first analysis function network element, the first indication information includes at least one of an identifier of the model training function network element that provides information of the first model, an identifier of the first manufacturer, or a first interoperability identifier, the identifier of the first manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element that provides the first model, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first model is trained by the first model training function network element; The identifier of the model training function network element that provides the information of the first model is the identifier of the first model training function network element; The identifier of the first manufacturer is an identifier of a manufacturer of the first model training function network element; The first interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the first model training function network element.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first model is trained by the second model training function network element; The identifier of the network element providing the information of the first model is the identifier of the second model training function network element; The identifier of the first manufacturer is the identifier of the manufacturer of the second model training function network element; The first interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the second model training function network element.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: The first model training function network element sends information of a second model and second indication information to the first analysis function network element, where the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the second indication information includes at least one of the identifier of the model training function network element that provides information of the second model, the identifier of the second manufacturer, or a second interoperability identifier, where the identifier of the second manufacturer is used to indicate the manufacturer of the network element that provides the second model, and the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The model training function network element that provides information about the second model is different from the model training function network element that provides information about the first model; The identifier of the first manufacturer is different from the identifier of the second manufacturer; The second interoperability identifier is an interoperability identifier corresponding to the analysis identifier of the model training function network element that provides information of the second model.

6. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: The first network element sends a network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, where the network element discovery message is used to discover the analysis function network element, and the network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier, where the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list; The first network element receives information from one or more analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element; wherein the manufacturer identifier of the analysis function network element is one of the first manufacturer identifier list.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to retrieve or use models provided by the model training function network element.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, and the analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: After the first network element receives information from one or more analysis function network elements of the network storage function network element, the method further includes: The first network element selects a target functional network element, and the target analysis functional network element is one of the one or more analysis functional network elements.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The first network element is a first analysis function network element, and the method further includes: An analysis subscription transfer message is sent to the target analysis function network element, wherein the analysis subscription transfer message includes an analysis identifier.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that: The first network element is a first analysis function network element; Before sending the network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the method further includes: Sending a network element discovery message for discovering a model training function network element to the network storage function network element, wherein the network element discovery message for discovering a model training function network element includes an analysis identifier; Receive information from a first model training function network element of the network storage function network element, where the information of the first model training function network element includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

12. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that: The first network element is a first analysis function network element; Before sending the network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the method further includes: Sending a model request message to the first model training function network element, wherein the model request message includes an analysis identifier; Receive first model information and first indication information from the first model training function network element, wherein the first model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, and the first indication information includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that Before sending the model request message to the first model training function network element, the method further includes: receiving a first analysis subscription message from a service consumption network element, wherein the first analysis subscription message includes the analysis identifier; After receiving the first model information and the first indication information from the first model training function network element, the method further includes: The first model is used to provide the service consuming network element with the service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that Before sending the network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the method further includes: Receive information of a second model and second indication information, wherein the second model is used to provide the service corresponding to the analysis identifier, the second indication information includes a second interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second manufacturer identifier list.

15. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The first network element is a service consumption network element, and the method further includes: A second analysis subscription message is sent to the target analysis function network element, where the second analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier.

16. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9 or 15, characterized in that: The first network element is a service consumption network element; Before sending the network element discovery message to the network storage function network element, the method further includes: Sending a first analysis subscription message to a first analysis function network element, wherein the first analysis subscription message includes an analysis identifier; A first message is received from the first analysis function network element, where the first message is an analysis subscription response or an analysis subscription notification, and the first message includes the first interoperability identifier, and the first interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The first message further includes a second interoperability identifier, the second interoperability identifier corresponds to the analysis identifier, and the second interoperability identifier includes a second vendor identifier list.

18. The method according to claim 14 or 17, characterized in that The network element discovery message further includes the second interoperability identifier; The identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one of the second manufacturer identifier list.

19. A communication method, characterized in that: The method includes: The network storage function network element receives a network element discovery message from a first network element, wherein the network element discovery message includes a first interoperability identifier; the first interoperability identifier includes a first manufacturer identifier list; The network storage function network element determines one or more analysis function network elements according to the first interoperability identifier, wherein the identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one of the first manufacturer identifier list; The network storage function network element sends the information of the one or more analysis function network elements to the first network element.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: The manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to obtain models from the model training function network element, or the manufacturers in the first manufacturer identification list are allowed to retrieve or use models provided by the model training function network element.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The network element discovery message also includes an analysis identifier, and the analysis function network element supports providing a service corresponding to the analysis identifier.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that: The first network element is a service consumption network element or a first analysis function network element.

23. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that: The network element discovery message further includes the second interoperability identifier, where the second interoperability identifier includes a second vendor identifier list; The identifier of the manufacturer of the analysis function network element is one of the second manufacturer identifier list.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a unit or a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: include: One or more processors; the one or more processors are configured to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-23.

26. A readable storage medium, characterized in that: The readable storage medium includes a program, and when the program is executed on a device, the device is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

27. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23 is implemented.

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