Communication method and device, storage medium, program product and communication equipment

Abstract

Disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention are a communication method and apparatus, a storage medium, a program product and a communication device, the method comprising: sending corresponding rule information to one or more network devices, the rule information at least comprising information of each network device corresponding to a first type of rules, the first type of rules represent rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to a computing task requested by the terminal; wherein the computing task is executed by the one or more network devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus, storage medium, program product, and communication device. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of technology, the demand for computing tasks is increasing. For example, the rapid development of fields such as autonomous driving and artificial intelligence has led to an explosive growth in the demand for computing resources. Networks, with their real-time communication and sensing capabilities and ubiquitous computing resources, can provide services for computing tasks, thus giving rise to many converged computing technologies such as cloud-network convergence and computing power networks. Cloud-network convergence is an advanced technology whose core idea is to integrate cloud computing and networks to provide more powerful computing resources and more efficient network transmission capabilities. Furthermore, computing power networks completely integrate computing resources and computing power scheduling into the communication network, providing computing resource services that best meet user needs in a more holistic and convenient manner.

[0003] In wireless networks, computing tasks are typically offloaded to the edge cloud, but this makes it difficult to provide quality-assured computing services in response to changes in the air interface. Furthermore, with the cloudification of wireless networks, base stations and other nodes possess certain computing capabilities, but these capabilities are generally not fully utilized. Therefore, the concept of wireless network computing convergence has been proposed, which involves allocating computing resources from base stations within the wireless network to perform computing tasks.

[0004] For communication services, existing 5G networks employ Converged Charging System (CCS). The Charging Trigger Function (CTF) is built into the Session Management Function (SMF) on the 5G core network (5GC). Therefore, the SMF, as a user of converged charging services, can issue corresponding charging policies to the User Plane Function (UPF), which then performs traffic data statistics and calculations. However, currently, data from computational tasks performed on network devices only needs to be transmitted to the access network, not the core network, making the current method of using the UPF for data statistics impractical. Furthermore, 6G networks will provide computing services externally on a platform basis, potentially involving charges for both the network itself and third-party computing functions. Existing communication usage reporting mechanisms cannot meet the needs of these scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the existing technical problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method, apparatus, storage medium, program product, and communication device.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this invention is implemented as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method applied to a first network function; the method includes: sending corresponding rule information to one or more network devices, the rule information including at least information of each network device corresponding to a first type of rule, the first type of rule representing rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to a computing task requested by a terminal; wherein the computing task is executed by the one or more network devices.

[0008] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a communication method applied to a network device; the method includes:

[0009] The system receives rule information sent by a first network function. The rule information includes at least information about the network device corresponding to a first type of rule. The first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task is executed by one or more network devices.

[0010] Thirdly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a communication device, including a first communication unit, for sending corresponding rule information to one or more network devices. The rule information includes at least information of each network device corresponding to a first type of rule, wherein the first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to a computing task requested by a terminal; wherein the computing task is executed by the one or more network devices.

[0011] Fourthly, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication device, including a second communication unit, for receiving rule information sent by a first network function, the rule information including at least information of the network device corresponding to a first type of rule, the first type of rule representing rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to a computing task requested by a terminal; wherein the computing task is executed by one or more network devices.

[0012] Fifthly, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the methods described in the first or second aspect above.

[0013] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the methods described in the first or second aspect.

[0014] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the steps of the methods described in the first or second aspect above.

[0015] The communication method, apparatus, storage medium, program product, and communication device provided in this invention introduce computing usage reporting rules. The first network function can send rule information related to computing resource usage to each network function performing the computing task. This enables each network function to statistically analyze the usage of computing tasks and computing resources. The computing task-related data does not need to be transmitted to the UPF or core network and then returned to the access network device for calculation, which can save network transmission resources. It can also provide flexible computing resource statistics methods for different network devices and support billing functions in scenarios where the network provides computing services. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0018] Figure 3 This is an example diagram of a wireless network architecture for computing tasks according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a first application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is an exemplary flowchart of a usage report reporting method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a second application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a third application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a fourth application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the composition structure of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the composition structure of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0026] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. These terms are merely used to distinguish one element (or threshold, application, instruction, or operation) from another element (or threshold, application, instruction, or operation). For example, a first operation may be referred to as a second operation, and a second operation may be referred to as a first operation, without departing from the scope of this invention. Both the first and second operations are operations, but they are not the same operation.

[0029] In this embodiment of the invention, the term "and / or" refers to any and all possible combinations including one or more of the associated enumerated items. It should also be noted that, when used in this specification, "comprising / including" specifies the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components and / or groups thereof.

[0030] The steps in the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily processed in the described order. The steps can be selectively rearranged, deleted, or added as needed. The step descriptions in the embodiments of the present invention are only optional combinations of order and do not represent all possible combinations of steps in the embodiments of the present invention. The order of steps in the embodiments should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention.

[0031] This invention provides a communication method applied to a first network function; Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ,like Figure 1 As shown, the method includes:

[0032] Step 101: Send corresponding rule information to one or more network devices. The rule information includes at least information for each network device corresponding to a first type of rule. The first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task is executed by the one or more network devices.

[0033] In various embodiments of the present invention, the first network function is at least a device capable of performing billing management-related tasks. Specifically, it may be a server, a network function (NF), an access network device, or a core network device. For example, the first network function may be an independent network device, or it may be a device including functions / modules / components / units capable of task management, such as a combination of a core network device, network function, or access network device connected to it. It is understood that the present invention does not limit the implementation form of the first network function; any device capable of implementing the function of the first network function in the embodiments of the present invention is within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0034] The network device can be an access network device or a core network device. Access network devices include, for example, base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNBs), home base stations, access points (APs), wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, transmission points (TPs), or transmission and reception points (TRPs) in WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) systems. They can also be next-generation NodeBs (gNBs) in New Radio (NR) systems, or components or parts of a base station. It should be understood that the specific technologies and device forms used in the various embodiments of this invention are not limited.

[0035] In step 101, the first network function sends corresponding rule information to one or more network devices that are performing the computing task. The rule information includes at least the rules related to the use of computing resources by each network device and the computing task, so that the one or more network devices can count the usage of computing resources in the network during the execution of the computing task.

[0036] It should be noted that network resource usage can include both traffic usage and computational usage. Traffic usage refers to the use of wireless transmission resources in the network, while computational usage refers to the use of computing resources in the network. Taking the usage of a specific computing task as an example, if the computing task is executed only by the network-side node accessed by the terminal, the network resource usage corresponding to the computing task can include the wireless transmission resources from the terminal to the network-side node and the computing resources of the network-side node. If the computing task is executed in a distributed computing manner, that is, completed by multiple network-side nodes, then the network resource usage corresponding to the computing task also needs to include the computing resources of the multiple network-side nodes and the wired transmission between the network-side nodes.

[0037] In some embodiments, the computing task is executed by multiple network devices. Step 101 may include: sending rule information corresponding to each network device to each network device, wherein the rule information corresponding to each network device includes at least rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task by each network device, thereby allowing each network device to statistically analyze the use of computing resources based on the corresponding rule information; or, step 101 may include: sending rule information corresponding to the computing task to a first network device among the multiple network devices, wherein the rule information includes at least rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task by the multiple network devices, thereby allowing the first network device to statistically analyze the computing resources used by the multiple network devices in executing the computing task. For example, the first network device may be one of the multiple network devices that the terminal accesses.

[0038] In some embodiments, the rule information may further include information for each network device corresponding to a second type of rule, whereby the second type of rule characterizes rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task. In this embodiment, the billing rules and required parameters for wireless transmission resources from the terminal to the network-side node can refer to rules and parameters in related technologies, while the billing rules for computing resources need to be redesigned. For example, a usage reporting rule (URR) for a computing task may include a transmission resource usage reporting rule (TURR) and a computing usage reporting rule (CURR), wherein the computing usage reporting rule is the first type of rule, and the transmission resource usage reporting rule is the second type of rule.

[0039] The communication method of this invention introduces computing usage reporting rules. The first network function can send rule information related to computing resource usage to each network function that performs the computing task. This enables each network function to collect statistics on the usage of computing tasks and computing resources. The computing task-related data does not need to be transmitted to the UPF or core network and then returned to the access network device for calculation, which can save network transmission resources and provide flexible computing resource statistics methods for different network devices. It can also support billing functions in scenarios where the network provides computing services.

[0040] In some embodiments, the method may further include: receiving a first request sent by a first network device, the first request being used to request the execution of the computing task; the first network device being one of the one or more network devices accessed by the terminal; determining the one or more network devices and determining the rule information based on the first request.

[0041] As an example, the computing task can be executed by a first network device and one or more second network devices, wherein the second network devices are any network devices participating in the computing task other than the first network device; the first network function can receive a first request sent by the terminal through the first network device, select one or more network devices to execute the computing task, and establish a wireless bearer between the terminal and the first network device, a wired connection between the first network device and each of the second network devices, and a computing bearer (e.g., through a virtual machine) between the second network devices, thereby forming a computing task bearer.

[0042] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and identifying the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; first indication information for indicating one or more measurement methods corresponding to computing resources; and second indication information for indicating the reporting method of computing resource usage.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first identification information is an identifier related to the computing task, such as a URR identifier (URRID). Each computing task can correspond to a unique first identification information (e.g., a unique URR ID). The second identification information is an identifier related to a first type of rule, such as a CURR identifier. When the information of any network device corresponding to a first type of rule in a computing task is updated, the second identification information can change accordingly to distinguish different rule information corresponding to the first type of rule in a computing task. The first indication information can be used to indicate one or more measurement methods for measuring computing resources, such as measuring according to the usage of virtual kernels, measuring according to the number of times related functions are used, etc. The second indication information can be used to indicate the method by which network devices report computing resource usage to the first network function, such as periodic reporting, event-triggered reporting, threshold-based reporting, etc. It should be noted that different network devices can use different measurement methods, or the same network device can use multiple measurement methods.

[0044] In some embodiments, the information corresponding to the first type of rule further includes at least one of the following: the period corresponding to the first reporting method, wherein the first reporting method represents reporting according to a period; the parameter threshold corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the quota related to computing resources corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the timeliness information of the quota related to computing resources; and the usage period of the quota related to computing resources. It can be understood that when the information corresponding to the first type of rule is indicated by the first indication information to be reported according to a period, the information corresponding to the first type of rule may also include the corresponding reporting period; or, when the information corresponding to the first type of rule is indicated by the first indication information to be reported according to a threshold or event-triggered method, the information corresponding to the first type of rule may also include the corresponding parameter threshold. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the information corresponding to the first type of rule may also include the quota related to computing resources corresponding to each measurement method, the timeliness of the quota, the usage period, etc., and the quota may be related to the terminal's permissions, authorization information, etc.

[0045] In some embodiments, the measurement method includes at least one of a first measurement method and a second measurement method, wherein the first measurement method represents measurement based on virtual kernel usage, and the second measurement method represents measurement based on the number of times functions related to the computing task are used. In this embodiment, computing resource usage can be measured using virtual kernel usage and the number of times functions are used.

[0046] For example, the usage of virtual kernels can be measured by metrics such as maximum CPU usage per second, maximum memory usage per second, and execution time. CPU usage is measured in virtual kernels (vCores), and memory usage can also be converted to vCores. For instance, the number of GB of memory can be scaled back to 3GB per vCore, normalizing the memory to the number of vCores. The computational load can then be determined as "computational resource usage = number of vCores used per second × task execution time". If the computational load of a task is mainly concentrated on a specific function, the number of times that function is used can be used to measure the computational load. If the main part of the computational task is repeatedly executing a program segment (e.g., training an artificial intelligence model), the computational load can also be measured by counting the number of times a specific function is run. Furthermore, the number of times a function is used can also be converted to vCore usage, for example, by determining the computational load as "computational resource usage = number of vCores used per function × number of function uses".

[0047] In some embodiments, the reporting method includes at least one of the following: a first reporting method, characterized by reporting periodically; a second reporting method, characterized by reporting the measurement results corresponding to the first measurement method when a first condition is met; a third reporting method, characterized by reporting the measurement results corresponding to the second measurement method when a second condition is met; and a fourth reporting method, characterized by reporting both the measurement results corresponding to the first measurement method and the measurement results corresponding to the second measurement method when a third condition is met. For example, the reporting methods include, but are not limited to, periodic reporting, computation-based reporting, event-based reporting, and hybrid reporting. Periodic reporting refers to reporting at a preset time period; computation-based reporting refers to reporting according to statistically calculated computational resource usage, for example, reporting when the computational load reaches a threshold; event-based reporting refers to event-triggered reporting, for example, reporting after completing a certain number of function-granularity operations; and hybrid reporting refers to simultaneously measuring the computational load and the number of function usages, and reporting when the number of function usages reaches a threshold.

[0048] In some embodiments, the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition can all be determined based on the threshold values ​​of the measurement results obtained by the corresponding measurement methods. The corresponding threshold values ​​can be distributed to various network devices through the information corresponding to the first type of rule. For example, the parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods include at least one of the following: the parameter threshold related to virtual kernel usage corresponding to the first condition; the parameter threshold related to the number of function uses corresponding to the second condition; and the parameter threshold related to the number of function uses corresponding to the third condition.

[0049] For example, Table 1 is a parameter illustration table corresponding to the first type of rule in an embodiment of the present invention. In Table 1, the "Parameter Name" column identifies each parameter; the "Required" column represents the attribute information corresponding to each parameter. "M" indicates that the corresponding parameter is required; "C" indicates that the corresponding parameter is required under certain conditions, such as being required under certain conditions, and is generally affected by the parameter with the attribute "M"; "O" indicates that the corresponding parameter is optional, such as not necessarily existing and its existence or non-existence is generally unrelated to the parameter with the attribute "M"; the "Parameter Description" column describes each parameter.

[0050] Referring to Table 1, the information corresponding to the first type of rule includes at least first identification information (such as parameter "URR ID" in Table 1), second identification information (such as parameter "CURR ID"), first indication information (such as parameter "Measurement Method"), and second indication information (such as parameter "Reporting Triggers"). The value of parameter "URR ID" can be used to identify a URR, and each computing task can have a unique URR ID. The value of parameter "CURR ID" can be used to identify the information corresponding to the first type of rule, or to identify the information corresponding to the first type of rule and its update status. For example, the value of CURR ID can be changed when the information corresponding to the first type of rule in a computing task is updated. The value of parameter "Measurement Method" can be used to indicate various measurement methods, such as measurement based on the usage of virtual kernels (vCore), the number of times a function is used, or a combination of both. Specifically, it may be related to the billing method for the computing resource usage corresponding to the computing task. The parameter "Reporting..." The value of "Triggers" can be used to indicate the reporting trigger (i.e., the reporting method), such as periodic reporting, reporting based on computation threshold, reporting based on event threshold, or mixed reporting.

[0051] Furthermore, the information corresponding to the first type of rule may also include the period for reporting according to the period (such as the parameter "Measurement Period" in Table 1), the parameter thresholds corresponding to each measurement method (such as the parameters "Threshold of Measurement Method 1" and "Threshold of Measurement Method 2"), the quotas related to computing resources corresponding to each measurement method (such as the parameters "Quota of Measurement Method 1" and "Quota of Measurement Method 2"), the timeliness information of the quotas (such as the parameter "Quota Validity Time"), and the usage period of the quotas (such as the parameter "Monitoring Time"). Referring to Table 1, the value of the parameter "Measurement Period" describes the measurement period and is used for periodic reporting; the value of the parameter "Threshold of Measurement Method 1" describes the reporting threshold corresponding to Measurement Method 1. For example, if measurement based on Measurement Method 1 is used and the reporting method is to report when the threshold is reached, this parameter can be used to define the reporting threshold. Similarly, the parameter "Threshold of Measurement Method 2" can be used to define the reporting threshold corresponding to Measurement Method 2; the value of the parameter "Quota of Measurement Method 1" describes the quota for the usage of Measurement Method 1, and similarly, the value of the parameter "Quota of Measurement Method 2" describes the quota for the usage of Measurement Method 2; the value of the parameter "Quota Validity Time" describes the quota validity time and can be used to limit the long-term occupation of resources. If the timer corresponding to this parameter times out, the calculation task should be stopped; the parameter "Monitoring"... The value of "Time" can describe the monitoring time and is used to specify the time when the quota corresponding to the computing resource usage is reapplied. For example, if a user has a fixed quota of computing resource usage each month (such as the virtual kernel usage threshold), the quota can be restored at a fixed time each month (such as 0:00 on the 1st of each month) and the usage can be recalculated.

[0052] Table 1

[0053]

[0054]

[0055] For example, when the parameter "Measurement Method" indicates the use of a virtual kernel-based measurement method and the parameter "Reporting Triggers" indicates periodic reporting, the parameter "Measurement Period" must exist to indicate the reporting period. Since the measurement method is unrelated to events, parameters such as "Threshold of MeasurementMethod" and "Quota of Measurement Method" do not need to exist.

[0056] In some embodiments, the second identification information can be determined by the identification information of the network device and the update status of the information corresponding to the first type of rule. Referring to Table 1, the CURR ID can be determined by <base station ID, update count>. When the information corresponding to the first type of rule in a computing task is updated, the value of the CURR ID can be changed, for example, incremented by 1 according to the update count. For example, the initial CURR ID currently stored by base station 1 is 1-1. After the information corresponding to the first type of rule is updated, the CURR ID can be changed to 1-2. When base station 1 reports computing resource usage, it will use the latest CURR rule with CURR ID 1-2 to count the usage of computing resources.

[0057] The communication method of this invention can include various measurement and reporting methods for the rule information related to the use of computing resources, and can configure different rule information for different network devices. It can provide a flexible statistical method for computing tasks to use computing resources and can support billing in scenarios where the network provides computing services.

[0058] As an optional implementation, sending corresponding rule information to one or more network devices may include: sending first information to a first network device, the first information including first rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule; the first rule information is used by the first network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task, and the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task; the first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices, and the first task is a task executed by the first network device; sending second information to a second network device, the second information including second rule information corresponding to the first type of rule, the second rule information being used by the second network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a second task included in the computing task; the second network device is any network device other than the first network device among the one or more network devices, and the second task is a task executed by the second network device.

[0059] It is understood that the computing task described in this embodiment is executed in a distributed manner by multiple network devices. The first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal, used to execute the first task in the computing task. The second network device is any network device participating in the computing task other than the first network device, used to execute the second task in the computing task. In this embodiment, for the first network device accessed by the terminal, the first network function sends the first network device first rule information corresponding to the first type of rule and information corresponding to the second type of rule. Thus, the first network device can determine the computing resource usage related to the first task based on the first rule information, and determine the transmission resource usage related to the computing task based on the information corresponding to the second type of rule. For the other second network devices participating in the computing task, the first network function sends the second network device second rule information corresponding to the first type of rule. Thus, the second network devices can determine the computing resource usage related to the second task based on the second rule information.

[0060] In this embodiment, the terminal can transmit the data packets of the computing task to the first network device to which the terminal is connected via a wireless channel. The first network device then splits the computing task and sends it to each of the second network devices for corresponding processing. Thus, the usage of transmission resources related to the computing task can be counted by the first network device, while the usage of computing resources related to the computing task can be counted by each of the network devices participating in the computing task.

[0061] For example, referring to Table 1, the first network function can send the corresponding CURR and TURR corresponding to the computing task to the first network device, and send the corresponding CURR to the second network device. The CURR ID is 32 bits, which can be 0x00000101. The CURR ID corresponding to the first network device can be, for example, 1-1. The first bit identifies the network device, and the second bit identifies the update status. The CURR ID of the first second network device is, for example, 2-1, the CURR ID of the second second network device is, for example, 3-1, and so on.

[0062] The communication method of this invention involves each network device executing a computing task statistically analyzing the usage of computing tasks and computing resources based on the issued rule information. This method can issue different rule information to different network devices, making it suitable for complex scenarios such as charging scenarios involving third-party computing resources and complex scenarios where a computing task involves multiple transmissions and calculations between multiple devices. It can more accurately statistically analyze the usage of computing resources.

[0063] As another optional implementation, sending the corresponding rule information to one or more network devices may include: sending third information to a first network device, the third information including third rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule for the computing task, the third rule information being used by the first network device to determine the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by each of the one or more network devices, the second type of rule representing rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task; the first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

[0064] In some embodiments, the computing task is executed only by a first network device accessed by the terminal. The first network function can send third rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule to the first network device. Thus, the first network device can determine the computing resource usage related to the computing task based on the third rule information and determine the transmission resource usage related to the computing task based on the information corresponding to the second type of rule.

[0065] In other embodiments, the computing task may be executed in a distributed manner by a first network device accessed by the terminal and one or more second network devices other than the first network device. The first network function may send only third rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule to the first network device. Thus, the first network device can calculate the computing resource usage of each network device based on the third rule information and determine the transmission resource usage related to the computing task based on the information corresponding to the second type of rule. It can be understood that in this embodiment, the usage of transmission resources related to the computing task and the usage of computing resources related to the computing task can both be calculated by the first network device. For example, the first network device can convert the computing load according to the size and type of the computing task to obtain the usage of computing resources related to the computing task.

[0066] The communication method of this invention can be used in scenarios where the network devices accessed by the terminal can perform computational quantity conversion. It only needs to send relevant rule information to the accessed network devices to realize the statistics of computational resource usage and transmission resource usage, which can perform billing statistics more efficiently.

[0067] In some embodiments, the information corresponding to the second type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; and third identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of the information corresponding to the second type of rule. In this embodiment, the first identification information is an identifier related to the computing task, and the information corresponding to the first type of rule and the information corresponding to the second type of rule in a computing task may include the same first identification information; the third identification information is an identifier related to the second type of rule, such as a TURR identifier, and when the information corresponding to the second type of rule of any network device in a computing task is updated, the third identification information may change accordingly to distinguish different rule information corresponding to the second type of rule in a computing task.

[0068] In this embodiment, the information corresponding to the second type of rule can refer to TURR in related technologies. However, it is worth noting that this embodiment can add parameters corresponding to the first identification information and parameters corresponding to the third identification information to TURR. Table 2 is a schematic table of some parameters in the information corresponding to the second type of rule in this embodiment of the invention. As shown in Table 2, the information corresponding to the second type of rule includes at least the parameter "URR ID" and the parameter "TURR ID". The parameter "URR ID" can refer to the aforementioned Table 1. The value of the parameter "TURR ID" can be used to identify the information corresponding to the second type of rule, or to identify the information corresponding to the second type of rule and the update status of the information corresponding to the second type of rule. For example, when the information corresponding to the second type of rule is updated in a computing task, the value of TURR ID can be changed.

[0069] Table 2

[0070] Parameter name Is it mandatory? Parameter Description URR ID M URR logo TURR ID M TURR logo

[0071] Based on the foregoing embodiments, this invention also provides a communication method. In this embodiment, the method may further include: receiving usage information sent by the one or more network devices, wherein the usage information includes at least information corresponding to a first type of usage obtained by each network device according to corresponding rule information, and the first type of usage represents the computing resource usage related to the computing task.

[0072] In this embodiment, each network device can count the usage related to computing resources according to the corresponding rule information, and report the usage related to computing resources that it has counted to the first network function.

[0073] In some embodiments, the usage information may further include information on each network device corresponding to a second type of usage, whereby the second type of usage represents the transmission resource usage related to the computing task.

[0074] In some embodiments, the method may further include: when the first network function determines, based on the usage information, that the quota related to computing resources corresponding to the computing task has been exhausted, sending the usage information to the CHF so that the CHF can reallocate a new quota.

[0075] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; fourth identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage and the number of times the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage is reported; and the reporting method indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

[0076] In this embodiment, the relevant descriptions of the first and second identification information can be referred to the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity. The information corresponding to the first type of usage also includes fourth identification information and the reporting method indicated by the aforementioned information corresponding to the first type of rule. The fourth identification information is identification information related to the first type of usage, for example, used to identify a single report of the information corresponding to the first type of usage, or used to identify a single report and the cumulative number of reports; the reporting method indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule can characterize the reporting method used in this report.

[0077] In some embodiments, the information corresponding to the first type of dosage further includes at least one of the following: the start time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; the end time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; and the measurement results corresponding to one or more measurement methods indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule. In this embodiment, the information corresponding to the first type of dosage may also include the corresponding reporting start time, end time, and reporting parameters corresponding to each measurement result.

[0078] For example, Table 3 is a parameter illustration table of information corresponding to the first type of usage in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Table 3, the information corresponding to the first type of usage includes at least the parameter "URR ID", the parameter "CURR ID", the parameter "CUR-SEQN" (i.e., the fourth identification information), and the parameter "Usage Report Trigger". The value of the parameter "CUR-SEQN" can represent the reporting sequence number of the computing resource usage report (i.e., the information corresponding to the first type of usage), which is the unique identifier of the computing resource usage report. For example, for the computing resource usage report corresponding to the same URR ID, the CUR-SEQN corresponding to the first report by base station 1 can be 1-1, the CUR-SEQN corresponding to the second report by base station 1 can be 1-2, and so on. The value of the parameter "Usage Report Trigger" can characterize the triggering condition of this report, such as the reporting method indicated by the aforementioned CURR.

[0079] Furthermore, referring to Table 3, the information corresponding to the first type of usage may also include the parameters “Start Time”, “End Time”, and “Usage Measurement”, which are used to describe the timestamp when the report started, the timestamp when the report was generated, and the usage parameter of this report, respectively. The usage parameter is determined by the measurement method indicated by the aforementioned CURR.

[0080] Table 3

[0081]

[0082] As an optional implementation, receiving the usage information sent by each of the one or more network devices may include: receiving fourth information sent by a first network device, the fourth information including first usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage, the first usage information including computing resource usage related to a first task performed by the first network device, and the second type of usage representing transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the first network device being the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices, and the computing task including the first task; receiving fifth information sent by a second network device, the fifth information including second usage information corresponding to the first type of usage, the second usage information including computing resource usage related to a second task performed by the second network device; the second network device being any network device other than the first network device among the one or more network devices, and the computing task including the second task.

[0083] In this embodiment, the usage of transmission resources related to the computing task is statistically analyzed by the first network device and sent to the first network function, while the usage of computing resources related to the computing task is statistically analyzed by each network device participating in the computing task and sent to the first network function. For example, the first network device can obtain first rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule based on the aforementioned received first information. It then statistically analyzes the computing resource usage related to the first task according to the first rule information to obtain the first usage information, and statistically analyzes the transmission resource usage related to the computing task according to the information corresponding to the second type of rule to obtain information corresponding to the second type of usage. Based on this, it sends the fourth information to the first network function. Similarly, the second network device can obtain second rule information corresponding to a first type of rule based on the aforementioned received second information. It then statistically analyzes the computing resource usage related to the second task according to the second rule information to obtain the second usage information. Based on this, it sends the fifth information to the first network function.

[0084] In some embodiments, the first network function may also perform statistics on the information sent by each network device corresponding to the first type of usage to obtain the computing resource usage related to the computing task, i.e., the total computing resource usage.

[0085] As another optional implementation, receiving the usage information sent by each of the one or more network devices may include: receiving sixth information sent by the first network device, the sixth information including third usage information corresponding to the first type of usage and information corresponding to the second type of usage, the third usage information being obtained from the computing resource usage related to the task corresponding to each of the one or more network devices determined by the first network device, and the second type of usage representing the transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

[0086] In some embodiments, the computing task is performed only by the first network device. The first network device can obtain third rule information corresponding to the first type of rule and information corresponding to the second type of rule for the computing task based on the aforementioned received third information. It can also perform statistics on the computing resource usage related to the computing task according to the third rule information to obtain the third usage information, and perform statistics on the transmission resource usage related to the computing task according to the information corresponding to the second type of rule to obtain information corresponding to the second type of usage. Based on this, it can send the sixth information to the first network function.

[0087] In other embodiments, the computing task is executed in a distributed manner by a first network device accessed by the terminal and one or more second network devices other than the first network device. The usage of transmission resources and computing resources related to the computing task are both statistically analyzed by the first network device and sent to the first network function. For example, the first network device can obtain third rule information corresponding to the first type of rule and information corresponding to the second type of rule for the computing task based on the aforementioned received third information. According to the third rule information and the tasks executed by each network device, the computing resource usage of each network device is converted and statistically analyzed to obtain the third usage information. Furthermore, according to the information corresponding to the second type of rule, the transmission resource usage related to the computing task is statistically analyzed to obtain information corresponding to the second type of usage. Based on this, the sixth information is sent to the first network function.

[0088] In some embodiments, the information corresponding to the second type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying rule information corresponding to the computing task; third identification information for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of information corresponding to the second type of rule; the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources; and fifth identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage and identifying the number of times the information corresponding to the second type of usage has been reported.

[0089] In this embodiment, the relevant descriptions of the first and third identification information can be referred to the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity. The information corresponding to the second type of usage also includes fifth identification information, which is identification information related to the second type of usage, for example, used to identify a single report of the information corresponding to the second type of usage, or used to identify a single report and the cumulative number of reports.

[0090] For example, Table 4 is a schematic table of some parameters in the information corresponding to the second type of usage in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Table 4, the information corresponding to the second type of usage includes at least the parameter "URR ID", the parameter "TURR ID", and the parameter "TUR-SEQN" (i.e., the fifth identification information). The value of the parameter "TUR-SEQN" can represent the reporting sequence number of the transmission resource usage report (i.e., the information corresponding to the second type of usage), and is a unique identifier of the transmission resource usage report. For example, for the transmission resource usage report corresponding to the same URR ID, the TUR-SEQN corresponding to the first report by base station 1 can be 1-1, the TUR-SEQN corresponding to the second report by base station 1 can be 1-2, and so on. It should be noted that the information corresponding to the second type of usage can refer to the transmission resource usage report in related technologies, but this embodiment adds the first identification information of the rule information corresponding to the calculation task, the third identification information of the TURR, and the fifth identification information representing the sequence number of the transmission resource usage report.

[0091] Table 4

[0092]

[0093] It is understandable that for the same computing task, transmission resource usage reporting rules, transmission resource usage reports, computing resource usage reporting rules, and computing resource usage reports will be generated simultaneously. These rules and reports should have the same URR ID.

[0094] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, receiving the usage information sent by each of the one or more network devices may include: receiving seventh information sent by each of the one or more network devices, wherein the seventh information represents the usage information obtained by each network device after the computation task is completed. In this embodiment, after the computation task is completed, the one or more network devices also need to report a usage report to the first network function.

[0095] As an example, the usage information may include information about the calculation task corresponding to a first type of usage and / or information about the calculation task corresponding to a second type of usage.

[0096] Based on the foregoing embodiments, this embodiment of the invention also provides a communication method. This embodiment addresses the situation where a terminal switches network devices, and the method may further include: determining one or more new network devices used to perform the computing task after the terminal switches; and sending new rule information to the one or more new network devices. It is understood that when a terminal moves, the network devices serving that terminal may change, including the first network device the terminal accesses and other second network devices participating in the computing task. From a billing perspective, the first network function needs to synchronize the currently applicable rule information to the new network devices.

[0097] In some embodiments, the new rule information includes information corresponding to the first type of rule, in which the first identification information remains unchanged, and the second identification information is related to the new network device. For example, before the switchover, the computation task was jointly executed by network devices 1, 2, and 3, and the CURR IDs in the corresponding CURRs were 1-1, 2-1, and 3-1, respectively. After the switchover, it was executed by network devices 4, 5, and 6. When the corresponding URR is sent to the network device after the switchover, the URR ID is consistent with the URR ID in the original URR, but the corresponding CURR ID is 4-1, 5-1, and 6-1.

[0098] It should be noted that the new network device can wait for the previous network device to complete its corresponding task before starting the computation task, or the new network device can perform the corresponding computation task simultaneously without waiting for the previous network device to complete its task. Therefore, the first network function can either wait for the previous network device to complete its computation task before sending new rule information to the new network device, or it can send new rule information to the new network device in advance, so that the network devices before and after the switchover can execute computation tasks simultaneously.

[0099] This invention also provides a communication method applied to a network device; Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ,like Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0100] Step 201: Receive rule information sent by the first network function. The rule information includes at least information of the network device corresponding to a first type of rule. The first type of rule represents the rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task is executed by one or more network devices.

[0101] For a detailed explanation of step 201 in this embodiment, please refer to the detailed explanation of step 101 in the aforementioned embodiment. To save space, it will not be repeated here.

[0102] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and identifying the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; first indication information for indicating one or more measurement methods corresponding to computing resources; and second indication information for indicating the reporting method of computing resource usage.

[0103] In some embodiments, the information corresponding to the first type of rule further includes at least one of the following: the period corresponding to the first reporting method, wherein the first reporting method represents reporting according to a period; the parameter threshold corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the quota related to computing resources corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the timeliness information of the quota related to computing resources; and the usage period of the quota related to computing resources.

[0104] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the measurement method includes at least one of a first measurement method and a second measurement method, wherein the first measurement method represents measuring according to the usage of virtual kernels, and the second measurement method represents measuring according to the number of times functions related to the computing task are used.

[0105] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the reporting method includes at least one of the following: a first reporting method, which represents reporting according to a period; a second reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the first measurement method when a first condition is met; a third reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the second measurement method when a second condition is met; and a fourth reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the first measurement method and the measurement result corresponding to the second measurement method when a third condition is met.

[0106] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods include at least one of the following: a parameter threshold related to virtual kernel usage corresponding to the first condition; a parameter threshold related to the number of times a function is used corresponding to the second condition; and a parameter threshold related to the number of times a function is used corresponding to the third condition.

[0107] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, receiving rule information sent by the first network function may include: receiving first information sent by the first network function, the first information including first rule information of the network device corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule, the first rule information being used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task, and the second type of rule representing rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task; wherein, the network device is a first network device accessed by the terminal, and the first task is a task executed by the first network device; or, receiving second information sent by the first network function, the second information including second rule information of the network device corresponding to a first type of rule, the second rule information being used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a second task included in the computing task; wherein, the network device is a second network device other than the first network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices, and the second task is a task executed by the second network device.

[0108] In this embodiment, if the network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal, it can receive first rule information and information corresponding to the second type of rule sent by the first network function. Furthermore, it can calculate the computing resource usage related to the first task according to the first rule information, and calculate the transmission resource usage related to the computing task according to the information corresponding to the second type of rule. If the network device is any other network device participating in the computing task besides the first network device (i.e., the second network device), it can receive second rule information sent by the first network function, and further calculate the computing resource usage related to the second task according to the second rule information.

[0109] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, receiving rule information sent by the first network function may include: receiving third information sent by the first network function, the third information including third rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule for the computing task, the third rule information being used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to the tasks corresponding to the one or more network devices, the second type of rule representing rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task; wherein, the network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal.

[0110] In this embodiment, if the network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal, it can receive the third rule information corresponding to the first type of rule and the information corresponding to the second type of rule sent by the first network function. Furthermore, it can determine the computing resource usage corresponding to each network device according to the third rule information and the size and / or type of the task executed by each network device, thereby obtaining the computing resource usage related to the computing task (i.e., the total computing resource usage), and statistically analyze the transmission resource usage related to the computing task according to the information corresponding to the second type of rule.

[0111] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the second type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; and third identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of the information corresponding to the second type of rule.

[0112] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the method may further include: determining the usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the rule information, and sending the usage information to the first network function, wherein the usage information includes at least information corresponding to a first type of usage, and the first type of usage represents the computing resource usage related to the computing task.

[0113] In some embodiments, determining the usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the rule information may include: measuring the first type of usage corresponding to the computing task based on one or more measurement methods indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule, and obtaining the usage information. For example, if the information corresponding to the first type of rule indicates the use of a first measurement method, the first type of usage corresponding to the computing task is measured according to the usage of the virtual kernel, and the information corresponding to the first type of usage is determined based on the measurement results; and / or, if the information corresponding to the first type of rule indicates the use of a second measurement method, the first type of usage corresponding to the computing task is measured according to the number of times the function related to the computing task is used, and the information corresponding to the first type of usage is determined based on the measurement results.

[0114] In some embodiments, sending the usage information to the first network function may include: when the reporting method corresponding to the information indication of the first type of rule is a first reporting method, sending the usage information to the first network function according to the period corresponding to the first reporting method; when the reporting method corresponding to the information indication of the first type of rule is a second reporting method, sending the usage information to the first network function when a first condition is met; when the reporting method corresponding to the information indication of the first type of rule is a third reporting method, sending the usage information to the first network function when a second condition is met; and when the reporting method corresponding to the information indication of the first type of rule is a fourth reporting method, sending the usage information to the first network function when a third condition is met.

[0115] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; fourth identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage and the number of times the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage is reported; and the reporting method indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

[0116] In some embodiments, the information corresponding to the first type of dosage may further include at least one of the following: the start time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; the end time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; and the measurement results corresponding to one or more measurement methods indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

[0117] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, determining the usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the rule information and sending the usage information to the first network function may include: determining, based on the rule information, first usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage for the network device, wherein the second type of usage represents the transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the first usage information includes computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task; sending fourth information to the first network function, wherein the fourth information includes the first usage information and information corresponding to the second type of usage, wherein the network device is a first network device accessed by the terminal, and the first task is a task executed by the first network device; or, determining, based on the rule information, second usage information corresponding to a first type of usage for the network device, wherein the second usage information includes computing resource usage related to a second task included in the computing task; sending fifth information to the first network function, wherein the fifth information includes the second usage information, wherein the network device is any network device other than the first network device accessed by the terminal, and the second task is a task executed by the second network device.

[0118] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, determining the usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the rule information and sending the usage information to the first network function may include: determining the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices based on the rule information; determining third usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices; sending sixth information to the first network function, the sixth information including the third usage information and information corresponding to a second type of usage, the second type of usage representing the transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the network device being the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

[0119] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the second type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying rule information corresponding to the computing task; third identification information for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of information corresponding to the second type of rule; the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources; and fifth identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage and identifying the number of times the information corresponding to the second type of usage has been reported.

[0120] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the method may further include: receiving a second request sent by a terminal, and sending a first request to the first network function; both the first request and the second request are used to request the execution of the computing task; wherein the network device is a first network device accessed by the terminal.

[0121] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, sending the usage information to the first network function may include: sending seventh information to the first network function, the seventh information representing the usage information obtained by the network device after the computing task is completed.

[0122] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the network device is any network device used to execute the computing task before the terminal switches; the method may further include: deleting the rule information and / or the usage information when it is determined that the computing task has been completed. In this embodiment, if the terminal switches from the network device to a new network device, the network device can delete the information related to the computing task and release the related computing load after completing the corresponding task, thereby saving storage space.

[0123] In some embodiments, the method may further include sending information related to the computing task to a new network device used to perform the computing task after the terminal switches over. It is understood that, due to the special nature of computing tasks, after a terminal switches over, the network device that served the terminal before the switch may continue to execute unfinished computing tasks, and send the computing results to the new network device used to perform the computing task after the task is completed.

[0124] It should be noted that the new network device may wait for the previous network device to complete its corresponding task before starting the computing task, or the new network device may not wait for the previous network device to complete its corresponding task, but may perform the corresponding computing task simultaneously.

[0125] The communication scheme of this invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific application scenarios.

[0126] Figure 3 This is an example diagram of a wireless network architecture for computing tasks according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 3As shown, the architecture includes task management functionality (i.e., the aforementioned first network function) and communication network functionality and computing network functionality located on the network side (base station). This example addresses a scenario where the computing task requested by the terminal is executed by one or more base stations (i.e., the aforementioned network devices). The terminal is communicatively connected to the access base station (i.e., the aforementioned first network device), and the access base station is also communicatively connected to one or more computing base stations (i.e., the second network devices, with two computing base stations shown as an example in the figure) executing the computing task. Furthermore, the access base station and the one or more computing base stations are all communicatively connected to the task management functionality.

[0127] In this example, the task management function can be deployed in the network devices of the wireless network and core network. Based on the user's computing request, it can select multiple base stations to serve the requested computing task, generate traffic usage report rules and computing power usage report rules, and distribute them to multiple base stations. The related functions of the traffic usage report rules in this example can utilize the functions of SMF in related technologies. The communication network functions and computing network functions included in each base station can be deployed in the corresponding base station. The communication network function is used to transmit the user's computing task data and generate traffic usage reports according to the traffic usage report rules; the computing network function can be used to execute the user's computing tasks and generate computing power usage reports according to the computing power usage report rules. It should be noted that the terminal's access base station can carry the computing network function, and the computing base station for one user can also serve as the access base station for another user. The communication network function and the computing network function can also be deployed in the network devices of the core network and transmission network on the network side, and are not limited to the access network devices. This example only demonstrates deployment in a base station.

[0128] In one example, the terminal can transmit data packets of computing tasks to the access base station via a wireless channel. The access base station then splits the computing tasks and sends them to different base stations for computation. Therefore, traffic usage can be counted by the communication network function of the access base station, and computing usage can be counted by the computing network function executing the computing tasks based on the actual computing resources used. Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a first application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the process may include:

[0129] Step 301: The terminal can initiate a computing task request to the task management function (i.e., the first network function) through the access base station (i.e., the first network device).

[0130] Step 302: The task management function responds. In this example, the task management function can obtain the corresponding billing policy after receiving a computing task request.

[0131] Step 303: Establish a computing task bearer and issue CURR and TURR (i.e., rule information). For example, the task management function can select an access base station and a computing base station (i.e., the second network device) according to the computing task request, establish a wireless bearer from the user to the access base station, a wired connection from the access base station to the computing base station, and a computing bearer (which can be a virtual machine) for the computing base station, forming a computing task bearer. Simultaneously, the task management function issues CURR (i.e., the first rule information) and TURR (i.e., information corresponding to the second type of rule) to the access base station, and issues CURR (i.e., the second rule information) to the computing base station. Table 5 is an example table of CURR in this embodiment of the invention. As shown in Table 5, the URR ID is 32 bits, which can be 0x00000101. Taking three base stations jointly executing a computing task as an example, the CURR ID of the access base station can be 1-1, and the CURR IDs of computing base station 1 and computing base station 2 can be 2-1 and 3-1, respectively. Other parameters can be referred to the description in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here for brevity.

[0132] Table 5

[0133]

[0134]

[0135] It should be noted that if there are modifications to CURR and TURR during the execution of the calculation task, the second digit of the CURR ID in the CURR issued after the modification should be incremented by 1 after each modification. For example, after the first modification, the CURR ID of the access base station can be changed to 1-2, and the TURR ID is similar.

[0136] Step 304: The task management function requests traffic quotas and computing quotas from CHF.

[0137] Step 305: The task management function allocates traffic quotas and computing quotas to each base station and distributes them to the corresponding base stations.

[0138] Step 306: Transmission and execution of computation tasks.

[0139] Step 307: Each base station reports its usage report (i.e., usage information) to the task management function. For example, the access base station can report traffic usage (i.e., information corresponding to the second type of usage) and computing usage (i.e., first usage information) to the task management function according to the CURR and TURR settings. The computing base station reports computing usage (i.e., second usage information) to the task management function according to the CURR settings. Depending on the period or threshold setting, the reporting may occur multiple times. Table 6 is an example table of computing usage reports in this embodiment of the invention. For the x-th report from the access base station and the two computing base stations, CUR-SEQN in Table 6 can be 1-x, 2-x, and 3-x, respectively. The remaining parameters in Table 6 can be referred to the description in the foregoing embodiments; for the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0140] Table 6

[0141]

[0142]

[0143] It should be noted that the reporting method for traffic usage can refer to the reporting method for computation usage.

[0144] Figure 5 This is an exemplary flowchart of a usage report reporting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 5 As shown, by configuring different usage reporting rules for each base station, different measurement and reporting methods can be implemented for different base stations. For example, referring to Tables 5 and 6, reporting based on a traffic threshold can be set in the TURR corresponding to the access base station, allowing the access base station to report a traffic usage report when the traffic usage reaches the threshold; by setting vCore-based measurement and periodic reporting in the CURR corresponding to the access base station, the access base station can measure vCore usage and report computational usage when the corresponding timer reaches the preset periodic value; by setting mixed measurement and mixed reporting in the CURR corresponding to base station 1, base station 1 can simultaneously measure vCore usage and function usage counts, and report computational usage when the function usage count reaches the threshold; by setting function usage count measurement and event-triggered reporting in the CURR corresponding to base station 2, base station 2 can measure function usage counts and report computational usage when the function usage count reaches the threshold.

[0145] In this example, when the task management function receives the usage report from the base station, if the corresponding quota is reached, the received usage can be reported to CHF. If the previously allocated quota is exhausted, CHF needs to reallocate a new quota and send it to the task management function.

[0146] Step 308: After the computation task is completed, the computation task is released, and each base station reports a usage report (i.e., the seventh information) to the task management function.

[0147] In another example, traffic usage can be statistically analyzed by the communication network function of the access base station, and the access base station can convert the computational load according to the size and type of the computational task. The statistics of the computational load can be completed solely by the access base station. Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a second application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 6 As shown, in step 403, the task management function only sends CURR (i.e., third rule information) and TURR to the access base station; in step 407, the access base station can calculate the computational load based on the CURR settings and the task size and type allocated to each computing base station, and finally obtain a computational load usage report (i.e., third usage information) and report it to the task management function. The remaining steps can be referred to accordingly. Figure 5 .

[0148] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a third application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 7 As shown, this example addresses a scenario where a terminal undergoes a handover between base stations. The process may include:

[0149] Step 501: After completing the final communication / computing task, the original base station releases the computing task bearer and submits a usage report.

[0150] Step 502: The original base station deletes information such as URR and usage related to this calculation task to save storage space.

[0151] Step 503: The task management function establishes a new computing task bearer on the new base station, and simultaneously issues CURR and TURR to the new access base station and CURR to the new computing base station; where the URR ID is consistent with the URR ID corresponding to the original base station, and the CURR ID of the new access base station, new computing base station 1, and new computing base station 2 can be 4-1, 5-1, and 6-1.

[0152] Step 504: The task management function requests traffic quotas and computing quotas from CHF.

[0153] Step 505: The task management function allocates traffic quotas and computing quotas to each base station and distributes them to the corresponding base stations.

[0154] Step 506: Compute the transmission and execution of tasks at the new base station.

[0155] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a fourth application example of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, as follows: Figure 8As shown, this example also addresses the scenario where the terminal undergoes handover between base stations, and... Figure 7 The difference is that this example can first establish a computing task bearer on the new base station after the terminal handover, and the new base station and the original base station can perform computing tasks simultaneously. The steps can be referred to accordingly. Figure 7 .

[0156] In related technologies, both online and offline billing involve first acquiring billing information and then sending it to different functional entities. 5G networks employ Converged Charging System (CCS), which integrates online and offline billing functions, using a unified service interface (Nchf) to interface with various network functions (NFs) on the network element side. The billing triggering function is built into the SMF on the 5GC network side; therefore, the SMF is the user of the converged billing service. Specifically, after the SMF detects network resource usage, it triggers the billing function, obtains the billing policy from the Policy Control Function (PCF), and initiates a billing session establishment request from the Charging Function (CHF). The CCS side begins recording billing call details. The SMF selects the UPF and establishes a data plane transmission channel, while simultaneously issuing / activating the billing rules. The SMF distributes the service quota obtained from the CHF to the UPF for monitoring, and the UPF reports the UE's usage information to the SMF. The SMF reports the received information back to the CHF. After the CCS completes online deduction and synchronously generates billing call details, it allocates a new quota to the SMF, initiating a new round of quota monitoring.

[0157] As can be seen, the data of communication services in the above process will pass through the core network, so the UPF can count and calculate traffic data. However, the data of the calculation tasks performed at the base station only need to be transmitted to the base station and do not pass through the core network. Therefore, the method of using UPF for data statistics in related technologies is not feasible, and it is necessary to consider counting the resource usage data of services in the base station.

[0158] Unlike communication services, computing tasks also require billing for the use of base station computing resources. In distributed computing scenarios, different base stations store the same or different computing programs (functions stored in serverless computing). A computing task needs to be decomposed and transmitted to different base stations for computation. It is necessary to count the billing of a task across multiple nodes, and the billing methods may differ. At the same time, a computing task may involve multiple transmissions and computations, such as the inference computing task of autonomous driving, which includes multiple data transmissions from the vehicle to the base station, computation by the base station, and return of results over a period of time. In addition, 6G networks provide computing services externally on a platform basis, which may involve charges for the network itself and third-party computing functions. The communication usage reporting mechanism in related technologies cannot meet these requirements.

[0159] Therefore, this example proposes a usage statistics method for computing tasks by introducing computing usage reporting rules and corresponding parameter tables. This provides a flexible statistical method for the use of communication and computing resources by computing tasks, supporting billing functions in scenarios where network-provided computing services are offered. In this example, refer to... Figures 3 to 8 Since the data of the computing task is transmitted to the base station for computation execution and is not transmitted to the core network, the base station in this example has the ability to statistically analyze traffic and computation volume, that is, the base station can store usage reporting rules. The resources used by the computing task include wireless transmission resources from the terminal to the network-side node and computing resources of the network-side node. This example considers the statistical methods of computing resources and the statistics of computing function usage, and designs different usage reporting parameter tables according to the different characteristics of traffic and computation volume. In addition, unlike the end-to-end session of communication, this example designs a new usage reporting rule configuration and usage reporting mechanism for the mode of one computing task corresponding to multiple base stations.

[0160] This invention also provides a communication device. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the composition structure of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ,like Figure 9 As shown, the communication device 700 includes a first communication unit 701, used to send corresponding rule information to one or more network devices. The rule information includes at least information of each network device corresponding to a first type of rule. The first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task is executed by the one or more network devices.

[0161] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and identifying the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; first indication information for indicating one or more measurement methods corresponding to computing resources; and second indication information for indicating the reporting method of computing resource usage.

[0162] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of rule further includes at least one of the following: the period corresponding to the first reporting method, wherein the first reporting method represents reporting according to the period; the parameter threshold corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the quota related to computing resources corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the timeliness information of the quota related to computing resources; and the usage period of the quota related to computing resources.

[0163] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first communication unit 701 is configured to send first information to a first network device, the first information including first rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule; the first rule information is used by the first network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task, and the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task; the first network device is one of the one or more network devices accessed by the terminal, and the first task is a task executed by the first network device; and to send second information to a second network device, the second information including second rule information corresponding to the first type of rule, the second rule information being used by the second network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a second task included in the computing task; the second network device is any network device other than the first network device among the one or more network devices, and the second task is a task executed by the second network device.

[0164] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first communication unit 701 is configured to send third information to the first network device. The third information includes third rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule for the computing task. The third rule information is used by the first network device to determine the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices. The second type of rule represents the rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task. The first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

[0165] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the second type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; and third identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of the information corresponding to the second type of rule.

[0166] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first communication unit 701 is further configured to receive usage information sent by each of the one or more network devices, the usage information including at least information corresponding to a first type of usage obtained by each network device according to corresponding rule information, the first type of usage representing the computing resource usage related to the computing task.

[0167] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; fourth identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage and the number of times the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage is reported; and the reporting method indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

[0168] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of dosage further includes at least one of the following: the start time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; the end time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; and the measurement results corresponding to one or more measurement methods indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

[0169] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first communication unit 701 is configured to receive fourth information sent by a first network device, the fourth information including first usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage of the first network device, the first usage information including computing resource usage related to a first task performed by the first network device, and the second type of usage representing transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the first network device is one of the one or more network devices accessed by the terminal, and the computing task includes the first task; and to receive fifth information sent by a second network device, the fifth information including second usage information corresponding to the first type of usage of the second network device, the second usage information including computing resource usage related to a second task performed by the second network device; the second network device is any network device other than the first network device among the one or more network devices, and the computing task includes the second task.

[0170] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first communication unit 701 is configured to receive sixth information sent by the first network device. The sixth information includes third usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage for the computing task. The third usage information is obtained by the first network device from the computing resource usage related to the task of each of the one or more network devices. The second type of usage represents the transmission resource usage related to the computing task. The first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

[0171] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the second type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying rule information corresponding to the computing task; third identification information for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of information corresponding to the second type of rule; the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources; and fifth identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage and identifying the number of times the information corresponding to the second type of usage has been reported.

[0172] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the measurement method includes at least one of a first measurement method and a second measurement method, wherein the first measurement method represents measuring according to the usage of virtual kernels, and the second measurement method represents measuring according to the number of times functions related to the computing task are used.

[0173] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the reporting method includes at least one of the following: a first reporting method, which represents reporting according to a period; a second reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the first measurement method when a first condition is met; a third reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the second measurement method when a second condition is met; and a fourth reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the first measurement method and the measurement result corresponding to the second measurement method when a third condition is met.

[0174] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods include at least one of the following: a parameter threshold related to virtual kernel usage corresponding to the first condition; a parameter threshold related to the number of times a function is used corresponding to the second condition; and a parameter threshold related to the number of times a function is used corresponding to the third condition.

[0175] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 700 further includes a first processing unit; the first communication unit 701 is further configured to receive a first request sent by a first network device, the first request being used to request the execution of the computing task; the first network device is one of the one or more network devices, the network device accessed by the terminal; the first processing unit is configured to determine the one or more network devices and determine the rule information according to the first request.

[0176] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first communication unit 701 is configured to receive seventh information sent by each of the one or more network devices, the seventh information representing the usage information obtained by each network device after the computation task is completed.

[0177] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 700 further includes a first processing unit, configured to determine one or more new network devices for performing the computing task after the terminal is switched; the first communication unit is further configured to send the rule information to the one or more new network devices.

[0178] In this embodiment of the invention, the first processing unit in the communication device 700 can be implemented in practical applications by a central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), microcontroller unit (MCU), or field-programmable gate array (FPGA) in the first network function; the first communication unit 701 in the communication device 700 can be implemented in practical applications by a communication module (including: basic communication kit, operating system, communication module, standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and transceiver antenna.

[0179] This invention also provides a communication device. Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the composition structure of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ,like Figure 10 As shown, the communication device 800 includes a second communication unit 801 for receiving rule information sent by a first network function. The rule information includes at least information of the network device corresponding to a first type of rule. The first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to a computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task includes tasks executed by one or more network devices.

[0180] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and identifying the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; first indication information for indicating one or more measurement methods corresponding to computing resources; and second indication information for indicating the reporting method of computing resource usage.

[0181] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of rule further includes at least one of the following: the period corresponding to the first reporting method, wherein the first reporting method represents reporting according to the period; the parameter threshold corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the quota related to computing resources corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; the timeliness information of the quota related to computing resources; and the usage period of the quota related to computing resources.

[0182] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the second communication unit 801 is configured to receive first information sent by the first network function. The first information includes first rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule for the network device. The first rule information is used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task. The second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task. The network device is a first network device accessed by the terminal, and the first task is a task executed by the first network device. Alternatively, the second communication unit 801 is configured to receive second information sent by the first network function. The second information includes second rule information corresponding to a first type of rule for the network device. The second rule information is used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a second task included in the computing task. The network device is a second network device other than the first network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices, and the second task is a task executed by the second network device.

[0183] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the second communication unit 801 is configured to receive third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes third rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule for the computing task. The third rule information is used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to the tasks corresponding to the one or more network devices. The second type of rule represents the rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task. The network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal.

[0184] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the second type of rule includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; and third identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of the information corresponding to the second type of rule.

[0185] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the communication device 800 further includes a second processing unit, configured to determine the usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the rule information; the second communication unit 801 is further configured to send the usage information to the first network function, the usage information including at least information corresponding to a first type of usage, the first type of usage representing the computing resource usage related to the computing task.

[0186] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying the rule information corresponding to the computing task; second identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; fourth identification information for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage, or for identifying the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage and the number of times the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage is reported; and the reporting method indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

[0187] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the first type of dosage further includes at least one of the following: the start time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; the end time corresponding to the information corresponding to the first type of dosage; and the measurement results corresponding to one or more measurement methods indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

[0188] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the second processing unit is configured to determine, based on the rule information, first usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage for the network device, wherein the second type of usage represents the transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the first usage information includes computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task; the second communication unit 801 is configured to send fourth information to the first network function, wherein the fourth information includes the first usage information and information corresponding to the second type of usage, wherein the network device is a first network device accessed by the terminal, and the first task is a task executed by the first network device; or, the second processing unit is configured to determine, based on the rule information, second usage information corresponding to a first type of usage for the network device, wherein the second usage information includes computing resource usage related to a second task included in the computing task; the second communication unit is configured to send fifth information to the first network function, wherein the fifth information includes the second usage information, wherein the network device is a second network device other than the first network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices, and the second task is a task executed by the second network device.

[0189] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the second processing unit is configured to determine the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices based on the rule information, and to determine the third usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices; the second communication unit 801 is configured to send sixth information to the first network function, the sixth information including the third usage information and information corresponding to a second type of usage, the second type of usage representing the transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

[0190] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the information corresponding to the second type of usage includes at least: first identification information for identifying rule information corresponding to the computing task; third identification information for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule, or for identifying information corresponding to the second type of rule and identifying the update status of information corresponding to the second type of rule; the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources; and fifth identification information for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage, or for identifying the information corresponding to the second type of usage and identifying the number of times the information corresponding to the second type of usage has been reported.

[0191] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the measurement method includes at least one of a first measurement method and a second measurement method, wherein the first measurement method represents measuring according to the usage of virtual kernels, and the second measurement method represents measuring according to the number of times functions related to the computing task are used.

[0192] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the reporting method includes at least one of the following: a first reporting method, which represents reporting according to a period; a second reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the first measurement method when a first condition is met; a third reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the second measurement method when a second condition is met; and a fourth reporting method, which represents reporting the measurement result corresponding to the first measurement method and the measurement result corresponding to the second measurement method when a third condition is met.

[0193] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods include at least one of the following: a parameter threshold related to virtual kernel usage corresponding to the first condition; a parameter threshold related to the number of times a function is used corresponding to the second condition; and a parameter threshold related to the number of times a function is used corresponding to the third condition.

[0194] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the second communication unit 801 is further configured to receive a second request sent by the terminal and send a first request to the first network function; both the first request and the second request are used to request the execution of the computing task; wherein, the network device is a first network device accessed by the terminal.

[0195] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the second communication unit 801 is used to send seventh information to the first network function, the seventh information representing the usage information obtained by the network device after the computing task is completed.

[0196] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the network device is any network device used to perform the computing task before the terminal is switched; the apparatus 800 further includes a second processing unit, used to delete the rule information and / or the usage information when it is determined that the computing task has been completed.

[0197] In this embodiment of the invention, the second processing unit in the communication device 800 can be implemented by the CPU, DSP, MCU or FPGA in the network device in practical applications; the second communication unit 801 in the communication device 800 can be implemented by a communication module (including: basic communication kit, operating system, communication module, standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and transceiver antenna in practical applications.

[0198] It should be noted that the communication device provided in the above embodiments is only illustrated by the division of the above program modules. In actual applications, the above processing can be assigned to different program modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different program modules to complete all or part of the processing described above. In addition, the communication device and communication method embodiments provided in the above embodiments belong to the same concept, and their specific implementation process can be found in the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0199] This invention also provides a communication device. Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the communication device 900 may be the first network function or network device (e.g., the first network device or the second network device) in the foregoing embodiments. Figure 11 The communication device 900 shown includes at least one processor 901, a memory 902, and at least one network interface 903. The various components in the communication device 900 are coupled together via a bus system 904. It is understood that the bus system 904 is used to implement communication between these components. In addition to a data bus, the bus system 904 also includes a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus. However, for clarity, ... Figure 11The general labeled all buses as Bus System 904.

[0200] It is understood that memory 902 can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or both. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), ferromagnetic random access memory (FRAM), flash memory, magnetic surface memory, optical disc, or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM); magnetic surface memory can be disk storage or magnetic tape storage. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Synchronous Static Random Access Memory (SSRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDRSDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (ESDRAM), SyncLink Dynamic Random Access Memory (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus Random Access Memory (DRRAM).The memory 902 described in the embodiments of the present invention is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0201] The memory 902 in this embodiment of the invention is used to store various types of data to support the operation of the communication device 900. Examples of such data include any computer program used to operate on the communication device 900, such as the program for the communication method of this embodiment of the invention.

[0202] The methods disclosed in the above embodiments of the present invention can be applied to or implemented by processor 901. Processor 901 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method can be completed by the integrated logic circuit of the hardware in processor 901 or by instructions in software form. The processor 901 may be a general-purpose processor, DSP, or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Processor 901 can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware decoding processor, or being executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in a storage medium, which is located in memory 902. Processor 901 reads the information in memory 902 and combines its hardware to complete the steps of the aforementioned method.

[0203] In an exemplary embodiment, the communication device 900 may be implemented by one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), DSPs, programmable logic devices (PLDs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), FPGAs, general-purpose processors, controllers, MCUs, microprocessors, or other electronic components to perform the aforementioned method.

[0204] In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium, such as a memory 902 including a computer program, which can be executed by a processor 901 of a communication device 900 to complete the steps described in the foregoing method. The computer-readable storage medium may be a memory such as FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash Memory, magnetic surface memory, optical disc, or CD-ROM; or it may be various devices including one or any combination of the above-mentioned memories, such as mobile phones, computers, tablet devices, personal digital assistants, etc.

[0205] In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that can be executed by a processor 901 of a communication device 900 to perform the steps described in any of the foregoing methods.

[0206] The methods disclosed in the several method embodiments provided in this application can be arbitrarily combined without conflict to obtain new method embodiments.

[0207] The features disclosed in the several product embodiments provided in this application can be arbitrarily combined without conflict to obtain new product embodiments.

[0208] The features disclosed in the several method or device embodiments provided in this application can be arbitrarily combined without conflict to obtain new method or device embodiments.

[0209] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as: multiple units or components can be combined, or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection between the various components shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0210] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0211] In addition, in the various embodiments of the present invention, each functional unit can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can be a separate unit, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit; the integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

[0212] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above method embodiments can be implemented by hardware related to program instructions. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it performs the steps of the above method embodiments. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as mobile storage devices, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0213] Alternatively, if the integrated units of this invention are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the methods described in the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as mobile storage devices, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0214] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a first network function; the method includes: Send corresponding rule information to one or more network devices. The rule information includes at least information for each network device corresponding to a first type of rule. The first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task is executed by the one or more network devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of rule includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The second identification information is used to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; The first indication information is used to indicate one or more measurement methods corresponding to the computing resources; The second instruction information is used to indicate the reporting method for computing resource usage.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of rule also includes at least one of the following: The first reporting method corresponds to the period, and the first reporting method indicates that reporting is performed according to the period; The parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; Each of the one or more measurement methods corresponds to a computing resource-related quota; The timeliness information of the quotas related to computing resources; The usage period of the quotas related to computing resources.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Sending the corresponding rule information to one or more network devices includes: Send first information to a first network device, the first information including first rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule; the first rule information is used by the first network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task, and the second type of rule represents the rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task; the first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices, and the first task is the task executed by the first network device. Send second information to the second network device. The second information includes second rule information of the second network device corresponding to the first type of rule. The second rule information is used by the second network device to determine the amount of computing resources related to the second task included in the computing task. The second network device is any network device other than the first network device among the one or more network devices. The second task is a task executed by the second network device.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Sending the corresponding rule information to one or more network devices includes: Send third information to the first network device. The third information includes third rule information corresponding to the first type of rule and information corresponding to the second type of rule for the computing task. The third rule information is used by the first network device to determine the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices. The second type of rule represents the rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task. The first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the second type of rule includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The third identification information is used to identify the information corresponding to the second type of rule, or to identify the information corresponding to the second type of rule and the update status of the information corresponding to the second type of rule.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: The system receives usage information sent by one or more network devices, wherein the usage information includes at least information corresponding to a first type of usage obtained by each network device according to corresponding rule information, and the first type of usage represents the computing resource usage related to the computing task.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of dosage includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The second identification information is used to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; The fourth identification information is used to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage, or to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage and the number of times the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage has been reported. The reporting method indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of dosage also includes at least one of the following: The start time corresponding to the information for the first type of dosage; The end time corresponding to the information for the first type of dosage; The measurement results corresponding to one or more measurement methods indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The receipt of usage information sent by each of the one or more network devices includes: The system receives fourth information sent by a first network device. The fourth information includes first usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage. The first usage information includes computing resource usage related to a first task performed by the first network device, and the second type of usage represents transmission resource usage related to the computing task. The first network device is one of the one or more network devices that the terminal accesses, and the computing task includes the first task. The system receives fifth information sent by a second network device, the fifth information including second usage information of the second network device corresponding to the first type of usage, the second usage information including computing resource usage related to the second task performed by the second network device; the second network device is any network device other than the first network device among the one or more network devices, and the computing task includes the second task.

11. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The receipt of usage information sent by each of the one or more network devices includes: The system receives a sixth piece of information sent by a first network device. The sixth piece of information includes third usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage for the computing task. The third usage information is obtained by the first network device from the computing resource usage related to the task of each of the one or more network devices. The second type of usage represents the transmission resource usage related to the computing task. The first network device is the network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the second usage quantity includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The third identification information; used to identify information corresponding to the second type of rule, or used to identify information corresponding to the second type of rule and the update status of information corresponding to the second type of rule; the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources; The fifth identification information is used to identify the information corresponding to the second type of dosage, or to identify the information corresponding to the second type of dosage and the number of times the information corresponding to the second type of dosage has been reported.

13. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The measurement method includes at least one of a first measurement method and a second measurement method, wherein the first measurement method represents measuring according to the usage of virtual kernels, and the second measurement method represents measuring according to the number of times functions related to the computing task are used.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The reporting method includes at least one of the following: The first reporting method indicates that reporting is done periodically; The second reporting method represents reporting the measurement results corresponding to the first measurement method when the first condition is met; The third reporting method represents reporting the measurement results corresponding to the second measurement method when the second condition is met; The fourth reporting method represents reporting the measurement results corresponding to the first measurement method and the measurement results corresponding to the second measurement method when the third condition is met.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods include at least one of the following: The threshold parameter related to virtual kernel usage corresponding to the first condition; The second condition corresponds to the parameter threshold related to the number of times the function is used; The third condition corresponds to the parameter threshold related to the number of times the function is used.

16. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal receives a first request sent by a first network device, the first request being used to request the execution of the computing task; the first network device is one of the one or more network devices, specifically the network device to which the terminal is connected. The one or more network devices and the rule information are determined according to the first request.

17. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The receipt of usage information sent by each of the one or more network devices includes: The system receives a seventh message sent by each of the one or more network devices, the seventh message representing the usage information obtained by each network device after the computation task is completed.

18. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the terminal switchover occurs, determine one or more new network devices used to perform the computing task; and send the rule information to the one or more new network devices.

19. A communication method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a network device; the method includes: The system receives rule information sent by a first network function. The rule information includes at least information about the network device corresponding to a first type of rule. The first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to the computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task is executed by one or more network devices.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of rule includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The second identification information is used to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; The first indication information is used to indicate one or more measurement methods corresponding to the computing resources; The second instruction information is used to indicate the reporting method for computing resource usage.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of rule also includes at least one of the following: The first reporting method corresponds to the period, and the first reporting method indicates that reporting is performed according to the period; The parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods; Each of the one or more measurement methods corresponds to a computing resource-related quota; The timeliness information of the quotas related to computing resources; The usage period of the quotas related to computing resources.

22. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The receipt of rule information sent by the first network function includes: The network device receives first information sent by the first network function. This first information includes first rule information corresponding to a first type of rule and information corresponding to a second type of rule. The first rule information is used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task. The second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task. The network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal, and the first task is a task executed by the first network device. Alternatively... The network device receives second information sent by the first network function. The second information includes second rule information corresponding to the first type of rule. The second rule information is used by the network device to determine the amount of computing resources related to the second task included in the computing task. The network device is a second network device other than the first network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices. The second task is a task executed by the second network device.

23. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The receipt of rule information sent by the first network function includes: The network device receives third information sent by the first network function. The third information includes third rule information corresponding to the first type of rule and information corresponding to the second type of rule for the computing task. The third rule information is used by the network device to determine the computing resource usage related to the tasks corresponding to the one or more network devices. The second type of rule represents the rules related to the use of transmission resources corresponding to the computing task. The network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the second type of rule includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The third identification information is used to identify the information corresponding to the second type of rule, or to identify the information corresponding to the second type of rule and the update status of the information corresponding to the second type of rule.

25. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the rule information, the usage information corresponding to the computing task is determined, and the usage information is sent to the first network function. The usage information includes at least information corresponding to a first type of usage, whereby the first type of usage represents the computing resource usage related to the computing task.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of dosage includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The second identification information is used to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule, or to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule and the update status of the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of rule; The fourth identification information is used to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage, or to identify the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage and the number of times the information of each network device corresponding to the first type of usage has been reported. The reporting method indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the first type of dosage also includes at least one of the following: The start time corresponding to the information for the first type of dosage; The end time corresponding to the information for the first type of dosage; The measurement results corresponding to one or more measurement methods indicated by the information corresponding to the first type of rule.

28. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The step of determining the usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the rule information and sending the usage information to the first network function includes: Based on the rule information, the network device is determined to have first usage information corresponding to a first type of usage and information corresponding to a second type of usage, where the second type of usage represents the transmission resource usage related to the computing task; the first usage information includes computing resource usage related to a first task included in the computing task; fourth information is sent to the first network function, the fourth information including the first usage information and the information corresponding to the second type of usage, wherein the network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal, and the first task is the task executed by the first network device; or... Based on the rule information, the network device is determined to have second usage information corresponding to the first type of usage, the second usage information including computing resource usage related to the second task included in the computing task; fifth information is sent to the first network function, the fifth information including the second usage information, the network device being the second network device other than the first network device accessed by the terminal among the one or more network devices, and the second task being the task executed by the second network device.

29. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The step of determining the usage information corresponding to the computing task based on the rule information and sending the usage information to the first network function includes: Based on the rule information, the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices is determined. Third usage information corresponding to the computing task is determined based on the computing resource usage related to the tasks executed by the one or more network devices. Sixth information is sent to the first network function, the sixth information including the third usage information and information corresponding to a second type of usage, where the second type of usage represents the transmission resource usage related to the computing task. The network device is one of the one or more network devices that the terminal accesses.

30. The method according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that, The information corresponding to the second usage quantity includes at least: The first identification information is used to identify the rule information corresponding to the computing task; The third identification information; used to identify information corresponding to the second type of rule, or used to identify information corresponding to the second type of rule and the update status of information corresponding to the second type of rule; the second type of rule represents rules related to the use of transmission resources; The fifth identification information is used to identify the information corresponding to the second type of dosage, or to identify the information corresponding to the second type of dosage and the number of times the information corresponding to the second type of dosage has been reported.

31. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that, The measurement method includes at least one of a first measurement method and a second measurement method, wherein the first measurement method represents measuring according to the usage of virtual kernels, and the second measurement method represents measuring according to the number of times functions related to the computing task are used.

32. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that, The reporting method includes at least one of the following: The first reporting method indicates that reporting is done periodically; The second reporting method represents reporting the measurement results corresponding to the first measurement method when the first condition is met; The third reporting method represents reporting the measurement results corresponding to the second measurement method when the second condition is met; The fourth reporting method represents reporting the measurement results corresponding to the first measurement method and the measurement results corresponding to the second measurement method when the third condition is met.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that, The parameter thresholds corresponding to each of the one or more measurement methods include at least one of the following: The threshold parameter related to virtual kernel usage corresponding to the first condition; The second condition corresponds to the parameter threshold related to the number of times the function is used; The third condition corresponds to the parameter threshold related to the number of times the function is used.

34. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The method further includes: The receiving terminal sends a second request, and sends a first request to the first network function; both the first request and the second request are used to request the execution of the computing task; wherein, the network device is the first network device accessed by the terminal.

35. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, Sending the usage information to the first network function includes: Send a seventh message to the first network function, the seventh message representing the usage information obtained by the network device after the computing task is completed.

36. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The network device is any network device used to perform the computing task before the terminal switches over; the method further includes: Once it is determined that the computation task has been completed, the rule information and / or the usage information are deleted.

37. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a first communication unit for sending corresponding rule information to one or more network devices. The rule information includes at least information for each network device corresponding to a first type of rule, whereby the first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to a computing task requested by the terminal. The computing task is executed by the one or more network devices.

38. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a second communication unit for receiving rule information sent by a first network function. The rule information includes at least information of the network device corresponding to a first type of rule, wherein the first type of rule represents rules related to the use of computing resources corresponding to a computing task requested by the terminal; wherein the computing task is executed by one or more network devices.

39. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When executed by a processor, the program implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18; or, when executed by a processor, the program implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19 to 36.

40. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18; or, when executed by a processor, the computer program implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19 to 36.

41. A communication device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the program, it implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18; or, when the processor executes the program, it implements the steps of the method according to any one of claims 19 to 36.

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