Communication method, network element, communication system and storage medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method, a network element, a communication system and a storage medium. The method comprises: receiving a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used for requesting an operation related to a first entity, the first message comprising information of the first entity; determining at least one of a first entity and a third network element satisfying the first message from a locally stored context; a second message is sent to a third network element satisfying the first message, the second message is used for requesting operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprises information of the first entity; wherein the first entity is at least one of UE, a UE group, A-IOT equipment and an A-IOT equipment group; the context is the context of at least one of the third network element, the A-IoT device and the UE. According to the embodiment of the invention, the communication efficiency can be improved, and the waste of wireless resources is avoided.

Description

Communication method, network element, communication system and storage medium TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communication, and particularly relates to a communication method, a network element, a communication system and a storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] An Ambient IoT (A-IoT) device is an IoT device powered by energy harvesting, with limited energy storage capability.

[0003] An A-IoTF network element can need to retrieve information from multiple AMFs to select an intermediate node for an A-IoT device.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a network element, a communication system and a storage medium

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a first network element, comprising:

[0007] receiving a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the first message comprising information of the first entity;

[0008] determining at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element from a locally stored context;

[0009] sending a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, the second message comprising the information of the first entity;

[0010] wherein the first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group;

[0011] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, the A-IoT device and the UE.

[0012] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a second network element, comprising:

[0013] receiving a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the fourth message comprising information of the first entity;

[0014] sending a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, the first message comprising the information of the first entity;

[0015] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0016] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, executed by a third network element, the method comprising:

[0017] receiving a second message sent by a first network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity;

[0018] The second message is sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and the third network element, which is determined by the first network element from a locally stored context.

[0019] The first message is sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising information of the first entity;

[0020] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0021] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0022] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, executed by a second network element, the method comprising:

[0023] receiving a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the fourth message comprising information of the first entity;

[0024] determining at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and a third network element from a locally stored context;

[0025] sending a second message to the third network element satisfying the fourth message, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity;

[0026] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0027] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0028] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, executed by a third network element, the method comprising:

[0029] receive a second message sent by a second network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity;

[0030] The second message is determined by the second network element from a locally stored context, and at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element sends a fourth message, the fourth message being sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message including information of the first entity.

[0031] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group.

[0032] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, the A-IoT device, and the UE.

[0033] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first network element, comprising:

[0034] A transceiver module is configured to receive a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the first message including information of the first entity.

[0035] A processing module is configured to determine, from a locally stored context, at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element.

[0036] The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity.

[0037] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group.

[0038] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, the A-IoT device, and the UE.

[0039] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, comprising:

[0040] A transceiver module is configured to receive a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the fourth message including information of the first entity.

[0041] The transceiver module is further configured to send a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message including information of the first entity.

[0042] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0043] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a third network element, comprising:

[0044] The transceiver module is configured to receive a second message sent by the first network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity;

[0045] The second message is sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and the third network element, which is determined by the first network element from a locally stored context.

[0046] The first message is sent by a second network element, and the first message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising information of the first entity;

[0047] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0048] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0049] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, comprising:

[0050] The transceiver module is configured to receive a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the fourth message comprising information of the first entity;

[0051] The processing module is configured to determine at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and a third network element from a locally stored context.

[0052] The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the third network element satisfying the fourth message, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity.

[0053] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0054] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0055] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a third network element, comprising:

[0056] The transceiving module is configured to receive a second message sent by a second network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity;

[0057] The second message is determined by the first network element from a locally stored context, and at least one of a first entity satisfying a fourth message and a third network element sends the fourth message, the fourth message being sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message including information of the first entity.

[0058] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0059] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, the A-IoT device, or the UE.

[0060] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first network element, comprising:

[0061] One or more processors;

[0062] The processor is configured to execute the method of the first aspect.

[0063] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, comprising:

[0064] One or more processors;

[0065] The processor is configured to execute the method of the second aspect.

[0066] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a third network element, comprising:

[0067] One or more processors;

[0068] The processor is configured to execute the method of the third aspect.

[0069] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, comprising:

[0070] One or more processors;

[0071] The processor is configured to execute the method of the fourth aspect.

[0072] In a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a third network element, comprising:

[0073] One or more processors;

[0074] The processor is configured to execute the method of the fifth aspect.

[0075] In a sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication system, comprising a first network element, a second network element and a third network element; wherein the first network element is configured to implement the method in any one of the first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure; the second network element is configured to implement the method in any one of the second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure; and the third network element is configured to implement the method in any one of the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0076] In a seventeenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication system, comprising a second network element and a third network element; wherein the second network element is configured to implement the method in any one of the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure; and the third network element is configured to implement the method in any one of the fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0077] In an eighteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a storage medium, which, when instructions run on a communication device, causes the communication device to execute the method in any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0078] In a nineteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a program product, which, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to execute the method in any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0079] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following describes the drawings required for the embodiments, and the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not specifically limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0080] FIG. 1A is an exemplary schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0081] FIG. 1B is an exemplary schematic diagram of a connection topology of an A-IoT device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0082] FIG. 1C is an exemplary schematic diagram of another connection topology of an A-IoT device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0083] FIG. 2A is an interaction schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0084] FIG. 2B is an interaction schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0085] FIG. 3A is a flow schematic diagram of a communication method executed by a first network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0086] FIG. 3B is a flow schematic diagram of a communication method executed by a second network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0087] FIG. 3C is a flow schematic diagram of a communication method executed by a third network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0088] FIG. 3D is a flow diagram of a communication method performed by a second network element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0089] FIG. 3E is a flow diagram of a communication method performed by a third network element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0090] FIG. 4A is a flow diagram of a communication method, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0091] FIG. 4B is a flow diagram of a communication method, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0092] FIG. 5A is a structural diagram of a first network element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0093] FIG. 5B is a structural diagram of a second network element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0094] FIG. 5C is a structural diagram of a third network element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0095] FIG. 5D is a structural diagram of a second network element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0096] FIG. 5E is a structural diagram of a third network element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0097] FIG. 6A is a structural diagram of a communication device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0098] FIG. 6B is a structural diagram of a chip, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0099] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a terminal, a network element, a device, and a storage medium.

[0100] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method performed by a first network element, the method comprising:

[0101] receiving a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the first message comprising information of the first entity;

[0102] determining at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element from a locally stored context;

[0103] sending a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, the second message comprising the information of the first entity;

[0104] wherein the first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices.

[0105] The context is the context of at least one of the third network element, the A-IoT device, and the UE.

[0106] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a first network element, the first network element and a second network element are independent of each other, after the first network element receives a first message sent by the second network element, the first network element determines at least one of a first entity and a third network element that meets the first message from a locally stored context, and sends a second message to the third network element that meets the first message, the second message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first entity information is included in the second message. The first network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0107] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the receiving the first message sent by the second network element further comprises:

[0108] sending a first request to at least one third network element, the first request being used to request to subscribe to a first event report of the corresponding third network element;

[0109] receiving a first response sent by the at least one third network element, the first response indicating that the corresponding third network element agrees that the first network element subscribes to the first event report;

[0110] The first event report is an event report of at least one first event, and the first event is an event related to the first entity.

[0111] The first network element of the embodiments of the present disclosure sends a first request to at least one third network element to subscribe to a first event report of the corresponding third network element. If the third network element agrees to define the first event report by the first network element, the third network element returns a first response to the first network element, so that the first network element knows that the first event report is successfully subscribed.

[0112] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the first response does not include a second event report, and the context related to the first event report is updated or created locally;

[0113] The first response includes a second event report, and the context related to the second event report is updated or created locally;

[0114] The second event report is an event report of at least one second event.

[0115] The second event is an event currently available in the corresponding third network element from the at least one first event.

[0116] The first network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure receives the first response which does not include the second event report, and updates or creates the context related to the first event report locally; and if the first response including the second event report is received, the context related to the second event report is updated locally in a targeted manner. The third network element sends the first response including the second event report, so that the first network element can update the local context when the first response is received, and the processing efficiency is improved.

[0117] On the basis of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the receiving the first response sent by the at least one third network element further includes:

[0118] receiving a first notification sent by the at least one third network element, the first notification including a third event report;

[0119] locally creating or updating a context related to the third event report;

[0120] The first notification is sent by the corresponding third network element in response to receiving the third message of the first entity, and is sent after the corresponding context is updated or created according to the third message;

[0121] The third event report is an event report of at least one third event;

[0122] The third event is an event updated by the corresponding third network element according to the third message in the at least one first event.

[0123] The third network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure updates the third event report according to the third message, and sends the first notification including the third event report to the first network element, so as to update the local context in time for the first network element.

[0124] On the basis of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the third message is at least one of an inventory result, a command result or an event report.

[0125] The type of the third message of the embodiment of the present disclosure can be an inventory result, a command result or an event report, which is various and beneficial for the first network element to more accurately determine the third network element meeting the first message subsequently.

[0126] On the basis of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the first request includes at least one of the following:

[0127] The identifier of the first network element;

[0128] The identifier of the first entity;

[0129] The identifier of the first event report;

[0130] Event report information used for indicating a rule of the third network element feeding back the first event report.

[0131] The first request of the embodiment of the present disclosure can provide the third network element with information subscribed by the first network element and a rule of feedback by including the identification of the first network element, the identification of the first entity, the identification of the first event report and the event report information.

[0132] On the basis of each of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the event report includes at least one of the following:

[0133] UE reachability, UE moving into or out of an area of interest, UE state, UE location, UE location trend, A-IoT device location, UE service area, UE capability, UE priority, A-IoT device state, A-IoT device type, association between the UE and the A-IoT device, association between the network device and the A-IoT device, service area of the corresponding third network element, service area of the network device, priority of the network device and load of the third network element.

[0134] The event report of the embodiment of the present disclosure is rich in types, which is beneficial to the first network element to subsequently more accurately determine the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0135] On the basis of each of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the context of the UE includes at least one of the following:

[0136] Identification of the UE, identification of the UE group, UE reachability, UE moving into or out of an area of interest, UE state, UE location, UE location trend, UE service area, A-IoT service capability of the UE, UE priority, identification of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, identification of the A-IoT device group associated with the UE, type of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, state of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, location of the A-IoT device associated with the UE.

[0137] The context of the UE of the embodiment of the present disclosure contains rich types of information, and by accurately and in detail recording the context of the UE, it is beneficial to the first network element to subsequently more accurately determine the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0138] On the basis of each of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the context of the A-IoT device includes at least one of the following:

[0139] Identification of the A-IoT device, identification of the A-IoT device group, type of the A-IoT device, state of the A-IoT device, location of the A-IoT device, identification of the UE associated with the A-IoT device, identification of the UE group associated with the A-IoT device.

[0140] The context of the A-IOT device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure contains rich information. By accurately and in detail recording the context of the A-IOT device, the first network element is facilitated to subsequently more accurately determine the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0141] On the basis of each of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the information of the first entity includes information of the A-IOT device, and the information of the A-IOT device includes at least one of the following:

[0142] an identifier, a location, a region, a type, a state, an association relationship between the UE and the A-IoT device, an association relationship between the network device and the A-IoT device, and an identifier of an A-IoT device group of the A-IoT device.

[0143] The information of the A-IOT device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure contains rich information. By accurately and in detail recording the information of the A-IOT device, the first network element is facilitated to subsequently more accurately determine the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0144] On the basis of each of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the information of the first entity includes information of the UE, and the information of the UE includes at least one of the following:

[0145] an identifier, reachability, a state, a location, a region, a location trend, a UE service region, A-IOT service capability, priority, an identifier of an A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identifier of an A-IoT device group associated with the UE, a type of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a state of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a location of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, and an identifier of a UE group.

[0146] The information of the UE according to the embodiments of the present disclosure contains rich information. By accurately and in detail recording the information of the UE, the first network element is facilitated to subsequently more accurately determine the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0147] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, performed by a second network element, and the method comprises:

[0148] receiving a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the first message including information of the first entity;

[0149] sending a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the first message including information of the first entity;

[0150] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group.

[0151] The second network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure receives the fourth message sent by the AF, and sends the first message to the first network element, for the first network element to determine the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0152] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the information of the first entity in the fourth message is external information or internal information of the first entity.

[0153] The information of the first entity in the first message is internal information of the first entity.

[0154] The second network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure can ensure that the information of the first entity received by the first network element is internal information, to facilitate the identification of the first network element.

[0155] In a third aspect, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, executed by a third network element, the method comprising:

[0156] receiving a second message sent by a first network element, the second message being used for requesting an operation related to a first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity;

[0157] The second message is sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message determined by the first network element from a locally stored context and the third network element.

[0158] The first message is sent by a second network element, the first message being used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising information of the first entity;

[0159] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group.

[0160] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0161] The third network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure receives the second message sent by the first network element, the second message being sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message determined by the first network element from a locally stored context and the third network element, and the first network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0162] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the second message sent by the first network element further comprises:

[0163] receiving a first request sent by the first network element, the first request being used for requesting to subscribe to a first event report;

[0164] sending a first response to the first network element, the first response indicating an agreement of the first network element to subscribe to the first event report;

[0165] The first event report is an event report of at least one first event.

[0166] The first event is an event related to the first entity.

[0167] The third network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure receives the first request sent by the first network element, and returns the first response to the first network element if the third network element agrees to define the first event report, so that the first network element learns that the first event report is successfully subscribed.

[0168] On the basis of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the first response includes a second event report.

[0169] The second event report is an event report of at least one second event.

[0170] The second event is an event of the third network element that is currently available in the at least one first event.

[0171] The first network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure receives the first response not including the second event report, and updates or creates a context related to the first event report locally; and if the first response including the second event report is received, the context related to the second event report is updated locally. The third network element sends the first response including the second event report, so that the first network element can update the local context when the first response is received, and the processing efficiency is improved.

[0172] On the basis of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the sending of the first response to the first network element further includes:

[0173] updating or creating a corresponding context according to the third message in response to receiving the third message of the first entity;

[0174] sending a first notification to the first network element;

[0175] The first notification includes a third event report. The third event report is an event report of at least one third event.

[0176] The third event is an event updated by the corresponding third network element according to the third message in the at least one first event.

[0177] The third network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure updates the third event report according to the third message, and sends a first notification including the third event report to the first network element, so as to update the local context in time for the first network element.

[0178] In a fourth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a second network element, the method comprising:

[0179] receiving a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the fourth message comprising information of the first entity;

[0180] determining, from a locally stored context, at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and a third network element;

[0181] sending, to the third network element satisfying the first message, a second message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, the second message comprising the information of the first entity;

[0182] wherein the first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices;

[0183] the context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0184] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a second network element, after receiving a fourth message sent by an AF, the second network element determines, from a locally stored context, at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and a third network element, and sends, to the third network element satisfying the first message, a second message, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, the second message comprising the information of the first entity, so that the second network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, and the communication efficiency is improved.

[0185] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, as an optional embodiment, receiving a fourth message sent by an AF further comprises:

[0186] sending, to at least one third network element, a first request, the first request being used to request to subscribe to a first event report of the corresponding third network element;

[0187] receiving a first response sent by the at least one third network element, the first response indicating that the corresponding third network element agrees that the first network element subscribes to the first event report;

[0188] wherein the first event report is an event report of at least one first event, and the first event is an event related to the first entity.

[0189] The second network element of the embodiments of the present disclosure sends a first request to at least one third network element to subscribe to a first event report of the corresponding third network element, and if the third network element agrees to define the first event report by the second network element, the third network element returns a first response to the second network element, so that the first network element knows that the first event report is successfully subscribed.

[0190] In addition to the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the first response does not include the second event report, and the context related to the first event report is updated or created locally;

[0191] The first response includes the second event report, and the context related to the second event report is updated or created locally;

[0192] The second event report is an event report of at least one second event;

[0193] The second event is an event that is currently available for a corresponding third network element in the at least one first event.

[0194] The second network element of the embodiments of the present disclosure updates or creates the context related to the first event report locally when receiving the first response that does not include the second event report, and updates the context related to the second event report locally if receiving the first response that includes the second event report. The third network element sends the first response that includes the second event report, so that the second network element can update the local context when receiving the first response, and the processing efficiency is improved.

[0195] In addition to the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the receiving the first response sent by the at least one third network element further includes:

[0196] Receiving a first notification sent by the at least one third network element, the first notification including a third event report;

[0197] Creating or updating the context related to the third event report locally;

[0198] The first notification is sent by the corresponding second network element in response to receiving the third message of the first entity, and is sent after updating or creating the corresponding context according to the third message;

[0199] The third event report is an event report of at least one third event;

[0200] The third event is an event that is updated by the corresponding third network element according to the third message in the at least one first event.

[0201] The third network element of the embodiments of the present disclosure updates the third event report according to the third message, and sends the first notification including the third event report to the second network element, so as to update the local context in time.

[0202] In a fifth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, executed by a third network element, and the method includes:

[0203] receive a second message sent by the second network element, the second message being used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity;

[0204] The second message is sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying a fourth message and the third network element, which is determined by the second network element from the locally stored context, the fourth message being sent by an AF and used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message including information of the first entity.

[0205] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group.

[0206] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0207] The third network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure receives the second message sent by the second network element, and the second message is sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and the third network element, which is determined by the second network element from the locally stored context. The second network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0208] On the basis of each of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the second message sent by the second network element further includes the following before being received:

[0209] The first request sent by the second network element is received, and the first request is used for requesting to subscribe to a first event report.

[0210] The first response is sent to the second network element, and the first response indicates that the second network element is agreed to subscribe to the first event report.

[0211] The first event report is an event report of at least one first event.

[0212] The first event is an event related to the first entity.

[0213] The third network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure receives the first request sent by the second network element. If the third network element agrees to define the first event report by the second network element, the third network element returns the first response to the second network element, so that the second network element knows that the first event report is successfully subscribed.

[0214] On the basis of each of the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the first response includes a second event report.

[0215] The second event report is an event report of at least one second event.

[0216] The second event is an event currently available to the third network element in the at least one first event.

[0217] The third network element facilitates the first network element to update the local context upon receiving the first response including the second event report, thereby improving processing efficiency.

[0218] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment, the sending of the first response to the second network element further includes:

[0219] receiving a third message of the first entity, and updating or creating a corresponding context according to the third message;

[0220] sending a first notification to the second network element;

[0221] The first notification includes a third event report, and the third event report is an event report of at least one third event.

[0222] The third event is an event that the corresponding third network element updates according to the third message in the at least one first event.

[0223] The third network element of the embodiment of the present disclosure updates the third event report according to the third message, and sends the first notification including the third event report to the second network element, thereby enabling the second network element to update the local context in time.

[0224] In a sixth aspect, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first network element, including:

[0225] a transceiver module, configured to receive a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the first message including information of the first entity;

[0226] a processing module, configured to determine at least one of the first entity and a third network element that meets the first message from a locally stored context;

[0227] The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the third network element that meets the first message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the second message including the information of the first entity.

[0228] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group.

[0229] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

[0230] In a seventh aspect, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, including:

[0231] The transceiver module is configured to receive a fourth message sent by the AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message comprising information of the first entity;

[0232] The transceiver module is further configured to send a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising information of the first entity;

[0233] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices.

[0234] The second network element provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can ensure that the information of the first entity received by the first network element is internal information, thereby facilitating the first network element to identify.

[0235] In an eighth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a third network element, comprising:

[0236] The transceiver module is configured to receive a second message sent by a first network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity;

[0237] The second message is sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message or the third network element, which is determined by the first network element from a locally stored context.

[0238] The first message is sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising information of the first entity;

[0239] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices.

[0240] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, or a UE.

[0241] The third network element provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure receives the second message sent by the first network element, and the second message is sent by at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message or the third network element, which is determined by the first network element from a locally stored context. The first network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0242] In a ninth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a second network element, comprising:

[0243] The transceiver module is configured to receive a fourth message sent by the AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message comprising information of the first entity;

[0244] The processing network element is configured to determine at least one of the first entity and the third network element that satisfies the fourth message from the locally stored context.

[0245] The transceiving network element is further configured to send a second message to the third network element that satisfies the fourth message, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity.

[0246] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices.

[0247] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, or a UE.

[0248] The second network element according to the embodiments of the present disclosure receives a fourth message sent by an AF, determines at least one of a first entity and a third network element that satisfies the fourth message from a locally stored context, and sends a second message to the third network element that satisfies the first message, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity. The second network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, and the communication efficiency is improved.

[0249] In a tenth aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a third network element, comprising:

[0250] The transceiving module is configured to receive a second message sent by a second network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity.

[0251] The second message is sent by the first network element from a locally stored context, the first network element determining at least one of a first entity and a third network element that satisfies a first message, the first message being sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message including information of the first entity.

[0252] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices.

[0253] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, or a UE.

[0254] The third network element according to the embodiments of the present disclosure receives a second message sent by a second network element, the second message being sent by the second network element from a locally stored context, the second network element determining at least one of a first entity and a third network element that satisfies a fourth message. The second network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, and the communication efficiency is improved.

[0255] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first network element, comprising:

[0256] one or more processors;

[0257] The processor is configured to perform the method of the first aspect.

[0258] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, comprising:

[0259] one or more processors;

[0260] The processor is configured to perform the method of the second aspect.

[0261] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a third network element, comprising:

[0262] one or more processors;

[0263] The processor is configured to perform the method of the third aspect.

[0264] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a second network element, comprising:

[0265] one or more processors;

[0266] The processor is configured to perform the method of the fourth aspect.

[0267] In a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a third network element, comprising:

[0268] one or more processors;

[0269] The processor is configured to perform the method of the fifth aspect.

[0270] In a sixteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication system, comprising a first network element, a second network element and a third network element; wherein the first network element is configured to implement any one of the methods of the first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure; the second network element is configured to implement any one of the methods of the second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the third network element is configured to implement any one of the methods of the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0271] In a seventeenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication system, comprising a second network element and a third network element; wherein the second network element is configured to implement any one of the methods of the fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the third network element is configured to implement any one of the methods of the fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0272] In an eighteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a storage medium, which, when instructions run on a communication device, causes the communication device to perform any one of the methods of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0273] In a nineteenth aspect, a program product is provided, which is configured to execute the method of any of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0274] It can be understood that the above-mentioned entity, communication system, storage medium, program product, computer program, chip or chip system are all used to execute the method provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects achieved thereby can refer to the beneficial effects in the corresponding method, which will not be described here again.

[0275] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a network element, a communication system and a storage medium. In some embodiments, the terms of communication method, signal sending method, wireless frame sending method, etc. can be replaced with each other, and the terms of information processing system, communication system, etc. can be replaced with each other.

[0276] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive, but only illustrate some embodiments, and are not specific limitations on the protection scope of the present disclosure. In the case of no contradiction, each step in an embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be combined arbitrarily, for example, the scheme after removing some steps in an embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in an embodiment can be exchanged arbitrarily, in addition, the optional implementation manners in an embodiment can be combined arbitrarily; in addition, the embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, for example, the steps of different embodiments or part or all of the steps of different embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, an embodiment can be combined with the optional implementation manners of other embodiments arbitrarily.

[0277] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the terms and / or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0278] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and not as a limitation on the present disclosure.

[0279] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0280] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple", etc. can be replaced with each other.

[0281] In some embodiments, "at least one of A, B", "A and / or B", "in one case A, in another case B", "responsive to case A, responsive to case B" and the like, can be interpreted to include both cases, A and B, in some embodiments, A (A is performed regardless of B), in some embodiments, B (B is performed regardless of A), in some embodiments, selected from the group consisting of A and B (the selection between A and B is an option), in some embodiments, A and B (both A and B are performed).

[0282] In some embodiments, "A or B" and the like, can be interpreted to include both cases, A and B, in some embodiments, A (A is performed regardless of B), in some embodiments, B (B is performed regardless of A), in some embodiments, selected from the group consisting of A and B (the selection between A and B is an option).

[0283] In some embodiments, the prefix words "first", "second" and the like in the disclosure do not limit the position, order, priority, number or content of the described objects, and the description of the described objects should be understood in the context of the claims or embodiments, and should not be construed as redundant limitations. For example, the described object is "field", and the ordinal words before "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not limit the position or order between "fields", and "first" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" modified by them are in the same message or not, nor do they limit the order of "first field" and "second field". For another example, the described object is "level", and the ordinal words before "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not limit the priority between "levels". For another example, the number of described objects is not limited by ordinal words, and can be one or more. For example, "first device", where the number of "devices" can be one or more. In addition, objects modified by different prefix words can be the same or different, for example, the described object is "device", and "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different; for another example, the described object is "information", and "first information" and "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their contents can be the same or different.

[0284] In some embodiments, "including A", "containing A", "for indicating A", "carrying A" can be interpreted as directly carrying A, or indirectly indicating A.

[0285] In some embodiments, the terms "in response to", "in response to determining", "in the case of", "when", "when", "if", "if" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0286] In some embodiments, the terms “greater than”, “less than or equal to”, “no less than”, “more than”, “more than or equal to”, “no less than”, “higher than”, “higher than or equal to”, “no lower than”, “above”, and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms “less than”, “less than or equal to”, “no greater than”, “fewer than”, “fewer than or equal to”, “no more than”, “lower than”, “lower than or equal to”, “no higher than”, “below”, and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0287] In some embodiments, apparatuses and devices can be interpreted as physical, as well as virtual, and their names are not limited to the names described in the embodiments, and in some cases can also be understood as “equipment”, “device”, “circuit”, “device”, “node”, “function”, “unit”, “section”, “system”, “network”, “chip”, “chip system”, “entity”, “subject”, and the like.

[0288] In some embodiments, the terms “access network device (AN device)”, “wireless access network device (radio

[0289] access network device (RAN device)”, “base station (BS)”, “radio base station”, “fixed station”, “node”, “access point”, “transmission point (TP)”, “reception point (RP)”, “transmission / reception point (TRP)”, “panel”, “antenna panel”, “antenna array”, “cell”, “macro cell”, “small cell”, “femto cell”, “pico cell”, “sector”, “cell group”, “carrier”, “component carrier”, “bandwidth part (BWP)”, and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0290] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal," "terminal device," "user equipment," "user terminal," "mobile station," "mobile terminal," "subscriber station," "mobile unit," "subscriber unit," "wireless unit," "remote unit," "mobile device," "wireless device," "wireless communication device," "remote device," "mobile subscriber station," "access terminal," "mobile terminal," "wireless terminal," "remote terminal," "handset," "user agent," "mobile client," "client," and the like can be used interchangeably.

[0291] In some embodiments, an access network device, or a network device can be replaced with a terminal. For example, for a structure in which communication between an access network device, or a network device and a terminal is replaced with communication between a plurality of terminals (for example, also referred to as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and the like), embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied. In this case, a structure in which a terminal has all or part of the functions of an access network device, or a network device can also be provided. Furthermore, the language of "uplink," "downlink," and the like can also be replaced with language corresponding to communication between terminals (for example, "side"). For example, an uplink channel, a downlink channel, and the like can be replaced with a side channel, and an uplink, a downlink, and the like can be replaced with a sidelink.

[0292] In some embodiments, a terminal can be replaced with an access network device, or a network device. In this case, a structure in which an access network device, or a network device has all or part of the functions of a terminal can also be provided.

[0293] In some embodiments, the terms “uplink”, “uplink”, “physical uplink” and the like can be replaced with each other, the terms “downlink”, “downlink”, “physical downlink” and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms “side”, “sidelink”, “sidelink communication”, “sidelink communication”, “direct connection”, “direct connection link”, “direct connection communication”, “direct connection link communication” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0294] In some embodiments, the terms “downlink control information (DCI)”, “downlink (DL) assignment”, “DL DCI”, “uplink (UL) grant”, “UL DCI” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0295] In some embodiments, the terms “physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)”, “DL data” and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms “physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)”, “UL data” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0296] In some embodiments, the terms “acquire”, “obtain”, “get”, “receive”, “transmit”, “bidirectional transmission”, “send and / or receive” and the like can be replaced with each other, and can be interpreted as receiving from other subjects, obtaining from protocols, obtaining by oneself, implementing autonomously and the like.

[0297] In some embodiments, the terms “send”, “transmit”, “report”, “issue”, “transmit”, “bidirectional transmission”, “send and / or receive” and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0298] In some embodiments, “predetermined” and “preset” can be interpreted as being previously specified in protocols and the like, or can be interpreted as being previously set by devices and the like.

[0299] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information and the like can comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is located.

[0300] In some embodiments, data, information and the like can be acquired after obtaining the consent of the user.

[0301] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any element, any row, or any column combination can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0302] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a core network device 102.

[0303] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes at least one of a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a communication-capable automobile, a smart automobile, a Pad, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in smart city, a wireless terminal device in smart home, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0304] In some embodiments, the core network device 102 can be one device including a first network element 1021, a second network element 1022, a third network element 1023, and the like, or can be a plurality of devices or device groups including all or part of the first network element 1021, the second network element 1022, the third network element 1023, and the like. The network element can be virtual or physical. The core network includes at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), a Next Generation Core (NGC), and the like.

[0305] In some embodiments, the first network element 1021 is, for example, an A-IOTF network element.

[0306] In some embodiments, the second network element 1022 is, for example, a Network Exposure Function (NEF) network element.

[0307] In some embodiments, the third network element 1023 is, for example, an AMF network element.

[0308] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiments of the present disclosure is for more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed by the embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of system architecture and the appearance of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed by the embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0309] The following embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1A or part of the subject, but are not limited thereto. The subjects shown in FIG. 1A are illustrative, and the communication system can include all or part of the subjects in FIG. 1A, or other subjects other than FIG. 1A. The number and form of each subject is arbitrary, and the connection relationship between each subject is illustrative. Each subject can be connected or not connected, and the connection can be in any way, can be direct connection or indirect connection, can be wired connection or wireless connection.

[0310] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), 5G-Advanced (5G-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), 5G new radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (Bluetooth (registered trademark)), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, Device-to-Device (D2D) system, Machine to Machine (M2M) system, Internet of Things (IoT) system, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), system using other communication methods, next-generation system expanded based thereon, or the like. In addition, a plurality of systems can be combined (for example, combination of LTE or LTE-A and 5G, or the like).

[0311] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the following traffic types of A-IoT devices:

[0312] Device-terminated (DT);

[0313] Device-originated-device-terminated triggered (DO-DTT);

[0314] It should be noted that DO-DTT also includes traffic from AIoT devices that is triggered by the RAN / UE as a reader, and the CN does not send traffic to the AIoT device.

[0315] The final decision to include DO-A (device-originated-autonomous) in the study depends on the decision of the RAN.

[0316] Figure 1B shows one connection topology involving A-IoT devices according to embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown, the A-IoT device directly and bidirectionally communicates with the base station. The communication between the base station and the A-IoT device includes A-IoT data and / or signaling. This topology includes the possibility of the base station sending data to the A-IoT device, which is different from the base station receiving data from the A-IoT device.

[0317] Figure 1C shows another connection topology involving A-IoT devices according to embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown, the A-IoT device, bidirectionally communicates with the base station through an intermediate node between the A-IoT device and the base station. In this topology, the intermediate node can be a relay, an IAB node, a UE, a repeater, etc. that can enable A-IoT. The intermediate node transmits information between the base station and the A-IoT device.

[0318] In related technologies, when selecting an intermediate node or selecting an A-IoT device, the A-IoTF needs to retrieve information from other NFs, such as AMF, UDM, NWDAF, etc. each time. However, different intermediate nodes or different A-IoT devices can be served by different AMFs, and the AIoTF can need to retrieve information from multiple AMFs, but it is not clear how the AIoTF finds the AMF serving the intermediate node or the selected A-IoT device. If the AIoTF can subscribe to and store information of the intermediate node and / or the environmental IoT device from multiple AMFs, the AIoTF does not need to retrieve information from other NFs each time.

[0319] The embodiment of the disclosure provides a communication method. When a first network element receives a first message sent by a second network element, the first message is used for requesting an operation related to a first entity, and the first message comprises information of the first entity, then the first entity and a third network element satisfying the first message are determined from a locally stored context, a second message is sent to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message is used for requesting the operation related to the first entity, the information of the first entity is included in the second message, and information does not need to be retrieved from other NFs, so that the communication efficiency is effectively improved.

[0320] FIG. 2A is an interaction schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2A, the embodiment of the disclosure relates to a communication method for a communication system 100, and the above method comprises:

[0321] S2101, the first network element sends a first request to at least one third network element.

[0322] In some embodiments, the third network element receives the first request.

[0323] In some embodiments, the first request is used for requesting to subscribe to a first event report of the corresponding third network element.

[0324] In some embodiments, the first event report is an event report of at least one first event, and the first event is an event related to the first entity.

[0325] In some embodiments, the first event report can comprise at least one of the following:

[0326] UE reachability, UE moving into or out of an area of interest, UE state, location of the UE, location trend of the UE, location of the A-IoT device, service area of the UE, capability of the UE, priority of the UE, A-IOT device state, type of the A-IoT device, association relationship between the UE and the A-IoT device, association relationship between the network device and the A-IoT device, service area of the third network element, service area of the network device, priority of the network device, and load of the third network element.

[0327] In some embodiments, the first entity can be at least one of the following: a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group.

[0328] In some embodiments, the first request can be a Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe request message.

[0329] In some embodiments, the first request can comprise at least one of: an identity of the first network element; an identity of the first entity, an identity of the first event report; event report information indicating a rule for the third network element to feedback the first event report, such as a maximum number of reporting times, a frequency, and the like.

[0330] The first network element of the embodiments of the present disclosure subscribes / modifies an event report of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group to the third network element, and the first network element sends a first request to one or more third network elements.

[0331] S2102, the first network element sends a first response to the first network element.

[0332] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the first response.

[0333] In some embodiments, the first response comprises an indication that the corresponding third network element agrees to the first network element subscribing to the first event report.

[0334] In some embodiments, the first response can be a Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe response message.

[0335] In some embodiments, the first response can comprise at least one of: an identity of the third network element, an identity of the UE, an identity of the UE group, an identity of the A-IoT device, an identity of the A-IoT group, event report information, an identity of the event, a timestamp, and the like.

[0336] In some embodiments, the first response can further comprise a valid time or an expiration time, i.e., a valid time of the subscription or an expiration time of the subscription, and it can be understood that the third network element will only send the event report to the first network element when the first event report is updated within the valid time.

[0337] In some embodiments, if the first response does not comprise a second event report, the first network element updates or creates a context related to the first event report locally, and specifically, if the first network element has already stored a context of the first event report locally, upon receiving the first response, the first network element can clear the local context of the first event report, and when a subsequent first event report is received, the cleared context is updated according to the first event report. If the first network element has not stored a context of the first event report locally, a blank context of the first event report can be created at this time.

[0338] In some embodiments, if the first response includes a second event report, the first network element locally updates or creates a context related to the second event report. Specifically, if the first network element has locally stored a context of the second event report, upon receiving the first response, the first network element can clear the locally stored context of the second event report, and when subsequently receiving the second event report, update the cleared context according to the first event report. If the first network element has not locally stored a context of the second event report, a blank context of the second event report can be created at this time.

[0339] In some embodiments, the second event report is an event report of at least one second event, and the second event is a currently available event of the corresponding third network element in the at least one first event. For example, if the first network element subscribes to five events on the third network element, namely events 1-5, the third network element queries whether the event reports of events 1-5 have been locally stored. If it is found that the event report of event 1 has been stored, the event report of event 1 is also the third event report.

[0340] In some embodiments, the context can be at the level of each third network element, at the level of an A-IoT device, or at the level of a UE, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations.

[0341] S2103, in response to receiving the third message of the first entity, the at least one third network element updates or creates a corresponding context according to the third message.

[0342] In some embodiments, the third message can be an inventory result, a command result, or an event report of a UE, a gNB, or an A-IoT device.

[0343] In some embodiments, when the third network element receives the third message of the first entity, the third network element can be triggered to locally create or update a context of a UE or an A-IoT device.

[0344] In some embodiments, the context of the UE includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the UE, an identifier of a UE group, UE reachability, UE moving into or out of a region of interest, a state of the UE, a location of the UE, a location trend of the UE, a service area of the UE, an A-IOT service capability of the UE, a priority of the UE, an identifier of an A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identifier of an A-IoT device group associated with the UE, a type of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a state of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a location of the A-IoT device associated with the UE.

[0345] In some embodiments, the context of the A-IoT device comprises at least one of: an identity of the A-IoT device, an identity of a group of A-IoT devices, a type of the A-IoT device, a status of the A-IoT device, a location of the A-IoT device, an identity of a UE associated with the A-IoT device, an identity of a group of UEs associated with the A-IoT device.

[0346] It is noted that the context of the A-IoT device can be per A-IoT device level or per A-IoT device group level.

[0347] S2104, the at least one third network element sends a first notification to the first network element.

[0348] The third network element notifies the first network element of the update of the subscription event based on the subscription of the above steps.

[0349] In some embodiments, the first notification can comprise a third event report.

[0350] In some embodiments, the first notification can be a Namf_EventExposure_Notify message.

[0351] In some embodiments, the first notification can comprise at least one of: an identity of the third network element, an identity of the UE, an identity of the group of UEs, an identity of the A-IoT device, an identity of the group of A-IoT devices, an identity of the third event report, a timestamp.

[0352] S2105, the first network element locally creates or updates a context related to the third event report.

[0353] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the first notification sent by the third network element, and locally creates or updates at least one of: a context of the third network element, a context of the UE, and a context of the A-IoT device.

[0354] In some embodiments, the first network element receives the first notification sent by the third network element, and locally creates or updates a context related to the third event report and adds the third event report to the context related to the third event report.

[0355] It is noted that the context can be per third network element level, or per UE (group) level, or per A-IoT device ((group)) level. For the context per third network element level, it comprises the context of all UEs stored in one third network element, and / or the context of all corresponding A-IoT devices.

[0356] In some embodiments, the second network element can manage the context of a plurality of third network elements subscribed.

[0357] In some embodiments, the first network element receives a plurality of third notifications sent by a plurality of third network elements, locally creates or updates a context related to the third event report, and adds the third event report into the context related to the third event report.

[0358] S2106, the AF can send a fourth message to the second network element.

[0359] In some embodiments, the AF can send the fourth message through the second network element, and the fourth message is used to request an operation related to the first entity.

[0360] In some embodiments, the fourth message can include an inventory request or a command message (including a read, write, or disable command). The AF can also include information of a related A-IoT device and / or information of a related UE in the message. The information of the related A-IoT device and / or the information of the related UE can be carried in the inventory request or the command message, or can not be carried in the inventory request or the command message.

[0361] Embodiments of the present disclosure send, through the second network element, an inventory request or a command message in the fourth message to the A-IoT device, and information of a related A-IoT device and / or information of a related UE.

[0362] In some embodiments, the information of the related A-IoT device includes at least one of the following:

[0363] an identifier, a location, a region, a type, a state, an association relationship between a UE and an A-IoT device, an association relationship between a network device and an A-IoT device, an identifier of an A-IoT device group of the A-IoT device.

[0364] In some embodiments, the information of the related UE includes at least one of the following:

[0365] an identifier, reachability, a state, a location, a region, a location trend, a UE service region, an A-IoT service capability, a priority, an identifier of an A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identifier of an A-IoT device group associated with the UE, a type of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a state of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a location of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identifier of a UE group.

[0366] S2107, the second network element authorizes the fourth message of the AF.

[0367] In some embodiments, the information of the first entity in the fourth message is internal information of the first entity, and the second network element authorizes the request of the AF.

[0368] In some embodiments, the information of the first entity in the fourth message is external information of the first entity, the second network element authorizes the request of the AF, and converts the external information of the first entity into internal information of the first entity.

[0369] In some embodiments, the second network element can retrieve information from the UDM, and convert the external information of the first entity into internal information of the first entity.

[0370] In some embodiments, the external information of the first entity refers to information identifying the first entity outside the core network, for example, the external information of the first entity can be information of an application layer of the first entity.

[0371] In some embodiments, the external information of the first entity can be at least one of an application layer identifier of the first entity, a group application layer identifier, an application layer location identifier, and an application layer time identifier.

[0372] In some embodiments, the internal information of the first entity includes information identifying the first entity in the core network. In some embodiments, the first message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes the information of the first entity; the information of the first entity in the first message is external information of the first entity.

[0373] S2108, the second network element sends a first message to the first network element.

[0374] In some embodiments, the first message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes the information of the first entity.

[0375] S2109, the first network element determines at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element from the locally stored context.

[0376] In some embodiments, the first network element determines the first entity satisfying the first message from at least one of the locally stored context of the third network element, the context of the UE, and the context of the A-IoT device.

[0377] In some embodiments, the first network element determines the first entity satisfying the first message and serving the third network element from at least one of the locally stored context of the third network element, the context of the UE, and the context of the A-IoT device.

[0378] In some embodiments, the first network element determines the first entity satisfying the first message and serving the third network element from at least one of the locally stored context of the third network element, the context of the UE, and the context of the A-IoT device.

[0379] In some embodiments, the first entity can be one or more devices. When the first entity is one A-IoT device, the third network element serving the first entity can be one third network element, and when the first entity is multiple A-IoT devices, the third network element serving the first entity can be one or multiple third network elements, but the third network element serving each A-IoT device is unique.

[0380] In some embodiments, the third network element serving the first entity can be one or more third network element devices.

[0381] It should be noted that the first network element determines the first entity and / or the third network element satisfying the first message from the locally stored context after receiving the first message.

[0382] S2110, the first network element sends a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0383] In some embodiments, if the first network element determines the first entity and the third network element satisfying the first message from the locally stored context, the third network element can be instructed to send the second message to the first entity, and if the third network element satisfying the first message is found, the third network element can be instructed to find the first entity and send the second message to the found first entity after finding the first entity.

[0384] In some embodiments, the second message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first entity information is included in the second message.

[0385] For example, the information of the A-IoT device indicates A-IoT group 1 in TAI 1+2+3, and the context of A-IoT group 1 is in AMF1, 2 and 3. The service area of AMF1 is TAI1+3, AMF2 is TAI2, and AMF3 is TAI4. AIoTF can send a second message to AMF1 and AMF2.

[0386] The communication method of the embodiments of the present application, the first network element and the second network element are independent of each other, the first network element subscribes to the first event report of at least one third network element, and when the first event report is updated, the updated event report can be received, and the context is created or updated. After receiving the first message sent by the second network element, at least one of the first entity and the third network element satisfying the first message is determined from the locally stored context, and a second message is sent to the third network element satisfying the first message. The second message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first entity information is included in the second message. The first network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, and the communication efficiency is improved.

[0387] Please refer to FIG. 2B, which exemplarily shows an interaction diagram of another communication method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2B, the embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a communication method for the communication system 100, and the above method comprises:

[0388] S2201, the second network element sends a first request to at least one third network element.

[0389] In some embodiments, the third network element receives the first request.

[0390] In some embodiments, the first request is used to request subscription of a first event report of the corresponding third network element.

[0391] In some embodiments, the first event report is an event report of at least one first event, and the first event is an event related to the first entity.

[0392] In some embodiments, the first event report can include at least one of the following:

[0393] UE reachability, UE moving in or out of an area of interest, UE state, location of the UE, location trend of the UE, location of the A-IoT device, service area of the UE, capability of the UE, priority of the UE, A-IOT device state, type of the A-IoT device, association relationship between the UE and the A-IoT device, association relationship between the network device and the A-IoT device, service area of the corresponding third network element, service area of the network device, priority of the network device, and load of the third network element.

[0394] In some embodiments, the first entity can be at least one of the following: UE, UE group, A-IOT device, and A-IOT device group.

[0395] In some embodiments, the first request can be a Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe request message.

[0396] In some embodiments, the first request can include at least one of the following: identification of the first network element; identification of the first entity, identification of the first event report; event report information, which is used to indicate rules for the third network element to feed back the first event report, such as maximum number of reports, frequency, etc.

[0397] The second network element of the embodiments of the present disclosure subscribes / modifies the event report of the UE, UE group, A-IOT device, and A-IOT device group to the third network element, and the second network element sends the first request to one or more third network elements.

[0398] S2202, the at least one third network element sends a first response to the second network element.

[0399] In some embodiments, the second network element receives the first response.

[0400] In some embodiments, the first response comprises an indication that the respective third network element agrees to the second network element subscribing to the first event report.

[0401] In some embodiments, the first response can be a Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe response message.

[0402] In some embodiments, the first response can comprise at least one of the following: an identity of the third network element, an identity of the UE, an identity of the UE group, an identity of the A-IoT device, an identity of the A-IoT group, event reporting information, an identity of the event, a timestamp, etc.

[0403] In some embodiments, the first response can further comprise a validity time or an expiration time, i.e. a validity time of the subscription or a time of expiration of the subscription, it can be understood that the third network element will only send the event report to the second network element if the first event report update occurs within the validity time.

[0404] In some embodiments, if the first response does not comprise the second event report, the first network element locally updates or creates a context related to the first event report, specifically, if the first network element has already stored the context of the first event report locally, upon receiving the first response, the first network element can clear the local context of the first event report, and when subsequently receiving the first event report, update the cleared context according to the first event report. If the first network element has not stored the context of the first event report locally, it can first create a blank context of the first event report at this time.

[0405] In some embodiments, if the first response comprises the second event report, the second network element locally updates or creates a context related to the second event report, specifically, if the second network element has already stored the context of the second event report locally, upon receiving the first response, the second network element can clear the local context of the second event report, and when subsequently receiving the second event report, update the cleared context according to the first event report. If the second network element has not stored the context of the second event report locally, it can first create a blank context of the second event report at this time.

[0406] In some embodiments, the second event report is an event report of at least one second event, the second event being a currently available event of the respective third network element among the at least one first event, for example, if the second network element subscribes to 5 events on the third network element, namely events 1-5, the third network element queries whether the event reports of events 1-5 have been stored locally, and if it is found that the event report of event 1 has been stored, the event report of event 1 is also the third event report.

[0407] In some embodiments, the context can be per third network element level, per A-IoT device level, or per UE level, and the embodiments of the present application are not specifically limited.

[0408] S2203, the at least one third network element updates or creates the respective context according to the third message in response to receiving the third message of the first entity.

[0409] In some embodiments, the third message can include the inventory result, the command result, or the event report of the UE, the gNB, or the A-IoT device, and when the third network element receives the third message of the first entity, the third network element can be triggered to locally create or update the context of the UE or the A-IoT device.

[0410] In some embodiments, the context of the UE includes at least one of the following: the identity of the UE, the identity of the UE group, the reachability of the UE, the UE moving into or out of the area of interest, the status of the UE, the location of the UE, the location trend of the UE, the service area of the UE, the A-IOT service capability of the UE, the priority of the UE, the identity of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, the identity of the A-IoT device group associated with the UE, the type of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, the status of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, and the location of the A-IoT device associated with the UE.

[0411] In some embodiments, the context of the A-IoT device includes at least one of the following: the identity of the A-IoT device, the identity of the A-IoT device group, the type of the A-IoT device, the status of the A-IoT device, the location of the A-IoT device, the identity of the UE associated with the A-IoT device, and the identity of the UE group associated with the A-IoT device.

[0412] It should be noted that the context of the A-IoT device can be per A-IoT device level or per A-IoT device group level.

[0413] S2204, the at least one third network element sends a first notification to the second network element.

[0414] The third network element notifies the second network element of the update of the subscribed event based on the subscription of the above steps.

[0415] In some embodiments, the first notification can comprise the third event report.

[0416] In some embodiments, the first notification can be a Namf_EventExposure_Notify message.

[0417] In some embodiments, the first notification can comprise at least one of an identity of the third network element, an identity of the UE, an identity of the UE group, an identity of the A-IoT device, an identity of the A-IoT device group, an identity of the third event report, a timestamp.

[0418] S2205, the second network element locally creates or updates a context related to the third event report.

[0419] In some embodiments, the second network element receives the first notification sent by the third network element, locally creates or updates a context related to the third event report, such as at least one of a context of the third network element, a context of the UE, and a context of the A-IoT device.

[0420] It should be noted that the context can be per third network element level, or per UE (group) level, or per A-IoT device ((group)) level. For the context per third network element level, it includes the context of all UEs and the context of all corresponding A-IoT devices stored in one third network element.

[0421] In some embodiments, the second network element can manage the context of multiple third network elements subscribed.

[0422] S2206, the AF sends a fourth message to the second network element.

[0423] In some embodiments, the fourth message is used to request an operation related to the first entity.

[0424] In some embodiments, the fourth message can comprise an inventory request or command message (including read, write or disable command). The AF can also include information of the related A-IoT device and / or information of the related UE in the message. The information of the related A-IoT device and / or the information of the related UE can be carried in the inventory request or command message or not.

[0425] Embodiments of the present disclosure send the inventory request or command message in the fourth message and the information of the related A-IoT device and / or the information of the related UE to the A-IoT device through the second network element.

[0426] In some embodiments, the related A-IoT device information comprises at least one of the following:

[0427] An identifier of the A-IoT device, a location, a region, a type, a status, an association relationship between the UE and the A-IoT device, an association relationship between the network device and the A-IoT device, and an identifier of an A-IoT device group.

[0428] In some embodiments, the information of the related UE includes at least one of the following:

[0429] An identifier of the UE, reachability, a status, a location, a region, a location trend, a UE service region, an A-IoT service capability, a priority, an identifier of an A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identifier of an A-IoT device group associated with the UE, a type of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a status of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, a location of the A-IoT device associated with the UE, and an identifier of a UE group.

[0430] In some embodiments, the information of the first entity in the fourth message is internal information of the first entity, and the second network element authorizes the request of the AF and converts the external information into the internal information. To convert the information, the second network element can retrieve the information from a UDM.

[0431] In some embodiments, the internal information can refer to information at an application layer, and the external information can refer to information in a core network.

[0432] In some embodiments, the first message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes information of the first entity; and the information of the first entity in the first message is external information of the first entity.

[0433] S2207, the NEF authorizes the request of the AF.

[0434] In some embodiments, the information of the first entity in the fourth message is internal information of the first entity, and the second network element authorizes the request of the AF.

[0435] In some embodiments, the information of the first entity in the fourth message is external information of the first entity, the second network element authorizes the request of the AF, and converts the external information of the first entity into internal information of the first entity.

[0436] In some embodiments, the second network element can retrieve the information from a UDM and convert the external information of the first entity into the internal information of the first entity.

[0437] In some embodiments, the external information of the first entity refers to information that identifies the first entity outside a core network, for example, the external information of the first entity can be information at an application layer of the first entity.

[0438] In some embodiments, the external information of the first entity can be at least one of an application layer identifier of the first entity, a group application layer identifier, an application layer location identifier, and an application layer time identifier.

[0439] In some embodiments, the internal information of the first entity can refer to information identifying the first entity in the core network. In some embodiments, the first message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes the information of the first entity; the information of the first entity in the first message is external information of the first entity.

[0440] S2208, the second network element determines at least one of the first entity and the third network element satisfying the fourth message from the locally stored context.

[0441] It should be noted that the second network element determines at least one of the first entity and the third network element satisfying the fourth message from the locally stored context after receiving the first message.

[0442] S2209, the second network element sends a second message to the third network element satisfying the fourth message.

[0443] In some embodiments, the first network element determines the first entity satisfying the fourth message from at least one of the locally stored context of the third network element, the context of the UE, and the context of the A-IoT device.

[0444] In some embodiments, the first network element determines the third network element serving the first entity satisfying the fourth message from at least one of the locally stored context of the third network element, the context of the UE, and the context of the A-IoT device.

[0445] In some embodiments, the first network element determines the first entity satisfying the fourth message and the third network element serving the first entity from at least one of the locally stored context of the third network element, the context of the UE, and the context of the A-IoT device.

[0446] In some embodiments, the first entity can be one or more devices. When the first entity is one A-IoT device, the third network element serving the first entity can be one third network element, and when the first entity is multiple A-IoT devices, the third network element serving the first entity can be one or multiple third network elements, but the third network element serving each A-IoT device is unique.

[0447] In some embodiments, the third network element serving the first entity can be one or more third network element devices.

[0448] In some embodiments, if the second network element determines from the locally stored context that the first entity satisfying the fourth message and the third network element, the third network element can be instructed to send the second message to the first entity, if only the third network element satisfying the fourth message is found, the third network element can be instructed to find the first entity, and after finding the first entity, the second message is sent to the found first entity.

[0449] In some embodiments, the second message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message includes information of the first entity.

[0450] For example, the information of the A-IoT device indicates the A-IoT group 1 in the TAI 1+2+3, and the context of the A-IoT device group 1 is in the AMF 1, 2 and 3. The service area of the AMF 1 is TAI1+3, the AMF 2 is TAI2, and the AMF 3 is TAI4. The AIoTF can send the second message to the AMF 1 and the AMF 2.

[0451] The communication method of the embodiments of the present application, the first network element as one entity in the second network element, the second network element subscribes to the first event report of at least one third network element, when the first event report is updated, the updated event report can be received, and the context is created or updated, after receiving the first message sent by the second network element, at least one of the first entity and the third network element satisfying the first message is determined from the locally stored context, the second message is sent to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message includes information of the first entity. The second network element no longer needs to retrieve information from other NFs, and the communication efficiency is improved.

[0452] FIG. 3A is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3A, the embodiment of the present disclosure is executed by a first network element, and the above method comprises:

[0453] S3101, receiving a first message sent by a second network element.

[0454] The first message of the embodiment of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes information of the first entity.

[0455] The optional implementation of step S3101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2108 of FIG. 2A, and other related parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here.

[0456] S3102, determining at least one of the first entity and the third network element satisfying the first message from the locally stored context.

[0457] In some embodiments, the context stored locally by the first network element is obtained by subscribing to the first event report of at least one third network element.

[0458] In some embodiments, the first network element subscribing to the first event report can send a first request to the third network element, the first request being used to request to subscribe to the first event report of the corresponding third network element, and when the first network element receives a first response sent by the third network element, it knows that the subscription is successful.

[0459] In some embodiments, the first response includes a second event report, and the first network element updates or creates a context related to the second event report locally.

[0460] In some embodiments, the first network element receives a first notification sent by at least one third network element, the first notification including a third event report; and creates or updates a context related to the third event report locally.

[0461] The optional implementation of step S3102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2109 in FIG. 2A and other associated parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here.

[0462] S3103, sending a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0463] The second message of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the information of the first entity is included in the second message.

[0464] The optional implementation of step S3103 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2110 in FIG. 2A and other associated parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here.

[0465] The processing method of the receiving window involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can include at least one of steps S3101-S3103. For example, step S3101 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S3102 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S3103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0466] It should be noted that S3101, S3102 and S3103 of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be arbitrarily exchanged in order and freely combined for implementation without contradiction.

[0467] FIG. 3B is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3B, the embodiments of the present disclosure are executed by a second network element, and the above method includes:

[0468] S3201, receiving a fourth message sent by an AF.

[0469] The fourth message is used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes information of the first entity.

[0470] The optional implementation of step S3201 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2106 in FIG. 2A, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, which are not described herein again.

[0471] S3202, sending a first message to the first network element,

[0472] The first message is used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes information of the first entity.

[0473] The optional implementation of step S3202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2108 in FIG. 2A and step S3101 in FIG. 3A, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, which are not described herein again.

[0474] The processing method of the receiving window related to the embodiments of the present disclosure can include at least one of step S3201 to step S3202. For example, step S3201 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S3202 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0475] It should be noted that S3201 and S3202 of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be arbitrarily exchanged in order and freely combined for implementation without contradiction.

[0476] FIG. 3C is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3C, the embodiments of the present disclosure are executed by a third network element, and the above method includes:

[0477] S3301, receiving a second message sent by a first network element.

[0478] The second message is used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, and the second message includes information of the first entity.

[0479] In some embodiments, the third network element further receives a first request sent by the first network element before step S3301, the first request is used for requesting to subscribe to a first event report, and if the third network element agrees that the first network element subscribes to the first event report, a first response is sent to the first network element.

[0480] In some embodiments, the first response includes a second event report, and the first network element locally updates or creates a context related to the second event report.

[0481] In some embodiments, the third network element updates the corresponding event in response to receiving the third message, and generates a third event report. The third network element sends a first notification to the first network element, so that the first network element updates or creates the corresponding context according to the first notification.

[0482] In some embodiments, when the first network element receives the first message sent by the second network element, the first message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message includes information of the first entity. The first network element determines at least one of the first entity and the third network element that satisfies the first message from the locally stored context, and sends a second message to the third network element that satisfies the first message.

[0483] The optional implementation of step S3301 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2110 in FIG. 2A and step S3101 in FIG. 3A, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0484] FIG. 3D is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3D, the method is performed by a second network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and includes the following steps:

[0485] S3401, receiving a fourth message sent by an AF.

[0486] The fourth message according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message includes information of the first entity.

[0487] The optional implementation of step S3401 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2206 in FIG. 2B, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2B, which will not be repeated here.

[0488] S3402, determining at least one of the first entity and the third network element that satisfies the first message from the locally stored context.

[0489] In some embodiments, the context locally stored by the second network element is obtained by subscribing to the first event report of at least one third network element.

[0490] In some embodiments, the second network element can send a first request to the third network element, and the first request is used to request to subscribe to the first event report of the corresponding third network element. When the second network element receives a first response sent by the third network element, it knows that the subscription is successful.

[0491] In some embodiments, the second response includes a second event report, and the second network element locally updates or creates a context related to the second event report.

[0492] In some embodiments, the second network element receives a first notification sent by at least one third network element, the first notification comprising a third event report; and locally creates or updates a context related to the third event report.

[0493] The optional implementation of step S3402 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2208 in FIG. 2B and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2B, which will not be repeated here.

[0494] S3403, sending a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0495] The second message of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the information of the first entity is included in the second message.

[0496] The optional implementation of step S3403 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2209 in FIG. 2B and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2B, which will not be repeated here.

[0497] FIG. 3E is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3E, the embodiments of the present disclosure are performed by a third network element, and the above method comprises:

[0498] S3501, receiving a second message sent by a second network element.

[0499] The second message of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the information of the first entity is included in the second message.

[0500] In some embodiments, the third network element further receives a first request sent by the first network element before step S3301, the first request is used to request to subscribe to the first event report, and if the third network element agrees that the first network element subscribes to the first event report, a first response is sent to the first network element.

[0501] In some embodiments, the first response comprises a second event report, and the first network element locally updates or creates a context related to the second event report.

[0502] In some embodiments, the third network element updates the corresponding event and generates a third event report in response to receiving the third message, and the third network element sends the third message to the first network element, so that the first network element updates or creates the corresponding context according to the third message.

[0503] In some embodiments, when the first network element receives the fourth message sent by the AF, the fourth message is used to request an operation related to the first entity, the fourth message comprises information of the first entity, the first network element determines at least one of the first entity and the third network element satisfying the first message from the locally stored context, and sends the second message to the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0504] The optional implementation of step S3501 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2209 in FIG. 2B and other associated parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2B, which will not be repeated here.

[0505] FIG. 4A is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is performed by a communication system, and the method comprises:

[0506] S4101, the second network element receives a fourth message sent by the AF.

[0507] The fourth message in the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprises information of the first entity.

[0508] The optional implementation of step S4101 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2106 in FIG. 2A, the optional implementation of step S3201 in FIG. 3B, and other associated parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0509] S4102, the second network element sends a first message to the first network element.

[0510] The first message in the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprises information of the first entity.

[0511] The optional implementation of step S4102 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2108 in FIG. 2A, the optional implementation of step S3202 in FIG. 3B, and other associated parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3B, which will not be repeated here.

[0512] S4103, the first network element receives the first message sent by the second network element.

[0513] The first message in the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprises information of the first entity.

[0514] The optional implementation of step S4103 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2108 in FIG. 2A, the optional implementation of step S3101 in FIG. 3A, and other associated parts in the embodiments involved in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0515] S4104, the first network element determines at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and the third network element from the context stored locally.

[0516] In some embodiments, the context stored locally by the first network element is obtained by subscribing to the first event report of at least one third network element.

[0517] In some embodiments, the first network element subscribing to the first event report can send a first request to the third network element, the first request being used to request to subscribe to the first event report of the corresponding third network element, and when the first network element receives a first response sent by the third network element, it knows that the subscription is successful.

[0518] In some embodiments, the first response includes a second event report, and the first network element updates or creates a context related to the second event report locally.

[0519] In some embodiments, the first network element receives a first notification sent by at least one third network element, the first notification including a third event report; and creates or updates a context related to the third event report locally.

[0520] The optional implementation of step S4104 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2109 in FIG. 2A, step S3102 in FIG. 3A, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0521] S4105, the first network element sends a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message.

[0522] The second message of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the information of the first entity is included in the second message.

[0523] The optional implementation of step S4105 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2110 in FIG. 2A, step S3103 in FIG. 3A, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, which will not be repeated here.

[0524] S4106, the third network element receives the second message sent by the first network element.

[0525] The optional implementation of step S4106 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2110 in FIG. 2A, step S3303 in FIG. 3C, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3C, which will not be repeated here.

[0526] The communication method related to the embodiments of the present disclosure can include at least one of steps S4101-S4106. For example, step S4101 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, step S4102 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and step S4103 can be implemented as an independent embodiment, but is not limited thereto.

[0527] In some embodiments, step S4101 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0528] In some embodiments, step S4102 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0529] In some embodiments, step S4103 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0530] In some embodiments, step S4104 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0531] In some embodiments, step S4105 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0532] In some embodiments, step S4106 is optional, and one or more of the steps can be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0533] It should be noted that S4101-S4106 of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be arbitrarily exchanged in order and freely combined for implementation without contradiction.

[0534] FIG. 4B is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is performed by a communication system, and the method includes:

[0535] S4201, the second network element receives a fourth message sent by the AF.

[0536] The fourth message of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message includes information of the first entity.

[0537] The optional implementation of step S4201 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2206 of FIG. 2B, step S3401 of FIG. 3D, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIGS. 2B and 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0538] S4202, the second network element determines at least one of the first entity and the third network element that satisfies the fourth message from the context stored locally.

[0539] In some embodiments, the context stored locally by the second network element is obtained by subscribing to the first event report of at least one third network element.

[0540] In some embodiments, the second network element subscribing to the second event report can send a second request to the third network element, the second request being used to request to subscribe to the first event report of the corresponding third network element, and when the second network element receives the first response sent by the third network element, it knows that the subscription is successful.

[0541] In some embodiments, the first response includes the second event report, and the second network element updates or creates the context related to the second event report locally.

[0542] In some embodiments, the second network element receives the first notification sent by at least one third network element, the first notification including the third event report; and creates or updates the context related to the third event report locally.

[0543] The optional implementation of step S4202 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2208 in FIG. 2B, step S3402 in FIG. 3D, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2B and FIG. 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0544] S4203, the second network element sends a second message to the third network element that satisfies the fourth message.

[0545] The second message of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the information of the first entity is included in the second message.

[0546] The optional implementation of step S4203 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2209 in FIG. 2B, step S3403 in FIG. 3D, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2B and FIG. 3D, which will not be repeated here.

[0547] S4204, the third network element receives the second message sent by the second network element.

[0548] The second message of the embodiments of the present disclosure is used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the information of the first entity is included in the second message.

[0549] The optional implementation of step S4204 can refer to the optional implementation of step S2209 in FIG. 2B, step S3501 in FIG. 3E, and other associated parts in the embodiments related to FIG. 2B and FIG. 3E, which will not be repeated here.

[0550] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a device for implementing any of the above methods. For example, a device is provided, which includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the first network element 1021 in any of the above methods. For another example, another device is provided, which includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the second network element 1022 in any of the above methods. For yet another example, still another device is provided, which includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the third network element 1023 in any of the above methods.

[0551] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division, and all or part of the units or modules can be integrated into one physical entity, or can be physically separated. In addition, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of processor-invoked software: for example, the device includes a processor connected with a memory, the memory stores instructions, and the processor invokes the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules of the device, where the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is a memory within the device or a memory outside the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuit, and the functions of part or all of the units or modules can be implemented by the design of the hardware circuit, which can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of part or all of the units or modules are implemented by the design of the logical relationship between the elements in the circuit; for another example, in another implementation, the hardware circuit is a programmable logic device (PLD), and taking a field programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by a configuration file, thereby implementing the functions of part or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above device can be implemented in the form of processor-invoked software, or all units or modules can be implemented in the form of hardware circuit, or part of the units or modules are implemented in the form of processor-invoked software, and the remaining part is implemented in the form of hardware circuit.

[0552] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capability. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and running capability, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), a digital signal processor (DSP), or the like. In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through a logical relationship of a hardware circuit, and the logical relationship of the hardware circuit is fixed or can be reconfigured. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In the reconfigurable hardware circuit, the processor loads a configuration document to implement the configuration of the hardware circuit. It can be understood that the processor loads instructions to implement the functions of the above part or all units or modules. In addition, the hardware circuit can also be designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), and the like.

[0553] FIG. 5A is a structural schematic diagram of a first network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5A, the first network element can include a transceiver module 5011 and a processing module 5012.

[0554] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 5011 is configured to receive a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the first message including information of the first entity.

[0555] In some embodiments, the processing module 5012 is configured to determine at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element from a locally stored context.

[0556] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 5011 is further configured to send a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the second message including the information of the first entity.

[0557] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0558] The context is at least one of a context of the third network element, an A-IoT device, or a UE.

[0559] FIG. 5B is a structural schematic diagram of a second network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5A, the second network element can include a transceiver module 5021.

[0560] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 5021 is configured to receive a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the first message including information of the first entity.

[0561] The transceiver module 5021 is further configured to send a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the first message including information of the first entity.

[0562] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0563] FIG. 5C is a structural schematic diagram of a third network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5C, the third network element can include a transceiver module 5031.

[0564] In some embodiments, the transceiver module 5031 is configured to receive a second message sent by a first network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the second message including information of the first entity.

[0565] The second message is sent by at least one of the first entity determined by the first network element from a locally stored context or the third network element.

[0566] The first message is sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, the first message including information of the first entity.

[0567] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, or an A-IOT device group.

[0568] The context is at least one of a context of the third network element, an A-IoT device, or a UE.

[0569] FIG. 5D is a structural schematic diagram of a second network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5D, the second network element can include a transceiver module 5041 and a processing module 5042.

[0570] In some embodiments, the transceiving network element 5041 is configured to receive a fourth message sent by the AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message comprising information of the first entity;

[0571] In some embodiments, the processing network element 5042 is configured to determine, from the locally stored context, at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and the third network element;

[0572] The transceiving network element is further configured to send, to the third network element satisfying the fourth message, a second message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising the information of the first entity;

[0573] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices.

[0574] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, or a UE.

[0575] FIG. 5E is a structural diagram of a third network element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5E, the third network element can include a transceiving module 5051.

[0576] In some embodiments, the transceiving module 5051 is configured to receive a second message sent by the second network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity;

[0577] The second message is sent by the first network element from a locally stored context, at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and the third network element being determined from the locally stored context, the first message being sent by the second network element, the first message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising the information of the first entity.

[0578] The first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices.

[0579] The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, or a UE.

[0580] FIG. 6A is a structural diagram of a communication device 6100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication device 6100 can be a network device (for example, an access network device, etc.), can be an Internet of Things device, can be a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the network device to implement any of the above methods, or can be a chip, a chip system, or a processor supporting the Internet of Things device to implement any of the above methods. The communication device 6100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments, and specific reference can be made to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0581] As shown in FIG. 6A, the communication device 6100 includes one or more processors 6101. The processor 6101 can be a general processor or a special-purpose processor, etc., such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be configured to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be configured to control a communication apparatus (e.g., a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal device, a terminal device chip, a DU or a CU, etc.), execute programs, and process data of the programs. Optionally, the communication device 6100 is configured to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the one or more processors 6101 are configured to invoke instructions to cause the communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods.

[0582] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more transceivers 6102. When the communication device 6100 includes one or more transceivers 6102, the transceiver 6102 performs at least one of the communication steps (e.g., step S2101, but not limited to) in the above methods, and the processor 6101 performs at least one of the other steps (e.g., step S2102, but not limited to). In optional embodiments, the transceiver can include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which can be separate or integrated together. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiving unit, transceiver, transceiving circuit, interface circuit, interface, etc. can be replaced by each other, and the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc. can be replaced by each other, and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc. can be replaced by each other.

[0583] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more memories 6103 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the memory 6103 can also be outside the communication device 6100. In optional embodiments, the communication device 6100 can include one or more interface circuits 6104. Optionally, the interface circuit 6104 is connected to the memory 6102, and the interface circuit 6104 can be configured to receive data from the memory 6102 or other devices, and can be configured to send data to the memory 6102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 6104 can read data stored in the memory 6102 and send the data to the processor 6101.

[0584] The communication device 6100 described in the above embodiments can be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 6100 described in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 6100 can not be limited by FIG. 6A. The communication device can be a standalone device or can be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be: 1) a standalone integrated circuit (IC), or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a set of one or more ICs, which can optionally also include storage components for storing data, programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, a terminal device, a smart terminal device, a cellular phone, a wireless device, a handset, a mobile unit, a vehicle-mounted device, a network device, a cloud device, an artificial intelligence device, and the like; (6) other devices, and the like.

[0585] FIG. 6B is a structural schematic diagram of a chip 6200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the case where the communication device 6100 is a chip or a chip system, the structural schematic diagram of the chip 6200 shown in FIG. 6B can be referred to, but is not limited thereto.

[0586] The chip 6200 includes one or more processors 6201. The chip 6200 is configured to perform any of the above methods.

[0587] In some embodiments, the chip 6200 further includes one or more interface circuits 6202. Optionally, the terms interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, and the like can be replaced with each other. In some embodiments, the chip 6200 further includes one or more memories 6203 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the memory 6203 can be outside the chip 6200. Optionally, the interface circuit 6202 is connected to the memory 6203, and the interface circuit 6202 can be configured to receive data from the memory 6203 or other devices, and the interface circuit 6202 can be configured to send data to the memory 6203 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 6202 can read data stored in the memory 6203 and send the data to the processor 6201.

[0588] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 6202 performs at least one of the communication steps (for example, step S2101, but not limited thereto) of transmitting and / or receiving in the above methods. The interface circuit 6202 performing the communication steps such as transmitting and / or receiving in the above methods means that the interface circuit 6202 performs data interaction between the processor 6201, the chip 6200, the memory 6203, or a transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 6201 performs at least one of the other steps (for example, step S2102, but not limited thereto).

[0589] The present disclosure further provides a storage medium having stored instructions which, when executed on the communication device 6100, cause the communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but is not limited thereto and can also be a storage medium readable by other apparatuses. Optionally, the storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, but is not limited thereto and can also be a transitory storage medium.

[0590] The present disclosure further provides a program product which, when executed by the communication device 6100, causes the communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0591] The present disclosure further provides a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is performed by a first network element, and comprises: receiving a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the first message comprising information of the first entity; determining at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element from a locally stored context; sending a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, the second message comprising the information of the first entity; wherein the first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, or a group of A-IOT devices; the context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The receiving the first message sent by the second network element further comprises: sending a first request to at least one third network element, the first request being used to request to subscribe to a first event report of a corresponding third network element; receiving a first response sent by the at least one third network element, the first response indicating that the corresponding third network element agrees that the first network element subscribes to the first event report; wherein the first event report is an event report of at least one first event, and the first event is an event related to the first entity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the first response does not comprise a second event report, and the context related to the first event report is updated or created locally; the first response comprises a second event report, and the context related to the second event report is updated or created locally; wherein the second event report is an event report of at least one second event, and the second event is an event of the corresponding third network element that is currently available in the at least one first event. The receiving the first response sent by the at least one third network element further comprises:

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, receiving a first notification sent by the at least one third network element, the first notification comprising a third event report; locally creating or updating a context related to the third event report; wherein the first notification is sent by the corresponding third network element in response to receiving a third message of the first entity, and is sent after the corresponding context is updated or created according to the third message; the third event report is an event report of at least one third event, and the third event is an event of the corresponding third network element that is updated according to the third message in the at least one first event. The third message is at least one of an inventory result, a command result, or an event report. The first request comprises at least one of:

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, an identifier of the first network element; 6. The method according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, an identifier of the first entity; an identifier of the first event report; event report information used to indicate a rule of the third network element feeding back the first event report. The event report comprises at least one of: ​ 7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, ​ UE reachability, UE moving into or out of an area of interest, UE status, UE location, UE location trend, A-IoT device location, UE service area, UE capability, UE priority, A-IoT device status, A-IoT device type, UE association with A-IoT device, network device association with A-IoT device, service area of the respective third network element, service area of the network device, priority of the network device, and load of the third network element.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The context of the UE comprises at least one of: an identity of the UE, an identity of a group of UEs, UE reachability, UE moving into or out of an area of interest, UE status, UE location, UE location trend, UE service area, A-IoT service capability of the UE, UE priority, an identity of an A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identity of a group of A-IoT devices associated with the UE, a type of A-IoT device associated with the UE, a status of A-IoT device associated with the UE, a location of A-IoT device associated with the UE.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The context of the A-IoT device comprises at least one of: an identity of the A-IoT device, an identity of a group of A-IoT devices, a type of A-IoT device, a status of A-IoT device, a location of A-IoT device, an identity of a UE associated with the A-IoT device, an identity of a group of UEs associated with the A-IoT device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The information of the first entity comprises information of an A-IoT device, and the information of the A-IoT device comprises at least one of: an identity of the A-IoT device, a location, an area, a type, a status, an association of a UE with the A-IoT device, an association of a network device with the A-IoT device, an identity of a group of A-IoT devices.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The information of the first entity comprises information of a UE, and the information of the UE comprises at least one of: an identity of the UE, reachability, status, location, area, location trend, UE service area, A-IoT service capability, priority, an identity of an A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identity of a group of A-IoT devices associated with the UE, a type of A-IoT device associated with the UE, a status of A-IoT device associated with the UE, a location of A-IoT device associated with the UE, an identity of a group of UEs.

12. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is performed by a second network element, and the method comprises: receiving a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, the fourth message comprising information of the first entity; sending a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, the first message comprising the information of the first entity; wherein the first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IoT device, and a group of A-IoT devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The information of the first entity in the fourth message is external information or internal information of the first entity. The information of the first entity in the first message is internal information of the first entity.

14. A communication method, comprising: The method is performed by a third network element, and the method comprises: receiving a second message sent by the first network element, the second message being used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, the second message comprising information of the first entity; wherein the second message is sent by at least one of the first entity determined by the first network element from a locally stored context to satisfy the first message and the third network element; the first message is sent by the second network element, the first message being used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, the first message comprising information of the first entity; the first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, and a group of A-IOT devices; the context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The receiving a second message sent by the first network element further comprises: receiving a first request sent by the first network element, the first request being used for requesting to subscribe to a first event report; sending a first response to the first network element, the first response indicating an agreement of the first network element to subscribe to the first event report; wherein the first event report is an event report of at least one first event; the first event is an event related to the first entity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The first response comprises a second event report; wherein the second event report is an event report of at least one second event; the second event is an event of the third network element currently available in the at least one first event.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The sending a first response to the first network element further comprises: updating or creating a corresponding context according to a third message of the first entity in response to receiving the third message; sending a first notification to the first network element; wherein the first notification comprises a third event report; the third event report is an event report of at least one third event; the third event is an event of the corresponding third network element updated according to the third message in the at least one first event.

18. A method of communication, comprising: The method is performed by the second network element, and the method comprises: receiving a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used for requesting an operation related to a first entity, the fourth message comprising information of the first entity; determining at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and a third network element from a locally stored context; sending a second message to the third network element satisfying the fourth message, the second message being used for requesting an operation related to the first entity, the second message comprising information of the first entity; wherein the first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, and a group of A-IOT devices; the context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, The receiving a fourth message sent by an AF further comprises: sending a first request to at least one third network element, the first request being used for requesting to subscribe to a first event report of the corresponding third network element; receiving a first response sent by the at least one third network element, the first response indicating an agreement of the corresponding third network element to subscribe to the first event report by the second network element; wherein the first event report is an event report of at least one first event; the first event is an event related to the first entity.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, the first response does not include a second event report, and the context related to the first event report is updated or created locally; the first response includes a second event report, and the context related to the second event report is updated or created locally; the second event report is an event report of at least one second event; the second event is an event of the at least one first event that is currently available at the respective third network element; the context is a context of at least one of the second network element, the A-IOT device, and the UE.

21. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein, the receiving the first response sent by the at least one third network element further comprises: receiving a first notification sent by the at least one third network element, the first notification including a third event report; locally creating or updating a context related to the third event report; wherein the first notification is sent by the respective second network element in response to receiving a third message of the first entity, and the respective context is updated or created according to the third message; the third event report is an event report of at least one third event; the third event is an event of the at least one first event that is updated by the respective third network element according to the third message.

22. A method of communication, comprising: performed by the third network element, the method comprising: receiving a second message sent by a second network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the second message including information of the first entity; wherein the second message is sent by at least one of the first entity and the third network element determined from a context stored locally by the second network element, the context satisfying a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the fourth message including the information of the first entity; the first entity is at least one of a UE, a group of UEs, an A-IOT device, and a group of A-IOT devices; the context is a context of at least one of the third network element, the A-IoT device, and the UE.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein, the receiving the second message sent by the second network element further comprises: receiving a first request sent by a second network element, the first request being used to request to subscribe to a first event report; sending a first response to the second network element, the first response indicating an agreement of the second network element to subscribe to the first event report; the first event report is an event report of at least one first event; the first event is an event related to the first entity.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, the first response includes a second event report; the second event report is an event report of at least one second event; the second event is an event of the at least one first event that is currently available at the respective third network element.

25. The method of claim 23 or 24, wherein, the sending the first response to the second network element further comprises: receiving a third message of the first entity, and updating or creating a respective context according to the third message; sending a first notification to the second network element; the first notification includes a third event report; the third event report is an event report of at least one third event; the third event is an event of the at least one first event that is updated by the respective third network element according to the third message.

26. A first network element, characterized by, comprising: The transceiver module is configured to receive a first message sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the first message comprising information of the first entity; The processing module is configured to determine at least one of the first entity satisfying the first message and a third network element from a locally stored context; The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the third network element satisfying the first message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising the information of the first entity; The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group. The context is a context of at least one of a third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE.

27. A second network element, characterized by The transceiver module is configured to receive a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the fourth message comprising information of the first entity; The transceiver module is further configured to send a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising the information of the first entity; The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group. The transceiver module is configured to receive a second message sent by a first network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity; 28. A third network element, characterized by The second message is sent by the first network element from a locally stored context, and the second message is used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising the information of the first entity; The first message is sent by a second network element, the first message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the first message comprising the information of the first entity; The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group. The context is a context of at least one of a third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE. The transceiver module is configured to receive a fourth message sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the fourth message comprising information of the first entity; The processing module is configured to determine at least one of the first entity satisfying the fourth message and a third network element from a locally stored context; 29. A second network element, characterized by The transceiver module is further configured to send a second message to the third network element satisfying the fourth message, the second message being used to request the operation related to the first entity, and the second message comprising the information of the first entity; The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group. The context is a context of at least one of a third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE. The transceiver module is configured to receive a second message sent by a second network element, the second message being used to request an operation related to a first entity, and the second message comprising information of the first entity; ​ ​ 30. A third network element, characterized by ​ ​ The second message is determined by the second network element from a locally stored context to be sent by at least one of a first entity and a third network element that satisfy a fourth message, the fourth message being sent by an AF, the fourth message being used to request an operation related to the first entity, the fourth message including information of the first entity. The first entity is at least one of a UE, a UE group, an A-IOT device, and an A-IOT device group. The context is a context of at least one of the third network element, an A-IoT device, and a UE. Comprising:

31. A first network element, characterized by, one or more processors; wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-11. Comprising:

32. A second network element, characterized by, one or more processors; wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 12-13. Comprising:

33. A third network element, characterized by one or more processors; wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 14-17. Comprising:

34. A second network element, characterized by, one or more processors; wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 18-21. Comprising:

35. A third network element, characterized by one or more processors; wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 22-25. Comprising:

36. A communication system, characterized by a first network element configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1-11; a second network element configured to implement the method of any one of claims 12-13; a third network element configured to implement the method of any one of claims 14-17. Comprising:

37. A communication system, characterized by a second network element configured to implement the method of any one of claims 18-21; a third network element configured to implement the method of any one of claims 22-25. The instructions, when executed on the communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-25.

38. A storage medium, the storage medium storing instructions, wherein, The program product, when executed by a communication device, implements the method of any one of claims 1-25.

39. A program product, characterized by ​

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