Communication method, apparatus, communication device, medium, and computer program product

Abstract

This application discloses a communication method, apparatus, communication device, medium, and computer program product, belonging to the field of communication technology. The communication method of this application includes: a first communication device performing at least one of a first action and a second action; the first action includes: the first communication device acquiring first information and, based on the first information, determining or selecting a target second communication device, the first information including at least one of the following: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, or information indicating the target second communication device; the second action includes: the first communication device acquiring second information and, based on the second information, performing at least one of the following: updating the information of the first communication device, or sending the information of the first communication device to a third communication device; wherein the second information includes at least one of the following: first node information, second node information; the target second communication device is a communication device among one or more second communication devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of communication technology, specifically relating to a communication method, device, equipment, medium, and computer program product. Background Technology

[0002] In Ambient Internet of Things (AIoT) scenarios, AIoT Radio Access Networks (RANs) or readers can interact with AIoT Functions (AIoTFs) to perform AIoT operations. In Sensing scenarios, Sensing RANs or sensing devices can interact with Sensing Functions (SFs) to perform sensing operations.

[0003] However, when the AIoT RAN or reader interacts with the AIoTF indirectly through the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), or when the Sensing RAN or sensing device interacts with the AIoTF indirectly through the AMF, the questions of how the AMF selects the AIoTF, how the AIoTF selects the AIoT RAN and the reader, and how the AMF selects the SF, and how the SF selects the Sensing RAN and the sensing device, are urgent problems to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, communication device, medium, and computer program product that can accurately determine the AIoTF, AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader to be used when performing AIoT operations, and accurately determine the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used when performing sensing operations, in order to achieve sensing operations.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, executed by a first communication device, the method comprising: the first communication device performing at least one of a first action and a second action; the first action comprising: the first communication device acquiring first information, and determining or selecting a target second communication device based on the first information, the first information including at least one of: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, information indicating the target second communication device; the second action comprising: the first communication device acquiring second information, and performing at least one of: updating information of the first communication device, and sending information of the first communication device to a third communication device based on the second information; wherein the second information includes at least one of: first node information, second node information; the target second communication device is a... The communication devices in one or more second communication devices, wherein the information of the second communication devices includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; and the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0006] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, executed by a third communication device. The method includes: the third communication device executing at least one of a third action, a fourth action, and a fifth action; the third action includes at least one of the following: the third communication device receives a query request from a fourth communication device regarding a second communication device, and returns information about one or more second communication devices to the fourth communication device based on the query request, the fourth communication device including at least one of: a first communication device, a fifth communication device; the third communication device receives a query request from a target second communication device regarding a sixth communication device, and returns information about one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device based on the query request, the sixth communication device including at least one of: a first communication device, a first node, a second node; the fourth action includes: the third communication device receiving information about a first communication device from the first communication device; the third communication device updating network function configuration information of the first communication device based on the information of the first communication device, the updated network function configuration information including the information of the first communication device; the fifth action includes: the third communication device receiving information about a second communication device from a target second communication device; the third communication device updating network function configuration information of the target second communication device based on the information of the second communication device, the updated network function configuration information including the information of the first communication device; The information includes information about the second communication device; wherein, the information about the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; the information about the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the first node information of the first node includes at least one of the following: information about the identifier of the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, and second node information served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0007] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, executed by a target second communication device, the method comprising: the target second communication device performing at least one of the following based on fourth information: determining information of the target second communication device; updating information of the target second communication device; sending information of the target second communication device to a third communication device; selecting at least one of the following for a first operation: a first communication device, a first node, a second node; wherein the fourth information includes at least one of the following: information of the first communication device, the information of the first communication device including at least one of the following: an identifier of the first communication device, a domain name of the first communication device, an address of the first communication device, a service area of ​​the first communication device, a location of the first communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; first node information; second node information.

[0008] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, executed by a target second communication device, the method comprising: the target second communication device executing at least one of a sixth action, a seventh action, and an eighth action;

[0009] The sixth line includes:

[0010] The target second communication device sends a query request to the third communication device regarding the sixth communication device, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: the first communication device, the first node, and the second node;

[0011] The target second communication device receives information from the third communication device from one or more sixth communication devices;

[0012] The seventh action includes: the target second communication device determining or selecting the sixth communication device based on the fourth information;

[0013] The fourth piece of information includes at least one of the following:

[0014] Information of the first communication device, which includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0015] First node information, which includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, information about the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and information about the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node.

[0016] Second node information, which includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identification of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node;

[0017] The eighth action includes: the target second communication device obtaining information from the first communication device about one or more seventh communication devices, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node and a second node;

[0018] Where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area; or,

[0019] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes a third node, which is the node that performs the first operation; or,

[0020] In cases where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node; or,

[0021] In cases where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second area; or, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device intersects with the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation or an area supported by the second communication device; or...

[0022] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second region; or, the service areas of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device and the second region overlap; or...

[0023] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0024] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or,

[0025] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0026] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or,

[0027] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area; or...

[0028] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or,

[0029] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or,

[0030] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0031] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or,

[0032] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or...

[0033] In the case where the sixth communication device includes a second node, the second node is the third node; or,

[0034] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area; or...

[0035] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or...

[0036] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or,

[0037] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0038] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or,

[0039] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or...

[0040] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a second node, the second node is the third node;

[0041] The second node is a node that is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0042] Fifthly, a communication method is provided, executed by a first communication device, the method comprising: the first communication device receiving eighth information from a target second communication device, and determining or selecting one or more seventh communication devices based on the eighth information, the seventh communication devices including at least one of the following: a first node, a second node; the first communication device sending information about the one or more seventh communication devices to the target second communication device; wherein the eighth information includes at least one of the following: information about a second region, the second region being an execution region of a first operation; information about a third node, the third node being a node performing the first operation.

[0043] In a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, executed by a fifth communication device, the method comprising: the fifth communication device sending ninth information to a third communication device, the ninth information being used to identify a target second communication device; wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: information about a second region, the second region being an execution region of a first operation; and information about a third node, the third node being a node that performs the first operation.

[0044] A seventh aspect provides a communication method performed by a third communication device, the method comprising: the third communication device receiving ninth information from a fifth communication device, the ninth information being used to determine a target second communication device; the third communication device determining one or more second communication devices based on the ninth information, the one or more second communication devices including the target second communication device; wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: information about a second region, the second region being an execution region of a first operation; information about a third node, the third node being a node performing the first operation.

[0045] Eighthly, a communication method is provided, performed by a second communication device, the method comprising: the second communication device performing at least one of the following:

[0046] Obtain the association between the first communication device and the first node;

[0047] Determine at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected.

[0048] Based on the association between the first communication device and the first node, the first node is determined or selected if it is a valid first node and is not directly connected to at least one of the following:

[0049] A ninth aspect provides a communication method performed by a first communication device, the method comprising: the first communication device receiving an order or request for first node information from a second communication device; the first communication device sending the first node information to the second communication device according to the order or request; wherein the first node is connected to the first communication device.

[0050] A tenth aspect provides a communication device, the device comprising: a processing module; the processing module being configured to perform at least one of a first action and a second action; the first action comprising: acquiring first information, and determining or selecting a target second communication device based on the first information, the first information including at least one of: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, information indicating the target second communication device; the second action comprising: acquiring the second information, and performing at least one of: updating information of the communication device, and sending information of the first communication device to a third communication device based on the second information; wherein the second information includes at least one of: first node information, second node information; the target second communication device is a... The communication device may be one of multiple second communication devices, wherein the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the information of the communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the communication device, the domain name of the communication device, the address of the communication device, the service area of ​​the communication device, the location of the communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication device.

[0051] Eleventhly, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processing module; the processing module being configured to perform at least one of a third action, a fourth action, and a fifth action; the third action comprising at least one of: receiving a query request from a fourth communication device regarding a second communication device, and returning information of one or more second communication devices to the fourth communication device based on the query request regarding the second communication device, the fourth communication device comprising at least one of: a first communication device, a fifth communication device; receiving a query request from a target second communication device regarding a sixth communication device, and returning information of one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device based on the query request regarding the sixth communication device, the sixth communication device comprising at least one of: a first communication device, a first node, a second node; the fourth action comprising: receiving information from the first communication device from the first communication device; updating network function configuration information of the first communication device based on the information of the first communication device, the updated network function configuration information including the information of the first communication device; the fifth action comprising: receiving information from the second communication device from the target second communication device; updating network function configuration information of the target second communication device based on the information of the second communication device, the updated network function configuration information including the information of the second communication device; wherein, the first communication device... The information of the communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the first node information of the first node includes at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the first node, information on the service area of ​​the first node, information on the location of the first node, and second node information served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; the second node information of the second node includes at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the second node, information on the service area of ​​the second node, and information on the location of the second node; the second node is a node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0052] In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processing module; the processing module being configured to perform at least one of the following based on fourth information: determining information of the communication device; updating information of the communication device; sending information of the communication device to a third communication device; selecting at least one of the following for a first operation: a first communication device, a first node, a second node; wherein the fourth information includes at least one of the following: information of the first communication device, the information of the first communication device including at least one of the following: an identifier of the first communication device, a domain name of the first communication device, an address of the first communication device, a service area of ​​the first communication device, a location of the first communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; first node information; second node information.

[0053] In a thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided, the device comprising: a processing module; the processing module being configured to perform at least one of a sixth action, a seventh action, and an eighth action;

[0054] The sixth line includes:

[0055] The target second communication device sends a query request to the third communication device regarding the sixth communication device, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: the first communication device, the first node, and the second node;

[0056] The target second communication device receives information from the third communication device from one or more sixth communication devices;

[0057] The seventh action includes: the target second communication device determining or selecting the sixth communication device based on the fourth information;

[0058] The fourth piece of information includes at least one of the following:

[0059] Information of the first communication device, which includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0060] First node information, which includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, information about the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and information about the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node.

[0061] Second node information, which includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identification of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node;

[0062] The eighth action includes: the target second communication device obtaining information from the first communication device about one or more seventh communication devices, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node and a second node;

[0063] Where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area; or,

[0064] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes a third node, which is the node that performs the first operation; or,

[0065] In cases where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node; or,

[0066] In cases where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second area; or, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device intersects with the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation or an area supported by the second communication device; or...

[0067] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second region; or, the service areas of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device and the second region overlap; or...

[0068] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0069] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or,

[0070] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0071] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or,

[0072] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area; or...

[0073] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or,

[0074] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or,

[0075] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0076] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or,

[0077] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or...

[0078] In the case where the sixth communication device includes a second node, the second node is the third node; or,

[0079] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area; or...

[0080] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or...

[0081] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or,

[0082] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0083] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or,

[0084] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or...

[0085] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a second node, the second node is the third node;

[0086] The second node is a node that is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0087] In a fourteenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, comprising: a receiving module and a transmitting module; the receiving module is configured to receive eighth information from a target second communication device, and determine or select one or more seventh communication devices based on the eighth information, the seventh communication devices including at least one of the following: a first node and a second node; the transmitting module is configured to transmit information of one or more seventh communication devices to the target second communication device; wherein the eighth information includes at least one of the following: information of a second region, the second region being an execution region of a first operation; information of a third node, the third node being a node performing the first operation.

[0088] In a fifteenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, comprising: a transmitting module; the transmitting module being configured to transmit ninth information to a third communication device, the ninth information being used to determine a target second communication device; wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: information about a second region, the second region being an execution region of a first operation; and information about a third node, the third node being a node performing the first operation.

[0089] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, comprising: a receiving module and a processing module; the receiving module is configured to receive ninth information from a fifth communication device, the ninth information being used to determine a target second communication device; the processing module is configured to determine one or more second communication devices based on the ninth information, the one or more second communication devices including the target second communication device; wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: information about a second region, the second region being an execution region of a first operation; information about a third node, the third node being a node performing the first operation.

[0090] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication device is provided, the device comprising: a processing module;

[0091] The processing module is used to perform at least one of the following:

[0092] Obtain the association between the first communication device and the first node;

[0093] Determine at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected.

[0094] Based on the association between the first communication device and the first node, the first node is determined or selected if it is a valid first node and is not directly connected to at least one of the following:

[0095] Eighteenthly, a communication device is provided, comprising: a receiving module and a transmitting module; the receiving module is configured to receive an order or request for first node information from a second communication device; the transmitting module is configured to transmit the first node information to the second communication device according to the order or request; wherein the first node is connected to the first communication device.

[0096] In a nineteenth aspect, a communication device is provided, the device being configured to perform the steps of the method as described in any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0097] In a twentieth aspect, a communication device is provided, the communication device including a processor and a memory, the memory storing a program or instructions executable on the processor, the program or instructions, when executed by the processor, implementing the steps of the method as described in any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0098] In a twentieth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one of a first action and a second action; or, the processor is configured to perform at least one of a third action, a fourth action, and a fifth action; or, the processor is configured to perform at least one of the following based on fourth information: determining information of a target second communication device; updating information of the target second communication device, wherein the communication interface is configured to send information of the target second communication device to a third communication device; or, the processor is configured to perform at least one of a sixth action, a seventh action, and an eighth action; or, the communication interface is configured to receive eighth information from the target second communication device and send information of one or more seventh communication devices to the target second communication device, wherein the processor is configured to determine or select one or more seventh communication devices based on the eighth information; or, the communication interface is configured to send information to a third communication device. The processor is configured to send a ninth message; or, the communication interface is configured to receive a ninth message from a fifth communication device, and the processor is configured to determine one or more second communication devices based on the ninth message; or, the processor is configured to perform at least one of the following: obtain the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node; determine at least one of the following: the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node, the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node is active, the first node is valid, the first node is not directly connected; determine or select a first communication device based on at least one of the following: the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node, the valid first node, and the first node being not directly connected; or, the communication interface is configured to receive an order or request for first node information from a second communication device; and send the first node information to the second communication device based on the order or request; wherein the first node is connected to the first communication device.

[0099] In a twenty-second aspect, a readable storage medium is provided, on which a program or instructions are stored, which, when executed by a processor, implement the steps of the method as described in any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0100] In a twentieth aspect, a wireless communication system is provided, comprising: a first communication device, a second communication device, a third communication device, a fifth communication device, a sixth communication device, and a seventh communication device, wherein the first communication device is configured to perform the steps of the method described in the first, fifth, or ninth aspect; the third communication device is configured to perform the steps of the method described in the second or seventh aspect; the second communication device is configured to perform the steps of the method described in the third, fourth, or eighth aspect; and the fifth communication device is configured to perform the steps of the method described in the sixth aspect.

[0101] In a twenty-fourth aspect, a chip is provided, the chip including a processor and a communication interface coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to run a program or instructions to implement the steps of the method as described in any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0102] In a twenty-fifth aspect, a computer program / program product is provided, the computer program / program product being stored in a storage medium, the computer program / program product being executed by at least one processor to perform the steps of the method as described in any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0103] In this embodiment, the first communication device performs at least one of a first action and a second action; the first action includes: the first communication device acquiring first information, and determining or selecting a target second communication device based on the first information, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, or information indicating the target second communication device; the second action includes: the first communication device acquiring second information, and performing at least one of the following based on the second information: updating the information of the first communication device, or sending the information of the first communication device to a third communication device; wherein the second information includes at least one of the following: first node information, second node information; the target second communication device is one or more second communication devices. The communication device information includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device. Through this scheme, the first communication device can determine or select the target communication device or update the communication device information based on the communication device information or node information by performing different actions. This enables accurate determination of the AIoTF, AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader / writer to be used during AIoT operations, and accurate determination of the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used during sensing operations. Attached Figure Description

[0104] Figure 1 This is a possible structural diagram of the communication system involved in the embodiments of this application;

[0105] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a non-roaming 5G system via an indirect path through AMF, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0106] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a non-roaming 5G system via an indirect path through the AMF in a reference point representation provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0107] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a protocol example of an indirect path between an AIoTF and an AIoT device via an AMF in a topology 1 provided in this application embodiment;

[0108] Figure 5 This is a detailed schematic diagram illustrating indirect path communication between AIoT RAN and AIoTF via AMF, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0109] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an architecture for indirect communication between a sensing RAN and a SF via an AMF, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0110] Figure 7 This is one of the flowcharts illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0111] Figure 8 This is a second schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0112] Figure 9 This is a third schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0113] Figure 10A This is a fourth flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0114] Figure 10B This is the fifth flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0115] Figure 10C This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0116] Figure 10D This is the seventh flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0117] Figure 11 This is the eighth flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0118] Figure 12 This is the ninth flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0119] Figure 13This is the tenth flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0120] Figure 14 This is an eleventh schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0121] Figure 15 This is the twelfth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0122] Figure 16 This is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, number thirteen.

[0123] Figure 17 This is the fourteenth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0124] Figure 18 This is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, number fifteen.

[0125] Figure 19 This is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, number sixteen.

[0126] Figure 20 This is the seventeenth flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0127] Figure 21 This is the eighteenth flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0128] Figure 22 This is the nineteenth schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0129] Figure 23 This is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application, number 20.

[0130] Figure 24 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0131] Figure 25 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0132] Figure 26 This is the third schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0133] Figure 27 This is the fourth schematic diagram of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0134] Figure 28 This is the fifth schematic diagram of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0135] Figure 29 This is the sixth schematic diagram of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0136] Figure 30A This is the seventh schematic diagram of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0137] Figure 30B This is the eighth schematic diagram of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0138] Figure 30C This is the ninth schematic diagram of a communication device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0139] Figure 31 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0140] Figure 32 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0141] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0142] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first" and "second" are generally of the same class, not limited in number; for example, the first object can be one or more. Furthermore, "or" in this application indicates at least one of the connected objects. For example, the scope of protection for "A or B" covers at least three scenarios: Scenario 1: including A but not B; Scenario 2: including B but not A; Scenario 3: including both A and B. In addition, the terms "A and / or B," "at least one of A and B," and "at least one of A or B" also cover at least the above three scenarios. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0143] The term "instruction" in this application can be either a direct instruction (or explicit instruction) or an indirect instruction (or implicit instruction). A direct instruction can be understood as the sender explicitly informing the receiver of specific information, the required operation, or the requested result in the instruction sent. An indirect instruction can be understood as the receiver determining the corresponding information based on the instruction sent by the sender, or making a judgment and determining the required operation or requested result based on the judgment result.

[0144] The term "acquisition" in this application can be understood as a form of receiving, or as a process of requesting and then receiving, or as obtaining information through local configuration without the need for interaction between entities.

[0145] It is worth noting that the technologies described in this application are not limited to Long Term Evolution (LTE) / LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, but can also be used in other wireless communication systems, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single-carrier Frequency-Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), or other systems. The terms "system" and "network" in this application are often used interchangeably, and the described technologies can be used with the systems and radio technologies mentioned above, as well as with other systems and radio technologies. The following description describes New Radio (NR) systems for illustrative purposes, and the term NR is used in most of the following description; however, these technologies can also be applied to systems other than NR systems, such as 6th generation (6G) radio systems. th Generation 6G communication system.

[0146] Figure 1This diagram illustrates a block diagram of a wireless communication system applicable to embodiments of this application. The wireless communication system includes a terminal 11 and a communication device 12. The terminal 11 can also be referred to as User Equipment (UE), and can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld computer, netbook, ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), mobile internet device (MID), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) device, robot, wearable device, flight vehicle, vehicle user equipment (VUE), shipboard equipment, pedestrian user equipment (PUE), smart home (home devices with wireless communication capabilities, such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, or furniture), game console, personal computer (PC), ATM, or self-service machine, etc., etc. Wearable devices include: smartwatches, smart bracelets, smart headphones, smart glasses, smart jewelry (smart bracelets, smart chains, smart rings, smart necklaces, smart anklets, smart anklets, etc.), smart wristbands, smart clothing, etc. Among these, in-vehicle devices can also be referred to as in-vehicle terminals, in-vehicle controllers, in-vehicle modules, in-vehicle components, in-vehicle chips, or in-vehicle units, etc. It should be noted that the specific type of terminal 11 is not limited in this application embodiment. Communication equipment 12 may include access network equipment or core network equipment, wherein access network equipment may also be referred to as Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment, radio access network function, or radio access network unit. Access network equipment may include base stations, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access points (APs), or Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) nodes, etc.Among them, base stations can be referred to as Node B (NB), Evolved Node B (eNB), Next Generation Node B (gNB), New Radio Node B (NR Node B), Access Point, Relay Base Station (RBS), Serving Base Station (SBS), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Radio Base Station, Radio Transceiver, Basic Service Set (BSS), Extended Service Set (ESS), Home Node B (HNB), Home Evolved Node B, Transmit / Receive Point (TRP), and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) equipment (such as satellite or high-altitude platform stations). The term "base station" can be any suitable term in the field, such as "station" or any other appropriate term in the relevant field, as long as the same technical effect is achieved. The term "base station" is not limited to specific technical terms. It should be noted that the embodiments of this application only use the base station in the NR system as an example for introduction, and do not limit the specific type of base station.

[0147] Core network equipment, also known as core network nodes, core network functions, or core network elements, includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: Mobility Management Entity (MME), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), User Plane Function (UPF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), Edge Application Server Discovery Function (EASDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Unified Data Repository (UDR), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Centralized network configuration (CNC), Network Repository Function (NRF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), Local NEF (L-NEF), and Binding Support. Functions include BSF, Application Function (AF), Location Management Function (LMF), Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC), Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF), and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) equipment (such as satellite or high altitude platform station).It should be noted that the embodiments of this application only use the core network equipment in the NR system as an example for introduction, and do not limit the specific type of core network equipment. If the name of the core network equipment mentioned in the embodiments of this application changes in subsequent protocol versions (e.g., 6G), it is also within the scope of protection of this application.

[0148] Optionally, the core network equipment can be implemented by one or more functional modules in a single device, or by multiple devices working together; this application does not specifically limit this. It is understood that the aforementioned functional modules can be network elements in hardware devices, software functional modules running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functional modules instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0149] The following explains some terms and nouns used in the embodiments of this application.

[0150] 1. AIoT

[0151] AIoT is an Internet of Things (IoT) service. During the AIoT Radio Resource Control (RRC) process, the AIoT RAN can perform AIoT settings on the AIoTF.

[0152] Typically, AIoT devices can have ultra-low complexity and ultra-low power consumption. During data transmission between the AIoT device and the AIoT application, the aforementioned terminal 11 can act as a reader to transmit data from the AIoT device to the AIoT application. It is understood that because the overall power consumption of the AIoT device terminal is low, its communication energy can come from the environment, such as wind power, kinetic energy, heat energy, radio frequency (RF) signals, etc. Optionally, the AIoT device terminal can also be described as a passive IoT device or a responding device.

[0153] The AIoTF can generate Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages and send them to the AIoT RAN as non-terminal-related signaling. The AIoT RAN can act as an intermediary terminal for AIoT operations, including selecting intermediary terminals (e.g., based on the AIoTF's candidate terminal list), sending operation commands to the intermediary terminals, and forwarding the results from the intermediary terminals to the AIoTF. It is understood that since licensed spectrum is typically owned by operators, the AIoT RAN can provide the intermediary terminals with the spectrum information of the air interface between the intermediary terminals and AIoT devices for data transmission.

[0154] In some embodiments of this application, the above-mentioned AIoT function may also be referred to as the function of managing and / or controlling the operation of a terminal (such as an AIoT device).

[0155] In some embodiments of this application, the above-mentioned AIoT functions include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following:

[0156] 1) Responsible for the management and control of AIoT operations (i.e., operations on terminals; AIoT operations can also be called AIoT tasks or AIoT processes);

[0157] 2) Determine whether to authorize the customer's AIoT operation request;

[0158] 3) Distribute AIoT operations to readers or devices that communicate directly with the terminal (either by sending directly or by forwarding through other network elements);

[0159] 4) Receive the results of AIoT operation execution;

[0160] 5) Summarize the AIoT operation execution results;

[0161] 6) Send the AIoT operation results to the customer.

[0162] Understandably, an AIoT operation request can be used to request AIoT operations.

[0163] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned AIoT function may be a standalone network function, or a network function in related technologies (such as AMF that supports AIoT functions) or a Network Exposure Function (NEF) (such as NEF that supports AIoT functions).

[0164] In some embodiments of this application, the NEF can support a first AIoT function or AIoT capability, and the AMF can support a second AIoT function or AIoT capability.

[0165] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned AIoT capabilities may include the ability to communicate with a terminal (e.g., the ability to communicate directly with a terminal via an air interface). The ability to communicate with a terminal may also be referred to as the ability to communicate directly with a terminal, and may further include at least one of the following capabilities:

[0166] The ability to send AIoT-related signals; the ability to excite AIoT devices or tags; support relevant AIoT spectrum or frequency points; support relevant AIoT power; the ability to receive signals from AIoT devices or tags; the ability to read information from AIoT devices or tags; the ability to write information to AIoT devices or tags; the ability to inventory AIoT devices; the ability to disable the RF capabilities of one or more AIoT devices (which can be referred to as deactivation or disable operation); the ability to enable the RF capabilities of AIoT devices (which can be referred to as activation or enable operation); and the ability to control one or more AIoT devices (e.g., sending commands to AIoT devices, controlling actuators associated with AIoT devices, or AIoT devices to execute the commands).

[0167] In AIoT, an Application Function (AF) can provide at least one of the following information: information about the AIoT service, information for selecting AIoT readers, information about the target AIoT device (optional), and information for resource allocation.

[0168] The information regarding the aforementioned AIoT services may include information about the service type of the AIoT service, such as inventory or commands (read or write).

[0169] The information used for selecting AIoT readers may include at least one of the following: reader identity (ID) and target area information.

[0170] The information of the target AIoT device may include at least one of the AIoT device ID and filtering information that can be used to associate multiple AIoT devices.

[0171] The information used for resource allocation may include at least one of the approximate number of AIoT devices and the approximate size of Device to Reader (D2R) messages.

[0172] When the AIoT RAN and AIoTF communicate indirectly through the AMF, the AIoTF can connect to the AIoT RAN through the AMF. The Next Generation Application Protocol (NGAP) at the N2 reference point between the AIoT RAN and AMF supports environmental IoT services, which can include the delivery of inventory messages or command messages.

[0173] It should be noted that if network isolation is required, an AMF instance can be deployed to support AIoTF communication with the AIoT RAN. For example, NGAP between the AIoT RAN and AMF is enhanced to support environmental IoT services.

[0174] It should be noted that the AMF can be enhanced to enable AIoTF services for environmental IoT operations at the Nz reference point, such as sending AIoT requests to and receiving AIoT responses from the AIoT RAN. Furthermore, at the N2 reference point, the AMF can also support sending AIoT information (e.g., operation requests) to and receiving responses from the AIoT RAN. Additionally, the AMF can route AIoT messages between the AIoT RAN (via the N2 reference point) and the AIoTF (via the Nz reference point).

[0175] like Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a non-roaming 5G system via an indirect path through the AMF. Figure 2 This shows aspects related to the architecture of Topology 1 (indirect path via AMF) in the reference point representation after removing other NFs.

[0176] like Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a non-roaming 5G system using an indirect path via AMF, represented as a reference point. Figure 3 This shows aspects related to the architecture of Topology 1 (indirect path via AMF) in the reference point representation after removing other NFs.

[0177] like Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a protocol example of the indirect path between the AIoTF and AIoT devices in Topology 1 via the AMF. Figure 4 The aspects related to the protocol stack of Topology 1 (indirect path via AMF) between AIoT RAN and AIoTF are shown. Figure 4 The AIoT data shown can represent the information exchanged between the AIoT device and the AF (Application-Specific Content), while the AIoT reader control can represent the requests and responses between the AIoTF and the AIoT RAN.

[0178] It should be noted that whether AIoT reader control is transmitted via NGAP or is part of the NGAP protocol will be determined by RAN WG3. Figure 5 The diagram shows a detailed schematic of the indirect communication path between AIoT RAN and AIoTF via AMF.

[0179] 2. Perceiving the Scene

[0180] The functional and performance requirements of integrated sensing and communication services in sensing scenarios have been studied in SA1, and these requirements will impact the architecture. In this study, various sensing methods using 5G systems can be employed to implement sensing applications such as intrusion detection (highways, railways, drone restricted areas, yards, and homes), monitoring applications (rainfall, tourism, floods, breathing, and motion), navigation assistance applications, real-time map generation applications, and collision avoidance applications, to meet the required sensing accuracy. In commercial, V2X, public safety, and emergency service use cases, it can support target objects (and their environments) with or without UEs, via licensed or unlicensed spectrum. The SA1 study also identified service requirements regarding sensing configuration, 5G wireless sensing services, exposure, security, and charging.

[0181] Based on the differences between the sensing receiving node and the sensing sending node, sensing modes can be divided into three main categories and six different modes:

[0182] 1) Base station sensing: Base station (gNB) A transmits, base station B receives; base stations transmit and receive independently.

[0183] 2) Base station-terminal sensing: The terminal sends data, and the base station receives it; the base station sends data, and the terminal receives it.

[0184] 3) Terminal perception: Terminal A sends, Terminal B receives; the terminal sends and receives on its own.

[0185] Understandably, to achieve the aforementioned different sensing modes, signaling interaction between network elements such as terminals, base stations, and SFs is required. This signaling interaction can be categorized into four types based on the different network elements: terminal-SF signaling interaction, base station-SF signaling interaction, terminal-base station signaling interaction, and terminal-to-terminal signaling interaction.

[0186] like Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture for indirect communication between the Sensing RAN and SF via AMF. In this architecture, a Sensing RAN may serve one or more sensing execution nodes, such as base station sensing nodes or terminal sensing nodes. It can be understood that the base station sensing node and the terminal sensing node can have the function of transmitting and / or receiving sensing signals.

[0187] In the communication method, apparatus, device, medium, and computer program product provided in this application, the first communication device can determine the second communication device to be communicated with based on the acquired instance information of the communication device or the information of the node. This allows for accurate determination of the AIoTF, AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader / writer to be used during AIoT operations, and accurate determination of the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used during sensing operations.

[0188] It should be noted that in the communication methods provided in the embodiments of this application, the schemes applicable to readers in the AIoT scenario can also be applied to sensing devices in the sensing scenario, the schemes applicable to AIoT RAN in the AIoT scenario can also be applied to sensing RAN in the sensing scenario, and the schemes applicable to AIoTF in the AIoT scenario can also be applied to SF in the sensing scenario.

[0189] The communication methods, apparatus, communication devices, media, and computer program products provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and through some embodiments and application scenarios.

[0190] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 7 As shown, the communication method may include the following step 101.

[0191] Step 101: The first communication device performs at least one of the first action and the second action;

[0192] The first action includes: the first communication device acquiring first information, and determining or selecting a target second communication device based on the first information;

[0193] The second action includes: the first communication device acquiring the second information, and based on the second information, performing at least one of the following: updating the information of the first communication device, or sending the information of the first communication device to the third communication device.

[0194] The first information may include at least one of the following: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, or information indicating a target second communication device.

[0195] In this embodiment of the application, the first communication device may be an AMF.

[0196] In this embodiment of the application, the second communication device can be an AIoTF or an SF, and the target second communication device can be one or more of at least one AIoTF or an SF.

[0197] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned one or more second communication devices may be at least one communication device indicated by the network function configuration information (NF profile) of the target second communication device.

[0198] It is understandable that in the AIoT scenario, the aforementioned second communication device can be AIoTF; in the sensing scenario, the aforementioned second communication device can be SF.

[0199] In this embodiment of the application, the second information may include at least one of the following: first node information and second node information.

[0200] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned first node information can indicate a first node, and the aforementioned second node information can indicate a second node. In other words, the aforementioned first node information can be information about a first node, and the aforementioned second node information can be information about a second node. They have the same meaning.

[0201] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned second node may be a node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0202] In some embodiments of this application, the second node may implement functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0203] In some embodiments of this application, the first node may serve, associate with, manage, or connect to one or more second nodes.

[0204] In some embodiments of this application, in an AIoT scenario, the first node can be an AIoT RAN; in a sensing scenario, the first node can be a sensing RAN.

[0205] It should be noted that the term "first node" does not refer to a specific node. For example, when the first node is an AIoT RAN, it does not specifically refer to the first AIoT RAN or the second AIoT RAN.

[0206] In some embodiments of this application, the first node may be a first node that serves, is associated with, or is managed by one or more of the second communication devices.

[0207] For example, the first node may refer to the first node that is connected to the second communication device.

[0208] In this application embodiment, the aforementioned target second communication device may be a communication device among the aforementioned one or more second communication devices.

[0209] In this application embodiment, the information of the second communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

[0210] In the embodiments of this application, the information of the first communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0211] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned domain name may include, but is not limited to, a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

[0212] It should be noted that FQDN can also be called a fully qualified domain name, a fully qualified domain name, an absolute domain name, an absolute domain name, or a domain name, which specifies its exact position in the Domain Name System (DNS) tree.

[0213] In some embodiments of this application, the above address may include, but is not limited to, an Internet Protocol address (IP address).

[0214] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned identifier may refer to a code, symbol, or label used to uniquely identify and manage communication devices.

[0215] For example, the identifier of the first communication device can be the ID of the first communication device.

[0216] In some embodiments of this application, the service area of ​​the first communication device may include at least one of the following: a pre-configured service area; a service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of the first node indicated by the first node information and the service areas of the second node indicated by the second node information; a service area consisting of the service areas of the first node served, supported, or managed by the first communication device; and a service area consisting of the service areas of the second node served, supported, or managed by the first communication device.

[0217] In some embodiments of this application, the first node may be connected to the first communication device.

[0218] For example, the first node may have an N2 connection, NGAP connection, or other connection relationship with the first communication device.

[0219] In some embodiments of this application, the service area of ​​the aforementioned communication device can refer to the geographical range within which the communication device can provide communication services. In mobile communication networks, the division of service areas is typically based on the coverage area of ​​the communication device and the network's organizational structure.

[0220] It is understandable that, in the AIoT scenario, the service area of ​​the aforementioned communication device can refer to the service area of ​​AIoT operation; in the sensing scenario, the service area of ​​the aforementioned communication device can refer to the service area of ​​sensing operation.

[0221] In some embodiments of this application, after selecting a target second communication device, the first communication device may send information about the first communication device to the target second communication device and / or the third communication device (NRF) for the target second communication device to determine and select the first communication device, the first node, and the second node in subsequent AIoT operations or tasks.

[0222] In some embodiments of this application, the first node information may include at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node; information about the service area of ​​the first node; information about the location of the first node; and information about second nodes served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0223] In some embodiments of this application, the identifier of the first node can be an identifier used to uniquely identify each node in the network. It is understood that the specific form and function of the node identifier can depend on the type and protocol of the network.

[0224] For example, the identifier of the first node mentioned above can be an AIoT RAN ID.

[0225] For example, the identifier of the first node mentioned above can be a perceptual RAN ID.

[0226] In some embodiments of this application, the service area of ​​the first node can refer to the geographical range in which the first node provides communication services. For example, in an AIoT scenario, the service area of ​​the first node represents the effective range or area in which the first node can perform AIoT operations. Similarly, in a sensing scenario, the service area of ​​the first node represents the effective range or area in which the first node can perform sensing operations. The first node can be in the form of a base station.

[0227] In some embodiments of this application, the location of the first node may refer to the specific location information of the first node in physical space or logical architecture.

[0228] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned second node information may include at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the second node; information about the service area of ​​the second node; and information about the location of the second node.

[0229] In some embodiments of this application, each first node may serve, manage, associate with, connect to, or support one or more second nodes.

[0230] In some embodiments of this application, in an AIoT scenario, the second node can be a reader; in a sensing scenario, the second node can be a sensing device. The reader or sensing device can be a terminal or a base station.

[0231] It is understood that the aforementioned reader / writer can refer to a device that supports read / write functions (such as a terminal, base station, etc.). That is to say, the reader / writer may only support read / write functions, or it may support more than just read / write functions. The embodiments in this application do not impose specific limitations.

[0232] In some embodiments of this application, the reader / writer may also be referred to as one of the following: a read / write device, a terminal for an AIoT service, an interrogator, a reader, a queryer, a communicator, a scanner, a programmer, a standalone device, a portable reader, an automatic device identification device, etc. This application does not impose naming restrictions on the reader / writer.

[0233] In some embodiments of this application, the reader / writer can be a terminal or a device with read / write functionality. Devices with reader / writer functionality include, but are not limited to, one of the following: a terminal with reader / writer functionality, or an access network device with reader / writer functionality.

[0234] In some embodiments of this application, the reading and writing device can be a handheld or fixed device for reading (and sometimes writing) tag information. It can also be understood as a device that communicates with the tag. For example, it can be a terminal, a network-side device, or a device with reading and writing functions, such as a reader. The specific device is not limited here.

[0235] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned reader / writer may refer to a terminal or base station that is a reader / writer, has reader / writer functionality, or has reader / writer capability.

[0236] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned reader / writer capabilities may include at least one of the following: the ability to broadcast the ID of an AIoT device; the ability to report the device ID; the ability to read an AIoT device; the ability to write information to an AIoT device; the ability to deactivate an AIoT device; the ability to activate an AIoT device; support for terminal inventory operations; terminal inventory operations; acquisition of terminal information; configuration information for the terminal; enabling the terminal's radio frequency (RF) capability; disabling the terminal's RF capability; controlling the terminal to execute commands; locating the terminal, etc.; operations to transmit information to the terminal; and operations to acquire information from the terminal.

[0237] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned ability to read AIoT devices may include the ability to read information from AIoT devices, including the ability to read application-defined parameters.

[0238] In some embodiments of this application, the ability to write information to an AIoT device may include the ability to write parameters to the AIoT device, including the ability to write application-defined parameters.

[0239] In some embodiments of this application, the above-mentioned operations supporting inventory terminals may include at least one of the following: filtering terminals, paging terminals, querying terminals, discovering terminals, identifying terminals, and obtaining the identifier of terminals.

[0240] In some embodiments of this application, the operation of the above-mentioned inventory terminal may include at least one of the following: filtering terminals, discovering terminals, identifying terminals, obtaining the identifier of terminals, authenticating terminals, and authorizing terminals.

[0241] In some embodiments of this application, the above-mentioned acquisition of terminal information may include a read operation or an operation of reading information, such as acquiring information stored in the terminal or information sensed by AIoT-related sensors.

[0242] In some embodiments of this application, the above-mentioned configuration information to the terminal may include a write operation or an operation of writing information.

[0243] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned activation of the terminal's RF capability can be referred to as an activation operation or an enable operation.

[0244] In some embodiments of this application, the above-mentioned shutdown of the terminal's RF capability can be referred to as a deactivation operation or a disable operation.

[0245] In some embodiments of this application, the command executed by the control terminal may also be referred to as a control operation, such as sending a command to the terminal, or controlling the actuator or terminal associated with the terminal to execute the command.

[0246] In some embodiments of this application, the above-described operation of transmitting information to the terminal may be transparent to at least one of the reader / writer and the CN device (such as an AIoT function).

[0247] In some embodiments of this application, the reader can communicate directly with the terminal or through an intermediate device. It is understood that if the reader and the terminal device are far apart, the reader can extend its coverage area through an intermediate device. In this case, the intermediate device can also be referred to as the reader or a component of the reader.

[0248] In some embodiments of this application, the intermediate device may be an intermediate node located between the terminal and other devices (such as access network devices or readers). The intermediate device may extend the coverage of the other devices or facilitate communication between the terminal and other devices, but is not limited thereto.

[0249] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned intermediate device may include, but is not limited to, a terminal, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB), a relay, etc.

[0250] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned second node may be a second node served, associated with, or managed by one or more second communication devices.

[0251] In some embodiments of this application, the second node served, associated with, or managed by the one or more second communication devices may refer to a second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node served, associated with, or managed by the one or more second communication devices.

[0252] It should be noted that a detailed description of the information regarding the second node can be found in the aforementioned description of the information regarding the first node. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0253] In some embodiments of this application, where the first information includes information about the service area of ​​one or more second communication devices, the first information may also include information identifying the one or more second communication devices.

[0254] In some embodiments of this application, where the first information includes information about a first node served, associated with, or managed by one or more second communication devices, the first information may also include information identifying the one or more second communication devices.

[0255] In some embodiments of this application, where the first information includes information about a second node served, associated with, or managed by one or more second communication devices, the first information may also include information identifying the one or more second communication devices.

[0256] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned target second communication device may satisfy at least one of the following:

[0257] The service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device.

[0258] The service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

[0259] The nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node;

[0260] The location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

[0261] In some embodiments of this application, where the node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the first node, the identifier of the node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device may be the identifier of the first node.

[0262] In some embodiments of this application, where the node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the second node, the identifier of the node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device may be the identifier of the second node.

[0263] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows a first communication device to determine or select a target communication device or update the information of a communication device based on the information of the communication device or the information of a node by performing different actions. This enables the accurate determination of the AIoTF, AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader to be used when performing AIoT operations, and the accurate determination of the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used when performing sensing operations, in order to achieve sensing operations.

[0264] In some embodiments of this application, the "first communication device acquires first information" in the first action described above can be implemented by at least one of the following steps A, B, C, and D.

[0265] Step A: The first communication device obtains the first information of the local configuration.

[0266] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned first information may be information pre-stored locally by the first communication device.

[0267] In some embodiments of this application, the information pre-stored locally by the first communication device can be pre-configured information or already stored information in the first communication device. Thus, the first communication device can obtain the first information locally.

[0268] Step B: The first communication device receives at least one of the first node information and the second node information from the first node.

[0269] In some embodiments of this application, when the first information includes the second information, the first communication device can receive the first node information and / or the second node information sent by the first node to obtain the first information.

[0270] Step C: The first communication device receives information from the second node.

[0271] In some embodiments of this application, when the first information includes the second information, the first communication device can receive the second node information sent by the second node to obtain the first information.

[0272] Step D: The first communication device receives the first information from the third communication device.

[0273] In some embodiments of this application, the third communication device described above can be an NRF. The first communication device can query the NRF for first information.

[0274] In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first information through multiple means, which improves the flexibility of obtaining the first information.

[0275] In some embodiments of this application, step D can be specifically implemented by the following steps D1 and D2.

[0276] Step D1: The first communication device sends third information to the third communication device.

[0277] The aforementioned third information can be used to obtain information about the second communication device. It is understood that the information about the second communication device may include information about the target second communication device.

[0278] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned third information may include at least one of the following: information about a first region; information about a first location; information about a first identifier.

[0279] In some embodiments of this application, the first region may include at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device.

[0280] In some embodiments of this application, the first location mentioned above may include at least one of the following: the service location of a first node, the service location of a second node, and the service location of a first communication device.

[0281] In some embodiments of this application, the first identifier may include at least one of the following: the identifier of a first node, the identifier of a second node, and the identifier of a first communication device.

[0282] Step D2: The first communication device receives the first information from the third communication device.

[0283] In some embodiments of this application, the first communication device may send a query request (such as Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request) about the second communication device to the third communication device. The query request about the second communication device may include the aforementioned third information, and the third information is used to instruct the third communication device to return relevant information about the second communication device that matches the third information.

[0284] It should be noted that for a detailed description of the third piece of information mentioned above, please refer to the detailed descriptions of the first and second node information above. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0285] In some embodiments of this application, when the first information includes information of one or more second communication devices, the first communication device may, after receiving the first information sent by the third communication device, determine one or more identifiers from the identifiers of the one or more second communication devices as the identifier of the second communication device.

[0286] For example, the first communication device may determine one or more IP addresses from the identifiers of one or more second communication devices as the IP address of the second communication device.

[0287] For example, the first communication device may identify one or more FQDNs from the identifiers of the one or more second communication devices as the FQDN of the second communication device.

[0288] In this way, the first communication device can actively query the third communication device for the second communication device it needs to use, so that the first communication device can accurately obtain the second communication device it needs to use.

[0289] It should be noted that the aforementioned first information may also include information related to other second communication devices besides the one or more second communication devices mentioned above. This application does not impose specific limitations on the embodiments described.

[0290] In some embodiments of this application, the first action described above may also include at least one of the following: the first communication device establishes an association with the target second communication device; the first communication device sends fourth information to the target second communication device.

[0291] In some embodiments of this application, the granularity of the above association may include at least one of the following: association for each first node, association for each second node, and association for each first communication device.

[0292] In some embodiments of this application, the fourth information may include at least one of the following: information of the first communication device; information of the first node; and information of the second node.

[0293] In some embodiments of this application, the first node or the second node (hereinafter referred to as the third node) may first establish an AIoT connection with the first communication device in an AIoT scenario, or establish a sensing connection in a sensing scenario.

[0294] The following example illustrates the process of establishing an AIoT connection between a third node and a first communication device.

[0295] In some embodiments of this application, when the third node is a reader (such as a terminal reader or a base station reader), the reader can provide at least one of the following to the first communication device through a connection establishment request: the reader's identifier, the reader's service area (i.e., the area where the reader can effectively perform AIoT operations), the reader's location, and the reader's capabilities.

[0296] Then, the first communication device may respond to the connection establishment request of the reader by providing the reader with at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the device name of the first communication device.

[0297] In some embodiments of this application, when the third node is an AIoT RAN, the AIoT RAN can send a connection establishment request to the first communication device and provide the first communication device with at least one of the following: AIoT RAN information, reader information.

[0298] The aforementioned AIoT RAN information may include at least one of the following: the identifier (such as ID) of the AIoT RAN, the AIoT service area of ​​the AIoT RAN, and the location of the AIoT RAN.

[0299] It is understood that the AIoT service area of ​​the aforementioned AIoT RAN may include the service area of ​​one or more readers.

[0300] The aforementioned reader information may include at least one of the following: a list of reader identifiers, a list of reader service areas, and the location of the reader.

[0301] It is understood that the above-mentioned list of reader identifiers may include the identifiers of one or more AIoT RAN services or connected readers; the above-mentioned list of reader service areas may correspond to the list of reader service areas indicated by the reader identifiers; and the above-mentioned reader location may correspond to the reader location indicated by the reader identifiers.

[0302] For example, as shown in Table 1 below, this is the information that the connection establishment request can carry when the reader sends a connection establishment request to the first communication device.

[0303] Table 1

[0304] Reader Service Area Location ability Reader ID#1 Serving area#1 Location#1 Ability #1 Reader ID#2 Serving area #2 Location #2 Ability #2 Reader ID#3 Serving area #3 Location #3 Ability #1

[0305] Each reader / writer can correspond to a Reader ID, a Serving area, a Location, and a capability as shown in Table 1. It can be understood that each reader / writer's ID, serving area, and location can be unique, while its capabilities can be the same.

[0306] Then, the first communication device may respond to the connection establishment request of the AIoT RAN by providing the AIoT RAN with at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the device name of the first communication device.

[0307] In some embodiments of this application, after the third node establishes a connection with the first communication device and the first communication device selects the target second communication device, the first communication device may establish an association or connection with each (per) node of the target second communication device.

[0308] In some embodiments of this application, the first communication device may send an association creation request for each node to the target second communication device. The association creation request can be used to establish an association between the first communication device and the target second communication device for each node.

[0309] In some embodiments of this application, for each association creation of a second node, the association creation request may carry information about the second node; for each association creation of a first node, the association creation request may carry at least one of the information about the first node and the information about the second node.

[0310] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may respond to an association creation request sent by the first communication device to create a node context for each second node, or to create a node context for each first node.

[0311] In some embodiments of this application, the node context of the second node may include at least one of the following: information of the second node, and the identifier of the first communication device (i.e., the first communication device that sent the association creation request) associated with the second node; the node context of the first node may include at least one of the following: information of the first node, information of the second node, and the identifier of the first communication device (i.e., the first communication device that sent the association creation request) associated with the first node.

[0312] In some embodiments of this application, after the third node establishes a connection with the first communication device and the first communication device selects the target second communication device, the first communication device may also establish an association or connection with each of the target second communication devices.

[0313] In some embodiments of this application, a first communication device may send an association creation request for the first communication device to a target second communication device. This association creation request can be used to establish an association between the first and second communication devices. It is understood that the target second communication device may receive association creation requests sent by one or more first communication devices, thereby enabling the target second communication device to establish an association with each first communication device.

[0314] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned association creation request may carry at least one of the following: information about the identifier of the first communication device; information about the service area of ​​the first communication device; information about the first node associated with the first communication device; and information about the second node associated with the first communication device.

[0315] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may respond to an association creation request sent by the first communication device and create a context for the first communication device. The context may include at least one of the following: information about the identifier of the first communication device; information about the service area of ​​the first communication device; information about the first node associated with the first communication device; and information about the second node associated with the first communication device.

[0316] In some embodiments of this application, after the third node establishes a connection with the first communication device and the first communication device selects the target second communication device, the first communication device can also directly send third information to the target second communication device.

[0317] For example, in an AIoT scenario, the AMF (i.e., the first communication device) can call the AIoTF (the second communication device) to provide a service for AIoT information, and send third information to the AIoTF. In this way, the AIoTF can respond to the service call of the AMF and store the third information.

[0318] In this way, the first communication device can send third information to the second communication device, so that the second communication device can obtain the third information and accurately determine the first communication device, the first node and the second node to be used based on the third information in subsequent communication processes.

[0319] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 8 As shown, the communication method may include the following step 201.

[0320] Step 201: The third communication device performs at least one of the third, fourth, and fifth actions;

[0321] The third act includes at least one of the following:

[0322] The third communication device receives a query request from the fourth communication device regarding the second communication device, and returns one or more pieces of information about the second communication device to the fourth communication device based on the query request.

[0323] The third communication device receives a query request from the target second communication device regarding the sixth communication device, and returns information about one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device based on the query request.

[0324] The fourth behavior includes:

[0325] The third communication device receives information from the first communication device.

[0326] The third communication device updates the network function configuration information of the first communication device based on the information of the first communication device. The updated network function configuration information includes the information of the first communication device.

[0327] The fifth behavior includes:

[0328] The third communication device receives information from the target second communication device;

[0329] The third communication device updates the network function configuration information of the target second communication device based on the information of the second communication device. The updated network function configuration information includes the information of the second communication device.

[0330] The fourth communication device may include at least one of the following: a first communication device, a fifth communication device. The sixth communication device may include at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, a second node.

[0331] In the embodiments of this application, the information of the first communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0332] In this application embodiment, the information of the second communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

[0333] In the embodiments of this application, the first node information of the first node may include at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the first node, information on the service area of ​​the first node, information on the location of the first node, and information on the second node that the first node serves, manages, associates with, connects to, or supports.

[0334] In this embodiment of the application, the second node information of the second node may include at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the second node, information on the service area of ​​the second node, and information on the location of the second node.

[0335] In the embodiments of this application, the second node may be a node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node; or, the second node may implement functions served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node.

[0336] In some embodiments of this application, where the fourth communication device includes the first communication device, the query request regarding the second communication device may include third information.

[0337] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned third information may include at least one of the following: information about a first region; information about a first location; information about a first identifier.

[0338] In some embodiments of this application, the first region may include at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device.

[0339] In some embodiments of this application, the first location mentioned above may include at least one of the following: the service location of a first node, the service location of a second node, and the service location of a first communication device.

[0340] In some embodiments of this application, the first identifier mentioned above includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the first communication device.

[0341] In some embodiments of this application, the first communication device can query for available second communication devices, i.e., one or more of the aforementioned second communication devices, by sending a query request to the third communication device regarding the second communication device.

[0342] In some embodiments of this application, when the service areas of the first region and the second communication device overlap, the third communication device determines the communication device identified by the identifier of the communication device as the second communication device to be returned to the fourth communication device.

[0343] In some embodiments of this application, the third communication device may compare whether the first region matches the service region of the communication device in the NF profile corresponding to the second communication device, and determine the communication device whose service region matches as the second communication device to be returned to the fourth communication device.

[0344] For example, if the service areas of the communication devices in the NF profiles corresponding to the first region and the second communication device overlap, or if the first region is within the service area of ​​the communication devices in the NF profiles corresponding to the second communication device, the third communication device may determine the communication device whose service area matches as the second communication device to be returned to the fourth communication device.

[0345] In some embodiments of this application, when the first location is within the service area of ​​the second communication device, the third communication device identifies the communication device identified by the identifier of the second communication device as the second communication device to be returned to the fourth communication device.

[0346] In some embodiments of this application, the third communication device may compare whether the first position matches the position of the node associated with the communication device in the NF profile corresponding to the second communication device, and determine the communication device whose position matches as the second communication device to be returned to the fourth communication device.

[0347] In some embodiments of this application, if the identifier of the first identifier matches the identifier of the node associated with the second communication device, the fourth communication device identifies one or more second communication devices identified by the identifier of at least one second communication device as the second communication device.

[0348] In some embodiments of this application, the fourth communication device may compare whether the first identifier matches the identifier of the node associated with the communication device in the NF profile corresponding to the second communication device, and determine the communication device with the matching identifier as the second communication device that can be used by the first communication device.

[0349] In some embodiments of this application, the fourth communication device may further compare whether the identifier of the first communication device matches the identifier of the first communication device associated in the NF profile corresponding to the second communication device, and determine the communication device with the matching identifier as the second communication device that can be used by the first communication device.

[0350] In some embodiments of this application, the fourth communication device may further compare whether the service area of ​​the first communication device matches the service area of ​​the first communication device associated in the NF profile corresponding to the second communication device. For example, whether the service area of ​​the first communication device intersects with the service area of ​​the first communication device associated in the NF profile corresponding to the second communication device, or whether the service area of ​​the first communication device is in the service area of ​​the first communication device associated in the NF profile corresponding to the second communication device, and determine the communication device with the matching service area as the second communication device that can be used by the first communication device.

[0351] Thus, the third communication device can send first information to the first communication device, enabling the first communication device to obtain the first information. In subsequent communication processes, the third communication device can accurately determine the target second communication device, the first node, and the second node based on the first information. Furthermore, it can establish a per-node connection or a per-first communication device connection with the target second communication device. In subsequent operations, the target second communication device can determine the first communication device, the first node, and the second node.

[0352] It should be noted that for further details regarding step 201, please refer to the detailed description of step 101 above. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0353] In some embodiments of this application, where the fourth communication device includes a fifth communication device, the query request may include fifth information.

[0354] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned fifth information may include at least one of the following: information about the second region; information about the third node.

[0355] In some embodiments of this application, the second region described above may be the execution region of the first operation.

[0356] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned third node may be the node that performs the first operation.

[0357] In some embodiments of this application, the information of the third node may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the third node, the service area of ​​the third node, and the location of the third node.

[0358] In some embodiments of this application, the sixth communication device described above may satisfy at least one of the following:

[0359] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area;

[0360] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the identifier of the third node;

[0361] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the identifier of the third node;

[0362] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the identifier of the first node is the identifier of the third node;

[0363] In the case where the sixth communication device includes a second node, the identifier of the second node is the identifier of the third node;

[0364] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node and the second area overlap.

[0365] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node overlaps with the second region.

[0366] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned target second communication device may satisfy at least one of the following:

[0367] The service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device.

[0368] The service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

[0369] The nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node;

[0370] The location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

[0371] In some embodiments of this application, the service area of ​​the target second communication device may include at least one of the following: a pre-configured service area; a service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of the first node and the service areas of the second node; a service area consisting of the service areas of the first node served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device; and a service area consisting of the service areas of the second node served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device.

[0372] In some embodiments of this application, when the operation request of the first operation sent by the AF reaches the target second communication device, the target second communication device may send fifth information to the third communication device to query the available first communication device, first node and second node.

[0373] In some embodiments of this application, the operation request of the first operation may carry fifth information.

[0374] It should be noted that the description of the fifth piece of information mentioned above can be found in the descriptions of the first and third pieces of information above. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0375] In this way, the target second communication device can send information to the third communication device to query the first communication device, thereby accurately obtaining the first communication device, first node or second node to be used.

[0376] In some embodiments of this application, a third communication device may determine one or more sixth communication devices based on a query request for a sixth communication device, and return information about one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device.

[0377] In some embodiments of this application, after receiving information from one or more sixth communication devices from a third communication device, the target second communication device can select one or more communication devices indicated by the information from the one or more sixth communication devices as the device to be used. This allows the second communication device to accurately obtain the first communication device to be used.

[0378] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows a third communication device to send information about a sixth communication device that has been queried to a target second communication device, thereby enabling the target second communication device to accurately obtain the device it wants to use.

[0379] In some embodiments of this application, the first communication device may send an update request message Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate Request message to the third communication device, and the update request message may contain information about the first communication device.

[0380] In this way, the first communication device can send the latest information about the communication device, the latest information about the associated second communication device, or the latest information about the associated node to the third communication device, so that the third communication device can update the NF profile corresponding to the first communication device and maintain the accuracy of the network function configuration information stored in the third communication device.

[0381] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows a third communication device to provide a query service for a first communication device or a target second communication device to determine the communication object, or to update the network function configuration information of the first communication device or the target second communication device. This enables the third communication device to update the NF profile corresponding to the communication device, maintaining the accuracy of the network function configuration information stored in the third communication device. Therefore, when performing AIoT operations, the AIoT RF, AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader / writer to be used can be accurately determined to realize the AIoT operation. Similarly, when performing sensing operations, the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used can be accurately determined to realize the sensing operation.

[0382] Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 9 As shown, the communication method may include the following step 301.

[0383] Step 301: The target second communication device performs at least one of the following actions based on the fourth information:

[0384] Determine the information of the target's second communication device;

[0385] Update the information of the target's second communication device;

[0386] Send information about the target second communication device to the third communication device;

[0387] For the first operation, select at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, and a second node.

[0388] The aforementioned fourth information may include at least one of the following: information of the first communication device; information of the first node; and information of the second node.

[0389] In the embodiments of this application, the information of the first communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0390] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned first node information may indicate a first node, and the aforementioned second node information may indicate a second node.

[0391] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned second node may be a node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0392] In some embodiments of this application, the second node described above may implement functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0393] It should be noted that a detailed description of step 301 above can be found in the descriptions of steps 101 and 201 above. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0394] In some embodiments of this application, the first communication device selected for the first operation described above can satisfy at least one of the following:

[0395] The service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation;

[0396] The service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation;

[0397] The service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node;

[0398] The location of the first communication device includes the location of the third node;

[0399] The first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node;

[0400] The second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node.

[0401] In some embodiments of this application, the first node selected for the first operation described above can satisfy at least one of the following:

[0402] The service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation;

[0403] The service area of ​​the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node, where the third node is the node that performs the first operation.

[0404] The service area of ​​the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node;

[0405] The position of the first node includes the position of the third node;

[0406] The first node includes the third node;

[0407] The second node includes the third node;

[0408] The second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the third node.

[0409] In some embodiments of this application, the second node selected for the first operation described above can satisfy at least one of the following:

[0410] The service area of ​​the second node overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation;

[0411] The service area of ​​the second node includes the service area of ​​the third node, and the third node is the node that performs the first operation;

[0412] The service area of ​​the second node includes the service area of ​​the third node;

[0413] The position of the second node includes the position of the third node;

[0414] The second node includes the third node.

[0415] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows the second communication device to accurately determine the first communication device, the first node, and the second node to be used based on the third information in subsequent communication processes, according to the fourth information.

[0416] Figure 10A A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 10A As shown, the communication method may include the following step 401.

[0417] Step 401: The target second communication device (AIOTF) performs at least one of the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth actions.

[0418] The sixth line includes:

[0419] The target second communication device sends a query request to the third communication device regarding the sixth communication device;

[0420] The target second communication device receives information from the third communication device from one or more sixth communication devices;

[0421] The seventh action includes: the target second communication device determining or selecting the sixth communication device (AMF) based on the fourth information or the association between the first communication device and the first node;

[0422] The eighth action includes: the target second communication device obtaining information from the first communication device about one or more seventh communication devices, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node and a second node.

[0423] The ninth action includes at least one of the following: ordering first node information from first communication device A; receiving first node information from first communication device A, wherein the first node includes first node B; and the second communication device determining at least one of the following:

[0424] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[0425] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective; the first node B is valid.

[0426] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0427] In the embodiments of this application, "valid" means that it can be selected. For example, "valid" for the first node B means that the first node B can be selected.

[0428] In this embodiment of the application, the first node B being not directly connected can be: the first node (NG-RAN) is connected to the AMF (first network device), and the AMF is connected to the AIOTF (second network device).

[0429] The sixth communication device mentioned above may include at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, and a second node.

[0430] In this embodiment of the application, the fourth information may include at least one of the following: information of the first communication device (AMF), first node information, and second node information.

[0431] In the embodiments of this application, the information of the first communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0432] In this application embodiment, the first node information may include at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, information about the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and information about the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node.

[0433] In this embodiment of the application, the second node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node.

[0434] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device may overlap with the second area.

[0435] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device may include the second area.

[0436] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include a third node, which may be a node performing the first operation.

[0437] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include the third node.

[0438] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include a second area.

[0439] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may intersect with the second area. The second area may be the execution area of ​​the first operation or the area supported by the second communication device (local configuration).

[0440] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include a second region.

[0441] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may overlap with the second area.

[0442] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include the service area of ​​the third node.

[0443] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include the location of the third node.

[0444] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include the service area of ​​the third node.

[0445] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device may include the location of the third node.

[0446] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the first node may include a second area.

[0447] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the first node may overlap with the second area.

[0448] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes a first node, the first node may be a third node.

[0449] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may include a second area.

[0450] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may overlap with the second area.

[0451] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may include the service area of ​​the third node.

[0452] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes a first node, the location of a second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may include the location of a third node.

[0453] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes a second node, the service area of ​​the second node may include a second region.

[0454] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes a second node, the service area of ​​the second node may overlap with the second region.

[0455] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes a second node, the second node may be a third node.

[0456] In some embodiments of this application, when the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the first node may include a second area.

[0457] In some embodiments of this application, when the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the first node may overlap with the second area.

[0458] In some embodiments of this application, where the seventh communication device includes a first node, the first node may be a third node.

[0459] In some embodiments of this application, where the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​a second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may include a second area.

[0460] In some embodiments of this application, when the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may overlap with the second area.

[0461] In some embodiments of this application, where the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may include the service area of ​​the third node.

[0462] In some embodiments of this application, where the seventh communication device includes a first node, the location of a second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node may include the location of a third node.

[0463] In some embodiments of this application, when the seventh communication device includes a second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes a second region, or the service area of ​​the second node may overlap with the second region.

[0464] In some embodiments of this application, where the seventh communication device includes a second node, the second node may be a third node.

[0465] In the embodiments of this application, the second node may be a node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node; or, the second node may implement functions served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node.

[0466] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes a first node, the information of the sixth communication device may include the first node information.

[0467] In some embodiments of this application, when the sixth communication device includes a second node, the information of the sixth communication device may include the second node information.

[0468] In some embodiments of this application, where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the information of the sixth communication device may include the information of the first communication device.

[0469] In some embodiments of this application, when the query request for the sixth communication device includes fifth information, the fifth information may include at least one of the following: information about the second region, information about the third node.

[0470] In some embodiments of this application, the second region described above may be the execution region of the first operation.

[0471] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned third node may be the node that performs the first operation.

[0472] In some embodiments of this application, the seventh line further includes: the second communication device locally configuring at least one of the following, or determining at least one of the following through local configuration:

[0473] The first or third node is served, associated with or connected to the first communication device;

[0474] The first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device;

[0475] The relationship between the first communication device and the first node.

[0476] In some embodiments of this application, the seventh act further includes at least one of the following, or the second communication device further includes, before performing the seventh act, the second communication device performing at least one of the following:

[0477] The second communication device obtains information from the first communication device, the first communication device including first communication device A;

[0478] The second communication device performs at least one of the following:

[0479] Order first node information from first communication device A;

[0480] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in a first communication device A;

[0481] The second communication device determines that the first communication device A and the first node B are associated.

[0482] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0483] First node B is valid;

[0484] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0485] In this embodiment of the application, "first node B is valid" means that "first node B can be selected".

[0486] In this embodiment of the application, the first node B being not directly connected means that the first node (NG-RAN) is connected to the AMF (first network device), and the AMF is connected to the AIOTF (second network device).

[0487] In some embodiments of this application, the seventh act further includes at least one of the following, or the second communication device further includes, before performing the seventh act, the second communication device performing at least one of the following:

[0488] The second communication device obtains the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node, wherein the first communication device includes first communication device A and the first node includes first node B;

[0489] The second communication device performs at least one of the following:

[0490] Order first node information from first communication device A;

[0491] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[0492] The second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[0493] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is confirmed to be effective.

[0494] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0495] First node B is valid;

[0496] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0497] In this embodiment of the application, "first node B is valid" means that "first node B can be selected".

[0498] In this embodiment of the application, the first node B being not directly connected means that the first node (NG-RAN) is connected to the AMF (first network device), and the AMF is connected to the AIOTF (second network device).

[0499] In some embodiments of this application, under the first condition, the second communication device determines that the first communication device A and the first node B have an association relationship, determines that the association relationship between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective, and the first node B is valid or the first node B is not directly connected.

[0500] The first condition includes receiving information from a first node from a first communication device A, wherein the first node includes a first node B.

[0501] In this embodiment of the application, "first node B is valid" means that "first node B can be selected".

[0502] In this embodiment of the application, the first node B being not directly connected means that the first node (NG-RAN) is connected to the AMF (first network device), and the AMF is connected to the AIOTF (second network device).

[0503] In some embodiments of this application, the second communication device obtains information about the first communication device and the association between the first communication device and the first node, which can be configured locally.

[0504] In some embodiments of this application, the ninth line is: before executing the ninth line, the second communication device determines the first communication device based on the second region or the region supported by the second communication device.

[0505] In some embodiments of this application, the service area of ​​the first communication device and the second area overlap.

[0506] Errors may occur when the information of the first communication device, the information of the first node, or the association between the first communication device and the first node is configured locally on the second communication device. For example, if the first communication device A has an NG connection with the first node B, then the first communication device A and the first node B are associated. However, if the first communication device A has not established an NG connection with the first node C, but A and C are not associated, and the second communication device is locally configured to have an association between A and C, then the configuration is incorrect. Another possibility is a time difference issue. Even if A and C are associated, if an NG connection has not yet been established between A and C, meaning there is a time difference between the locally configured time and the time the NG connection is established, then the locally configured information should not take effect during this time difference. Currently, there is no way for the second communication device to know when the association between A and C takes effect. Another scenario is that the NG connection between A and C has been completed but then disconnected. Since the AIOTF (second communication device) is unaware of this, the AIOTF still considers node C to be valid for AIoT operations, which will obviously lead to errors. To solve this problem, one implementation method is as follows:

[0507] The second communication device orders information about the first node under the first communication device, such as the identifier of the first node. The first communication device returns the information about the first node that has established an NG connection with the first communication device to the second communication device. It is easy to understand that when the second communication device receives information about the first node C from the first device A, it determines that A and C are associated, or that the association between A and C is effective.

[0508] The real-time process can be as follows:

[0509] like Figure 10B The diagram shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in some embodiments of this application. The communication method includes steps 0 to 5 as described below.

[0510] Step 0: AIOTF is pre-configured with the following AIoT information by OAM:

[0511] AIOTF supported or served regions;

[0512] First node information;

[0513] Second node information;

[0514] The relationship between the first node and the first communication device (AMF).

[0515] For example, pre-configuration can be referred to as pre-configuration.

[0516] Steps 1-2: AIOTF subscribes to NG-RAN node information (such as ID) from the pre-configured AMF via Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe.

[0517] It should be noted that in one implementation: The AIOTF, based on the pre-configured association between the first node (NG-RAN) and the first communication device (AMF), orders a specific NG-RAN node from the AMF. In other words, the AIOTF carries a specific NG-RAN node ID it desires or selects in this step. Subsequently, the AMF only notifies the AIOTF of the NG-RAN node ID after determining that an NG connection has been established between the NG-RAN node and the AMF. In another implementation: the AIOTF does not specify the ordering of specific NG-RAN node information (such as ID) from the AMF. Instead, the AMF subsequently reports the IDs of NG-RAN nodes that have established NG connections with it to the AIOTF based on its own judgment.

[0518] Steps 3-4: Based on the NGAP connection between NG-RAN and AMF, AMF notifies AIOTF of the information (such as ID) of the NG-RAN nodes that have NGAP connections with AMF.

[0519] Note: Step 3 may occur before or after Step 1.

[0520] Step 5: Based on the NG-RAN node ID reported by AMF and the pre-configured AIoT information of the NG-RAN nodes, AIOTF determines whether the NG-RAN nodes are indirectly connected to AIOTF, or which configured NG-RAN nodes are valid nodes, or confirms that the NG-RAN nodes have a valid association with AMF.

[0521] AIOTF determines its NF profile based on the pre-configured AIoT information of the NG-RAN node and the indirect connection with the NG-RAN node. AIOTF registers or updates its NF profile to the NRF using the method defined in Section 4.17.2 of TS23.502[4].

[0522] The AIOTF NF configuration file includes at least one of the following:

[0523] AIOTF ID / address

[0524] NF type;

[0525] The supported AIoT service area consists of the sum of the AIoT service areas supported by all NG-RAN nodes that are directly or indirectly connected to AIOTF.

[0526] If the AMF reports a new NG-RAN ID, the AIOTF updates its profile to the NRF accordingly.

[0527] For example, an NF service update can be defined as: NF service Update.

[0528] In one implementation, the second communication device may be locally configured with at least one of the following:

[0529] Information from the first communication device;

[0530] First node information;

[0531] Second node information.

[0532] In another implementation, the second communication device can receive at least one of the following from the first device or the first node:

[0533] Information from the first communication device;

[0534] First node information;

[0535] Second node information.

[0536] In one implementation, the second communication device can determine that there is an association between the first communication device and the first node based on information from the first communication device or information from the first node.

[0537] In another implementation, the second communication device locally configures the association between the first communication device and the first node.

[0538] In some embodiments of this application, after step 401 described above, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application may further include at least one of the following:

[0539] Step 402: The target second communication device selects at least one of the following based on the information received from one or more sixth communication devices: a first communication device, a first node, a second node, and sends a first operation request to the selected device.

[0540] In some embodiments of this application, after the sixth or seventh act described above, the target second communication device may, based on information received from one or more sixth communication devices, select at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, a second node, and send a first operation request to the selected device.

[0541] Step 403: The target second communication device selects at least one of the following based on the information received from one or more seventh communication devices: a first node, a second node, and sends a first operation request to the selected device.

[0542] In some embodiments of this application, after the eighth line described above, the second communication device selects at least one of the following based on information received from one or more seventh communication devices: a first node, a second node, and sends a first operation request to the selected device.

[0543] In this way, by sending an operation request to the designated device, the operation request can be executed smoothly.

[0544] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps 401 to 403 above, please refer to the relevant description of the communication method above. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0545] In this way, the information of the node to be used can be sent to the first communication device to instruct the first communication device to use the node to perform the corresponding operation, so that the operation request can be executed smoothly.

[0546] In some embodiments of this application, after step 401 described above, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application may further include at least one of the following:

[0547] Step 404: The target second communication device sends the sixth message to the first communication device.

[0548] The sixth piece of information mentioned above can be used to instruct the first communication device to perform the first operation using the fourth node.

[0549] In some embodiments of this application, the fourth node may include at least one of the following: a first node for performing the first operation, and a second node for performing the first operation.

[0550] In some embodiments of this application, the sixth information may include at least one of the following: information identifying the fourth node; information about the service area of ​​the fourth node; and information about the location of the fourth node.

[0551] Step 405: The target second communication device sends the seventh message to the first node.

[0552] The aforementioned seventh piece of information can be used to instruct the first communication device to perform an operation request using the fifth node to execute the first operation.

[0553] In some embodiments of this application, the fifth node may include a second node for performing the first operation.

[0554] In some embodiments of this application, the seventh information may include at least one of the following: information identifying the fifth node; information about the service area of ​​the fifth node; and information about the location of the fifth node.

[0555] The communication method provided in this application embodiment enables the target second communication device to instruct the first communication device to perform a corresponding operation using a specific node, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of the operation.

[0556] In some embodiments of this application, the "target second communication device obtains information about one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device" in the eighth line described above can be specifically implemented through the following steps E and F.

[0557] Step E: The target second communication device sends the eighth message to the first communication device.

[0558] Step F: The target second communication device receives information from one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device.

[0559] The eighth piece of information mentioned above may include at least one of the following: information about the second region, and information about the third node.

[0560] In some embodiments of this application, the second region described above may be the execution region of the first operation.

[0561] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned third node may be the node that performs the first operation.

[0562] In some embodiments of this application, when performing the first operation, the target second communication device may obtain first node information and / or second node information from the first communication device to determine the first node and / or second node used to perform the first operation.

[0563] In some embodiments of this application, the first communication device may determine a first node and / or a second node for performing the first operation based on the execution area (i.e., the second area) of the first operation.

[0564] For example, taking the first communication device as AMF and the first operation as an AIoT operation, the AMF determines the AIoT RAN and / or reader / writer for performing the AIoT operation based on the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation.

[0565] For example, taking the first communication device as AMF and the first operation as a sensing operation as an example, the AMF determines the sensing RAN and / or sensing device to perform the sensing operation based on the execution area of ​​the sensing operation.

[0566] In some embodiments of this application, the first node information may include at least one of the following: information identifying the first node; information about the service area of ​​the first node; information about the location of the first node; and second node information.

[0567] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned second node information may include at least one of the following: information identifying the second node; information about the service area of ​​the second node; and information about the location of the second node.

[0568] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps 404, 405, E, and F above, please refer to the descriptions of the various embodiments of the communication method above. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0569] In some embodiments of this application, after receiving the eighth information sent by the second communication device, the first communication device can obtain information for determining one or more seventh communication devices to perform the first operation, and send the information to the target second communication device.

[0570] In some embodiments of this application, when the information of one or more seventh communication devices includes first node information, the target second communication device can select one or more first nodes for performing the first operation based on the first node information.

[0571] In some embodiments of this application, the one or more first nodes for performing the first operation described above may satisfy at least one of the following: the identifier indicated by the first node information includes the identifier of the one or more first nodes for performing the first operation; the service area indicated by the first node information includes the location of the one or more first nodes for performing the first operation; and the service area indicated by the first node information intersects with the service area of ​​the one or more first nodes for performing the first operation.

[0572] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may use one or more identifiers in the first node information as identifiers of one or more first nodes for performing the first operation.

[0573] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may select a node located in the service area indicated by the first node information as the service area of ​​one or more first nodes for performing the first operation.

[0574] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may use a node whose service area intersects with the service area indicated by the first node information as the service area of ​​one or more first nodes for performing the first operation.

[0575] In this way, the second communication device can accurately determine the node used to perform the first operation.

[0576] In some embodiments of this application, where the information of one or more seventh communication devices includes second node information, the target second communication device can select one or more second nodes for performing the first operation based on the second node information.

[0577] In some embodiments of this application, the one or more second nodes used to perform the first operation may satisfy at least one of the following: the identifier indicated by the second node information includes the identifier of the one or more second nodes used to perform the first operation; the service area indicated by the second node information includes the location of the one or more second nodes used to perform the first operation; and the service area indicated by the second node information intersects with the service area of ​​the one or more second nodes used to perform the first operation.

[0578] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may use one or more identifiers in the second node information as identifiers of one or more second nodes for performing the first operation.

[0579] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may select a node located in the service area indicated by the second node information as the service area of ​​one or more second nodes for performing the first operation.

[0580] In some embodiments of this application, the target second communication device may use a node whose service area intersects with the service area indicated by the second node information as the service area of ​​one or more second nodes for performing the first operation.

[0581] In this way, the second communication device can accurately determine the node used to perform the first operation.

[0582] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows the target second communication device to obtain node information of the node to be used from the first communication device when performing the first operation, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of the first operation.

[0583] Figure 10C A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 10C As shown, the communication method may include the following step 408.

[0584] Step 408: The second communication device performs at least one of the following:

[0585] Obtain the association between the first communication device and the first node;

[0586] Determine at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device (AMF) and the first node (gNB); the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected.

[0587] Based on the association between the first communication device and the first node, the first node is determined or selected if it is a valid first node and is not directly connected to at least one of the following:

[0588] In this embodiment of the application, "first node valid" means that the first node can be selected and that the first node has a valid connection with the first communication device (AMF).

[0589] In this application embodiment, "connection" includes NG connections, such as an NG connection between gNB and AMF, or an NG connection between gNB and AIOTF / SF.

[0590] In this embodiment of the application, the first node being not directly connected means that the first node (NG-RAN) is connected to the AMF (first communication device), and the AMF is connected to the AIOTF (second network device).

[0591] In one implementation, the second communication device determines or selects the first communication device based on the association relationship between the first communication device (e.g., AMF) and the first node (e.g., gNB), including at least one of the following: a valid first node, and the first node being a non-directly connected node. Here, "the association relationship between the first communication device (e.g., AMF) and the first node (e.g., gNB)" refers to either a valid association relationship determined by the second communication device or an association relationship determined by the second communication device. In another implementation, the association relationship between the first communication device (e.g., AMF) and the first node (e.g., gNB) is a locally configured association relationship of the second communication device.

[0592] In one embodiment, the second communication device determines a valid association relationship by configuring the information of the first communication device locally and requesting or ordering the information of the first node from the first communication device through the information of the first communication device. When the first communication device responds with the information of the first node, it indicates that the association relationship between the first node and the first communication device is valid.

[0593] In some embodiments of this application, obtaining the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node includes: the second communication device locally configuring the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node, or receiving the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node from the first communication device or the first node.

[0594] In some embodiments of this application, the above determination includes at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected, which may include at least one of the following:

[0595] Order or request information about the first node from the first communication device A;

[0596] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[0597] Based on the first node information from the first communication device A, the second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[0598] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[0599] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0600] First node B is valid;

[0601] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0602] In some embodiments of this application, determining the association between the first communication device and the first node may include at least one of the following:

[0603] Order or request information about the first node from the first communication device A;

[0604] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[0605] Based on the first node information from the first communication device A, the second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[0606] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[0607] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0608] First node B is valid;

[0609] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0610] In some embodiments of this application, the determination of the association between the first communication device and the first node taking effect may include at least one of the following:

[0611] Order or request information about the first node from the first communication device A;

[0612] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[0613] Based on the first node information from the first communication device A, the second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[0614] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[0615] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0616] First node B is valid;

[0617] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0618] In some embodiments of this application, the determination that the first node is valid may include at least one of the following:

[0619] Order or request information about the first node from the first communication device A;

[0620] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[0621] Based on the first node information from the first communication device A, the second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[0622] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[0623] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0624] First node B is valid;

[0625] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0626] In some embodiments of this application, determining that the first node is not directly connected may include at least one of the following:

[0627] Order or request information about the first node from the first communication device A;

[0628] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[0629] Based on the first node information from the first communication device A, the second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[0630] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[0631] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0632] First node B is valid;

[0633] The first node B is not directly connected.

[0634] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned first node information includes at least one of the following:

[0635] The first node information indicates the identification information of the first node, the service area information of the first node, the location information of the first node, the second node information served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and the information of the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node.

[0636] Errors may occur when the information of the first communication device, the information of the first node, or the association between the first communication device and the first node is configured locally on the second communication device. For example, if the first communication device A has an NG connection with the first node B, then the first communication device A and the first node B are associated. However, if the first communication device A has not established an NG connection with the first node C, but A and C are not associated, and the second communication device is locally configured to have an association between A and C, then the configuration is incorrect. Another possibility is a time difference issue. Even if A and C are associated, if an NG connection has not yet been established between A and C, meaning there is a time difference between the locally configured time and the time the NG connection is established, then the locally configured information should not take effect during this time difference. Currently, there is no way for the second communication device to know when the association between A and C takes effect. Another scenario is that the NG connection between A and C has been completed but then disconnected. Since the AIOTF (second communication device) is unaware of this, the AIOTF still considers node C to be valid for AIoT operations, which will obviously lead to errors. To solve this problem, one implementation method is as follows:

[0637] The second communication device orders information about the first node under the first communication device, such as the identifier of the first node. The first communication device returns the information about the first node that has established an NG connection with the first communication device to the second communication device. It is easy to understand that when the second communication device receives information about the first node C from the first device A, it determines that A and C are associated, or that the association between A and C is effective.

[0638] The real-time process can be as follows:

[0639] like Figure 10B The diagram shows a flowchart of a communication method provided in some embodiments of this application. The communication method includes steps 0 to 5 as described below.

[0640] Step 0: AIOTF is pre-configured with the following AIoT information by OAM:

[0641] AIOTF supported or served regions;

[0642] First node information;

[0643] Second node information;

[0644] The relationship between the first node and the first communication device (AMF).

[0645] For example, pre-configuration can be referred to as pre-configuration.

[0646] Steps 1-2: AIOTF subscribes to NG-RAN node information (such as ID) from the pre-configured AMF via Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe.

[0647] It should be noted that in one implementation: The AIOTF, based on the pre-configured association between the first node (NG-RAN) and the first communication device (AMF), orders a specific NG-RAN node from the AMF. In other words, the AIOTF carries a specific NG-RAN node ID it desires or selects in this step. Subsequently, the AMF only notifies the AIOTF of the NG-RAN node ID after determining that an NG connection has been established between the NG-RAN node and the AMF. In another implementation: the AIOTF does not specify the ordering of specific NG-RAN node information (such as ID) from the AMF. Instead, the AMF subsequently reports the IDs of NG-RAN nodes that have established NG connections with it to the AIOTF based on its own judgment.

[0648] Steps 3-4: Based on the NGAP connection between NG-RAN and AMF, AMF notifies AIOTF of the information (such as ID) of the NG-RAN nodes that have NGAP connections with AMF.

[0649] Note: Step 3 may occur before or after Step 1.

[0650] Step 5: Based on the NG-RAN node ID reported by AMF and the pre-configured AIoT information of the NG-RAN nodes, AIOTF determines whether the NG-RAN nodes are indirectly connected to AIOTF, or which configured NG-RAN nodes are valid nodes, or confirms that the NG-RAN nodes have a valid association with AMF.

[0651] AIOTF determines its NF profile based on the pre-configured AIoT information of the NG-RAN node and the indirect connection with the NG-RAN node. AIOTF registers or updates its NF profile to the NRF using the method defined in Section 4.17.2 of TS23.502[4].

[0652] The AIOTF NF configuration file includes at least one of the following:

[0653] AIOTF ID / address

[0654] NF type;

[0655] The supported AIoT service area consists of the sum of the AIoT service areas supported by all NG-RAN nodes that are directly or indirectly connected to AIOTF.

[0656] If the AMF reports a new NG-RAN ID, the AIOTF updates its profile to the NRF accordingly.

[0657] For example, an NF service update can be defined as: NF service Update.

[0658] In one implementation, the second communication device may be locally configured with at least one of the following:

[0659] Information from the first communication device;

[0660] First node information;

[0661] Second node information.

[0662] In another implementation, the second communication device can receive at least one of the following from the first device or the first node:

[0663] Information from the first communication device;

[0664] First node information;

[0665] Second node information.

[0666] In one implementation, the second communication device can determine that there is an association between the first communication device and the first node based on information from the first communication device or information from the first node.

[0667] In another implementation, the second communication device locally configures the association between the first communication device and the first node.

[0668] Figure 10D A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 10D As shown, the communication method may include the following steps 409 and 410.

[0669] Step 409: The first communication device receives the order or request for the first node information from the second communication device.

[0670] Step 410: The first communication device sends the first node information to the second communication device according to the order or request.

[0671] The first node has an (NG) connection with the first communication device.

[0672] Figure 11 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 11 As shown, the communication method may include the following steps 501 and 502.

[0673] Step 501: The first communication device receives the eighth information from the target second communication device, and determines or selects one or more seventh communication devices based on the eighth information.

[0674] The aforementioned seventh communication device may include at least one of the following: a first node and a second node.

[0675] Step 502: The first communication device sends information about one or more seventh communication devices to the target second communication device.

[0676] The eighth piece of information mentioned above may include at least one of the following: information about the second region, or information about the third node.

[0677] In this embodiment of the application, the second region can be the execution region of the first operation.

[0678] In this embodiment of the application, the aforementioned third node may be the node that performs the first operation.

[0679] In some embodiments of this application, when one or more seventh communication devices include a first node, the information of the one or more seventh communication devices may include first node information.

[0680] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned first node information may satisfy at least one of the following: the location of the first node indicated by the first node information is in the second region; the service area of ​​the first node includes the second region; the service area of ​​the first node intersects with the second region; the identifier of the first node includes the identifier of the third node; the service area of ​​the first node includes the location of the third node; the location of the first node includes the location of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; the identifier of the second node includes the identifier of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node includes the location of the third node; the location of the second node includes the location of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second region; the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; the location of the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node.

[0681] In some embodiments of this application, where one or more seventh communication devices include the second node, the information of the one or more seventh communication devices may include second node information.

[0682] In some embodiments of this application, the second node information described above may satisfy at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; the identifier of the second node includes the identifier of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node includes the location of the third node; the location of the second node includes the location of the third node.

[0683] In some embodiments of this application, the first node information may include at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node; information about the service area of ​​the first node; information about the location of the first node; and information about second nodes served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0684] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned second node information may include at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the second node; information about the service area of ​​the second node; and information about the location of the second node.

[0685] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps 501 and 502 above, please refer to the relevant descriptions of steps 401 to 405, as well as steps E and F above. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0686] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows the target second communication device to obtain node information of the node to be used from the first communication device when performing the first operation, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of the first operation.

[0687] Figure 12 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 12 As shown, the communication method may include the following step 601.

[0688] Step 601: The fifth communication device sends the ninth information to the third communication device. The ninth information is used to identify the target second communication device.

[0689] The aforementioned ninth information may include at least one of the following: information about the second region, or information about the third node.

[0690] In this embodiment of the application, the second region can be the execution region of the first operation.

[0691] In this embodiment of the application, the aforementioned third node may be the node that performs the first operation.

[0692] In some embodiments of this application, the fifth communication device described above may be NEF.

[0693] In some embodiments of this application, when an operation request (such as an AIoT operation request or a sensing operation request) sent by the AF arrives at the NEF, the NEF can query the available second communication device by sending a ninth message to the third communication device. That is, the target second communication device.

[0694] In some embodiments of this application, the first operation described above may be an AIoT operation or a sensing operation.

[0695] In some embodiments of this application, AIoT operations may include at least one of the following: inventory operation, command operation, read operation, write operation, activation operation, deactivation operation, notification operation, operation to locate AIoT devices, identification MASK, device ID report, read command, read response, write command, write response, disable request, disable response, security command / response.

[0696] In some embodiments of this application, the above command operation may include at least one of the following: read operation, write operation, activation operation, deactivation operation, notification operation, operation to locate AIoT device, operation to broadcast AIoT device ID, and security operation.

[0697] In some embodiments of this application, the above-described security operations can be used for encryption or integrity protection of signaling or data between AIoT devices or readers and the network.

[0698] In some embodiments of this application, the execution area of ​​the first operation may refer to the physical or logical area responsible for performing specific operations and tasks.

[0699] In some embodiments of this application, the node performing the first operation may include a first node performing the first operation and / or a second node performing the first operation.

[0700] In some embodiments of this application, the fifth communication device may send a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request to the third communication device, carrying ninth information in the query request to obtain a usable target second communication device.

[0701] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows a fifth communication device to send information to a third communication device to query a target second communication device, thereby accurately obtaining the target second communication device to be used.

[0702] In some embodiments of this application, after step 601 described above, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application may further include step 602 described below.

[0703] Step 602: The fifth communication device receives information from one or more second communication devices from the third communication device.

[0704] The aforementioned target second communication device can be a communication device among one or more second communication devices.

[0705] In some embodiments of this application, the information of the second communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

[0706] In some embodiments of this application, after the third communication device determines one or more second communication devices that the fifth communication device can use based on the ninth information sent by the fifth communication device, the third communication device can send the information of the one or more second communication devices to the fifth communication device.

[0707] In some embodiments of this application, after receiving information from one or more second communication devices sent by the third communication device, the fifth communication device may select one or more communication devices as the target second communication device to be used from the communication devices indicated by the information from one or more second communication devices.

[0708] Thus, the fifth communication device can accurately determine the second communication device to be used by querying the third communication device for one or more second communication devices.

[0709] In some embodiments of this application, after step 602 above, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application may further include step 603 below.

[0710] Step 603: The fifth communication device sends an operation request for the first operation to the target second communication device.

[0711] In some embodiments of this application, after determining or selecting a target second communication device, the fifth communication device may send an operation request for a first operation to the target second communication device to request the target second communication device to perform the first operation.

[0712] It should be noted that a detailed description of the first operation can be found in the descriptions of steps 501 and 502 above. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0713] Thus, by sending an operation request to the designated target second communication device, the operation request can be successfully executed.

[0714] In some embodiments of this application, after receiving the operation request for the first operation sent by the AF, the fifth communication device may also determine the second communication device to be used based on the information of the pre-configured communication device.

[0715] It is understandable that the operation request sent by AF for the first operation can carry information about the execution area of ​​the first operation and the node that can perform the first operation.

[0716] In some embodiments of this application, the information of the pre-configured communication device described above may include the information of the target second communication device.

[0717] In some embodiments of this application, the fifth communication device may determine the second communication device to be used based on the information of the second region and the third node, as well as the information of the pre-configured communication device.

[0718] In some embodiments of this application, the fifth communication device may determine the pre-configured communication device as the target second communication device to be used when the second region is located in the service area of ​​the pre-configured communication device, or when the second region intersects with the service area of ​​the pre-configured communication device.

[0719] In some embodiments of this application, the fifth communication device may also determine the pre-configured communication device as the target second communication device to be used if the execution area of ​​the first operation includes the location of the pre-configured communication device.

[0720] In some embodiments of this application, the fifth communication device may also determine the pre-configured communication device as the target second communication device to be used if the identifier of the third node is the identifier of the node associated with the pre-configured communication device.

[0721] In this way, the fifth communication device can accurately determine the second communication device to be used based on the pre-configured information of the communication devices.

[0722] Figure 13 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application is shown, as follows: Figure 13 As shown, the communication method may include the following steps 701 and 702.

[0723] Step 701: The third communication device receives the ninth information from the fifth communication device. The ninth information is used to determine the target second communication device.

[0724] Step 702: The third communication device determines one or more second communication devices based on the ninth information, wherein the one or more second communication devices include the target second communication device.

[0725] The aforementioned ninth information may include at least one of the following: information about the second region, or information about the third node.

[0726] In this embodiment of the application, the second region can be the execution region of the first operation.

[0727] In this embodiment of the application, the aforementioned third node may be the node that performs the first operation.

[0728] In some embodiments of this application, the above-mentioned one or more second communication devices may satisfy at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the second communication device intersects with the second region; the service area of ​​the second communication device includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; the service area of ​​the second communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; the location of the second communication device includes the location of the third node; the first node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the third node; the second node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the third node.

[0729] In some embodiments of this application, a third communication device may identify one or more second communication devices as second communication devices that can be used by a fifth communication device if the second region intersects with the service areas of one or more second communication devices, or if the second region is located within the service areas of one or more second communication devices.

[0730] In some embodiments of this application, a third communication device may identify one or more second communication devices as second communication devices that can be used by a fifth communication device if the identifier of the third node matches the identifier of one or more nodes served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

[0731] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps 701 and 702 above, please refer to the relevant descriptions of steps 601 to 603 above. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0732] The communication method provided in this application embodiment allows the third communication device to accurately determine the target second communication device to be used by the fifth communication device based on the information sent by the fifth communication device.

[0733] In some embodiments of this application, after step 702 described above, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application may further include step 703 as described below.

[0734] Step 703: The third communication device sends information from one or more second communication devices to the fifth communication device.

[0735] The information of the second communication device may include at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

[0736] In this way, the fifth communication device can obtain information about the identifiers of one or more second communication devices that can be used, and thus accurately determine the second communication device to be used based on this information during subsequent communication.

[0737] The following specific examples illustrate the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0738] Example 1: Taking AMF as the first communication device, AIoTF as the second communication device, NRF as the fourth communication device, AIoT RAN as the first node, and reader as the second node as an example, Figure 14As shown, the communication method may include steps S101 to S103 as described below, or steps S101, S104 and S105 as described below.

[0739] S101, reader, AIoT RAN establish AIoT connection with AMF.

[0740] The reader mentioned above can be a base station reader (BS reader) or a terminal reader. The AIoT connection mentioned above can be an NGAP connection.

[0741] In some embodiments of this application, the AMF can obtain reader information (info) or AIoTRAN information (i.e., node information) from the reader.

[0742] In one possible implementation, after step S101 described above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include the following steps S102 and S103.

[0743] S102, AMF obtains the AIoTF to be used based on the pre-configured AIoTF information.

[0744] Among them, AIoTF information is the first information mentioned above.

[0745] In some embodiments of this application, the pre-configured AIoTF information may include at least one of the following: AIoTF ID, AIoTF service area, AIoTF location, and AIoTF-associated reader ID.

[0746] S103, AMF determines AIoTF based on pre-configured AIoTF information, as well as at least one of reader information and AIoT RAN information.

[0747] The principles for determining AIoTF mentioned above may include at least one of the following:

[0748] a) The service area of ​​the reader in the reader information may overlap with the service area of ​​the AIoTF;

[0749] b) The location of the reader in the reader information is within the service area of ​​this AIoTF;

[0750] c) The reader ID in the reader information is the reader ID associated with this AIoTF information;

[0751] d) The service area of ​​the reader in the AIoT RAN information may overlap with the service area of ​​the AIOTF;

[0752] e) The location of the reader in the AIoT RAN information is within the service area of ​​this AIOTF;

[0753] f) The AIOT RAN ID in the AIoT RAN information is the AIoT RAN ID associated with the AIoTF information.

[0754] In another possible implementation, after step S101 described above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include the following steps S104 and S105.

[0755] S104. AMF sends a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request to NRF.

[0756] The query request includes AIoT information, which can be the second information mentioned above, and can be used to instruct the NRF to return an AIoTF that matches the AIoT information.

[0757] In some embodiments of this application, the AIoT information described above may include at least one of the following: reader information; AIoT RAN information; AIoT information of AMF.

[0758] After receiving the query request, S105 and NRF determine the AIoTF based on the AIoT information and return a list of the determined AIoTF ID, IP or FQDN (i.e., instance information).

[0759] The NRF determines the AIoTF based on AIoT information, including at least one of the following:

[0760] The NRF compares the reader ID in the reader information with the reader ID associated in the AIoTF's NF profile. If they match, the AIoTF is selected.

[0761] The NRF compares whether the AIoT RAN ID in the AIoT RAN information matches the AIoT RAN ID associated in the NF profile of the AIoTF. If they match, the AIoTF is selected.

[0762] The NRF compares whether the service area of ​​the reader in the reader information matches the service area of ​​the AIoTF in the NF profile of the AIoTF. For example, whether the service area of ​​the reader intersects with the service area of ​​the AIoTF or whether the service area of ​​the reader is within the service area of ​​the AIoTF. If so, the AIoTF is selected.

[0763] The NRF compares whether the service area of ​​the AIoT RAN in the AIoT RAN information matches the service area of ​​the AIoTF in the NF profile of the AIoTF. For example, whether the service area of ​​the AIoT RAN and the service area of ​​the AIoTF overlap or whether the service area of ​​the AIoT RAN is within the service area of ​​the AIoTF. If so, the AIoTF is selected.

[0764] The NRF compares whether the AMFID in the AIoT information of the AMF matches the AMF ID associated in the NF profile of the AIoTF. If they match, the AIoTF is selected.

[0765] The NRF compares the AMF's service area in the AIoT information with the AIoT service area in the AIoT profile. For example, it checks whether the AMF's service area overlaps with the AIoT's service area or whether the AMF's service area is within the AIoT's service area. If so, the AIoT is selected.

[0766] In this way, the AMF can determine the AIoT RF to be communicated with by the instance information of the communication device, the service area of ​​the communication device, or the information of the node associated with the communication device. This allows for accurate identification of the AIoT RF and establishment of a connection (per node or per AMF) before or during AIoT operations. Furthermore, it enables accurate identification of the AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader to be used during AIoT operations to achieve the desired AIoT functionality.

[0767] Example 2: Taking the first communication device as AMF, the second communication device as SF, the fourth communication device as NRF, the first node as the sensing RAN, and the second node as the sensing device as an example, such as... Figure 15 As shown, the communication method may include steps S201 to S203 as described below, or may include steps S201, S204 and S205 as described below.

[0768] S201. The sensing device, sensing RAN, and AMF establish a sensing connection.

[0769] In one possible implementation, after step S201 described above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include steps S202 and S203 as described below.

[0770] S202, AMF obtains the SF to be used based on the pre-configured SF information.

[0771] S203, AMF determines the SF based on the pre-configured SF information, as well as at least one of the sensing device information and sensing RAN information.

[0772] In another possible implementation, after step S201 described above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include steps S204 and S205 as described below.

[0773] S204. AMF sends a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request to NRF.

[0774] The query request mentioned above includes SF information.

[0775] After receiving the query request, S205 and NRF determine the SF based on the SF information and return the determined SFID list.

[0776] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps S201 to S205 above, please refer to the relevant descriptions of steps S101 to S105 above. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0777] In this way, the AMF can determine the SF to be communicated with by the identifier of the communication device, the service area of ​​the communication device, or the information of the node associated with the communication device. Thus, when performing sensing operations, the AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used can be accurately determined to realize the sensing operation.

[0778] Example 3: Taking AIoTF as the second communication device, NRF as the fourth communication device, and NEF as the fifth communication device, with instance information including ID as an example, such as... Figure 16 As shown, the communication method may include the following steps S301 to S303 and S307, or may include the following steps S301 and S304 to S307.

[0779] S301, NEF receives an AIoT operation request sent by AF.

[0780] The aforementioned AIoT operations may include, but are not limited to, inventory checks or commands (read or write).

[0781] In some embodiments of this application, the aforementioned AIoT operation request carries information about the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation and / or the node capable of performing the AIoT operation.

[0782] In some embodiments of this application, the execution area of ​​the above-mentioned AIoT operation can indicate the target area where the AIoT operation is performed.

[0783] In some embodiments of this application, the information of the node that can perform the AIoT operation can indicate that the AIoT operation is performed through the node (such as a reader).

[0784] In one possible implementation, after step S301 described above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include the following steps S302 and S303.

[0785] S302, NEF determines the AIoTF based on the pre-configured AIoTF information.

[0786] The pre-configured AIoTF information may include at least one of the following: AIoTFID, AIoTF service area, AIoTF location, and AIoTF associated reader ID.

[0787] S303, NEF determines the AIoTF based on the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation and / or the information of the node performing the AIoT operation, as well as the pre-configured AIoTF information.

[0788] Specifically, if the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation is within the service area of ​​the AIoTF, or if the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation intersects with the service area of ​​the AIoTF, then the AIoTF is identified as the AIoTF to be used; or, if the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation includes the location of the AIoTF, then the AIoTF is identified as the AIoTF to be used; or, if the reader ID for which the AIoT operation can be performed is the reader ID associated with the AIoTF information, then the AIoTF is identified as the AIoTF to be used.

[0789] In another possible implementation, after step S301 above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include steps S304 to S306 as described below.

[0790] S304. NEF sends a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request to NRF.

[0791] The query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request includes information about the execution region of the AIoT operation and / or the node that can perform the AIoT operation, which is used to instruct the NRF to return an AIoTF that matches the information of the execution region or node.

[0792] S305, NRF receives a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request and determines AIoTF based on the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation and / or the information of the node that can perform the AIoT operation.

[0793] Specifically, NRF can compare whether the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation intersects with or is included in the service area of ​​the AIoTF in the NF profile of the AIoTF, and identify the AIoTF that intersects with or is included in the service area of ​​the AIoTF as the AIoTF to be used; or, NRF can also compare whether the identifier of the node that can perform the AIoT operation (such as reader ID) is the same as the identifier of the associated node (such as reader ID) in the NF profile of the AIoTF, and identify the same AIoTF as the AIoTF to be used.

[0794] S306, NRF returns a definitive list of AIoTF IDs to NEF.

[0795] Understandably, if the instance information of the AIoTF includes the IP address and / or FQDN of the AIoTF, the NRF can return a specific list of AIoTF IP addresses and / or FQDNs to the NEF.

[0796] S307 and NEF forward AIoT operations to the AIoTF to be used based on the AIoTF ID list.

[0797] In this way, NEF can accurately obtain AIoTF and then forward AIoT operations to that AIoTF.

[0798] Example 4: Taking SF as the second communication device, NRF as the fourth communication device, and NEF as the fifth communication device as an example, as follows... Figure 17 As shown, the communication method may include the following steps S401 to S403 and S407, or may include the following steps S401 and S404 to S407.

[0799] S401, NEF receives a sensing operation request sent by AF.

[0800] In one possible implementation, after step S401 described above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include steps S402 and S403 as described below.

[0801] S402 and NEF determine the SF based on the pre-configured SF information.

[0802] S403, NEF determines the SF based on the execution area of ​​the sensing operation and / or the information of the node that can perform the sensing operation, as well as the pre-configured SF information.

[0803] In another possible implementation, after step S401 above, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include steps S404 to S406 as described below.

[0804] S404, NEF sends a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request to NRF.

[0805] S405, NRF receives a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request and determines the SF based on the execution area of ​​the sensing operation and / or the information of the node that can perform the sensing operation.

[0806] S406, NRF returns a defined list of SF IDs to NEF.

[0807] S407 and NEF forward sensing operations to the SF to be used based on the SF ID list.

[0808] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps S201 to S205 above, please refer to the relevant descriptions of steps S101 to S105 above. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0809] In this way, NEF can accurately obtain SF and then forward sensing operations to that SF.

[0810] Example 5: Taking AMF as the first communication device, AIoTF as the second communication device, NRF as the fourth communication device, NEF as the fifth communication device, AIoT RAN as the first node, and reader as the second node as an example, Figure 18 As shown, when the AIoTF determines at least one of the AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader through locally pre-stored information, the communication method may include the following steps S501 to S505.

[0811] S501, AIoTF receives AIoT operation requests sent from NEF or AF.

[0812] The AIoT operation request includes information about the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation and / or the nodes that can perform the AIoT operation.

[0813] S502, AIoTF determines the node and / or AMF to be used based on the AIoT information of AMF and / or the node information.

[0814] In the case where the AIoT operation request carries information about a node capable of performing AIoT operations (taking a reader as an example):

[0815] AIoTF can query the AMF's AIoT information to determine which AMF is associated with the reader corresponding to the reader ID, and then identify that AMF as the AMF to be used; or...

[0816] AIoTF can also query the AIoT RAN information to see which AIoT RAN is associated with the reader corresponding to the reader ID, thus confirming that AIoT RAN as the desired AIoT RAN; or,

[0817] AIoTF can also determine which reader ID corresponds to which reader performs AIoT operations.

[0818] When the AIoT operation request carries the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation:

[0819] AIoTF can query the AMF's AIoT information to determine which AMF's service area includes or overlaps with the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation, and then identify that AMF as the AMF to be used; or,

[0820] AIoTF can also query the AIoT RAN information to determine which AIoT RAN's service area includes or overlaps with the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation, and then identify that AIoT RAN as the AIoT RAN to be used; or,

[0821] AIoTF can also query the reader information to determine which reader is located in the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation or which reader's service area includes or overlaps with the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation, and then identify that reader as the reader to be used.

[0822] S503, AIoTF sends an AIoT operation request to the corresponding AMF based on at least one of the determined AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader.

[0823] The AIoT operation request carries the reader ID and / or AIoT RAN ID of a specific reader, or the AIoT operation request is associated with the reader ID and / or AIoT RAN ID of a specific reader.

[0824] S504 and AMF forward AIoT operation requests to the corresponding reader based on the reader ID.

[0825] S505 and AMF forward AIoT operation requests to the corresponding AIoT RAN based on the AIoT RAN ID.

[0826] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps S401 to S405 above, please refer to the relevant descriptions of steps S101 to S105, S201 to S205, S301 to S307, and S401 to S407 above. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0827] In this way, AIoTF can accurately determine the AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader to be used.

[0828] Example 6: Taking AMF as the first communication device, AIoTF as the second communication device, NRF as the fourth communication device, NEF as the fifth communication device, AIoT RAN as the first node, and reader as the second node as an example, Figure 19 As shown, when the AIoTF queries the NRF for the AMF, the communication method may include the following steps S601 to S606.

[0829] S601, AIoTF receives AIoT operation requests sent by NEF or AF.

[0830] The AIoT operation request may carry information about the execution area (i.e., the target area) and / or information about the node performing the AIoT operation.

[0831] S602, AIOTF sends a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request to NRF.

[0832] The query request may include the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation or the reader identifier.

[0833] Understandably, the AIoTF can send a query request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request) to the NRF to query for matching AMFs.

[0834] S603, NRF receives the query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request and determines the AMF based on the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation and / or the information of the node performing the AIoT operation.

[0835] Specifically, NRF can compare whether the execution area of ​​the AIoT operation intersects with or is included in the AIoT service area in the NF profile of the AMF, and determine the AMF that intersects with or is included in the AIoT service area as the AMF to be used; or, NRF can also compare whether the identifier of the node that can perform the AIoT operation (such as reader ID) is the same as the identifier of the associated node (such as reader ID) in the NF profile of the AMF, and determine the AMF that is the same as the AMF to be used.

[0836] S604, NRF returns a list of specific AMF instance information (such as a list of AMF IDs) to NEF.

[0837] Optionally, the NRF can also return an identifier associated with the determined AMF (such as reader ID, AIoT RAN ID).

[0838] S605, AIoTF provides the NEF with the list of AMF instance information returned by NRF.

[0839] Optionally, the AIoTF can also send an AIoT operation request to the NEF, which returns an identifier (such as reader ID, AIoT RANID) associated with the determined AMF.

[0840] The above request may optionally carry the determined reader ID, AIoT RAN ID, or be associated with the determined reader ID and AIoT RAN ID.

[0841] S606 and AMF forward AIoT operation requests to the corresponding reader or AIoT RAN.

[0842] It is understood that the reader and AIoT RAN in S606 above are the same as the reader and AIoT RAN determined in S605.

[0843] In this way, AIoTF can accurately determine the AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader to be used.

[0844] Example 7: Taking the first communication device as AMF, the second communication device as SF, the fourth communication device as NRF, the fifth communication device as NEF, the first node as the sensing RAN, and the second node as the sensing device as an example, such as... Figure 20 As shown, when the SF determines at least one of the AMF, the sensing RAN, and the sensing device through locally stored information, the communication method may include the following steps S701 to S705.

[0845] S701 and SF receive sensing operation requests sent from NEF or AF.

[0846] S702, SF determines the node and / or AMF to be used based on the perception information of AMF and / or the information of the node.

[0847] S703 and SF send a sensing operation request to the corresponding AMF based on at least one of the identified AMF, sensing RAN, and sensing device.

[0848] S704 and AMF forward sensing operation requests to the corresponding sensing devices based on the sensing device ID.

[0849] S705 and AMF forward sensing operation requests to the corresponding sensing RAN based on the sensing RAN ID.

[0850] It should be noted that for a detailed description of steps S501 to S505 above, please refer to the relevant descriptions of steps S401 to S405 above. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0851] In this way, SF can accurately determine the AMF, sensing RAN, and sensing equipment to be used.

[0852] Example 8: Taking AMF as the first communication device, SF as the second communication device, NRF as the fourth communication device, NEF as the fifth communication device, RAN as the first node, and a sensing device as the second node as an example, as follows... Figure 21 As shown, when the SF queries the AMF from the NRF, the communication method may include the following steps S801 to S806.

[0853] S801 and SF receive sensing operation requests sent by NEF or AF.

[0854] The AIoT operation request may carry information about the execution area (i.e., the target area) and / or information about the node performing the sensing operation.

[0855] S802, SF sends a query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request to NRF.

[0856] The query request may include the execution area of ​​the sensing operation or the identifier of the sensing device.

[0857] S803, NRF receives the query request Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request and determines the AMF based on the execution area of ​​the sensing operation and / or the information of the node performing the sensing operation.

[0858] S804, NRF returns a list of specific AMF instance information (such as a list of AMF IDs) to NEF.

[0859] S805 and SF provide the NEF with the list of AMF instance information returned by NRF.

[0860] S806, AMF forwards the sensing operation request to the corresponding sensing device or sensing RAN.

[0861] In this way, SF can accurately determine the AMF, sensing RAN, and sensing equipment to be used.

[0862] Example 9: Taking AMF as the first communication device, AIoTF as the second communication device, and AIoT operation as the first operation as an example, such as... Figure 22 As shown, the communication method may include the following steps S901 to S903.

[0863] S901, AIoTF sends the seventh message to AMF.

[0864] The seventh piece of information includes information about the second region, which is the execution region (target region) of the AIoT operation.

[0865] S902, AMF determines the AIoT RAN and / or reader based on the second region.

[0866] Specifically, the AMF can determine which AIoT RAN is located in the second region. The AMF can then return to the AIoT RAN the ID of that AIoT RAN, and (optionally) the location of that AIoT RAN, (optionally) the service area of ​​that AIoT RAN, and (optionally) information about the readers served by that AIoT RAN; or...

[0867] If AMF can determine which reader is located in the second region, then AMF can return the reader's ID, (optionally) the reader's location, and (optionally) the reader's service area to AIoTF; or...

[0868] If the AMF can determine which AIoT RAN's service area intersects with the second region, then the AMF can return to the AIoTF the AIoT RAN's ID, and (optionally) the AIoT RAN's location, (optionally) the AIoT RAN's service area, and (optionally) information about the readers served by the AIoT RAN; or,

[0869] If AMF can determine which reader's service area intersects with the second region, then AMF can return the reader's ID, (optionally) the reader's location, and (optionally) the reader's service area to AIoTF.

[0870] S903, AMF sends AIoT RAN information and / or reader information to AIoTF.

[0871] Thus, when performing AIoT operations, the AMF can send information about the AIoT RAN and / or reader to be used to the AIoTF, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of AIoT operations.

[0872] Example 10: Taking AMF as the first communication device, SF as the second communication device, and sensing operation as the first operation, as an example... Figure 23 As shown, the communication method may include the following steps S1001 to S1003.

[0873] S1001 and SF send the seventh message to AMF.

[0874] The seventh piece of information includes information about the second region, which is the execution region (target region) for the perception operation.

[0875] S1002, AMF determines the sensing RAN and / or sensing devices based on the second region.

[0876] Specifically, the AMF can determine which sensing RAN is located in the second region. The AMF can then return the ID of that sensing RAN, and (optionally) the location of that sensing RAN, (optionally) the service area of ​​that sensing RAN, and (optionally) information about the readers served by that sensing RAN to the SF; or...

[0877] If the AMF can determine which sensing device is located in the second area, then the AMF can return the ID of that sensing device, and (optionally) the location of that sensing device, and (optionally) the service area of ​​that sensing device to the SF; or...

[0878] If the AMF determines which sensing RAN's service area intersects with the second region, then the AMF can return the sensing RAN's ID, and (optionally) the sensing RAN's location, (optionally) the sensing RAN's service area, and (optionally) information about the sensing devices served by the sensing RAN to the SF; or...

[0879] If the AMF can determine which sensing device's service area intersects with the second region, then the AMF can return the sensing device's ID, (optionally) the sensing device's location, and (optionally) the sensing device's service area to the SF.

[0880] S1003, AMF sends information about the sensing RAN and / or sensing devices to SF.

[0881] Thus, when performing a sensing operation, the AMF can send information about the sensing RAN and / or sensing devices to be used to the SF, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of the sensing operation.

[0882] The communication method provided in this application can be executed by a communication device. This application uses the example of a communication device executing the communication method to illustrate the communication device provided in this application.

[0883] This application provides a communication device. As an example, the communication device may be a communication equipment or a component within a communication equipment, such as a chip. The communication equipment may be a network-side device or a server, etc. Exemplarily, the network-side device may include, but is not limited to, the types of network-side devices 12 listed above; this application does not specifically limit the types.

[0884] The communication device includes a receiving module, a transmitting module, and a processing module. These modules can be implemented in software or hardware. When implemented in hardware, the processing module can be implemented by a processor. For example, the processor can include general-purpose processors, special-purpose processors, etc., such as central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), artificial intelligence (AI) processors, graphics processing units (GPUs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), network processors (NPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, gate circuits, transistors, discrete hardware components, etc. The receiving and transmitting modules can be implemented by a communication interface, which can include one or more of the following: transceivers, pins, circuits, buses, radio frequency units, etc.

[0885] For details, see Figure 24When the communication device is a network-side device or a component within a network-side device, the communication device 2400 includes a processing module 2401 for performing at least one of a first action and a second action; the first action includes: acquiring first information and, based on the first information, determining or selecting a target second communication device, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, or information indicating a target second communication device; the second action includes: acquiring second information and, based on the second information, performing at least one of the following: updating the information of the communication device, or sending the information of the first communication device to a third communication device; wherein the second information includes at least one of the following: first node information, second node information; the target second communication device... The communication device is a communication device among one or more second communication devices. The information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the information of the communication apparatus includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the communication apparatus, the domain name of the communication apparatus, the address of the communication apparatus, the service area of ​​the communication apparatus, the location of the communication apparatus, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication apparatus, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication apparatus.

[0886] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information indicates a first node, and the second node information indicates a second node; the second node is a node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node.

[0887] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node; information about the service area of ​​the first node; information about the location of the first node; and information about second nodes served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0888] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned second node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identity of the second node; information about the service area of ​​the second node; and information about the location of the second node.

[0889] In one possible implementation, the target second communication device satisfies at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the communication device; the service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the communication device; the nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node; the location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the communication device.

[0890] In one possible implementation, the above-mentioned device further includes: a receiving module;

[0891] Processing module 2401 is specifically used to obtain the first information of the local configuration; or,

[0892] The receiving module is configured to: receive at least one of first node information and second node information from a first node; receive second node information from a second node; or receive first information from a third communication device.

[0893] In one possible implementation, the above-mentioned apparatus further includes: a transmitting module for transmitting third information to a third communication device;

[0894] The receiving module is specifically used to receive first information from a third communication device;

[0895] The third information includes at least one of the following: information about the first area; information about the first location; information about the first identifier;

[0896] The first region includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the communication device; the first location includes at least one of the following: the service location of the first node, the service location of the second node, and the service location of the communication device; the first identifier includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the communication device.

[0897] In one possible implementation, the processing module 2401 is further configured to establish an association with the target second communication device, wherein the association granularity includes at least one of the following: association for each first node, association for each second node, and association for each communication device; and the sending module is configured to send fourth information to the target second communication device.

[0898] The fourth piece of information includes at least one of the following: information about the communication device; information about the first node; and information about the second node.

[0899] In one possible implementation, the service area of ​​the communication device includes at least one of the following: a pre-configured service area; a service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of a first node indicated by first node information and the service areas of a second node indicated by second node information; a service area consisting of the service areas of a first node served, supported, or managed by the communication device; and a service area consisting of the service areas of a second node served, supported, or managed by the communication device.

[0900] The communication apparatus provided in this application embodiment allows the first communication device to determine or select a target communication device or update the information of the communication device based on the information of the communication device or the information of the node by performing different behaviors. This enables the accurate determination of the AIoTF, AMF, AIoT RAN and reader to be used when performing AIoT operations, and the accurate determination of the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN and sensing device to be used when performing sensing operations, in order to achieve sensing operations.

[0901] See Figure 25When the communication device is a network-side device or a component within a network-side device, the communication device 2500 includes a processing module 2501 for performing at least one of a third action, a fourth action, and a fifth action. The third action includes at least one of the following: receiving a query request from a fourth communication device regarding a second communication device, and returning information about one or more second communication devices to the fourth communication device based on the query request, wherein the fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: a first communication device, a fifth communication device; receiving a query request from a target second communication device regarding a sixth communication device, and returning information about one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device based on the query request, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, a second node; the fourth action includes: receiving information from the first communication device from the first communication device; updating the network function configuration information of the first communication device based on the information of the first communication device, wherein the updated network function configuration information includes the information of the first communication device; the fifth action includes: receiving information from the target second communication device from the second communication device; updating the network function configuration information of the target second communication device based on the information of the second communication device, wherein the updated network function configuration information includes the information of the second communication device. The information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the first node information of the first node includes at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the first node, information on the service area of ​​the first node, information on the location of the first node, and second node information served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; the second node information of the second node includes at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the second node, information on the service area of ​​the second node, and information on the location of the second node; the second node is a node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0902] In one possible implementation, the fourth communication device includes the first communication device, and the query request regarding the second communication device includes third information; or, the fourth communication device includes the fifth communication device, and the query request regarding the second communication device includes fifth information.

[0903] The third information includes at least one of the following: information about the first area; information about the first location; information about the first identifier;

[0904] The first region includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device; the first location includes at least one of the following: the service location of the first node, the service location of the second node, and the service location of the first communication device; the first identifier includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the first communication device; the fifth information includes at least one of the following: information of the second region, wherein the second region is the execution area of ​​the first operation; and the information of the third node, wherein the third node is the node performing the first operation, and the information of the third node includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the third node, the service area of ​​the third node, and the location of the third node.

[0905] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned sixth communication device satisfies at least one of the following:

[0906] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area;

[0907] In cases where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0908] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the identifier of the third node;

[0909] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the identifier of the first node is the identifier of the third node;

[0910] In the case where the sixth communication device includes a second node, the identifier of the second node is the identifier of the third node;

[0911] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node and the second area overlap.

[0912] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node overlaps with the second region.

[0913] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned objective second communication device satisfies at least one of the following:

[0914] The service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device.

[0915] The service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

[0916] The nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node;

[0917] The location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

[0918] In one possible implementation, the service area of ​​the aforementioned target second communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0919] Pre-configured service area;

[0920] A service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of the first node and the service areas of the second node;

[0921] The service area is comprised of the service area of ​​the first node served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device;

[0922] A service area consisting of the service areas of a second node served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device.

[0923] The communication apparatus provided in this application embodiment allows a third communication device to provide a query service for a first communication device or a target second communication device to determine the communication object, or to update the network function configuration information of the first communication device or the target second communication device, so that the third communication device can update the NF profile corresponding to the communication device to maintain the accuracy of the network function configuration information stored in the third communication device. This enables accurate determination of the AIoT RF, AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader / writer to be used during AIoT operations, and accurate determination of the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used during sensing operations.

[0924] See Figure 26 When the communication device is a network-side device or a component within a network-side device, the communication device 2600 includes a processing module 2601, configured to perform at least one of the following based on fourth information: determining information about the communication device; updating information about the communication device; sending information about the communication device to a third communication device; and selecting at least one of the following for a first operation: a first communication device, a first node, and a second node; wherein the fourth information includes at least one of the following: information about the first communication device, the information about the first communication device including at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, information about a first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, information about a second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; first node information; second node information.

[0925] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information indicates a first node, and the second node information indicates a second node;

[0926] The second node is a node that is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or,

[0927] The second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0928] In one possible implementation, the first communication device selected for the first operation satisfies at least one of the following:

[0929] The service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation;

[0930] The service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation;

[0931] The service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node;

[0932] The location of the first communication device includes the location of the third node;

[0933] The first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node;

[0934] The second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node.

[0935] In one possible implementation, the first node selected for the first operation as described above satisfies at least one of the following:

[0936] The service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation;

[0937] The service area of ​​the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node, where the third node is the node that performs the first operation.

[0938] The service area of ​​the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node;

[0939] The position of the first node includes the position of the third node;

[0940] The first node includes the third node;

[0941] The second node includes the third node;

[0942] The second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the third node.

[0943] In one possible implementation, the second node selected for the first operation satisfies at least one of the following:

[0944] The service area of ​​the second node overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation;

[0945] The service area of ​​the second node includes the service area of ​​the third node, and the third node is the node that performs the first operation;

[0946] The service area of ​​the second node includes the service area of ​​the third node;

[0947] The position of the second node includes the position of the third node;

[0948] The second node includes the third node.

[0949] The communication device provided in this application embodiment allows the second communication device to accurately determine the first communication device, the first node, and the second node to be used based on the third information in subsequent communication processes, according to the fourth information.

[0950] See Figure 27 When the communication device is a network-side device or a component in a network-side device, the communication device 2700 includes a processing module 2701 for performing at least one of the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth actions;

[0951] The sixth line includes:

[0952] The target second communication device sends a query request to the third communication device regarding the sixth communication device, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: the first communication device, the first node, and the second node;

[0953] The target second communication device receives information from the third communication device from one or more sixth communication devices;

[0954] The seventh action includes: the target second communication device determining or selecting the sixth communication device based on the fourth information or the association between the first communication device and the first node;

[0955] The ninth action includes at least one of the following: ordering first node information from the first communication device A; receiving first node information from the first communication device A, wherein the first node includes first node B; and the second communication device determining at least one of the following:

[0956] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[0957] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective; the first node B is valid.

[0958] The first node B is not directly connected;

[0959] The fourth piece of information includes at least one of the following:

[0960] Information of the first communication device, which includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

[0961] First node information, which includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, information about the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and information about the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node.

[0962] Second node information, which includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identification of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node;

[0963] The eighth action includes: the target second communication device obtaining information from the first communication device about one or more seventh communication devices, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node and a second node;

[0964] Where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area; or,

[0965] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes a third node, which is the node that performs the first operation; or,

[0966] In cases where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node; or,

[0967] In cases where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second area; or, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device intersects with the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation or an area supported by the second communication device; or...

[0968] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second region; or, the service areas of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device and the second region overlap; or...

[0969] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0970] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or,

[0971] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0972] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or,

[0973] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area; or...

[0974] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or,

[0975] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or,

[0976] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0977] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or,

[0978] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or...

[0979] In the case where the sixth communication device includes a second node, the second node is the third node; or,

[0980] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node overlaps with the second area; or...

[0981] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or...

[0982] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or,

[0983] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or,

[0984] In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or,

[0985] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or...

[0986] In the case where the seventh communication device includes a second node, the second node is the third node;

[0987] The second node is a node that is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[0988] In one possible implementation, the seventh action further includes: the second communication device locally configuring at least one of the following, or determining at least one of the following through local configuration:

[0989] The first or third node is served, associated with or connected to the first communication device;

[0990] The first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device;

[0991] The relationship between the first communication device and the first node.

[0992] In one possible implementation, the seventh action described above further includes at least one of the following, or the second communication device further includes, before performing the seventh action, the second communication device performing at least one of the following:

[0993] The second communication device obtains information from the first communication device, the first communication device including first communication device A;

[0994] The second communication device performs at least one of the following:

[0995] Order first node information from first communication device A;

[0996] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[0997] The second communication device determines that the first communication device A and the first node B are associated.

[0998] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[0999] First node B is valid;

[1000] The first node B is not directly connected.

[1001] In one possible implementation, the seventh action described above further includes at least one of the following, or the second communication device further includes, before performing the seventh action, the second communication device performing at least one of the following:

[1002] The second communication device obtains the association relationship between the first communication device and the first node, wherein the first communication device includes first communication device A and the first node includes first node B;

[1003] The second communication device performs at least one of the following:

[1004] Order first node information from first communication device A;

[1005] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[1006] The second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[1007] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is confirmed to be effective.

[1008] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[1009] First node B is valid;

[1010] The first node B is not directly connected.

[1011] In one possible implementation, under the first condition, the second communication device determines that there is an association between the first communication device A and the first node B, determines that the association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective, and the first node B is valid or the first node B is not directly connected.

[1012] The first condition includes receiving information from a first node from a first communication device A, wherein the first node includes a first node B.

[1013] In one possible implementation, the second communication device obtains information from the first communication device and obtains the association between the first communication device and the first node through local configuration.

[1014] In one possible implementation, the ninth action described above is: before executing the ninth action, the second communication device determines the first communication device based on the second region or the region supported by the second communication device.

[1015] In one possible implementation, the sixth communication device includes a first node, and the information of the sixth communication device includes information about the first node; or...

[1016] The sixth communication device includes the second node, and the information of the sixth communication device includes the information of the second node; or,

[1017] In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the information of the sixth communication device includes the information of the first communication device.

[1018] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned query request regarding the sixth communication device includes the fifth information;

[1019] The fifth piece of information includes at least one of the following: information about the second region, which is the execution region of the first operation; and information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

[1020] In one possible implementation, the processing module 2701 described above is further used for at least one of the following:

[1021] Based on the information received from one or more sixth communication devices, select at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, a second node, and send a first operation request to the selected device;

[1022] Based on the information received from one or more seventh communication devices, select at least one of the following: a first node, a second node, and send a first operation request to the selected device.

[1023] In one possible implementation, the above-described apparatus further includes: a transmitting module, used for at least one of the following:

[1024] Send a sixth message to the first communication device. The sixth message is used to indicate an operation request to perform the first operation using the fourth node.

[1025] Send the seventh message to the first node. The seventh message is used to indicate the operation request to perform the first operation using the fifth node.

[1026] The fourth node includes at least one of the following: a first node for performing the first operation, and a second node for performing the first operation;

[1027] The sixth piece of information includes at least one of the following: information identifying the fourth node; information about the service area of ​​the fourth node; information about the location of the fourth node.

[1028] The fifth node includes the second node used to perform the first operation;

[1029] The seventh piece of information includes at least one of the following: information about the identification of the fifth node; information about the service area of ​​the fifth node; and information about the location of the fifth node.

[1030] In one possible implementation, the above-mentioned sending module is used to send the eighth information to the first communication device;

[1031] A receiving module is used to receive information from one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device;

[1032] The eighth piece of information includes at least one of the following: information about the second region, which is the execution region of the first operation; and information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

[1033] The communication device provided in this application embodiment can obtain node information of the node to be used from the first communication device when performing the first operation, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of the first operation.

[1034] See Figure 28 When the communication device is a network-side device or a component in a network-side device, the communication device 2800 includes a receiving module 2801 for receiving eighth information from a target second communication device and determining or selecting one or more seventh communication devices based on the eighth information. The seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node and a second node.

[1035] The sending module 2802 is used to send information about one or more seventh communication devices to the target second communication device;

[1036] The eighth piece of information includes at least one of the following: information about the second region, which is the execution region of the first operation; and information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

[1037] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned one or more seventh communication devices include the first node, and the information of the one or more seventh communication devices includes first node information; the first node information satisfies at least one of the following: the location of the first node indicated by the first node information is in a second region; the service area of ​​the first node includes the second region; the service area of ​​the first node intersects with the second region; the identifier of the first node includes the identifier of the third node; the service area of ​​the first node includes the location of the third node; the location of the first node includes the location of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; the identifier of the second node includes the identifier of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node includes the location of the third node; the location of the second node includes the location of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second region; the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; the location of the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node.

[1038] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned one or more seventh communication devices include the second node, and the information of the one or more seventh communication devices includes second node information; the aforementioned second node information satisfies at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; the identifier of the second node includes the identifier of the third node; the service area of ​​the second node includes the location of the third node; the location of the second node includes the location of the third node.

[1039] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node; information about the service area of ​​the first node; information about the location of the first node; and information about second nodes served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[1040] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned second node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identity of the second node; information about the service area of ​​the second node; and information about the location of the second node.

[1041] The communication device provided in this application embodiment can obtain node information of the node to be used from the first communication device when performing the first operation, thereby ensuring the smooth execution of the first operation.

[1042] See Figure 29 When the communication device is a network-side device or a component of a network-side device, the communication device 2900 includes a sending module 2901 for sending ninth information to a third communication device, the ninth information being used to identify a target second communication device; wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: information about a second region, the second region being the execution region of the first operation; information about a third node, the third node being the node that performs the first operation.

[1043] In one possible implementation, the above apparatus further includes: a receiving module, configured to receive information from one or more second communication devices from a third communication device; the target second communication device is a communication device among the one or more second communication devices; wherein the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

[1044] In one possible implementation, the sending module 2901 is further configured to send an operation request for the first operation to the target second communication device.

[1045] The communication device provided in this application embodiment allows the fifth communication device to send information to the third communication device to query the target second communication device, thereby accurately obtaining the target second communication device to be used.

[1046] See Figure 30A When the communication device is a network-side device or a component of a network-side device, the communication device 3000 includes a receiving module 3001 for receiving ninth information from a fifth communication device, the ninth information being used to determine a target second communication device; and a processing module 3002 for determining one or more second communication devices based on the ninth information, the one or more second communication devices including the target second communication device; wherein the ninth information includes at least one of the following: information about a second region, the second region being the execution region of a first operation; and information about a third node, the third node being the node performing the first operation.

[1047] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned one or more second communication devices satisfy at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the second communication device intersects with the second region; the service area of ​​the second communication device includes the second region; the service area of ​​the second communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; the service area of ​​the second communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; the location of the second communication device includes the location of the third node; the first node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the third node; the second node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the third node.

[1048] In one possible implementation, the above apparatus further includes: a sending module, configured to send information of one or more second communication devices to a fifth communication device, wherein the information of the second communication devices includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

[1049] The communication device provided in this application embodiment allows the third communication device to accurately determine the target second communication device to be used by the fifth communication device based on the information sent by the fifth communication device.

[1050] See Figure 30B When the communication device is a network-side device or a component within a network-side device, the communication device 290 includes a processing module 291 for performing at least one of the following:

[1051] Obtain the association between the first communication device and the first node;

[1052] Determine at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected.

[1053] Based on the association between the first communication device and the first node, the first node is determined or selected if it is a valid first node and is not directly connected to at least one of the following:

[1054] In one possible implementation, obtaining the association between the first communication device and the first node includes: the second communication device locally configuring the association between the first communication device and the first node, or receiving the association between the first communication device and the first node from the first communication device or the first node.

[1055] In one possible implementation, the above determines at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected, including at least one of the following:

[1056] Order or request information about the first node from the first communication device A;

[1057] Receive information from a first node, which includes a first node, A, in the first communication device A;

[1058] Based on the first node information from the first communication device A, the second communication device determines at least one of the following:

[1059] The first communication device A and the first node B are associated;

[1060] The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective;

[1061] First node B is valid;

[1062] The first node B is not directly connected.

[1063] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information includes at least one of the following:

[1064] The first node information indicates the identification information of the first node, the service area information of the first node, the location information of the first node, the second node information served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and the information of the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node.

[1065] See Figure 30C When the communication device is a network-side device or a component of a network-side device, the communication device 310 includes a receiving module 311 for receiving an order or request for first node information from a second communication device; and a sending module 312 for sending the first node information to the second communication device according to the order or request; wherein the first node is connected to the first communication device.

[1066] like Figure 31 As shown, this application embodiment also provides a communication device 3100, including a processor 3101 and a memory 3102. The memory 3102 stores a program or instructions that can run on the processor 3101. For example, when the communication device 3100 is a terminal, the program or instructions executed by the processor 3101 implement the various steps of the above-described communication method embodiment and achieve the same technical effect. When the communication device 3100 is a network-side device, the program or instructions executed by the processor 3101 implement the various steps of the above-described communication method embodiment and achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, further details are omitted here.

[1067] Specifically, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device. For example... Figure 32 As shown, the communication device 3200 includes a processor 3201, a network interface 3202, and a memory 3203. This network-side device can be... Figures 24 to 30C The communication device shown in any one of the following. The network interface 3202 is, for example, a common public radio interface (CPRI).

[1068] In one embodiment, processor 3201 is configured to perform at least one of a first action and a second action; the first action includes: acquiring first information and determining or selecting a target second communication device based on the first information, the first information including at least one of the following: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, information indicating the target second communication device; the second action includes: acquiring the second information and performing at least one of the following based on the second information: updating information of a communication device, sending information of the first communication device to a third communication device; wherein the second information includes at least one of the following: first node information, second node information; the target second communication device is a communication device among one or more second communication devices, the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the information of the communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the communication device, the domain name of the communication device, the address of the communication device, the service area of ​​the communication device, the location of the communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication device, second node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication device.

[1069] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information indicates a first node, and the second node information indicates a second node; the second node is a node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node.

[1070] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node; information about the service area of ​​the first node; information about the location of the first node; and information about second nodes served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[1071] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned second node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identity of the second node; information about the service area of ​​the second node; and information about the location of the second node.

[1072] In one possible implementation, the target second communication device satisfies at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the communication device; the service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the communication device; the nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node; the location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the communication device.

[1073] In one possible implementation, the processor 3201 is specifically used to obtain first information about the local configuration; or...

[1074] Network interface 3202 is used for at least one of: receiving at least one of first node information and second node information from a first node; receiving second node information from a second node; and receiving first information from a third communication device.

[1075] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned network interface 3202 is used to send third information to a third communication device;

[1076] Network interface 3202 is specifically used to receive first information from a third communication device;

[1077] The third information includes at least one of the following: information about the first area; information about the first location; information about the first identifier;

[1078] The first region includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the communication device; the first location includes at least one of the following: the service location of the first node, the service location of the second node, and the service location of the communication device; the first identifier includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the communication device.

[1079] In one possible implementation, the processor 3201 is further configured to establish an association with the target second communication device, wherein the granularity of the association includes at least one of the following: association with each first node, association with each second node, and association with each communication device.

[1080] The aforementioned network interface 3202 is used to send fourth information to the target second communication device;

[1081] The fourth piece of information includes at least one of the following: information about the communication device; information about the first node; and information about the second node.

[1082] In one possible implementation, the service area of ​​the communication device includes at least one of the following: a pre-configured service area; a service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of a first node indicated by first node information and the service areas of a second node indicated by second node information; a service area consisting of the service areas of a first node served, supported, or managed by the communication device; and a service area consisting of the service areas of a second node served, supported, or managed by the communication device.

[1083] The communication apparatus provided in this application embodiment allows the first communication device to determine or select a target communication device or update the information of the communication device based on the information of the communication device or the information of the node by performing different behaviors. This enables the accurate determination of the AIoTF, AMF, AIoT RAN and reader to be used when performing AIoT operations, and the accurate determination of the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN and sensing device to be used when performing sensing operations, in order to achieve sensing operations.

[1084] In one embodiment, the processor 3201 described above is configured to perform at least one of the third, fourth, and fifth actions;

[1085] The third action includes at least one of the following: receiving a query request from a fourth communication device regarding a second communication device, and returning information about one or more second communication devices to the fourth communication device based on the query request, wherein the fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: a first communication device, a fifth communication device; receiving a query request from a target second communication device regarding a sixth communication device, and returning information about one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device based on the query request, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, a second node;

[1086] The fourth action includes: receiving information from the first communication device; updating the network function configuration information of the first communication device based on the information from the first communication device, wherein the updated network function configuration information includes the information from the first communication device;

[1087] The fifth action includes: receiving information from the second communication device of the target second communication device; updating the network function configuration information of the target second communication device based on the information of the second communication device, wherein the updated network function configuration information includes the information of the second communication device;

[1088] The information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device; the first node information of the first node includes at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the first node, information on the service area of ​​the first node, information on the location of the first node, and second node information served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; the second node information of the second node includes at least one of the following: information on the identifier of the second node, information on the service area of ​​the second node, and information on the location of the second node; the second node is a node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

[1089] In one possible implementation, the fourth communication device includes the first communication device, and the query request regarding the second communication device includes third information; or, the fourth communication device includes the fifth communication device, and the query request regarding the second communication device includes fifth information.

[1090] The third information includes at least one of the following: information about the first area; information about the first location; information about the first identifier;

[1091] The first region includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device; the first location includes at least one of the following: the service location of the first node, the service location of the second node, and the service location of the first communication device; the first identifier includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the first communication device; the fifth information includes at least one of the following: information of the second region, wherein the second region is the execution area of ​​the first operation; and the information of the third node, wherein the third node is the node performing the first operation, and the information of the third node includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the third node, the service area of ​​the third node, and the location of the third node.

[1092] In one possible implementation, the sixth communication device satisfies at least one of the following: when the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device intersects with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area; when the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the identifier of the third node; when the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the identifier of the third node; when the sixth communication device includes the first node, the identifier of the first node is the identifier of the third node; when the sixth communication device includes the second node, the identifier of the second node is the identifier of the third node; when the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second area; when the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second area.

[1093] In one possible implementation, the target second communication device satisfies at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device; the service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device; the nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node; the location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

[1094] In one possible implementation, the service area of ​​the aforementioned target second communication device includes at least one of the following: a pre-configured service area; a service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of the first node and the service areas of the second node; a service area consisting of the service areas of the first node served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device; and a service area consisting of the service areas of the second node served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device.

[1095] The communication apparatus provided in this application embodiment allows a third communication device to provide a query service for a first communication device or a target second communication device to determine the communication object, or to update the network function configuration information of the first communication device or the target second communication device, so that the third communication device can update the NF profile corresponding to the communication device to maintain the accuracy of the network function configuration information stored in the third communication device. This enables accurate determination of the AIoT RF, AMF, AIoT RAN, and reader / writer to be used during AIoT operations, and accurate determination of the SF, AMF, Sensing RAN, and sensing device to be used during sensing operations.

[1096] In one embodiment, the processor 3201 is configured to perform at least one of the following based on fourth information: determining information of the communication device; updating information of the communication device; sending information of the communication device to a third communication device; and selecting at least one of the following for the first operation: a first communication device, a first node, and a second node; wherein the fourth information includes at least one of the following: information of the first communication device, the information of the first communication device including at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; first node information; and second node information.

[1097] In one possible implementation, the aforementioned first node information indicates a first node, and the second node information indicates a second node; the second node is a node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node.

[1098] In one possible implementation, the first communication device selected for the first operation satisfies at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first communication device intersects with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation; the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node, and the third node is the node that performs the first operation; the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; the location of the first communication device includes the location of the third node; the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node; the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node. ...

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The first communication device performs at least one of the first action and the second action; The first action includes: the first communication device acquiring first information, and determining or selecting a target second communication device based on the first information, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, or information indicating the target second communication device; The second action includes: the first communication device acquiring the second information, and based on the second information, performing at least one of the following: updating the information of the first communication device, and sending the information of the first communication device to the third communication device; The second information includes at least one of the following: first node information, second node information; The target second communication device is a communication device among the one or more second communication devices, and the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with or managed by the second communication device. The information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first node information indicates the first node, and the second node information indicates the second node; The second node is a node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, The second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first node information includes at least one of the following: The first node information indicates the identifier information of the first node; Information about the service area of ​​the first node; Information about the location of the first node; Information about second nodes that the first node serves, manages, associates with, connects to, or supports.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second node information includes at least one of the following: The second node information indicates the identifier information of the second node; Information about the service area of ​​the second node; Information about the location of the second node.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The target second communication device satisfies at least one of the following: The service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device. The service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device. The nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node; The location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first communication device acquires first information, including at least one of the following: The first communication device obtains the first information configured locally; The first communication device receives at least one of the first node information and the second node information from the first node; The first communication device receives information from the second node; The first communication device receives the first information from the third communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The first communication device receives the first information from the third communication device, including: The first communication device sends third information to the third communication device; The first communication device receives the first information from the third communication device; The third information includes at least one of the following: Information for the first area; Information about the first position; Information from the first identifier; The first region includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device. The first location includes at least one of the following: the service location of the first node, the service location of the second node, and the service location of the first communication device; The first identifier includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the first communication device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first act also includes at least one of the following: The first communication device establishes an association with the target second communication device, and the granularity of the association includes at least one of the following: association for each first node, association for each second node, and association for each first communication device; The first communication device sends fourth information to the target second communication device; The fourth information includes at least one of the following: Information about the first communication device; Information about the first node; The second node information.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The service area of ​​the first communication device includes at least one of the following: Pre-configured service area; A service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of the first node indicated by the first node information and the service areas of the second node indicated by the second node information; The service area is comprised of the service areas of the first node served, supported, or managed by the first communication device. The service area is composed of the service areas of the second nodes served, supported, or managed by the first communication device.

10. A communication method characterized by comprising: include: The third communication device performs at least one of the third, fourth, and fifth actions; The third act includes at least one of the following: The third communication device receives a query request from the fourth communication device regarding the second communication device, and returns information about one or more second communication devices to the fourth communication device based on the query request. The fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: a first communication device and a fifth communication device. The third communication device receives a query request from the target second communication device regarding the sixth communication device, and returns information about one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device based on the query request. The sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: the first communication device, the first node, and the second node. The fourth action includes: The third communication device receives information from the first communication device from the first communication device; The third communication device updates the network function configuration information of the first communication device based on the information of the first communication device. The updated network function configuration information includes the information of the first communication device. The fifth act includes: The third communication device receives information from the second communication device of the target second communication device; The third communication device updates the network function configuration information of the target second communication device based on the information of the second communication device. The updated network function configuration information includes the information of the second communication device. The information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device. The information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device. The first node information of the first node includes at least one of the following: information identifying the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, and information about second nodes that the first node serves, manages, associates with, connects to, or supports. The second node information of the second node includes at least one of the following: information about the identifier of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node; The second node is a node that is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The fourth communication device includes the first communication device, and the query request regarding the second communication device includes third information; or... The fourth communication device includes a fifth communication device, and the query request regarding the second communication device includes fifth information; The third information includes at least one of the following: Information for the first area; Information about the first position; Information from the first identifier; The first region includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device. The first location includes at least one of the following: the service location of the first node, the service location of the second node, and the service location of the first communication device; The first identifier includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the first communication device; The fifth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information in the second region, which is the execution area for the first operation; The information of the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation, includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the third node, the service area of ​​the third node, and the location of the third node.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sixth communication device satisfies at least one of the following: In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device intersects with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area; In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the identifier of the third node; In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the identifier of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the identifier of the third node; In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the identifier of the first node is the identifier of the third node; In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the identifier of the second node is the identifier of the third node; In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein, The target second communication device satisfies at least one of the following: The service area of ​​the target second communication device intersects with at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the first communication device. The service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node, the service area of ​​the second node, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device. The nodes served, associated with, or managed by the target second communication device include the first node or the second node; The location of the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: the location of the first node, the location of the second node, and the location of the first communication device.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that, The service area of ​​the target second communication device includes at least one of the following: Pre-configured service area; A service area consisting of at least one of the service areas of the first node and the service areas of the second node; The service area is comprised of the service areas of the first node served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device; The service area is composed of the service areas of the second nodes served, supported, or managed by the target second communication device.

15. A method of communication, comprising: include: The target second communication device performs at least one of the following actions based on the fourth information: Determine the information of the target second communication device; Update the information of the target second communication device; Send information about the target second communication device to the third communication device; For the first operation, select at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, and a second node; The fourth information includes at least one of the following: The information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device. First node information; Second node information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The first node information indicates the first node, and the second node information indicates the second node; The second node is a node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, The second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The first communication device selected for the first operation satisfies at least one of the following: The service area of ​​the first communication device intersects with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation; The service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation; The service area of ​​the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; The location of the first communication device includes the location of the third node; The first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node; The second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node.

18. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein, The first node selected for the first operation satisfies at least one of the following: The service area of ​​the first node intersects with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation; The service area of ​​the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node, and the third node is the node that performs the first operation; The service area of ​​the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; The position of the first node includes the position of the third node; The first node includes the third node; The second node includes the third node; The second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the third node.

19. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein, The second node selected for the first operation satisfies at least one of the following: The service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, and the second region is the execution area of ​​the first operation; The service area of ​​the second node includes the service area of ​​the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation; The service area of ​​the second node includes the service area of ​​the third node; The position of the second node includes the position of the third node; The second node includes the third node.

20. A method of communication, comprising: include: The target second communication device performs at least one of the sixth, seventh, and eighth actions; The sixth act includes: The target second communication device sends a query request to the third communication device regarding the sixth communication device, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: the first communication device, the first node, and the second node; The target second communication device receives information from one or more sixth communication devices from the third communication device; The seventh action includes: the target second communication device determining or selecting the sixth communication device based on the fourth information; The fourth information includes at least one of the following: Information of the first communication device, the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with or managed by the first communication device. First node information, the first node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node, information on the service area of ​​the first node, information on the location of the first node, information on the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and information on the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node. The second node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node; The eighth action includes: the target second communication device obtaining information about one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node, a second node; Where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes a third node, which is the node that performs the first operation; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second area; or, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device and the second area overlap, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation or an area supported by the second communication device; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second region; or, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device and the second region overlap; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or, When the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node intersects with the second area; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the second node is the third node; or... When the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node intersects with the second area; or... In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or... In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or, In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or, In the case where the seventh communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or... In the case where the seventh communication device includes the second node, the second node is the third node; Wherein, the second node is a node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The seventh action further includes: the second communication device locally configuring at least one of the following, or determining at least one of the following through local configuration: The first or third node is served, associated with or connected to the first communication device; The first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device; The relationship between the first communication device and the first node.

22. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The sixth communication device includes the first node, and the information of the sixth communication device includes the information of the first node; or... The sixth communication device includes the second node, and the information of the sixth communication device includes the information of the second node; or... If the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, then the information of the sixth communication device includes the information of the first communication device.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein, The query request regarding the sixth communication device includes the fifth piece of information; The fifth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information about the second region, which is the execution area of ​​the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that, The method further includes at least one of the following: The target second communication device selects at least one of the following based on the information received from the one or more sixth communication devices: a first communication device, a first node, a second node, and sends a first operation request to the selected device; The target second communication device selects at least one of the following based on information received from one or more seventh communication devices: a first node, a second node, and sends a first operation request to the selected device.

25. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that, The method further includes at least one of the following: The target second communication device sends a sixth message to the first communication device, the sixth message being used to indicate an operation request to use the fourth node to perform the first operation; The target second communication device sends a seventh message to the first node, the seventh message being used to indicate an operation request to use the fifth node to perform the first operation; The fourth node includes at least one of the following: a first node for performing the first operation, and a second node for performing the first operation; The sixth piece of information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the fourth node; Information about the service area of ​​the fourth node; Information regarding the location of the fourth node; The fifth node includes a second node for performing the first operation; The seventh piece of information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the fifth node; Information about the service area of ​​the fifth node; Information about the location of the fifth node.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein, The target second communication device obtains information about one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device, including: The target second communication device sends the eighth information to the first communication device; The target second communication device receives information from one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device; The eighth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information about the second region, which is the execution area of ​​the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

27. A method of communication, comprising: include: The first communication device receives eighth information from the target second communication device, and determines or selects one or more seventh communication devices based on the eighth information, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node and a second node; The first communication device sends information about the one or more seventh communication devices to the target second communication device; The eighth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information in the second region, which is the execution area for the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, The one or more seventh communication devices include the first node, and the information of the one or more seventh communication devices includes the first node information; The first node information satisfies at least one of the following: The location of the first node, as indicated by the first node information, is within the second region; The service area of ​​the first node includes the second area; The service area of ​​the first node overlaps with that of the second region; The identifier of the first node includes the identifier of the third node; The service area of ​​the first node includes the location of the third node; The position of the first node includes the position of the third node; The service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information includes the second region; The service area of ​​the second node overlaps with the service area of ​​the second region; The identifier of the second node includes the identifier of the third node; The service area of ​​the second node includes the location of the third node; The position of the second node includes the position of the third node; The service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the second region; The service area of ​​the second node, which is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node, overlaps with the second region; The service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node. The location of the second node, which is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node, includes the location of the third node.

29. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that, The one or more seventh communication devices include the second node, and the information of the one or more seventh communication devices includes the second node information; The second node information satisfies at least one of the following: The service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information includes the second region; The service area of ​​the second node overlaps with the service area of ​​the second region; The identifier of the second node includes the identifier of the third node; The service area of ​​the second node includes the location of the third node; The position of the second node includes the position of the third node.

30. The method of any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein, The first node information includes at least one of the following: The first node information indicates the identifier information of the first node; Information about the service area of ​​the first node; Information about the location of the first node; Information about the second node that the first node serves, manages, associates with, connects to, or supports.

31. The method according to any one of claims 27 to 30, characterized in that, The second node information includes at least one of the following: The second node information indicates the identifier information of the second node; Information about the service area of ​​the second node; Information about the location of the second node.

32. A method of communication, comprising: include: The fifth communication device sends a ninth message to the third communication device, the ninth message being used to identify the target second communication device; The ninth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information in the second region, which is the execution area for the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein, The method further includes: The fifth communication device receives information from one or more second communication devices from the third communication device; The target second communication device is a communication device among the one or more second communication devices; The information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

34. The method of claim 32 or 33, wherein, The method further includes: The fifth communication device sends the operation request for the first operation to the target second communication device.

35. A method of communication, comprising: include: The third communication device receives ninth information from the fifth communication device, the ninth information being used to identify the target second communication device; The third communication device determines one or more second communication devices based on the ninth information, wherein the one or more second communication devices include the target second communication device; The ninth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information in the second region, which is the execution area for the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein, The one or more second communication devices satisfy at least one of the following: The service area of ​​the second communication device overlaps with the second area; The service area of ​​the second communication device includes the second area; The service area of ​​the second communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; The service area of ​​the second communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node. The location of the second communication device includes the location of the third node; The first node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the third node; The second node served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device includes the third node.

37. The method of claim 35 or 36, wherein, The method further includes: The third communication device sends information about the one or more second communication devices to the fifth communication device. The information about the second communication devices includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device.

38. A method of communication, comprising: include: The second communication device performs at least one of the following: Obtain the association between the first communication device and the first node; Determine at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected. Based on the association between the first communication device and the first node, the first node is determined or selected if it is a valid first node and is not directly connected to at least one of the following:

39. The method of claim 38, wherein, The process of obtaining the association between the first communication device and the first node includes: the second communication device locally configuring the association between the first communication device and the first node, or receiving the association between the first communication device and the first node from the first communication device or the first node.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein, The determination of at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node being effective; the first node being valid; the first node being not directly connected, including at least one of the following: Order or request information about the first node from the first communication device A; Receive first node information from first communication device A, wherein the first node includes first node B; Based on the first node information from the first communication device A, the second communication device determines at least one of the following: The first communication device A and the first node B are associated; The association between the first communication device A and the first node B is effective; First node B is valid; The first node B is not directly connected.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein, The first node information includes at least one of the following: The first node information indicates the identification information of the first node, the service area information of the first node, the location information of the first node, the second node information that the first node serves, manages, associates with, connects with, or supports, and the information of the first communication device that the first node is associated with or connected to.

42. A method of communication, comprising: include: The first communication device receives an order or request from the first node information of the second communication device; The first communication device sends first node information to the second communication device according to the order or request; The first node is connected to the first communication device.

43. A communication device, characterized in that, include: Processing module; The processing module is configured to perform at least one of the first action and the second action; The first action includes: acquiring first information, and determining or selecting a target second communication device based on the first information, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: second information, information of one or more second communication devices, or information indicating the target second communication device; The second action includes: acquiring the second information, and based on the second information, performing at least one of the following: updating the information of the communication device, and sending the information of the first communication device to the third communication device; The second information includes at least one of the following: first node information, second node information; The target second communication device is a communication device among the one or more second communication devices, and the information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated or managed by the second communication device. The information of the communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the communication device, the domain name of the communication device, the address of the communication device, the service area of ​​the communication device, the location of the communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the communication device.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, characterized in that, The device further includes: a transmitting module; The sending module is used to send third information to a third communication device; The receiving module is specifically used to receive the first information from the third communication device; The third information includes at least one of the following: Information for the first area; Information about the first position; Information from the first identifier; The first region includes at least one of the following: the service area of ​​the first node indicated by the first node information, the service area of ​​the second node indicated by the second node information, and the service area of ​​the communication device. The first location includes at least one of the following: the service location of the first node, the service location of the second node, and the service location of the communication device; The first identifier includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first node, the identifier of the second node, and the identifier of the communication device.

45. The apparatus according to claim 43, characterized in that, The device further includes: a transmitting module; The processing module is also configured to establish an association with the target second communication device, wherein the association granularity includes at least one of the following: association for each first node, association for each second node, and association for each communication device. The sending module is used to send fourth information to the target second communication device; The fourth information includes at least one of the following: Information of the communication device; Information about the first node; The second node information.

46. ​​A communication device, characterized in that, include: Processing module; The processing module is configured to execute at least one of the third, fourth, and fifth actions; The third act includes at least one of the following: The system receives a query request from a fourth communication device regarding a second communication device, and returns information about one or more second communication devices to the fourth communication device based on the query request. The fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: a first communication device and a fifth communication device. Receive a query request from a target second communication device regarding a sixth communication device, and return information about one or more sixth communication devices to the target second communication device based on the query request regarding the sixth communication device, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: the first communication device, the first node, and the second node; The fourth action includes: Receive information from the first communication device; Based on the information of the first communication device, update the network function configuration information of the first communication device. The updated network function configuration information includes the information of the first communication device. The fifth act includes: Receive information from the target second communication device; Based on the information of the second communication device, update the network function configuration information of the target second communication device. The updated network function configuration information includes the information of the second communication device. The information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device. The information of the second communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the second communication device, the domain name of the second communication device, the address of the second communication device, the service area of ​​the second communication device, the location of the second communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the second communication device. The first node information of the first node includes at least one of the following: information identifying the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, and information about second nodes that the first node serves, manages, associates with, connects to, or supports. The second node information of the second node includes at least one of the following: information about the identifier of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node; The second node is a node that is served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions that are served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node.

47. A communications device, characterized by include: Processing module; The processing module is configured to perform at least one of the following based on the fourth information: Determine the information of the communication device; Update the information of the communication device; Send information about the communication device to a third communication device; For the first operation, select at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, and a second node; The fourth information includes at least one of the following: The information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device. First node information; Second node information.

48. A communications device, characterized by include: Processing module; The processing module is configured to execute at least one of the sixth, seventh, and eighth actions; The sixth act includes: The target second communication device sends a query request to the third communication device regarding the sixth communication device, wherein the sixth communication device includes at least one of the following: the first communication device, the first node, and the second node; The target second communication device receives information from one or more sixth communication devices from the third communication device; The seventh action includes: the target second communication device determining or selecting the sixth communication device based on the fourth information; The fourth information includes at least one of the following: Information of the first communication device, the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first communication device, the domain name of the first communication device, the address of the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device, the location of the first communication device, the first node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device, and the second node information served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device. First node information, which includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identifier of the first node, information about the service area of ​​the first node, information about the location of the first node, information about the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node, and information about the first communication device associated with or connected to the first node. The second node information includes at least one of the following: information indicating the identity of the second node, information about the service area of ​​the second node, and information about the location of the second node; The eighth action includes: the target second communication device obtaining information about one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node, a second node; Where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first communication device overlaps with the second area, or the service area of ​​the first communication device includes the second area; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes a third node, which is the node that performs the first operation; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second area; or, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device and the second area overlap, and the second area is the execution area of ​​the first operation or an area supported by the second communication device; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the second region; or, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device and the second region overlap; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the first node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the service area of ​​the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first communication device, the location of the second node served, associated with, or managed by the first communication device includes the location of the third node; or, When the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node intersects with the second area; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or, In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or... In the case where the sixth communication device includes the second node, the second node is the third node; or... When the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the first node intersects with the second area; or... In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the first node is the third node; or... In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node includes the second area, or the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node intersects with the second area; or, In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the service area of ​​the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the service area of ​​the third node; or, In the case where the seventh communication device includes the first node, the location of the second node served, managed, associated with, connected to, or supported by the first node includes the location of the third node; or, In the case where the seventh communication device includes the second node, the service area of ​​the second node includes the second region, or the service area of ​​the second node intersects with the second region; or... In the case where the seventh communication device includes the second node, the second node is the third node; Wherein, the second node is a node served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node; or, the second node implements functions served, managed, associated, connected, or supported by the first node.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein, The processing module is also used for at least one of the following: Based on the information received from the one or more sixth communication devices, select at least one of the following: a first communication device, a first node, a second node, and send a first operation request to the selected device; Based on the information received from one or more seventh communication devices, select at least one of the following: a first node, a second node, and send a first operation request to the selected device.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein, The device further includes: a transmitting module and a receiving module; The sending module is used to send the eighth information to the first communication device; The receiving module is used to receive information from one or more seventh communication devices from the first communication device; The eighth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information about the second region, which is the execution area of ​​the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

51. A communications device, characterized by include: Receive module and transmit module; The receiving module is configured to receive eighth information from the target second communication device, and determine or select one or more seventh communication devices based on the eighth information, wherein the seventh communication device includes at least one of the following: a first node and a second node; The sending module is used to send information about the one or more seventh communication devices to the target second communication device; The eighth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information in the second region, which is the execution area for the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

52. A communications device, characterized by include: Sending module; The sending module is used to send ninth information to the third communication device, the ninth information being used to determine the target second communication device; The ninth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information in the second region, which is the execution area for the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

53. A communications device, characterized by include: Receive module and processing module; The receiving module is used to receive ninth information from the fifth communication device, the ninth information being used to determine the target second communication device; The processing module is configured to determine one or more second communication devices based on the ninth information, wherein the one or more second communication devices include the target second communication device; The ninth piece of information includes at least one of the following: Information in the second region, which is the execution area for the first operation; Information about the third node, which is the node that performs the first operation.

54. A communications device, characterized by include: Processing module; The processing module is configured to perform at least one of the following: Obtain the association between the first communication device and the first node; Determine at least one of the following: the association between the first communication device and the first node; the association between the first communication device and the first node is effective; the first node is valid; the first node is not directly connected. Based on the association between the first communication device and the first node, the first node is determined or selected if it is a valid first node and is not directly connected to at least one of the following:

55. A communication device, characterized in that, include: Receive module and transmit module; The receiving module is used to receive orders or requests from the first node information of the second communication device; The sending module is used to send first node information to the second communication device according to the order or request; The first node is connected to the first communication device.

56. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing a program or instructions executable on the processor, the program or instructions, when executed by the processor, implementing the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 10 to 14, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 15 to 19, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 20 to 25, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 26 to 30, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 31 to 33, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 34 to 37, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 38 to 41, or the steps of the communication method as described in claim 42.

57. A readable storage medium characterized by, The readable storage medium stores a program or instructions that, when executed by a processor, implement the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 10 to 14, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 15 to 19, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 20 to 25, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 26 to 30, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 31 to 33, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 34 to 37, or the steps of the communication method as described in any one of claims 38 to 41, or the steps of the communication method as described in claim 42.

58. A computer program product stored in a storage medium, the computer program product being executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 30, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 33, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 37, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in any one of claims 38 to 41, or the steps of the communication method as claimed in claim 42.

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