Communication method and device, communication device, and computer storage medium

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a communication method and its apparatus, a communication device, and a computer storage medium, the communication method including: an application function (AF) or a network function (NF) receiving first information from a network data analysis function, the first information including first packet flow description (PFD) analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; and sending second information to a first network element, the second information being used to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications technology, and more particularly to communication methods and apparatus, communication devices, and computer storage media.

[0002] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application is based on a Chinese patent application with application number 202210946329.1, filed on August 8, 2022, and claims priority to that Chinese patent application, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] Currently, an Application Function (AF) can output Packet Flow Description (PFD) information to a Network Exposure Function (NEF), and a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) can also acquire PFD information and output it to the NEF. There is currently no effective solution to the problem of overlap between the PFD information output from the NWDAF to the NEF and the PFD information sent from the AF to the NEF. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method and apparatus, a communication device, and a computer storage medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention are realized as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a method of communication, the method comprising: An AF or a network function (NF) receives first information from a network data analysis function, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; The AF or NF sends second information to a first network element, the second information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting. In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second information comprises the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier.

[0007] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the AF or NF receiving first information from a network data analysis function comprises: the AF or NF receiving first information from the network data analysis function via the first network element; or The AF or NF directly receives the first information sent from the network data analysis function.

[0008] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the AF or NF sending third information to a network data analysis function, wherein the third information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information includes the first application identifier.

[0009] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the AF or NF sending the third information to a network data analysis function may include: the AF or NF sending the third information to the network data analysis function via the first network element; or The AF or NF transmits the third information directly to the network data analysis function.

[0010] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0011] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0012] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present invention further provide a communication method, the method comprising: The network data analysis function includes sending first information to the AF or the NF, and the first information includes first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier.

[0013] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the network data analysis function sending the first information to the AF or the NF comprises: the network data analysis function transmitting the first information to the AF or NF via a first network element; or The network data analysis function sends the first information directly to the AF or NF.

[0014] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function receiving third information from the AF or NF, the third information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information including the first application identifier.

[0015] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, receiving the third information from the AF or NF comprises: the network data analysis function receiving the third information from the AF or NF via a first network element; or The network data analysis function directly receives the third information transmitted from the AF or NF.

[0016] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0017] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function obtaining the first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier.

[0018] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises the network data analysis function obtaining first user plane information from a user plane function.

[0019] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises the step of the network data analysis function obtaining second PFD information from a unified data storage function via the first network element; and / or The network data analysis function further includes obtaining third PFD information and / or second user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the third PFD information and / or second user plane information is information within a first historical time range.

[0020] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0021] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present invention further provide a communication method, the method comprising: The method includes a first network element receiving second information sent from an AF or an NF and sending third information to a unified data storage function, wherein the second information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier, and the third information is used to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier in the unified data storage function, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0022] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second information and the third information include the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier.

[0023] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the first network element receiving first information sent from a network data analysis function and sending the first information to the AF or NF, wherein the first information includes first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0024] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0025] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the first network element receiving third information sent from the AF or NF and sending the third information to a network data analysis function, wherein the third information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information includes the first application identifier.

[0026] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method includes: receiving, by the first network element, first subscription information sent from a network data analysis function, the first subscription information being used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier; The method further includes the first network element querying the unified data storage function to obtain second PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, and sending the second PFD information to the network data analysis function.

[0027] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0028] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present invention further provide a method of communication, the method comprising: receiving, by the first network element, fourth information sent from a network data analysis function, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; The first network element obtains fifth information from a unified data storage function, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; The first network element sends sixth information to the unified data storage function, the sixth information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0029] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the sixth information comprises the processed PFD information and / or the second application identifier.

[0030] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information.

[0031] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, Each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF.

[0032] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the priority of PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of PFD information from the network data analysis function.

[0033] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first network element transmitting sixth information to the unified data storage function comprises: The first network element compares the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information and sends sixth information to the unified data storage function.

[0034] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first network element comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information and sending sixth information to the unified data storage function comprises: the first network element comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information; If the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information do not overlap, sending sixth information to the unified data storage function, wherein the sixth information is used to request creation of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and / or If the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information overlap and, in the fifth PFD information, the first identifier of the PFD information that overlaps with the fourth PFD information indicates that the PFD information is from a network data analysis function, sending sixth information to the unified data storage function, wherein the sixth information is used to request updating and / or deleting the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0035] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the first network element sending seventh information to the network data analysis function, wherein the seventh information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the sixth information includes the second application identifier.

[0036] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method includes: the first network element receiving second subscription information sent from the network data analysis function, the second subscription information being used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; The method further includes the first network element querying a unified data storage function to obtain sixth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and sending the sixth PFD information to the network data analysis function.

[0037] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and the all PFD information includes PFD information that needs to be processed; or The fourth PFD information includes a subset of the PFD information, and the subset of the PFD information includes only the PFD information that needs to be processed.

[0038] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least some of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid.

[0039] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0040] In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present invention further provide a method of communication, the method comprising: The network data analysis function includes sending fourth information to the first network element, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the fourth information is used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0041] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information.

[0042] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function receiving seventh information transmitted from the first network element, the seventh information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the seventh information including the second application identifier.

[0043] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function obtaining the second PFD analysis information and / or the fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0044] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further comprises the network data analysis function obtaining third user plane information from a user plane function.

[0045] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises: the network data analysis function obtaining sixth PFD information from a unified data storage function via the first network element; and / or The network data analysis function further includes obtaining seventh PFD information and / or fourth user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the seventh PFD information and / or seventh user plane information is information within a second historical time range.

[0046] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and the all PFD information includes PFD information that needs to be processed; or The fourth PFD information includes a subset of the PFD information, and the subset of the PFD information includes only the PFD information that needs to be processed.

[0047] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least some of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid.

[0048] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present invention further provide a communication method, the method comprising: The unified data storage function includes sending fifth information to the first network element, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fifth information being used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0050] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF.

[0051] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the priority of PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of PFD information from the network data analysis function.

[0052] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the unified data storage function receiving sixth information sent from the first network element, the sixth information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0053] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the sixth information comprises the processed PFD information and / or the second application identifier.

[0054] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0055] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied in AF or NF, the device comprising: a first receiving unit; and a first transmitting unit; The first receiving unit is configured to receive first information from a network data analysis function, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; The first transmitting unit is configured to transmit second information to a first network element, the second information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0056] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to a network data analysis function, the device comprising: a second sending unit configured to send first information to an AF or an NF, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0057] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to a first network element, the device comprising: a third receiving unit; and a third transmitting unit; The third receiving unit is configured to receive second information transmitted from an AF or an NF, the second information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; The third transmitting unit is configured to transmit third information to a unified data storage function, and the third information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier in the unified data storage function, the processing including at least one of creation, update, and deletion.

[0058] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to a first network element, the device comprising: a fourth receiving unit; and a fourth transmitting unit; the fourth receiving unit is configured to receive fourth information sent from a network data analysis function, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier; the fourth receiving unit is further configured to obtain fifth information from a unified data storage function, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; The fourth transmitting unit is configured to transmit sixth information to the unified data storage function, and the sixth information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creation, update, and deletion.

[0059] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied in a network data analysis function, the device comprising: a fifth sending unit configured to send fourth information to a first network element, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fourth information being used to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0060] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to a unified data storage function, the device comprising: a sixth sending unit configured to send fifth information to a first network element, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fifth information being used to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0061] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program, the program causing a processor to perform the steps of a communication method according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to realize the steps of the communication method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects of the embodiment of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0063] According to a communication method, an apparatus, a communication device, and a computer storage medium provided in an embodiment of the present invention, in a first aspect, the method includes: receiving first information from an AF or NF network data analysis function, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; and sending second information to a first network element, the second information being used to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting. The technical solution of this embodiment has the network data analysis function send the PFD information to the AF or NF, and the AF or NF uniformly send information to the first network element, thereby solving the problem of overlapping PFD information output from the network data analysis function to the NEF and PFD information sent from the AF to the NEF.

[0064] In a second aspect, the method includes: a first network element receiving fourth information sent from a network data analysis function, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier; a first network element obtaining fifth information from a unified data storage function, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and a first network element sending sixth information to the unified data storage function, the sixth information being used to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting. The technical solution of this embodiment solves the problem of overlapping PFD information output from the NWDAF to the NEF and PFD information sent from the AF to the NEF by unifying information sent to the unified data storage function by the first network element. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0065] [Figure 1]1 is a flowchart 1 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a flowchart 2 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 3 is a flowchart 3 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is an interaction flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 2 is an interaction flow diagram 2 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart 4 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart 5 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 6 is a flowchart 6 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 3 is an interaction flow diagram 3 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings and specific examples.

[0067] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention are applicable to various communication systems, such as a Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, or a 5G system, etc. Optionally, a 5G system or a 5G network may also be referred to as a New Radio (NR) system or an NR network.

[0068] For example, a communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied may include a network device and a terminal device (which may also be referred to as a terminal, a communication terminal, etc.), and the network device may be a device that communicates with the terminal device. Here, the network device can provide communication coverage within a certain area and can communicate with terminals located within this area. Optionally, the network device may be a base station in each communication system, for example, an evolved base station (eNB: Evolutional Node B) in an LTE system, or a base station (gNB) in a 5G system or an NR system.

[0069] In the embodiments of the present application, a device having a communication function in a network / system may be referred to as a communication device. The communication device may include a network device and a terminal having a communication function, and the network device and the terminal may be the specific devices described above, and will not be described again here. The communication device may also include other devices in a communication system, such as other network entities such as a network controller and a mobility management entity, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0070] It should be noted that the terms "system" and "network" are always used interchangeably herein. The term "and / or" used herein is simply for explaining the relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can indicate three cases: when A exists alone, when both A and B exist, and when B exists alone. Furthermore, the symbol " / " used herein generally indicates that the related objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0071] The terms "first," "second," and the like, used in the specification and claims of this application are intended to distinguish between similar objects and do not indicate a particular order or chronological order. Data used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate, so that it should be understood that the embodiments of this application described herein may, for example, be performed in an order other than that illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprise" and "have," and any variations thereof, are intended to imply a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or units need not be limited to those steps or units expressly recited, but may include other steps or units not expressly recited or inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0072] An embodiment of the present invention provides a communication method. Figure 1 is a flowchart 1 of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the method may include the following steps:

[0073] In step 101, the AF or NF receives first information from a network data analysis function, where the first information includes first PFD analysis information or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0074] In step 102, the AF or NF sends second information to a first network element, where the second information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0075] In various embodiments of the present invention, the first network element includes at least a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function. Here, the network opening function may specifically be a network element having network opening capability. For example, the network opening function may be a NEF network element in a 5G system, or another network element having network opening capability in a 6G or subsequent system, but is not particularly limited thereto. Here, the packet flow description function may specifically be a network element having at least the capability of processing and / or managing PFD information. For example, the packet flow description function may be a PFDF (Packet Flow Description Function) network element in a 5G system, or another network element having the capability of processing and / or managing PFD information in a 6G or subsequent system. In other embodiments, for example, in a 5G system, the first network element may be referred to as NEF (PFDF).

[0076] In each embodiment of the present invention, the network data analysis function may be a network element having a data analysis function (or capability), and may be referred to as a second network element in other embodiments. Exemplarily, the network data analysis function may be an NWDAF in a 5G system, or may be another network element having a data analysis function (or capability) in a 6G or subsequent system, and is not particularly limited herein.

[0077] In some possible embodiments, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0078] In this example, first information is received from an AF or NF network data analysis function, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information, where the first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information is information obtained by the network data analysis function (e.g., PFD analysis information and / or PFD information obtained by the network data analysis function through inference). In one embodiment, the first information includes first PFD analysis information, and the first PFD analysis information includes the first PFD information, where the PFD analysis information may indicate an analysis result of the network data analysis function. In another embodiment, the first information may include only the first PFD information. In other embodiments, the first information may include the first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information, and / or the first information may include a first application identifier.

[0079] In this embodiment, after receiving the first information, the AF or NF makes a judgment based on the first information to determine whether processing is required for the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier. If it is determined that processing is required for the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the AF or NF sends second information to the first network element. Here, the first application identifier may be referred to as Application ID.

[0080] As an example, the AF (or NF) compares (or may perform verification, detection, identification, testing, matching, inspection, etc.) the first PFD information with the PFD information it provides, and determines whether an operation needs to be performed on the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier based on the comparison result (or may perform verification, detection, identification, testing, matching, inspection, etc.). As another example, the first PFD analysis information may include related analysis results or related instruction information regarding whether an operation needs to be performed on the PFD information, and the AF (or NF) may directly determine whether an operation (e.g., at least one of creation, update, and deletion) needs to be performed on the PFD information based on the analysis result or instruction information in the first PFD analysis information. In this example, performing an operation on the PFD information specifically refers to performing an operation (e.g., at least one of creation, update, and deletion) on the PFD information stored in the unified data storage function. For example, if a process for creating PFD information is required, the corresponding PFD information needs to be created in the unified data storage function; in another example, if a process for updating or deleting PFD information is required, the corresponding PFD information stored in the unified data storage function needs to be updated or deleted.

[0081] In some possible embodiments, the second information includes the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier.

[0082] In some examples, the processed PFD information may be the first PFD information. In other examples, the processed PFD information may be PFD information to be processed, as determined by the AF (or NF). For example, after comparing the first PFD information with PFD information provided by the AF (or NF), new PFD information in the first PFD information compared to the PFD information provided by the AF (or NF) itself is PFD information that needs to be processed (at least one of create, update, and delete). In such examples, the PFD information to be processed may be at least a portion of the information in the first PFD information.

[0083] In some possible embodiments, the AF or NF receiving the first information from the network data analysis function includes the AF or NF receiving the first information from the network data analysis function via the first network element, or the AF or NF directly receiving the first information sent from the network data analysis function.

[0084] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the AF or NF sending third information to a network data analysis function, wherein the third information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information includes the first application identifier.

[0085] In this embodiment, the AF or NF may send the third information to the network data analysis function, and optionally, based on the subscription, the AF or NF receives the first information from the network data analysis function.

[0086] In some possible embodiments, the AF or NF sending the third information to a network data analysis function includes the AF or NF sending the third information to the network data analysis function via the first network element, or the AF or NF sending the third information directly to the network data analysis function.

[0087] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication method. Figure 2 is a flowchart 2 of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the method may include the following steps:

[0088] In step 201, a network data analysis function sends first information to an AF or an NF, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier, where the first information is used by the AF or the NF to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0089] In some possible implementations, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0090] In this embodiment, the first network element includes at least a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function. In another embodiment, for example, in a 5G system, the first network element may be denoted as NEF (PFDF).

[0091] In this example, the network data analysis function sends first information to the AF or the NF, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information, where the first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information is information acquired by the network data analysis function (e.g., PFD analysis information and / or PFD information acquired by the network data analysis function through inference). In one embodiment, the first information includes first PFD analysis information, and the first PFD analysis information includes the first PFD information, where the PFD analysis information may indicate an analysis result of the network data analysis function. In another embodiment, the first information may include only the first PFD information. In other embodiments, the first information may include the first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information, and / or the first information may include a first application identifier.

[0092] In this embodiment, the first information can be used by the AF or NF to make a decision, determine, or judge whether processing on PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier is required or whether processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier is required, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0093] In some possible embodiments, the network data analysis function sending the first information to an AF or an NF includes the network data analysis function sending the first information to the AF or NF via a first network element, or the network data analysis function sending the first information directly to the AF or NF.

[0094] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function receiving third information from the AF or NF, the third information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information including the first application identifier.

[0095] In this embodiment, the network data analysis function may receive PFD analysis information and / or third information for subscribing to PFD information from the AF or NF, and based on the subscription, the network data analysis function sends the first information to the AF or NF.

[0096] In some possible embodiments, the network data analysis function receiving the third information from the AF or NF includes the network data analysis function receiving the third information from the AF or NF via a first network element, or the network data analysis function directly receiving the third information sent from the AF or NF.

[0097] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises the network data analysis function obtaining first user plane information from a user plane function.

[0098] Here, the user plane function may specifically be a network element having user plane data processing and / or transmission capabilities, and may also be referred to as a third network element in other embodiments. Exemplarily, the user plane function may be a User Plane Function (UPF) in a 5G system, or may be another network element having user plane data processing and / or transmission capabilities in a 6G or subsequent system, and is not particularly limited herein.

[0099] In this embodiment, the network data analysis function may obtain first user plane information corresponding to the first application identifier from a user plane function, where, optionally, the first user plane information may specifically be a service message.

[0100] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function obtaining the first PFD analysis information and / or the first PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier.

[0101] In this embodiment, a network data analysis function may obtain the first PFD analysis information and / or the first PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier by inference using a pre-trained model. In some examples, a network data analysis function may obtain the first PFD analysis information and / or the first PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier by inference based on the first user plane information and a pre-trained model.

[0102] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function obtaining second PFD information from a unified data storage function via a first network element, and / or the network data analysis function obtaining third PFD information and / or second user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the third PFD information and / or second user plane information is information within a first historical time range.

[0103] In each embodiment of the present invention, the unified data storage function may specifically be a network element having data storage capability, and may be referred to as a fourth network element in other embodiments. Exemplarily, the unified data storage function may be a Unified Data Repository (UDR) network element in a 5G system, or may be another network element having data storage capability in a 6G or subsequent system, and is not particularly limited herein. Here, the data analysis repository function may specifically be a network element having historical data collection and / or analytical data storage capability, and may be referred to as a fifth network element in other embodiments. Exemplarily, the data analysis repository function may be an Analytics Data Repository Function (ADRF) network element in a 5G system, or may be another network element having historical data collection and / or analytical data storage capability in a 6G or subsequent system, and is not particularly limited herein.

[0104] In this embodiment, the network data analysis function may obtain the second PFD information from the unified data storage function via the first network element and / or obtain the third PFD information and / or the second user plane information within a historical time range from the data analysis repository function, and train the model based on the third PFD information and / or the second user plane information, or based on at least one of the third PFD information, the second user plane information, and the second PFD information. Exemplarily, the network data analysis function may subscribe to PFD information from the NEF, and the NEF may query the unified data storage function to obtain the second PFD information and further transmit the second PFD information to the network data analysis function. Exemplarily, the network data analysis function may send request information to the data analysis repository function, the request information being used to request collection of the third PFD information and / or the second user plane information within a historical time range. Here, the request information may include a historical time period or a time window, and optionally, the request information may further include an application ID.

[0105] In this embodiment, the network data analysis function may use the obtained information to train a model, and further use the model to obtain first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information.

[0106] In some possible examples, the first PFD analysis information may indicate an analysis result of a network data analysis function, and the analysis result may include whether an action (e.g., at least one of creation, update, and deletion) is required for the PFD information. For example, the network data analysis function may obtain first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier by inference via a model, and then compare the obtained first PFD information with known PFD information (e.g., PFD information obtained from a unified data storage function) to determine whether the obtained first PFD information is new PFD information. If the PFD information is new, it may be determined that an action is required for the PFD information. The analysis result (first PFD analysis information) may include the first PFD information, and the first PFD analysis information may include an associated analysis result or associated instruction information regarding the need for action on the PFD information.

[0107] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication method. Figure 3 is a flowchart 3 of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the method may include the following steps:

[0108] In step 301, the first network element receives second information sent from an AF or an NF and sends third information to a unified data storage function, wherein the second information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier, and the third information is used to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier in the unified data storage function, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0109] In this embodiment, the first network element includes at least a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function. In another embodiment, for example, in a 5G system, the first network element may be denoted as NEF (PFDF).

[0110] In some possible embodiments, the second information and the third information include the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier.

[0111] In this embodiment, the first network element receives second information, sent from an AF or an NF, for requesting processing of PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier, and sends third information, sent to a unified data storage function, for requesting processing on the PFD information, where the second information and the third information include the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier. Optionally, the second information and the third information can be carried by different messages.

[0112] In some examples, the processed PFD information may be the first PFD information. In other examples, the processed PFD information may be PFD information to be processed, as determined by the AF (or NF). For example, after comparing the first PFD information with PFD information provided by the AF (or NF), new PFD information in the first PFD information compared to the PFD information provided by the AF (or NF) itself is PFD information that needs to be processed (at least one of create, update, and delete). In such examples, the PFD information to be processed may be at least a portion of the information in the first PFD information.

[0113] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the first network element receiving first information sent from a network data analysis function and sending the first information to the AF or NF, wherein the first information includes first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0114] In some possible implementations, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0115] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the first network element receiving third information sent from the AF or NF and sending the third information to a network data analysis function, wherein the third information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information includes the first application identifier.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the AF (or NF) and the network data analysis function interact with each other via the first network element.

[0117] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the first network element receiving first subscription information sent from a network data analysis function, the first subscription information being used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, and the first network element querying the unified data storage function to obtain second PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, and sending the second PFD information to the network data analysis function.

[0118] By adopting the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention, the network data analysis function sends PFD information to the AF or NF, and the AF or NF uniformly sends information to the first network element, thereby solving the problem of overlapping PFD information output from the network data analysis function to the NEF and PFD information sent from the AF to the NEF.

[0119] The communication method according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific examples. In each of the following examples, the first network element is an NEF (PFDF), the network data analysis function is an NWDAF, the user plane function is a UPF, the unified data storage function is a UDR, and the data analysis repository function is an ADRF.

[0120] Example 1 FIG. 4 is an interaction flow diagram 1 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the method may include the following steps:

[0121] In steps 401 to 402, the AF subscribes to PFD analysis information from the NWDAF via the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes (i.e., carries) an application identifier (Application ID).

[0122] Here, the AF calls Nnef_AnalyticsExposure_Subscribe to subscribe to PFD analytics information from the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes at least the application ID, and the NEF calls Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe to subscribe to PFD analytics information from the NWDAF, and the subscription includes at least the application ID.

[0123] In steps 403 to 406, the NWDAF subscribes to the PFD information in use from the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes the Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) then calls Nudr_DM_Query to query the UDR for the PFD information, and the query includes the Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) then obtains the PFD information and returns it to the NWDAF.

[0124] Here, the NWDAF can call Nnef_EventExposure_Subscribe to subscribe to the PFD currently in use from the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes at least the Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) calls Nudr_DM_Query to query the UDR for PFD information, and the query includes the Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) obtains the PFD information obtained by the query through the response to Nudr_DM_Query and returns the PFD information to the NWDAF through Nnef_EventExposure_Notify. The PFD information here corresponds to the second PFD information in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0125] In step 407, the NWDAF collects user plane information corresponding to the Application ID from the UPF.

[0126] The user plane information here corresponds to the first user plane information in the above-described embodiment.

[0127] In steps 408 to 409, the NWDAF collects historical PFD information and user plane information from the ADRF, including the Application ID and further including the historical time period or time window.

[0128] Here, the NWDAF requests the ADRF to collect historical PFD information and user plane information via Nadrf_DataManagement_RetrievalRequest, and the request includes an Application ID and further includes a historical time period or time window. The NWDAF receives the historical PFD information and user plane information returned from the ADRF via Nadrf_DataManagement_RetrievalResponse.

[0129] Here, the historical PFD information corresponds to the third PFD information in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the historical user plane information corresponds to the second user plane information in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0130] In step 410, the NWDAF generates PFD analysis information.

[0131] Illustratively, the NWDAF may obtain PFD analysis information through inference or deduction, where the PFD analysis information corresponds to the first PFD analysis information in the above embodiment.

[0132] In steps 411 to 412, the NWDAF transmits the PFD analysis information to the NEF (PFDF), and the NEF (PFDF) transmits the PFD analysis information to the AF.

[0133] Here, the NWDAF can send the PFD analysis information to the NEF (PFDF) via Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify, and the NEF (PFDF) can send the PFD analysis information to the AF via Nnef_AnalyticsExposure_Notify.

[0134] In step 413, after obtaining the PFD analysis information, the AF determines whether it needs to create / update / delete PFD information corresponding to the Application ID, and if necessary, the AF sends a request to the NEF (PFDF) to request the creation / update / deletion of PFD information.

[0135] Here, the AF can call Nnef_PFDManagement_Create / Update / Delete to request the NEF (PFDF) to create / update / delete PFD information, i.e., the AF can send a Nnef_PFDManagement_Create / Update / Delete Request to the NEF (PFDF).

[0136] In steps 414 and 415, the NEF (PFDF) requests the UDR to create / update / delete PFD information, and the UDR executes the corresponding processing and then returns a corresponding response to the NEF (PFDF).

[0137] Here, the NEF (PFDF) can request the creation / update / deletion of PFD information by calling Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete and sending Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete to the UDR, and the request includes the Application ID and the corresponding PFD information. The UDR creates / updates / deletes the corresponding PFD information and sends a Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete Response to the NEF (PFDF).

[0138] In step 416, the NEF (PFDF) returns a response to the AF.

[0139] Here, the NEF (PFDF) sends a Nnef_PFDManagement_Create / Update / Delete Response to the AF.

[0140] Example 2 FIG. 5 is an interaction flow diagram 2 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the method may include the following steps:

[0141] In step 501, the AF subscribes to PFD analysis information from the NWDAF, and the subscription includes an application identifier (Application ID).

[0142] Now, the AF can call Nnwdaf_AnalyticsExposure_Subscribe to subscribe to PFD analytics information from the NEF, and the subscription includes at least the Application ID.

[0143] In steps 502 to 505, the NWDAF subscribes to the PFD information in use from the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes an Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) calls Nudr_DM_Query to query the UDR for the PFD information, and the query request includes the Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) obtains the PFD information and returns the PFD information to the NWDAF.

[0144] Here, the NWDAF can call Nnef_EventExposure_Subscribe to subscribe to the PFD currently in use from the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes at least the Application ID. The NEF calls Nudr_DM_Query to query the UDR for PFD information, and the query includes the Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) obtains the PFD information obtained by the query via a response message corresponding to Nudr_DM_Query, and returns the PFD information to the NWDAF via Nnef_EventExposure_Notify. The PFD information here corresponds to the second PFD information in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0145] In step 506, the NWDAF collects user plane information corresponding to the Application ID from the UPF.

[0146] The user plane information here corresponds to the first user plane information in the above-described embodiment.

[0147] In steps 507 to 508, the NWDAF collects historical PFD information and user plane information from the ADRF, including the Application ID and further including the historical time period or time window.

[0148] Here, the NWDAF requests the ADRF to collect historical PFD information and user plane information via Nadrf_DataManagement_RetrievalRequest, and the request includes an Application ID and further includes a historical time period or time window. The NWDAF receives the historical PFD information and user plane information returned from the ADRF via Nadrf_DataManagement_RetrievalResponse.

[0149] Here, the historical PFD information corresponds to the third PFD information in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the historical user plane information corresponds to the second user plane information in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0150] In step 509, the NWDAF generates PFD analysis information.

[0151] Illustratively, the NWDAF may obtain PFD analysis information through inference or deduction, where the PFD analysis information corresponds to the first PFD analysis information in the above embodiment.

[0152] In step 510, the NWDAF transmits the PFD analysis information to the AF.

[0153] Here, the NWDAF can send PFD analysis information to the AF via Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify.

[0154] In step 511, after obtaining the PFD analysis information, the AF determines whether it needs to create / update / delete PFD information corresponding to the Application ID, and if necessary, the AF sends a request to the NEF (PFDF) to request the creation / update / deletion of PFD information.

[0155] Here, the AF can call Nnef_PFDManagement_Create / Update / Delete to request the NEF (PFDF) to create / update / delete PFD information, i.e., the AF can send a Nnef_PFDManagement_Create / Update / Delete Request to the NEF (PFDF).

[0156] In steps 512 and 513, the NEF (PFDF) requests the UDR to create / update / delete PFD information, and the UDR executes the corresponding processing and then returns a corresponding response to the NEF (PFDF).

[0157] Here, the NEF (PFDF) can request the creation / update / deletion of PFD information by calling Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete and sending a Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete Request to the UDR. The request includes an Application ID and the corresponding PFD information (corresponding to the first PFD information in the above-mentioned embodiment). The UDR creates / updates / deletes the corresponding PFD information and sends a Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete Response to the NEF.

[0158] In step 514, the NEF (PFDF) returns a response to the AF.

[0159] Here, the NEF (PFDF) sends a Nnef_PFDManagement_Create / Update / Delete Response to the AF.

[0160] Compared with Example 1, in this example, the AF and NWDAF interact directly to obtain updated PFD information (Observed PFD Info).

[0161] Here, Example 1 may be a scenario in which the AF does not belong to a carrier, and Example 2 may be a scenario in which the AF belongs to a carrier.

[0162] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication method. Figure 6 is a flowchart 4 of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, the method may include the following steps:

[0163] In step 601, the first network element receives fourth information sent from a network data analysis function, where the fourth information includes second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier.

[0164] In step 602, the first network element obtains fifth information from a unified data storage function, where the fifth information includes fifth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0165] In step 603, the first network element sends sixth information to the unified data storage function, wherein the sixth information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0166] In this embodiment, the first network element includes at least a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function. In another embodiment, for example, in a 5G system, the first network element may be denoted as NEF (PFDF).

[0167] Optionally, the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information.

[0168] In this embodiment, the first network element receives the fourth information sent from the network data analysis function on the one hand, and obtains the fifth information from the unified data storage function on the other hand, and the first network element makes a unified decision on the PFD information to be sent to the unified data storage function, thereby solving the problem of overlapping PFD information output from the network data analysis function to the NEF and PFD information sent to the NEF by the AF.

[0169] In some possible embodiments, the sixth information includes the processed PFD information and / or the second application identifier.

[0170] In some examples, the processed PFD information may be the fourth PFD information. In other examples, the processed PFD information may be PFD information to be processed, determined by the first network element, such as new PFD information after comparing the fourth PFD information with its own fifth PFD information, i.e., PFD information that needs to be processed (at least one of creating, updating, and deleting). In such examples, the PFD information to be processed may be at least a portion of the fourth PFD information.

[0171] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF. In some possible embodiments, the PFD information from the AF has a higher priority than the PFD information from the network data analysis function.

[0172] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first network element transmitting sixth information to the unified data storage function includes the first network element comparing the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information and transmitting the sixth information to the unified data storage function.

[0173] In some possible embodiments, the first network element comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information and sending sixth information to the unified data storage function includes the first network element comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information, and if the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information do not overlap, sending sixth information to the unified data storage function, wherein the sixth information is used to request creation of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and / or if the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information overlap and the first identifier of the PFD information that overlaps with the fourth PFD information in the fifth PFD information indicates that the PFD information is from a network data analysis function, sending sixth information to the unified data storage function, wherein the sixth information is used to request update and / or deletion of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0174] In this embodiment, the priority of the PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of the PFD information from the network data analysis function. Therefore, the fourth PFD information is from the network data analysis function, and the fifth PFD information may be from either the AF or the network data analysis function. Therefore, in the process of comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information, if the fifth PFD information indicates that it is from the AF, the priority of the PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of the PFD information from the network data analysis function. In this case, the PFD information is not processed, i.e., the sixth information is not transmitted. On the other hand, only when the fifth PFD information indicates that it is from the network data analysis function, the PFD information is processed, i.e., the sixth information is transmitted.

[0175] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the first network element sending seventh information to the network data analysis function, wherein the seventh information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the sixth information includes the second application identifier.

[0176] In this embodiment, the first network element sends PFD analysis information and / or seventh information for subscribing to PFD information to the network data analysis function, and based on the subscription, the network data analysis function sends the fourth information to the first network element.

[0177] In some possible embodiments, the method further includes the first network element receiving second subscription information sent from the network data analysis function, wherein the second subscription information is used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and the first network element querying a unified data storage function to obtain sixth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and sending the sixth PFD information to the network data analysis function.

[0178] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and all PFD information including PFD information that needs to be processed, or the fourth PFD information includes a subset of PFD information, and the subset of PFD information includes only PFD information that needs to be processed.

[0179] In this embodiment, as an example, the fourth PFD information includes all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function. In such an example, the full set of PFD information included in the fourth PFD information may also be referred to as a full PFD set, a full PFD, full information, or full PFD information. That is, the fourth PFD information includes all PFD information previously generated by the network data analysis function (e.g., PFD information that already exists or has already been acquired and new PFD information, where so-called new PFD information may refer to PFD information that needs to be processed (at least one of creation, update, and deletion)). For example, if the NWDAF generates PFD information 1, PFD information 2, PFD information 3, and PFD information 4, among which PFD information 4 needs to be processed, the full set of PFD information includes the above four PFD information. In another example, the fourth PFD information includes only the PFD information that needs to be processed, and in such an example, the subset of PFD information included in the fourth PFD information may also be referred to as a PFD subset or subset information, and still using the above example, the subset of PFD information may include only PFD information 4.

[0180] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least some of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid.

[0181] In this embodiment, at least some of the PFD information in the fourth PFD information includes a second identifier indicating valid or invalid, and if the second identifier indicates invalid, the corresponding PFD information indicates that aging is required, and the first network element does not perform any processing on the PFD information indicating invalid, for example, deletes the PFD information indicating invalid in the process of comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information.

[0182] Based on the above embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication method. Figure 7 is a flowchart 5 of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 7, the method may include the following steps:

[0183] In step 701, the network data analysis function includes sending fourth information to a first network element, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, and the fourth information is used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0184] In this embodiment, the first network element includes at least a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function. In another embodiment, for example, in a 5G system, the first network element may be denoted as NEF (PFDF).

[0185] In some possible embodiments, the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information.

[0186] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function receiving seventh information transmitted from the first network element, the seventh information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the seventh information including the second application identifier.

[0187] In this embodiment, the first network element sends PFD analysis information and / or seventh information for subscribing to PFD information to the network data analysis function, and based on the subscription, the network data analysis function sends the fourth information to the first network element.

[0188] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further comprises the network data analysis function obtaining third user plane information from a user plane function.

[0189] In this embodiment, the network data analysis function may obtain second user plane information corresponding to the second application identifier from a user plane function. Optionally, the second user plane information may specifically be a service message. Exemplarily, the user plane function may be a UPF in a 5G system or another network element having user plane data processing and / or transmission capabilities in a 6G or subsequent system, and is not particularly limited herein.

[0190] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the network data analysis function obtaining the second PFD analysis information and / or the fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0191] In this embodiment, a network data analysis function may obtain the second PFD analysis information and / or the fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier by inference using a pre-trained model. In some examples, a network data analysis function may obtain the second PFD analysis information and / or the fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier by inference based on the second user plane information and a pre-trained model.

[0192] In some possible embodiments, the method further includes the network data analysis function obtaining sixth PFD information from a unified data storage function via the first network element, and / or the network data analysis function obtaining seventh PFD information and / or fourth user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the seventh PFD information and / or seventh user plane information is information within a second historical time range.

[0193] In each embodiment of the present invention, the unified data storage function may specifically be a network element having data storage capability, and may be referred to as a fourth network element in other embodiments. Exemplarily, the unified data storage function may be a UDR network element in a 5G system, or may be another network element having data storage capability in a 6G or subsequent system, and is not particularly limited herein. Here, the data analysis repository function may specifically be a network element having historical data collection and / or analytical data storage capability, and may be referred to as a fifth network element in other embodiments. Exemplarily, the data analysis repository function may be an ADRF network element in a 5G system, or may be another network element having historical data collection and / or analytical data storage capability in a 6G or subsequent system, and is not particularly limited herein.

[0194] In this embodiment, the network data analysis function may obtain sixth PFD information from the unified data storage function via the first network element and / or obtain seventh PFD information and / or fourth user plane information within a historical time range from the data analysis repository function, and train the model based on the seventh PFD information and / or the fourth user plane information, or based on at least one of the sixth PFD information, the fourth user plane information, and the seventh PFD information. Exemplarily, the network data analysis function may subscribe to PFD information from the NEF, and the NEF may query the unified data storage function to obtain the sixth PFD information and further transmit the sixth PFD information to the network data analysis function. Exemplarily, the network data analysis function may send request information to the data analysis repository function, the request information being used to request collection of third PFD information and / or second user plane information within a historical time range. Here, the request information may include a historical time period or a time window, and optionally, the request information may further include an application ID.

[0195] In this embodiment, the network data analysis function can use the obtained information to train a model, and further use the model to obtain second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information.

[0196] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and all PFD information including PFD information that needs to be processed, or the fourth PFD information includes a subset of PFD information, and the subset of PFD information includes only PFD information that needs to be processed.

[0197] In this embodiment, as an example, the fourth PFD information includes all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function. In such an example, the full set of PFD information included in the fourth PFD information may also be referred to as a full PFD set, a full PFD, full information, or full PFD information. That is, the fourth PFD information includes all PFD information previously generated by the network data analysis function (e.g., PFD information that already exists or has already been acquired and new PFD information, where so-called new PFD information may refer to PFD information that needs to be processed (at least one of creation, update, and deletion)). For example, if the NWDAF generates PFD information 1, PFD information 2, PFD information 3, and PFD information 4, among which PFD information 4 needs to be processed, the full set of PFD information includes the above four PFD information. In another example, the fourth PFD information includes only the PFD information that needs to be processed, and in such an example, the subset of PFD information included in the fourth PFD information may also be referred to as a PFD subset or subset information, and still using the above example, the subset of PFD information may include only PFD information 4.

[0198] In some possible embodiments, the fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least some of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid.

[0199] In this embodiment, at least some of the PFD information in the fourth PFD information includes a second identifier indicating valid or invalid, and if the second identifier indicates invalid, the corresponding PFD information indicates that aging is required, and the first network element does not perform any processing on the PFD information indicating invalid, for example, deletes the PFD information indicating invalid in the process of comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information.

[0200] Based on the above embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication method. Figure 8 is a flowchart 6 of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, the method may include the following steps:

[0201] In step 801, the unified data storage function sends fifth information to a first network element, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, and the fifth information is used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0202] In this embodiment, the first network element includes at least a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function. In another embodiment, for example, in a 5G system, the first network element may be denoted as NEF (PFDF).

[0203] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF.

[0204] In some possible embodiments, the priority of PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of PFD information from the network data analysis function.

[0205] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes the unified data storage function receiving sixth information sent from the first network element, the sixth information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0206] In some possible embodiments, the sixth information includes the processed PFD information and / or the second application identifier.

[0207] The communication method according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific examples. In each of the following examples, the first network element is an NEF (PFDF), the network data analysis function is an NWDAF, the user plane function is a UPF, the unified data storage function is a UDR, and the data analysis repository function is an ADRF.

[0208] FIG. 9 is an interaction flow diagram 3 of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the method may include the following steps:

[0209] In step 901, the NEF (PFDF) subscribes to the NWDAF for PFD analysis information, and the subscription includes an application identifier (Application ID).

[0210] Here, the PFDF is located within the NEF.

[0211] Here, illustratively, the NEF (PFDF) calls Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe to subscribe to PFD analysis information from the NWDAF, and the subscription includes at least the application ID.

[0212] In steps 902 to 905, the NWDAF subscribes to the PFD information in use from the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes at least the Application ID; the NEF (PFDF) calls Nudr_DM_Query to query the UDR for the PFD information in use; the query includes the Application ID; the NEF obtains the PFD information and returns the PFD information to the NWDAF.

[0213] Here, the NWDAF can call Nnef_EventExposure_Subscribe to subscribe to the PFD currently in use from the NEF (PFDF), and the subscription includes at least the Application ID. The NEF calls Nudr_DM_Query to query the UDR for PFD information, and the query includes the Application ID. The NEF (PFDF) obtains the PFD information obtained by the query through the response to Nudr_DM_Query and returns the PFD information to the NWDAF via Nnef_EventExposure_Notify. The PFD information here corresponds to the sixth PFD information in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0214] In step 906, the NWDAF collects user plane information corresponding to the Application ID from the UPF.

[0215] The user plane information here corresponds to the third user plane information in the above-described embodiment.

[0216] In steps 907 to 908, the NWDAF collects historical PFD information and user plane information from the ADRF, including the Application ID and further including the historical time period or time window.

[0217] Here, the NWDAF requests the ADRF to collect historical PFD information and user plane information via Nadrf_DataManagement_RetrievalRequest, and the request includes an Application ID and further includes a historical time period or time window. The NWDAF receives the historical PFD information and user plane information returned from the ADRF via Nadrf_DataManagement_RetrievalResponse.

[0218] Here, the historical PFD information corresponds to the seventh PFD information in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the historical user plane information corresponds to the fourth user plane information in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0219] In step 909, the NWDAF generates PFD analysis information.

[0220] For example, the NWDAF may obtain PFD analysis information through inference or deduction, where the PFD analysis information corresponds to the second PFD analysis information in the above embodiment, and the PFD information included in the PFD analysis information corresponds to the fourth PFD information in the above embodiment.

[0221] In step 910, the NWDAF sends PFD analysis information corresponding to the Application ID to the NEF (PFDF), where the PFD analysis information includes PFD information (fourth PFD information).

[0222] Here, the NWDAF can send PFD analysis information to the NEF (PFDF) via Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify.

[0223] Here, the PFD information generated by the NWDAF and transmitted to the NEF (PFDF) may refer to the overall PFD set or a PFD subset, where the overall PFD set refers to all PFD information corresponding to the Application ID generated by the NWDAF, and the PFD subset refers to the PFD information corresponding to the Application ID generated by the NWDAF that needs to be updated (e.g., the PFD information that needs to be created, deleted, or updated).

[0224] Optionally, at least some of the PFD information in the above PFD information (fourth PFD information) further includes a second identifier, which indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid, and if the second identifier indicates invalid, indicates that the corresponding PFD information requires aging.

[0225] In step 911, the NEF (PFDF) calls Nudr_DM_Query to query the UDR for PFD information, and the query includes the Application ID.

[0226] Here, the PFD information obtained by querying the UDR in the NEF (PFDF) may correspond to the fifth PFD information in the above-described embodiment.

[0227] Optionally, the UDR carries a new field or identifier (corresponding to the first identifier in the above embodiment), which is used to indicate that the corresponding PFD information is from the NWDAF or the AF, with the PFD information from the AF having a higher priority than the PFD information from the NWDAF.

[0228] In step 912, the NEF (PFDF) compares the PFD information from the NWDAF with the PFD information obtained by querying the UDR.

[0229] In some examples, the comparison scheme is as follows:

[0230] If the PFD information from the NWDAF and the PFD information returned by the UDR do not overlap, the PFD must be created. If the PFD information from the NWDAF and the PFD information returned by the UDR overlap, based on the new field or identifier (indicating whether it is from the NWDAF or the AF) in the PFD information from the UDR, if the PFD is from the AF, it indicates that the AF has a higher priority and the PFD information provided by the AF must be retained, and if the PFD is from the NWDAF, it indicates that the PFD information must be updated and / or deleted.

[0231] Optionally, if at least some of the PFD information in the above PFD information (fourth PFD information) includes a second identifier indicating that the corresponding PFD information is invalid, the corresponding PFD information indicates that aging is required, and the comparison process is not performed on the PFD information that requires aging, i.e., the PFD information indicating invalid is deleted. Correspondingly, the comparison process is performed according to the above comparison method only on the PFD information indicating valid.

[0232] In step 913, the NEF (PFDF) requests the UDR to create / update / delete PFD information, and the UDR performs the corresponding processing and then returns a corresponding response to the NEF (PFDF).

[0233] Here, the NEF (PFDF) calls Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete to request the UDR to create / update / delete PFD information, and the request includes the Application ID. The UDR creates / updates / deletes the PFD information and sends a Nudr_DM_Create / Update / Delete response to the NEF.

[0234] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applicable to AF or NF. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram 1 showing the configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 10, the device includes a first receiving unit 11 and a first transmitting unit 12.

[0235] The first receiving unit 11 is configured to receive first information from a network data analysis function, where the first information includes first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0236] The first transmitting unit 12 is configured to transmit second information to a first network element, the second information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0237] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second information comprises the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier.

[0238] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0239] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first receiving unit 11 is configured to receive the first information from the network data analysis function via the first network element or configured to directly receive the first information sent from the network data analysis function.

[0240] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first sending unit 12 is further configured to send third information to a network data analysis function, the third information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information including the first application identifier.

[0241] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first sending unit 12 is configured to send the third information to the network data analysis function via the first network element or configured to send the third information directly to the network data analysis function.

[0242] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0243] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first receiving unit 11 and the first transmitting unit 12 in the device can be realized by a communication assembly (including a basic communication kit, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna in practical application.

[0244]

[0043] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to a network data analysis function. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram 2 illustrating the configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 11, the device includes a second sending unit 21 configured to send first information to an AF or an NF, where the first information includes first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0245] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second sending unit 21 is configured to send the first information to the AF or NF via a first network element, or to send the first information directly to the AF or NF.

[0246] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0247] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a second receiving unit 22 configured to receive third information from the AF or NF, the third information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information including the first application identifier.

[0248] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second receiving unit 22 is configured to receive the third information from the AF or NF via a first network element, or configured to directly receive the third information transmitted from the AF or NF.

[0249] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a first processing unit 23 configured to obtain the first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier.

[0250] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the device further comprises a second receiving unit 22 configured to obtain the first user plane information from a user plane function.

[0251] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a second receiving unit 22 configured to receive second PFD information from a unified data storage function via a first network element and / or receive third PFD information and / or second user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the third PFD information and / or second user plane information is information within a first historical time range.

[0252] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0253] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first processing unit 23 in the device can be realized by a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) in practical applications, and the second receiving unit 22 and the second transmitting unit 21 in the device can be realized by a communication assembly (including a basic communication kit, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna in practical applications.

[0254] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to the first network element. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram 3 showing the configuration of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 12, the device includes a third receiving unit 31 and a third sending unit 32.

[0255] The third receiving unit 31 is configured to receive second information sent from an AF or an NF, and the second information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0256] The third sending unit 32 is configured to send third information to a unified data storage function, and the third information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier in the unified data storage function, and the processing includes at least one of creation, update, and deletion.

[0257] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second information and the third information include the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier.

[0258] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the third receiving unit 31 is further configured to receive first information sent from a network data analysis function; The third sending unit 32 is further configured to send the first information to the AF or NF, where the first information includes first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

[0259] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information.

[0260] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the third receiving unit 31 is further configured to receive third information transmitted from the AF or NF; The third sending unit 32 is configured to send the third information to a network data analysis function, the third information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information including the first application identifier.

[0261] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the third receiving unit 31 is further configured to receive first subscription information sent from a network data analysis function, where the first subscription information is used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier; and the third receiving unit 31 is further configured to query the unified data storage function via the third sending unit 32 to obtain second PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier; The third sending unit 32 is further configured to send the second PFD information to the network data analysis function.

[0262] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0263] In an embodiment of the present invention, the third receiving unit 31 and the third transmitting unit 32 in the device can be realized by a communication assembly (including a basic communication kit, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna in practical application.

[0264] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to the first network element. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram 4 showing the configuration of the communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 13, the device includes a fourth receiving unit 41 and a fourth sending unit 42.

[0265] The fourth receiving unit 41 is configured to receive fourth information sent from a network data analysis function, where the fourth information includes second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, and the fourth receiving unit 41 is further configured to obtain fifth information from a unified data storage function, where the fifth information includes fifth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0266] The fourth sending unit 42 is configured to send sixth information to the unified data storage function, and the sixth information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing includes at least one of creation, update, and deletion.

[0267] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the sixth information comprises the processed PFD information and / or the second application identifier.

[0268] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information.

[0269] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF.

[0270] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the priority of PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of PFD information from the network data analysis function.

[0271] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the device further comprises a second processing unit 43 configured to compare the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information; The fourth sending unit 42 is configured to send sixth information to the unified data storage function.

[0272] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth sending unit 42 is configured to send sixth information to the unified data storage function if the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information do not overlap, and the sixth information is used to request the creation of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and / or if the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information overlap, and the first identifier of the PFD information that overlaps with the fourth PFD information in the fifth PFD information indicates that the PFD information is from a network data analysis function, to send sixth information to the unified data storage function, and the sixth information is used to request the update and / or deletion of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0273] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth sending unit 42 is further configured to send seventh information to the network data analysis function, the seventh information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the sixth information including the second application identifier.

[0274] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth receiving unit 41 is further configured to receive second subscription information sent from the network data analysis function, and the second subscription information is used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and the fourth receiving unit 41 is further configured to query a unified data storage function via the fourth sending unit 42 to obtain sixth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; The fourth sending unit 42 is further configured to send the sixth PFD information to the network data analysis function.

[0275] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and all PFD information including PFD information that needs to be processed, or the fourth PFD information includes a subset of PFD information, and the subset of PFD information includes only PFD information that needs to be processed.

[0276] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least some of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid.

[0277] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0278] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second processing unit 43 in the device can be realized by a CPU, a DSP, an MCU or an FPGA in practical applications, and the fourth receiving unit 41 and the fourth transmitting unit 42 in the device can be realized by a communication assembly (including a basic communication kit, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna in practical applications.

[0279]

[0062] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to a network data analysis function. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram 5 illustrating the configuration of the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 14, the device includes a fifth sending unit 51 configured to send fourth information to a first network element, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fourth information being used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0280] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information.

[0281] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a fifth receiving unit 52 configured to receive seventh information transmitted from the first network element, the seventh information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the seventh information including the second application identifier.

[0282] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a third processing unit 53 configured to obtain the second PFD analysis information and / or the fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

[0283] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the device further comprises a fifth receiving unit 52 configured to obtain third user plane information from a user plane function.

[0284] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a fifth receiving unit 52 configured to obtain sixth PFD information from a unified data storage function via the first network element and / or obtain seventh PFD information and / or fourth user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the seventh PFD information and / or seventh user plane information is information within a second historical time range.

[0285] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and all PFD information including PFD information that needs to be processed, or the fourth PFD information includes a subset of PFD information, and the subset of PFD information includes only PFD information that needs to be processed.

[0286] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least some of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid.

[0287] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0288] In an embodiment of the present invention, the third processing unit 53 in the device can be realized by a CPU, a DSP, an MCU or an FPGA in practical applications, and the fifth receiving unit 52 and the fifth transmitting unit 51 in the device can be realized by a communication assembly (including a basic communication kit, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna in practical applications.

[0289]

[0063] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device applied to a unified data storage function. Figure 15 is a schematic diagram 6 illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 15, the device comprises: a sixth sending unit 61 configured to send fifth information to a first network element, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fifth information being used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0290] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF.

[0291] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the priority of PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of PFD information from the network data analysis function.

[0292] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a sixth receiving unit 62 configured to receive sixth information transmitted from the first network element, the sixth information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

[0293] In some possible embodiments of the present invention, the sixth information includes PFD information and / or the second application identifier on which the processing is to be performed.

[0294] In some possible embodiments of the invention, the first network element comprises a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function.

[0295] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sixth receiving unit 62 and the sixth transmitting unit 61 in the device can be realized by a communication assembly (including a basic communication kit, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface and protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna in practical applications.

[0296] It should be noted that when the communication device provided in the above embodiments performs communication, the division of each program module described above is used as an example only, and in actual application, the above processing can be assigned to different program modules to complete as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different program modules to complete all or part of the processing described above. In addition, the communication device and the communication method provided in the above embodiments are based on the same concept, and the specific implementation process thereof can be referred to the method embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0297] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication device. Specifically, the communication device may be the AF or NF, the network data analysis function, the first network element, or the unified data storage function in the above embodiments. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of the communication device in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 16, the communication device includes a memory 72, a processor 71, and a computer program stored in the memory 72 and executable by the processor 71. The processor 71 executes the program to perform steps of a communication method applicable to the AF in the embodiment of the present invention, or steps of a communication method applicable to the network data analysis function in the embodiment of the present invention, or steps of a communication method applicable to the first network element in the embodiment of the present invention, or steps of a communication method applicable to the unified data storage function in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0298] Optionally, the communication device may further include at least one network interface 73. Here, each component in the communication device is coupled via a bus system 74. As can be understood, the bus system 74 is used to realize connection communication between these components. The bus system 74 includes a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus in addition to a data bus. However, for clarity of explanation, all various buses are illustrated as the bus system 74 in FIG. 16.

[0299] It should be understood that memory 72 may be volatile or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Here, nonvolatile memory may be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), ferromagnetic random access memory (FRAM), flash memory, magnetic memory, compact disc, or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and magnetic memory may be magnetic disk memory or magnetic tape memory. Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache.By way of illustrative, but not limiting example, many forms of RAM are available, including, for example, static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous static random access memory (SSRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDRSDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), SyncLink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), direct memory bus random access memory (DRRAM), etc. Memory 72 as described in embodiments of the present invention is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0300] The above-described methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be applied to or realized by the processor 71. The processor 71 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing functions. In the implementation process, each step of the above-described method may be completed by an integrated logic circuit in hardware or instructions in software form in the processor 71. The processor 71 may be a general-purpose processor, a DSP, or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc. The processor 71 may implement or execute each method, step, and logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be directly executed by a hardware decoding processor or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in a storage medium, which is located in the memory 72. The processor 71 reads information stored in the memory 72 and completes the above-described method steps in combination with the hardware.

[0301] In an exemplary embodiment, the communications device may be implemented by one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), DSPs, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs), FPGAs, general-purpose processors, controllers, MCUs, microprocessors, or other electronic elements to perform the above methods.

[0302] In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, such as a memory 72, containing a computer program that can be executed by the processor 71 of the communication device to complete the steps of the above method. The computer-readable storage medium may be a memory such as FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash Memory, a magnetic surface storage device, an optical disk, or a CD-ROM, or may be various devices including one or any combination of the above memories.

[0303] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, realizes steps of a communication method applied to an AF or NF according to an embodiment of the present invention, or steps of a communication method applied to a network data analysis function according to an embodiment of the present invention, or steps of a communication method applied to a first network element according to an embodiment of the present invention, or steps of a communication method applied to a unified data storage function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0304] The methods disclosed in the several method embodiments provided herein can be combined in any compatible manner to obtain new method embodiments.

[0305] The features disclosed in the various product embodiments provided herein may be combined in any consistent manner to obtain new product embodiments.

[0306] The features disclosed in the various method or apparatus embodiments provided herein may be combined in any compatible manner to obtain new method or apparatus embodiments.

[0307] It should be understood that in some embodiments provided in the present application, the disclosed devices and methods can be realized in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely exemplary. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical division of functions. In actual implementation, other division methods may exist. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into other systems, or some features may be omitted or not implemented. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between each component shown or described may be via some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other types.

[0308] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components illustrated as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed across multiple network units, and some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the technical solution of this embodiment.

[0309] In addition, the functional units in each embodiment of the present invention may all be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may be configured as a separate unit, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The integrated units may be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and software functional units.

[0310] As can be understood by those skilled in the art, all or part of the steps of the above method embodiments can be completed by hardware associated with program instructions, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which performs the steps of the above method embodiments when the program is executed. The storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as removable storage, ROM, RAM, magnetic memory, or optical disk.

[0311] Alternatively, the integrated units of the present invention may be realized in the form of software functional modules and stored in a single computer-readable storage medium when sold or used as an independent product. Based on this understanding, the essential parts of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention or the parts that contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a single storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the methods described in each embodiment of the present disclosure. The storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as removable storage, ROM, RAM, magnetic memory, or optical disk.

[0312] The above content is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any modifications or replacements that can be easily thought of by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A communication method comprising: An application function (AF) or a network function (NF) receives first information from a network data analysis function, the first information including first packet flow description (PFD) analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; and wherein the AF or NF sends second information to a first network element, the second information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

2. the second information includes the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier; The communication method according to claim 1 .

3. The AF or NF receiving first information from a network data analysis function, the AF or NF receiving first information from the network data analysis function via the first network element; or The AF or NF directly receives the first information sent from the network data analysis function; The communication method according to claim 1 .

4. The communication method includes: The AF or NF further includes sending third information to a network data analysis function, wherein the third information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information includes the first application identifier. The communication method according to claim 1 .

5. The AF or NF sending the third information to a network data analysis function, the AF or NF sending the third information to the network data analysis function via the first network element; or the AF or NF sending the third information directly to the network data analysis function; The communication method according to claim 4.

6. The first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information. The communication method according to claim 1 .

7. the first network element includes a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function; The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. 1. A communication method comprising: A communication method comprising: a network data analysis function sending first information to an AF or NF, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

9. The network data analysis function sending the first information to the AF or the NF, the network data analysis function sending the first information to the AF or NF via a first network element; or the network data analysis function sending the first information directly to the AF or NF; The communication method according to claim 8.

10. The communication method includes: The network data analysis function further includes receiving third information from the AF or NF, the third information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information including the first application identifier. The communication method according to claim 8.

11. The network data analysis function receiving third information from the AF or NF, the network data analysis function receiving the third information from the AF or NF via a first network element; or the network data analysis function directly receives the third information transmitted from the AF or NF; The communication method according to claim 10.

12. The first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information. The communication method according to claim 8.

13. The communication method includes: The network data analysis function further includes obtaining the first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier. The communication method according to claim 8.

14. The communication method includes: the network data analysis function further comprising obtaining first user plane information from a user plane function. A communication method according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

15. The communication method includes: the network data analysis function obtaining second PFD information from a unified data storage function via the first network element; and / or The method further includes: the network data analysis function obtaining third PFD information and / or second user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the third PFD information and / or second user plane information is information within a first historical time range. A communication method according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

16. the first network element includes a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function; The communication method according to claim 15.

17. 1. A communication method comprising: A communication method comprising: a first network element receiving second information sent from an AF or NF; and sending third information to a unified data storage function, wherein the second information is used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; and the third information is used to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier in the unified data storage function, wherein the processing includes at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

18. the second information and the third information include the processed PFD information and / or the first application identifier; 18. The communication method of claim 17.

19. The communication method includes: The first network element further includes receiving first information sent from a network data analysis function and sending the first information to the AF or NF, wherein the first information includes first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; 18. The communication method of claim 17.

20. the first PFD analysis information includes first PFD information; 20. The communication method of claim 19.

21. The communication method includes: The first network element further includes receiving third information sent from the AF or NF and sending the third information to a network data analysis function, wherein the third information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the third information includes the first application identifier.

18. The communication method of claim 17.

22. The communication method includes: The first network element receives first subscription information sent from a network data analysis function, the first subscription information being used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier; and the first network element querying the unified data storage function to obtain second PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, and sending the second PFD information to the network data analysis function. A communication method according to any one of claims 17 to 21.

23. the first network element includes a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function; 18. The communication method of claim 17.

24. 1. A communication method comprising: receiving, by a first network element, fourth information sent from a network data analysis function, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier; The first network element obtains fifth information from a unified data storage function, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and The communication method, wherein the first network element sends sixth information to the unified data storage function, the sixth information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

25. the sixth information includes the processed PFD information and / or the second application identifier; 25. The communication method of claim 24.

26. the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information; 25. The communication method of claim 24.

27. the fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information; Each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF.

25. The communication method of claim 24.

28. The priority of the PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of the PFD information from the network data analysis function; 28. The communication method of claim 27.

29. The first network element transmitting sixth information to the unified data storage function includes: the first network element comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information and sending sixth information to the unified data storage function.

25. The communication method of claim 24.

30. The first network element comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information and sending sixth information to the unified data storage function the first network element comparing the fourth PFD information with the fifth PFD information; If the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information do not overlap, sending sixth information to the unified data storage function, wherein the sixth information is used to request creation of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and / or sending sixth information to the unified data storage function when the fourth PFD information and the fifth PFD information overlap and the first identifier of the PFD information that overlaps with the fourth PFD information in the fifth PFD information indicates that the PFD information is from a network data analysis function, wherein the sixth information is used to request updating and / or deleting of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

30. The communication method of claim 29.

31. The communication method includes: The method further includes the first network element sending seventh information to the network data analysis function, wherein the seventh information is used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the sixth information includes the second application identifier.

25. The communication method of claim 24.

32. The communication method includes: The first network element receives second subscription information sent from the network data analysis function, wherein the second subscription information is used to subscribe to PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and The first network element further includes: querying a unified data storage function to obtain sixth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; and sending the sixth PFD information to the network data analysis function.

32. The communication method of claim 31.

33. the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and the all PFD information including PFD information that needs to be processed; or the fourth PFD information includes a subset of PFD information, and the subset of PFD information includes only PFD information that needs to be processed; A communication method according to any one of claims 24 to 32.

34. The fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least a part of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid. A communication method according to any one of claims 24 to 32.

35. the first network element includes a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function; 25. The communication method of claim 24.

36. 1. A communication method comprising: A communication method, comprising: a network data analysis function sending fourth information to a first network element, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fourth information being used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

37. the second PFD analysis information includes fourth PFD information; 37. The communication method of claim 36.

38. The communication method includes: The network data analysis function further includes receiving seventh information sent from the first network element, the seventh information being used to subscribe to PFD analysis information and / or PFD information, and the seventh information including the second application identifier.

37. The communication method of claim 36.

39. The communication method includes: The network data analysis function further includes obtaining the second PFD analysis information and / or the fourth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier.

37. The communication method of claim 36.

40. The communication method includes: the network data analysis function further includes obtaining third user plane information from a user plane function. A communication method according to any one of claims 36 to 39.

41. The communication method includes: the network data analysis function obtaining sixth PFD information from a unified data storage function via the first network element; and / or The network data analysis function further includes obtaining seventh PFD information and / or fourth user plane information from a data analysis repository function, wherein the seventh PFD information and / or the seventh user plane information is information within a second historical time range. A communication method according to any one of claims 36 to 39.

42. the fourth PFD information includes a full set of PFD information, the full set of PFD information including all PFD information previously provided by the network data analysis function, and the all PFD information including PFD information that needs to be processed; or the fourth PFD information includes a subset of PFD information, and the subset of PFD information includes only PFD information that needs to be processed; A communication method according to any one of claims 36 to 39.

43. The fourth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and at least a part of the PFD information includes a second identifier, and the second identifier indicates whether the corresponding PFD information is valid or invalid. A communication method according to any one of claims 36 to 39.

44. the first network element includes a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function; 37. The communication method of claim 36.

45. 1. A communication method comprising:

10. A communication method, comprising: a unified data storage function transmitting fifth information to a first network element, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fifth information being used by the first network element to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

46. The fifth PFD information includes at least one PFD information, and each PFD information in the fifth PFD information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier indicates that the corresponding PFD information is from a network data analysis function or an AF.

46. The communication method of claim 45.

47. The priority of the PFD information from the AF is higher than the priority of the PFD information from the network data analysis function; 47. The communication method of claim 46.

48. The communication method includes: The unified data storage function further includes receiving sixth information sent from the first network element, the sixth information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, and the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

46. The communication method of claim 45.

49. the sixth information includes the processed PFD information and / or the second application identifier; 49. The communication method of claim 48.

50. the first network element includes a network opening function and / or a packet flow description function; 46. The communication method of claim 45.

51. A communication device applicable to AF or NF, comprising: a first receiving unit; and a first transmitting unit; The first receiving unit is configured to receive first information from a network data analysis function, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; The first transmitting unit is configured to transmit second information to a first network element, the second information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

52. A communication device applied to a network data analysis function, comprising: a second transmitting unit configured to transmit first information to an AF or an NF, the first information including first PFD analysis information and / or first PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier.

53. A communication device applied to a first network element, comprising: a third receiving unit; and a third transmitting unit; The third receiving unit is configured to receive second information sent from an AF or an NF, the second information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to a first application identifier; A communication device, wherein the third transmitting unit is configured to transmit third information to a unified data storage function, the third information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the first application identifier in the unified data storage function, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

54. A communication device applicable to a first network element, comprising: a fourth receiving unit; and a fourth transmitting unit; the fourth receiving unit is configured to receive fourth information sent from a network data analysis function, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier; the fourth receiving unit is further configured to obtain fifth information from a unified data storage function, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier; The fourth transmitting unit is configured to transmit sixth information to the unified data storage function, the sixth information being used to request processing of PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

55. A communication device applied in a network data analysis function, comprising: a fifth sending unit configured to send fourth information to a first network element, the fourth information including second PFD analysis information and / or fourth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fourth information being used to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

56. A communication device applied to a unified data storage function, comprising: a sixth sending unit configured to send fifth information to a first network element, the fifth information including fifth PFD information corresponding to a second application identifier, the fifth information being used to make or determine whether to request processing of the PFD information corresponding to the second application identifier, the processing including at least one of creating, updating, and deleting.

57. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program, the computer program causing a processor to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7; or The computer program causes a processor to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 8 to 16, or The computer program causes a processor to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 17 to 23, or The computer program causes a processor to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 24 to 35, or The computer program causes a processor to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 36 to 44; or A computer-readable storage medium, the computer program causing a processor to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 45 to 50.

58. A communications device comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the processor executing the computer program to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7; or The processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 8 to 16, or The processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 17 to 23, or The processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 24 to 35, or The processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 36 to 44, or A communications device, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 45 to 50.

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