Communication method and device

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: a first network element sends a first request to an access network device to request acquisition of identifiers of one or more terminal devices; the first network element may receive a first identifier from the first terminal device and acquire a second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier; the first terminal device is one of the one or more terminal devices; the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to the second identifier, or is preconfigured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device; the length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier; the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service range of a sixth network element; the sixth network element is a network element providing service for the first terminal device. According to the method, the first terminal device may perform an inventory check by using a shorter first identifier, thereby improving the efficiency and speed of the inventory check.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and more particularly to communication methods and devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, in passive Internet of Things (passive IoT) scenarios, Internet of Things terminal devices (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) devices) are expected to be deployed and applied on a large scale. For example, in logistics and warehousing scenarios, Internet of Things terminal devices may inventory and track goods, and monitor the environment and goods status in the transportation process of high-value goods (e.g., vaccines). In another example, in industrial manufacturing scenarios, Internet of Things terminal devices may monitor the environment and device status.

[0003] Passive Internet of Things terminal devices have simple functions and usually need to rely on external stimuli to transmit information. This stimuli generally comes from a reader / writer. Some passive Internet of Things terminal devices can implement communication with a reader / writer by collecting and storing weak environmental energy (such as light energy and mechanical energy) or by having a built-in small battery for the operation of the terminal device. The reader / writer may be integrated into an access network device, which operates the Internet of Things terminal device according to the instructions of a core network element.

[0004] There is an urgent need in the art for an efficient method for inventorying Internet of Things devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of inventory checks of Internet of Things terminal devices.

[0006] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method includes a step in which a first network element sends a first request to an access network device. The first request may be used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The first network element may then receive a first identifier from the first terminal device. The first terminal device is a terminal device among the one or more terminal devices. The first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is an identifier preconfigured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier. The second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device. The length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier. The first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service range of a sixth network element. The sixth network element is a network element providing service for the first terminal device. The first network element obtains the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier.

[0007] According to the method, in the inventory process, the first terminal device can replace the second identifier with a shorter first identifier for access. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency and success rate of the inventory and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0008] In a possible design, the first network element may obtain a second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier by using the following steps: after the first network element obtains a correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier, the first network element may determine a second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence relationship. According to this design, the first network element may accurately determine the second identifier based on the correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier.

[0009] In a possible design, if the first network element is a tag management function network element, before the first network element sends the first request to the access network device, the first network element may further receive a second request from the application function network element. The second request is used to request that a target operation be performed on one or more terminal devices. After obtaining a second identifier of the first terminal device, the first network element may send the second identifier to the application function network element. According to this design, the first network element may perform the target operation on one or more terminal devices based on the request of the application function network element. In the process of performing the target operation on the first terminal device, the first terminal device may perform access by using a shorter first identifier, thereby reducing overhead and the duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface. In this way, the speed, efficiency, and success rate of inventory checks can be improved, and power consumption of the terminal devices can be reduced.

[0010] In one possible design, the first network element may obtain a locally stored correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier, or the first network element may receive the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier from a third network element. This design provides multiple ways to obtain the correspondence.

[0011] In a possible design, the correspondence is between the first information and the second identifier, and the first information is information determined based on the first identifier and identification information of the sixth network element. In this case, the first network element may determine the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier, the identification information of the sixth network element, and the correspondence. This design can reduce the length of the first identifier, thereby further reducing the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of inventory checks and reducing power consumption of the terminal device.

[0012] In a possible design, before the first network element sends the first request to the access network device, the first network element may further perform the following steps: the first network element sending a third request to the access network device, where the third request is used to request obtaining identifiers of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; and, after the first network element receives a second identifier from the first terminal device, assigning a first identifier to the first terminal device corresponding to the second identifier and sending the first identifier to the first terminal device. According to this design, the first network element may assign the first identifier to the first terminal device corresponding to the second identifier.

[0013] In one possible design, the first network element may further acquire capability information of the first terminal device before assigning the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, where the capability information indicates that the first terminal device has a capability to support the first identifier. According to this design, the first network element may acquire the capability information of the first terminal device and assign an appropriate first identifier to the first terminal device based on the capability information.

[0014] In one possible design, the first network element may receive the capability information from the first terminal device, or the first network element may receive the capability information of the first terminal device from a fourth network element. This design provides multiple ways to obtain the capability information of the first terminal device.

[0015] In a possible design, the first network element may assign a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device by using the following steps: the first network element determining a length of the first identifier based on a preset number threshold of terminal devices, where the number threshold is a number threshold of terminal devices within the service range of the sixth network element; and the first network element assigning the first identifier to the first terminal device based on the length of the first identifier. This design can reduce the length of the first identifier, thereby further reducing the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of inventory checks and reducing power consumption of the terminal device.

[0016] In a possible design, after assigning a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, the first network element may transmit the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier to the fifth network element and / or store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier. According to this design, the first network element and / or the fifth network element can obtain the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier and accurately determine the second identifier based on the first identifier in a subsequent inventory procedure.

[0017] In a possible design, before the first network element sends the third request to the access network device, the first network element may receive a fourth request from the application function network element. The fourth request is used to request periodically acquiring identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The third request is specifically used to request acquiring identifiers of one or more terminal devices at a first period, and the first network element assigns identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the one or more terminal devices at the first period. The first request is specifically used to request acquiring identifiers of one or more terminal devices at a second period, and the first network element receives a first identifier of a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices at the second period. According to this design, when inventorying the terminal devices periodically, the first network element may assign a first identifier to the terminal device at the first period and send the first identifier to the terminal device. In the second period, the terminal device may replace the second identifier of the terminal device with the shorter first identifier for access, thereby reducing overhead.

[0018] In a possible design, the third request includes a first indication. If an identifier of a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices is obtained, the first indication instructs the access network device to obtain an identifier of the next terminal device of the one or more terminal devices after a request from the first network element and used to request obtaining an identifier of a next terminal device of the one or more terminal devices is received in a first period. The first request includes a second indication. The second indication instructs the access network device to obtain an identifier of the next terminal device of the one or more terminal devices after an identifier of any one of the one or more terminal devices is received. According to this design, in the second period, after obtaining the identifier of the terminal device, the access network device may trigger the next terminal device to perform random access to quickly inventory the terminal device.

[0019] In a possible design, if a proportion of unique identifiers among the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices received by the first network element in the second period is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the first network element sends a fifth request to the access network device, where the fifth request is used to request obtaining identifiers of the one or more terminal devices in a third period, and the first network element assigns identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the one or more terminal devices in the third period. According to this design, if the proportion of unique identifiers received by the first network element is relatively high (e.g., greater than or equal to the first threshold), the first network element may assign identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the terminal devices in the subsequent period, which can reduce the length of identifiers transmitted during access of the terminal devices, thereby reducing the overhead and duration of transmitting identifiers over the air interface, improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of inventory checks, and reducing power consumption of the terminal devices.

[0020] In a possible design, the first network element may further send a third indication to the access network device, where the third indication instructs the access network device to transmit an excitation signal to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends. The first duration may be greater than the time interval between two adjacent periods. For example, the two adjacent periods are period 1 and period 2, and the first duration is greater than the time interval between the end of period 1 and the start of period 2. In this way, the one or more terminal devices may remain turned on, and as a result, first identifiers assigned to the one or more terminal devices by the first network element may be stored.

[0021] In one possible design, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier may be pre-configured in the first network element. For example, the first network element is an AF, and the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier is pre-configured in the AF. With this design, the first network element can conveniently obtain the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier.

[0022] In a possible design, the first network element may obtain the second identifier of the first terminal device by using the following steps: the first network element sending the first identifier to a fifth network element and receiving a second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier. In this design, the first network element does not need to store a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier and does not need to determine the second identifier based on the correspondence, thereby saving storage space of the first network element and reducing the amount of calculation of the first network element. Additionally, according to this design, the fifth network element may obtain the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier from another network element (e.g., the second network element), such that multiple network elements can share the first identifier by using the fifth network element to support scenarios where a terminal device is moved within the coverage areas of different network elements.

[0023] In a possible design, the first information corresponds to the second identifier, and the first information is information determined based on the first identifier and an identification of the sixth network element. The first network element may transmit the first identifier and the identification of the sixth network element to the fifth network element and receive the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier and the identification of the sixth network element. This design may further reduce the length of the first identifier, thereby reducing the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of inventory checks and reducing power consumption of the terminal device.

[0024] In a possible design, the first network element may send a fourth indication to the first terminal device by using the access network device before receiving the first identifier from the first terminal device, where the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the first terminal device. According to this design, the first terminal device may transmit the first identifier only if it receives the fourth indication. If the first terminal device does not receive the fourth indication, the first terminal device does not transmit the first identifier. In this manner, the validity of information transmitted by the terminal device may be improved.

[0025] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, the method including: a first terminal device receiving a first message from an access network device, the first message being used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the first terminal device belonging to the one or more terminal devices; then, the first terminal device may send a first identifier to a first network element, where the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, and a length of the second identifier is greater than a length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing a service for the first terminal device.

[0026] In a possible design, before the first terminal device receives the first message from the access network device, the first terminal device may further perform the following steps: the first terminal device receiving a second message from the access network device, where the second message is used to request obtaining identifiers of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; the first terminal device transmitting the second identifier to the first network element; and the first terminal device receiving the first identifier from the first network element.

[0027] In a possible design, the first terminal device may further send capability information of the first terminal device to the first network element before receiving the first identifier from the first network element, where the capability information indicates that the first terminal device has the capability to support the first identifier.

[0028] In a possible design, the first terminal device may receive a fourth indication before transmitting a first identifier of the first terminal device to the access network device, where the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the first terminal device.

[0029] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method includes: an access network device receiving a first request from a first network element, where the first request is used to request to acquire identifiers of one or more terminal devices; and the access network device sending a first message to the one or more terminal devices, where the first message is used to acquire the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices. The access network device receives the first identifier from the first terminal device and sends the first identifier of the first terminal device to the first network element. The first terminal device belongs to one or more terminal devices. The first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device. The second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device. The length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier. The first identifier is an identifier of a first terminal device within the service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing a service for the first terminal device.

[0030] In a possible design, the access network device may perform the following steps before receiving the first request from the first network element: the access network device receiving a third request from the first network element, where the third request is used to request obtaining an identifier of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; the access network device sending a second message to the at least one terminal device, where the second message is used to request obtaining an identifier of the at least one terminal device; after receiving the second identifier from the first terminal device, the access network device sending the second identifier of the first terminal device to the first network element; and after receiving the first identifier from the first network element, the access network device sending the first identifier of the first terminal device to the first terminal device.

[0031] In a possible design, when the access network device periodically acquires identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the access network device may further receive a third indication from the first network element, where the third indication instructs the access network device to transmit an excitation signal to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends.

[0032] According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device including a unit configured to perform the steps according to any one of the previous aspects.

[0033] According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device including at least one processing element and at least one storage element, wherein the at least one storage element is configured to store programs and data, and the at least one processing element is configured to read and execute the programs and data stored in the storage element, thereby implementing a method according to any one of the previous aspects of the present application.

[0034] According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system including a first network element configured to perform a method according to the first aspect, a first terminal device configured to perform a method according to the second aspect, and an access network device configured to perform a method according to the third aspect.

[0035] According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program, which when run on a computer enables the computer to perform a method according to any one of the preceding aspects.

[0036] According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to perform a method according to any one of the preceding aspects.

[0037] According to a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, the chip being configured to read a computer program stored in a memory to perform a method according to any one of the preceding aspects.

[0038] According to a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system. The chip system includes a processor configured to support a computer device in implementing a method according to any one of the previous aspects. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory configured to store programs and data required by the computer device. The chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and another discrete component.

[0039] For technical effects that can be achieved in any one of the second to tenth aspects, please refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved in the first aspect, and the details will not be described again here. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram of another communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart of an inventory method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0043] [Figure 4] 2 is a flowchart of a first communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart of a second communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0045] [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart of a third communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0046] [Figure 7A] 10 is a flowchart of a fourth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0047] [Figure 7B] 10 is a flowchart of a fifth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0048] [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart of a sixth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0049] [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of a seventh communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0050] [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart of an eighth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0051] [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart of a ninth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0052] [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart of a tenth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0053] [Figure 13] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the structure of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] This application provides a communication method and device for improving the efficiency of inventory checks of Internet of Things terminal devices. The method and the device are based on the same technical concept. Because the problem-solving principles of the method and the device are similar, the implementations of the method and the device can be cross-referenced. Repeated content will not be described again.

[0056] In the following, some terms in this application will be explained to facilitate a better understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0057] (1) Inventory operation: The inventory operation may also be referred to as a counting operation. The operation may obtain an identifier of a terminal device (e.g., a product code (PC) or an electronic product code (EPC)). If an inventory operation needs to be performed on multiple terminal devices, an application function network element or a core network device may use an access network device to obtain the identifiers of multiple terminal devices one by one or collectively.

[0058] (2) Read operation: The read operation may read information of the terminal device, for example, the content stored in the storage area of ​​the terminal device and the data collected by the sensor.

[0059] (3) Write operation: A write operation may be performed on a storage area of ​​a terminal device. For example, identification information (e.g., EPC) in the storage area may be written or rewritten.

[0060] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the number of nouns refers to a singular noun or a plural noun, i.e., "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. The term "and / or" describes a correspondence between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may indicate three cases: only A is present, both A and B are present, and only B is present. "At least one item of" or similar expressions means a singular item or any combination of these items, including any combination of multiple items.

[0061] Additionally, it should be understood that in the description of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used for distinction and explanation purposes only and should not be understood as suggesting or implying relative importance or as suggesting or implying order.

[0062] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0063] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application, which is based on a service-oriented architecture (5G). th 1 illustrates a 5G (fifth generation) network architecture. The 5G network architecture illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a terminal device, an access network (AN) device, and a core network (CN) device. The terminal device accesses a data network (DN) by using the access network device and the core network device. The following describes components of the communication system.

[0064] In this application, a terminal device may also be referred to as a tag, user equipment (UE), terminal, access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, user equipment, or target terminal. A terminal device in this application may be a passive terminal device, a semi-passive terminal device, or an active terminal device. Wireless communication technologies used include, but are not limited to, RFID, Bluetooth®, ZigBee® (ZigBee), and the like, and wireless communication technologies defined for the Internet of Things in the future.

[0065] Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as internet of things (IoT), device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation and smart city.

[0066] In the present application, an apparatus configured to implement the functions of a terminal device may be a terminal device, or may be an apparatus, for example, a chip system that can support a terminal device in implementing the functions, and the apparatus may be installed in a terminal device. In the present application, a chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and another discrete component. In the technical solutions provided in the present application, an example in which an apparatus configured to implement the functions of a tag is a terminal device is used to explain the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0067] An access network device is a device that provides wireless communication functions for a terminal device. For example, an access network device may be a 5G next-generation NodeB (gNodeB, gNB), an evolved NodeB (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a NodeB (NodeB, NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB or home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmitter, a receiver, a transmitter unit (TRT), a receiver unit (TRX ... Sending and receiving pointsThese include, but are not limited to, transmitting and receiving points (TRP), transmitting points (TP), and mobile switching centers.

[0068] In some deployments, a gNB may include a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The gNB may further include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU may implement some functions of the gNB, and the DU may implement other functions of the gNB. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, and implements functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, and implements functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC), and the like. (medium a The AAU implements functions of the access control (MAC) layer and the physical (PHY) layer. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing, and functions related to active antennas. Information at the RRC layer is generated by the CU and is finally encapsulated into or converted from information at the PHY layer in the PHY layer of the DU. Therefore, in this architecture, higher layer signaling, for example, RRC layer signaling, can also be considered to be transmitted by the DU or by the DU and AAU. It can be understood that an access network device can include one or more of a CU node, a DU node, or an AAU node. In addition, a CU may be classified as an access network device within an access network, or a CU may be classified as an access network device within a CN. This is not a limitation in this application.

[0069] The access network devices and the terminal devices may be located at fixed locations or may be mobile. The access network devices and the terminal devices may be deployed on the ground, including indoors or outdoors, or may be handheld or vehicle-mounted; or may be deployed on water; or may be deployed on an airplane, balloon or satellite in the air. The application scenarios of the access network devices and the terminal devices are not limited to the embodiments of the present application.

[0070] The core network device includes some or all of the following network elements: a unified data management (UDM) network element, a unified data repository (UDR) network element, a network exposure function (NEF) network element (not shown in this figure), an application function (AF) network element, a policy control function (PCF) network element, an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a session management function (SMF) network element, a user plane function (UPF) network element, and a network repository function (NRF) network element (not shown in this figure).

[0071] In this application, a mobility management network element is responsible for access control and mobility management of a terminal device, including functions such as mobility status management, temporary user identity allocation, and user authentication and authorization. In 5G, the mobility management network element may be an AMF network element. thIn future communications, such as 6G (e.g., 6G), the mobility management network element may still be an AMF network element or may have another name, which is not limited in this application.

[0072] In this application, a session management network element is responsible for managing protocol data unit (PDU) sessions of a terminal device. A PDU session is a channel used to transmit PDUs, and a terminal device and a DN need to transmit PDUs to each other through a PDU session. An SMF network element is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and deleting PDU sessions. The session management network element includes session-related functions such as session management (e.g., session establishment, modification, and release, including tunnel maintenance between a user plane network element and an access network device), user plane network element selection and control, service and session continuity (SSC) mode selection, and roaming. In 5G, the session management network element may be an SMF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the session management network element may still be an SMF network element or may have another name. This is not a limitation in this application.

[0073] In this application, a user plane network element is a gateway for communication between a mobile network and a DN. A UPF network element includes user plane-related functions such as packet routing and transmission, packet detection, service utilization reporting, Quality of Service (QoS) processing, lawful interception, uplink packet detection, and downlink data packet storage. In 5G, a user plane network element may be a UPF network element. In future communications such as 6G, a user plane network element may still be a UPF network element or may have another name. This is not a limitation in this application.

[0074] In this application, the data management network element is responsible for storing information such as a subscriber's subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), credentials, security context, and subscription data. The information stored in the data management network element can be used for authentication and authorization of a terminal device's access to the mobile network. The subscriber may specifically be a user who uses services provided by the mobile network, such as a user using a China Telecom SIM card or a user using a China Mobile SIM card. The subscriber's subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) may be a SIM card number, etc. The subscriber's credentials and security context may be stored small files, such as a SIM card encryption key or information related to SIM card encryption, and are used for authentication and / or authorization. The security context may be data (cookies) or tokens stored in the user's local terminal (e.g., a mobile phone). The subscriber's subscription data may be the SIM card's supporting services, such as the SIM card's traffic package or the network used. It should be noted that a persistent identifier, credentials, security context, authentication data (cookies), and tokens are equivalent to information related to authentication and authorization, and for ease of explanation, they are not distinguished or limited in this application document. Unless otherwise specified, a security context is used as an example in the explanation in this embodiment of the present application. However, the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to authentication and / or authorization information described in a different manner. In 5G, the data management network element may be a UDM network element. In future communications such as 6G, the data management network element may still be a UDM network element or may have another name. This is not limited in this application.

[0075] In this application, the unified data repository network element is responsible for performing functions to access types of data such as subscription data, policy data, and application data. In 5G, the unified data repository network element may be a UDR network element. In future communications such as 6G, the unified data repository network element may still be a UDR network element or may have another name. This is not limited in this application.

[0076] In this application, a network exposed network element securely exposes an external interface of a mobile network to a third party. When a session management network element needs to communicate with a third party network element, the network exposed network element may function as a relay for communication between the session management network element and the third party network element. When the network exposed network element functions as a relay, the network exposed network element may convert the identity of a subscriber and the identity of a third party network element. For example, when transmitting a subscriber's SUPI from a mobile network to a third party, the network exposed network element may convert the SUPI into an external identity (ID) corresponding to the SUPI. Conversely, when transmitting an external ID (third party network element ID) to a mobile network, the network exposed network element may convert the external ID into a SUPI. In 5G, the network exposed network element may be a NEF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the network exposed network element may still be a NEF network element or may have another name. This is not a limitation in this application.

[0077] In this application, the application function network element is configured to forward application side requirements for the network side, such as QoS requirements or user status event subscriptions. The application function network element may be a third-party function entity or an application server deployed by an operator. In 5G, the application function network element may be an AF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the application function network element may still be an AF network element or may have another name. This is not limited in this application.

[0078] In this application, the policy control network element is configured to provide policies of PDU sessions for the session management network element. The policies may include charging-related policies, QoS-related policies, and admission-related policies. In 5G, the policy control network element may be a PCF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the policy control network element may still be a PCF network element or may have another name. This is not limited in this application.

[0079] In this application, a network repository function network element may be configured to provide a network element discovery function and provide network element information corresponding to a network element type based on a request from another network element. The network repository function network element may also provide network element management services, such as network element registration, update, and deregistration, and network element status subscription and push. In 5G, the network repository function network element may be an NRF network element. In future communications, such as 6G, the network repository function network element may still be an NRF network element or may have another name. This is not limited in this application.

[0080] A DN is a network located outside the mobile network. The mobile network may access multiple DNs, and multiple services may be deployed on the DN to provide services such as data and / or voice to terminal devices. For example, a DN may be a private network of a smart factory, and a sensor installed in a workplace of the smart factory may be a terminal device, and a control server for the sensor may be deployed within the DN, and the control server may provide services to the sensor. The sensor may communicate with the control server to obtain instructions from the control server and transmit collected sensor data to the control server according to the instructions. In another example, a DN may be an internal company network, and a mobile phone or computer of an employee of the company may be a terminal device, and the employee's mobile phone or computer may access information and data resources within the internal company network.

[0081] In FIG. 1 , Npcf, Nudr, Nudm, Naf, Namf, and Nsmf are service-oriented interfaces provided by PCF, UDR, UDM, AF, AMF, and SMF, respectively, and are configured to invoke corresponding service-oriented operations. The N1 interface is an interface between the AMF and a terminal device and may be configured to transfer NAS signaling (e.g., including QoS rules from the AMF) to the terminal device. The N2 interface is an interface between the AMF and the RAN and may be configured to transfer radio bearer control information from the core network side to the RAN. The N3 interface is an interface between the RAN and the UPF and is mainly configured to transfer uplink / downlink user plane data between the RAN and the UPF. The N4 interface is an interface between the SMF and the UPF and may be configured to transfer information between the control plane and the user plane, including the delivery of forwarding rules, QoS control rules, traffic statistics rules, etc. from the control plane to the user plane, and the reporting of user plane information. The N6 interface is an interface between the UPF and the DN, and is configured to transfer uplink / downlink user data flows between the UPF and the DN.

[0082] 2 is a diagram of another communication system architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication system may include a terminal device, an AN device, a TAG Management Function (TMF) network element, a UDM or an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, a NEF, and an AF. For specific contents of the terminal device, the AN device, the UDM, the NEF, and the AF, please refer to the description of FIG. 1. Repeated contents will not be described again.

[0083] The TMF can support a tag management function, which supports various tag management operations.

[0084] The TMF may communicate with the AF directly or through the NEF network element. After receiving an action request from the AF, the TMF may perform the action on the tag by using the AN device.

[0085] The TMF may communicate with the UDM or AAA server. For example, the TMF may retrieve information stored in the UDM or AAA server.

[0086] The AAA server may be configured to process user access requests, provide authentication, authorization and accounting services, manage user access network servers, and provide services for users who have access permissions.

[0087] In addition, the TMF may be used as an independent network element or may be co-located with another network element. For example, the TMF may be co-located with the NEF or with the AMF. In this way, the NEF or the AMF can implement the functions of the TMF. In addition, the TMF is merely an exemplary name. Any device capable of implementing functions corresponding to the TMF in this application can be understood as the TMF described in this application.

[0088] It may be understood that the above network elements or functions may be network elements in a hardware device, or may be software functions running on dedicated hardware, or may be virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). In possible implementations, the above network elements or functions may be implemented by one device, or may be implemented jointly by multiple devices, or may be implemented by one functional module in one device. This is not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0089] It should be noted that the communication system shown in Figure 1 or 2 does not constitute a limitation on the communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable. Therefore, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application may also be applicable to communication systems of various standards, such as a long term evolution (LTE) communication system, a 5G communication system, a 6G communication system, a future communication system, vehicle to everything (V2X), long term evolution Internet of vehicles (LTE-vehicle, LTE-V), vehicle to vehicle (V2V), Internet of vehicles, machine type communication (MTC), IoT, long term evolution machine to machine (LTE-machine, LTE-M), machine to machine (M2M), and Internet of Things. In addition, it should be further noted that the names of network elements in the communication system are not limited in any way in the embodiments of the present application. For example, in communication systems of different standards, network elements may have other names. In another example, if multiple network elements are integrated into the same physical device, the physical device may alternatively have a different name.

[0090] To facilitate understanding of the present application, the following describes the related art.

[0091] Figure 3 is a flow chart of the inventory method, which will now be described with reference to Figure 3.

[0092] S301: An application (APP) sends an inventory check request to a reader / writer, where the inventory check request is used to request one or more terminal devices to perform an inventory check operation and obtain the EPC of the one or more terminal devices.

[0093] S302: The reader / writer broadcasts a terminal device selection message, where the terminal device selection message is used to request to obtain one or more EPCs.

[0094] S303: The first terminal device accesses the reader / writer.

[0095] The first terminal device may be one of the one or more terminal devices that has been successfully connected to the reader / writer.

[0096] S304: The first terminal device sends the EPC of the first terminal device to the APP by using the reader / writer.

[0097] Currently, the length of the EPC is relatively long. For example, the length of the EPC may be 96 bits, 128 bits, or 496 bits. When an inventory check is performed using this method, the inventory check efficiency is relatively low and the success rate is also relatively low.

[0098] In addition, in this method, the EPC is transmitted in clear text, which reduces the EPC transmission security by allowing the EPC to be obtained by a third party.

[0099] The solution provided in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0100] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to the communication system shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. The following describes the steps of the method in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 4.

[0101] S401: A first network element sends a first request to an access network device, where the first request can be used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices.

[0102] In response, the access network device receives a first request from the first network element.

[0103] The first network element may be a TMF or an AF. The one or more terminal devices may be terminal devices such as passive tags, semi-passive tags and active tags.

[0104] If the first network element is a TMF, the TMF may send the first request to the access network device after receiving the second request from the AF. The second request is used to request one or more terminal devices to perform a target operation. The second request includes the identification information of the AF, or the second request includes information having a correspondence relationship with the identification information of the AF. For example, the information having a correspondence relationship with the identification information of the AF includes the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the AF. The first request may be an existing message (e.g., an inventory command) or a new message. The target operation may include at least one of, but is not limited to, an inventory operation, a read operation, a write operation, etc. For example, if the target operation is a read operation, the second request may be a read request. In another example, if the target operation is a write operation, the second request may be a write request.

[0105] If the first network element is an AF, the first request may be an existing message (eg, an inventory command) or may be a new message.

[0106] S402: The access network device sends a first message to one or more terminal devices, where the first message is used to obtain identifiers of the one or more terminal devices.

[0107] In response, the one or more terminal devices receive a first message from the access network device.

[0108] Optionally, the access network device transmits the first message to one or more terminal devices in a unicast or broadcast manner.

[0109] The first message may be an existing message (eg, a terminal device selection message) or may be a new message.

[0110] S403: The first terminal device sends a first identifier to the first network element, and in response, the first network element receives the first identifier from the first terminal device.

[0111] The first terminal device is a terminal device among one or more terminal devices. Each of the one or more terminal devices may perform an operation in a manner similar to that of the first terminal device. In the following, the first terminal device is used as an example for description.

[0112] Optionally, the first terminal device may initiate a random access procedure to the access network device, and after accessing the access network device, may send a first identifier to the first network element by using the access network device. The first identifier may be carried in an existing message (e.g., a registration request) or may be carried in a new message. The specific content of the random access procedure is not limited in this application.

[0113] The first identifier corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device. The length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier. The second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device. The unique identifier may be a globally unique identifier, a unique identifier of the first terminal device in an operator providing service for the first terminal device, or a unique identifier customized by a user. For example, the second identifier is the EPC or international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the first terminal device. The first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or the second network element and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device, or the first identifier is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier. The first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within the service range of the sixth network element; in other words, the first identifier may uniquely indicate the first terminal device within the service range of the sixth network element. The sixth network element is a network element that provides a service for the first terminal device, for example, the sixth network element may be an AF, a TMF, a UDM, or an AAA server.

[0114] The first terminal device may obtain the first identifier in one of the following implementations.

[0115] Implementation 1: If the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or the second network element and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device, the first terminal device may obtain the locally stored first identifier from the first network element or the second network element. The second network element may be a different TMF from the first network element.

[0116] In Implementation 1, before S403, the first terminal device may obtain a first identifier from the first network element or the second network element. By using steps A1 to A5, the following will use an example in which the first terminal device obtains the first identifier from the first network element for explanation. If the first terminal device obtains the first identifier from the second network element, the second network element may perform the same operation as the first network element.

[0117] A1: The first network element sends a third request to the access network device, where the third request may be used to request to obtain an identifier of at least one terminal device, and the at least one terminal device includes the first terminal device.

[0118] For the specific content of step A1, please refer to S401, except that the first request is replaced with the third request, and one or more terminal devices are replaced with at least one terminal device, and the details will not be described again here.

[0119] A2: The access network device sends a third message to the at least one terminal device, where the third message is used to obtain an identifier of the at least one terminal device.

[0120] The access network device may transmit the third message to the at least one terminal device in a unicast or broadcast manner.

[0121] For the specific content of step A2, please refer to S402, except that the first message is replaced with the third message, and one or more terminal devices are replaced with at least one terminal device, and the details will not be described again here.

[0122] A3: The first terminal device sends a second identifier of the first terminal device to the first network element.

[0123] The first terminal device may initiate a random access procedure based on the third message, and after accessing the access network device, may send the second identifier to the first network element by using the access network device. The second identifier may be carried in an existing message (e.g., a registration request) or may be carried in a new message.

[0124] A4: The first network element assigns a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device.

[0125] Optionally, the first network element may assign a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device based on capability information of the first terminal device, where the capability information may indicate that the first terminal device has the capability to support the first identifier.

[0126] The first network element may obtain the capability information of the first terminal device in one of the following manners:

[0127] Manner 1: A first terminal device sends capability information of the first terminal device to a first network element, and in response, the first network element receives the capability information from the first terminal device.

[0128] The first terminal device may initiate a random access procedure based on the third message, and after accessing the access network device, may send capability information of the first terminal device to the first network element by using the access network device. The capability information may be carried in an existing message (e.g., a registration request) or may be carried in a new message.

[0129] Additionally, the capability information and the second identifier may be carried in the same message or may be carried in different messages.

[0130] Manner 2: The fourth network element sends capability information of the first terminal device to the first network element, and in response, the first network element receives the capability information from the fourth network element.

[0131] The fourth network element may be a UDM or an AAA server. After step A3, the first network element may send a request to the UDM or AAA server, the request being used to request obtaining capability information of the first terminal device. Here, the request may carry a second identifier of the first terminal device. Then, the UDM or AAA server may send the capability information of the first terminal device to the first network element.

[0132] Optionally, the capability information of the first terminal device may indicate at least one of whether the first terminal device supports the first identifier, the maximum length of the first identifier that can be supported by the first terminal device, and whether the first terminal device supports updating of the first identifier, etc.

[0133] If the capability information indicates that the first terminal device supports the first identifier, the first network element may assign the first identifier to the first terminal device. If the capability information indicates that the first terminal device does not support the first identifier, the first network element does not assign the first identifier to the first terminal device.

[0134] If the capability information indicates that the maximum length of the first identifier that can be supported by the first terminal device is m bits (m is a positive integer), the length of the first identifier assigned by the first network element to the first terminal device is less than or equal to m bits. If the length of the first identifier to be assigned is greater than the maximum length of the first identifier that can be supported by the device, the first network element does not assign the first identifier to the first terminal device.

[0135] If the capability information indicates that the first terminal device supports updating the first identifier, the first network element may assign an updated first identifier to the first terminal device, if necessary. If the capability information indicates that the first terminal device does not support updating the first identifier, the first network element does not assign an updated first identifier to the first terminal device.

[0136] Optionally, the first network element determines the length of the first identifier based on a preset number threshold of terminal devices, and assigns the first identifier to the first terminal device based on the length of the first identifier. The number threshold may be a number threshold of terminal devices within the service range of the sixth network element, and the number threshold is greater than or equal to the number of terminal devices actually inventoried. For example, if the preset number threshold of terminal devices is 40, the first network element may determine that the length of the first identifier is 6 bits and assign a first identifier having a length of 6 bits to the first terminal device. According to the method, the length of the first identifier may be reduced.

[0137] Optionally, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier may include at least one of the following:

[0138] 1: The first identifier corresponds to the second identifier. The first identifier may be a unique identifier of the first terminal device. For example (hereinafter referred to as Example 1), the at least one terminal device includes terminal device 1 to terminal device 4. The second identifiers (e.g., EPC) of terminal device 1 to terminal device 4 are second identifier 1, second identifier 2, second identifier 3, and second identifier 4, respectively. The first identifiers assigned by the first network element to terminal device 1 to terminal device 4 are 00, 01, 10, and 11, respectively. Thus, the first identifier 00 corresponds to the second identifier 1, the first identifier 01 corresponds to the second identifier 2, the first identifier 10 corresponds to the second identifier 3, and the first identifier 11 corresponds to the second identifier 4.

[0139] Optionally, the first identifier may further include identification information of a sixth network element. For example, the sixth network element is a TMF, and the at least one terminal device includes terminal device 1 to terminal device 4, where terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 correspond to TMF 1, and terminal device 3 and terminal device 4 correspond to TMF 2. The second identifiers of terminal device 1 to terminal device 4 are second identifier 1, second identifier 2, second identifier 3, and second identifier 4, respectively. If the first network element is TMF 1, the first identifiers assigned by the first network element to terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 are identifier 0+TMF 1 and identifier 1+TMF 1, respectively. In this way, identifier 0+TMF 1 corresponds to second identifier 1, and identifier 1+TMF 1 corresponds to second identifier 2. If the first network element is TMF 2, the first identifiers assigned by the first network element to terminal device 3 and terminal device 4 are respectively identifier 0+TMF 2 and identifier 1+TMF 2. Thus, identifier 0+TMF 2 corresponds to second identifier 3, and identifier 1+TMF 2 corresponds to second identifier 4.

[0140] 2. The first information may correspond to the second identifier, and the first information is determined based on the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element. For example, the first information may include only the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element, or may further include other information in addition to the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element. The specific content of the other information is not limited in the present application. In the following, an example in which the sixth network element is a TMF or an AF is used for explanation.

[0141] For example (hereinafter referred to as Example 2), the at least one terminal device includes terminal device 1 to terminal device 4, where terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 correspond to TMF 1, and terminal device 3 and terminal device 4 correspond to TMF 2. The second identifiers of terminal device 1 to terminal device 4 are second identifier 1, second identifier 2, second identifier 3, and second identifier 4, respectively. If the first network element is TMF 1, the first identifiers assigned by the first network element to terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 are 0 and 1, respectively. Thus, the identifiers of first identifier 0 and TMF 1 correspond to second identifier 1, and the identifiers of first identifier 1 and TMF 1 correspond to second identifier 2. If the first network element is TMF 2, the first identifiers assigned by the first network element to terminal device 3 and terminal device 4 are 0 and 1, respectively. Thus, the first identifier 0 and the identifier of TMF 2 correspond to the second identifier 3, and the first identifier 1 and the identifier of TMF 2 correspond to the second identifier 4.

[0142] In another example (hereinafter referred to as example 3), at least one terminal device includes terminal device 1 to terminal device 4, terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 correspond to AF1, and terminal device S3 and and terminal devices S4 is The first identifiers assigned by the first network element to terminal device 1 through terminal device 4 are 0, 1, 0, and 1, respectively. Thus, the identifiers of first identifier 0 and AF1 correspond to second identifier 1, the identifiers of first identifier 1 and AF1 correspond to second identifier 2, the identifiers of first identifier 0 and AF2 correspond to second identifier 3, and the identifiers of first identifier 1 and AF2 correspond to second identifier 4.

[0143] According to the method, the length of the first identifier can be reduced.

[0144] In addition, after assigning the first identifier to the first terminal device, the first network element may store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier, and / or the first network element may send the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier to a fifth network element, which may be a UDM or an AAA server.

[0145] A5: The first network element sends the first identifier to the first terminal device.

[0146] The first identifier may be carried in the existing message or may be carried in the new message.

[0147] According to Implementation 1, the first network element or the second network element may assign a first identifier to the first terminal device, the first identifier corresponding to a second identifier (e.g., EPC or IMSI) of the first terminal device. In this way, in a subsequent inventory process, the first terminal device may perform access by using the first identifier. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of the inventory and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0148] Implementation 2: If the first identifier is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier, the first identifier may be pre-configured in the first terminal device before the first terminal device is delivered from a factory or may be written to the first terminal device later. The first terminal device may locally acquire the pre-configured first identifier.

[0149] In implementation 2, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier is also pre-configured in one or more of the TMF, the AF, the UDM, or the AAA server.

[0150] According to Implementation 2, the first terminal device may include a first identifier corresponding to a second identifier (e.g., EPC or IMSI) of the first terminal device. In this way, in a subsequent inventory process, the first terminal device may perform access by using the first identifier. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of the inventory and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0151] Optionally, at S403, the first terminal device may send the first identifier to the first network element by default if the first identifier exists, or may send the first identifier to the first network element after receiving a fourth indication, where the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to send the first identifier if the first identifier exists in the first terminal device.

[0152] S404: The first network element obtains a second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier.

[0153] Optionally, the first network element may obtain a second identifier of the first terminal device in one of the following implementations:

[0154] Implementation 1: A first network element obtains a correspondence relationship between a first identifier and a second identifier, and determines a second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence relationship.

[0155] The first network element may obtain the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier in one of the following ways:

[0156] Manner 1: A first network element receives a correspondence between a first identifier and a second identifier from a third network element.

[0157] The third network element may be a UDM or an AAA server, etc. For example, the first network element may send a query request to the UDM or AAA server, where the query request is used to request to obtain a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier. Then, the UDM or AAA server may send a query response to the first network element, where the query response includes the correspondence.

[0158] Optionally, the first network element may store the correspondence after obtaining the correspondence.

[0159] Manner 2: The first network element obtains a locally stored correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier.

[0160] The correspondence may be pre-stored in the first network element, or may be locally stored after being obtained from the third network element in scheme 1 when another operation is performed on the first terminal device, or may be locally stored after the first network element assigns the first identifier to the first terminal device by using steps A1 to A5.

[0161] Additionally, in actual use, the first network element may alternatively first determine whether the correspondence is stored locally. If the first network element stores the correspondence locally, the first network element may obtain the correspondence through Scheme 2. If the first network element does not store the correspondence locally, the first network element may obtain the correspondence through Scheme 1.

[0162] If the first identifier corresponds to the second identifier, the first network element may obtain the second identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence. For example, for the above example 1, if the first identifier is 00, the first network element may determine that the second identifier of the first terminal device is second identifier 1.

[0163] When the first information determined based on the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element corresponds to the second identifier, the first network element may obtain the second identifier based on the first identifier, the identification information of the sixth network element, and the correspondence. For example, for the above Example 2, if the first identifier is 0 and the identification information of the TMF is TMF 1, the first network element may determine that the second identifier of the first terminal device is Second Identifier 1. In another example, for the above Example 3, if the first identifier is 0 and the identification information of the AF is AF2, the first network element may determine that the second identifier of the first terminal device is Second Identifier 3.

[0164] According to implementation 1, the first network element may quickly determine the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier and the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier, thereby improving inventory speed and inventory efficiency.

[0165] Implementation 2: The first network element obtains from the fifth network element a second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier.

[0166] The fifth network element may be a UDM or an AAA server, etc.

[0167] In implementation 2, the first network element may obtain the second identifier by using steps B1 to B3.

[0168] B1: The first network element sends the first identifier to the fifth network element.

[0169] The first identifier may be carried in an existing message (eg, a query request) or may be carried in a new message.

[0170] Optionally, if the first information determined based on the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element corresponds to the second identifier, the first network element may further send the identification information of the sixth network element to the fifth network element, where the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element may be carried in the same message or in different messages.

[0171] B2: The fifth network element determines a second identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier.

[0172] For the specific process by which the fifth network element determines the second identifier, refer to Implementation 1, except that the first network element is replaced by the fifth network element, and the details will not be described again here.

[0173] B3: The fifth network element sends the second identifier to the first network element, and in response, the first network element receives the second identifier from the fifth network element.

[0174] The second identifier may be carried in an existing message (eg, a query response) or may be carried in a new message.

[0175] Optionally, the first network element may store a correspondence between the second identifier and the first identifier after receiving the second identifier.

[0176] According to Implementation 2, the fifth network element may store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier. In this manner, the first network element may obtain the first identifier from the fifth network element. In this implementation, the first identifier of the first terminal device may be shared by multiple network elements by using the fifth network element to support a scenario in which the terminal device is moved within the coverage areas of different network elements.

[0177] Optionally, if the first network element is a TMF, the TMF may transmit the second identifier to the AF after obtaining the second identifier. The AF may be the AF that transmits a second request to the TMF, where the second request is used to request that a target operation be performed on one or more terminal devices. If the target operation is an inventory operation, the TMF may transmit the second identifier to the AF after inventorying the first terminal device, or may transmit identifiers of the one or more terminal devices to the AF after inventorying the one or more terminal devices. If the target operation is a read operation or a write operation, etc., the TMF may further perform the read operation or write operation on the first terminal device after obtaining the second identifier. After performing the read operation or write operation on the first terminal device, the TMF may transmit the second identifier and the operation result to the AF; or, after performing the read operation or write operation on the one or more terminal devices, the TMF may transmit identifiers of the one or more terminal devices and the operation result to the AF.

[0178] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to the communication system shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. The following describes the steps of the method in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 5.

[0179] S501: The AF sends a fourth request to the first network element, where the fourth request is used to request to periodically obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices.

[0180] In response, the first network element receives a fourth request from the AF.

[0181] The identifier of each terminal device includes a first identifier of the terminal device and / or a second identifier of the terminal device. The second identifier of the terminal device is a unique identifier of the terminal device, and the first identifier of the terminal device is an identifier of the terminal device within the service range of the sixth network element, and can uniquely indicate the terminal device within the service range of the sixth network element. For specific contents of the first identifier and the second identifier, please refer to the description of the first identifier and the second identifier in the method shown in FIG. 4. The details will not be described again here.

[0182] S502: The first network element sends a third request to the access network device, where the third request may be used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices at a first period.

[0183] The first period may be the Nth period in the periodic inventory, where N is a positive integer.

[0184] Optionally, the third request may include a first indication, where if an identifier of a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices is obtained, after a request from the first network element and used to request to obtain an identifier of a next terminal device of the one or more terminal devices is received in a current period, the first indication instructs the access network device to obtain an identifier of a next terminal device of the one or more terminal devices.

[0185] Optionally, the third request further includes a fifth indication, where the fifth indication instructs the one or more terminal devices to transmit the second identifier. The fifth indication may be an existing information element in the message or may be a new information element, which is not limited in the present application.

[0186] S503: The access network device sends a third message to one or more terminal devices, where the third message is used to obtain an identifier of the at least one terminal device.

[0187] Optionally, the third message further includes a fifth indication.

[0188] S504: The first terminal device sends a second identifier of the first terminal device to the first network element.

[0189] S505: The first network element assigns a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device.

[0190] S506: The first network element sends the first identifier to the first terminal device.

[0191] For the specific contents of S502 to S506, please refer to steps A1 to A5, except that at least one terminal device is replaced with one or more terminal devices. The repeated contents will not be described again.

[0192] S507: The first network element acquires the identifier of the next terminal device among the one or more terminal devices until the first network element acquires the identifiers of all terminal devices among the one or more terminal devices or until the first period ends.

[0193] The first network element may send a continue inventory message to the access network device, where the continue inventory message is used to request the access network device to continue inventorying a next terminal device among the one or more terminal devices. Then, the access network device and the device such as the first network element may operate the next terminal device by referring to the method for operating the first terminal device in S504 to S506.

[0194] According to the method, the first network element may assign a first identifier within the service area of ​​the sixth network element to one or more terminal devices at a first period.

[0195] S508: The first network element sends inventory check result 1 to the AF.

[0196] Inventory check result 1 may include a second identifier (eg, EPC) of one or more terminal devices.

[0197] In one possible manner, after the first period ends, within a first duration, the access network device may broadcast an excitation signal, and one or more terminal devices within the coverage of the access network device may receive the excitation signal. In other words, after the first period ends, within a first duration, the access network device may continue or not stop broadcasting the excitation signal.

[0198] The first duration is greater than the time interval between two adjacent periods, for example, the two adjacent periods are period 1 and period 2, and the first duration is greater than the time interval between the end of period 1 and the start of period 2. In this way, the one or more terminal devices may remain turned on, and as a result, first identifiers assigned to the one or more terminal devices by the first network element may be stored.

[0199] In one example, the access network device may broadcast the excitation signal within a first duration after the first period ends based on a third indication from the first network element. The third indication instructs the access network device to broadcast the excitation signal within the first duration after each period ends. Optionally, the third indication includes indication information of the first duration. The third indication may be carried in the third request in S502, or may be carried in the inventory continuation message in S507, or may be carried in another message. This is not limited in the present application.

[0200] In another example, the access network device may set the first duration, or the first duration is preset. In this way, after the first period ends, the access network device may directly broadcast the excitation signal within the first duration.

[0201] In another possible manner, if the one or more terminal devices do not receive the excitation signal, the one or more terminal devices may remain turned on for the first duration. In this way, even if the access network device does not broadcast the excitation signal after the first period ends, the one or more terminal devices can still store the first identifier assigned to the one or more terminal devices by the first network element.

[0202] S509: The first network element sends a first request to the access network device, where the first request may be used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices at a second period.

[0203] For the specific content of S509, please refer to S401. The repeated content will not be explained again.

[0204] The second period may be a period following the first period. The first and second periods may be adjacent periods or may be non-adjacent periods.

[0205] Optionally, the first request further includes a second indication, which instructs the access network device to obtain an identifier of a next terminal device of the one or more terminal devices after the identifier of any one of the one or more terminal devices is received.

[0206] Optionally, the first request further includes a fourth indication, which instructs the one or more terminal devices to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the one or more terminal devices. In other words, the fourth indication instructs the one or more terminal devices to preferentially transmit the first identifier.

[0207] S510: The access network device sends a first message to one or more terminal devices, where the first message is used to obtain identifiers of the one or more terminal devices.

[0208] For the specific content of S510, please refer to S402, and the details will not be described again here.

[0209] S511: The first terminal device sends an identifier of the first terminal device to the access network device.

[0210] The identifier of the first terminal device may be carried in an existing message (eg, a registration request) or may be carried in a new message.

[0211] Optionally, if the first terminal device includes a first identifier of the first terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device sent by the first terminal device to the access network device is the first identifier of the first terminal device, and if the first terminal device does not include the first identifier of the first terminal device, the identifier of the first terminal device sent by the first terminal device to the access network device is a second identifier of the first terminal device.

[0212] S512: The access network device sends an identifier of the first terminal device to the first network element.

[0213] The identifier of the first terminal device may be carried in an existing message (eg, a registration request) or may be carried in a new message.

[0214] S513: The access network device obtains an identifier of a next terminal device among the one or more terminal devices.

[0215] For the manner in which the access network device acquires the identifier of the next terminal device, please refer to the manner in which the access network device acquires the identifier of the first terminal device in S511, and the details will not be described again here.

[0216] The order in which S512 and S513 are performed is not limited in the present application.

[0217] S514: The access network device sends an identifier of the next terminal device to the first network element.

[0218] S515: The first network element sends the inventory check result 2 to the AF.

[0219] Inventory check result 2 may include a second identifier (eg, EPC) of one or more terminal devices.

[0220] In a possible manner, after the second period ends, within a first duration, the access network device may broadcast an excitation signal, and one or more terminal devices within the coverage of the access network device may receive the excitation signal. For specific content of this manner, see S508, except that the first period is replaced by the second period. In this way, one or more terminal devices may remain turned on, and as a result, identifiers assigned to one or more terminal devices by the first network element may be stored.

[0221] In another possible manner, if the one or more terminal devices do not receive the excitation signal, the one or more terminal devices may remain turned on for the first duration. In this way, even if the access network device does not broadcast the excitation signal after the second period ends, the one or more terminal devices can still store the first identifier assigned to the one or more terminal devices by the first network element.

[0222] If the proportion of the second identifiers among the identifiers of one or more terminal devices received by the first network element in the second period is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the first network element sends a fifth request to the access network device. The fifth request is used to request that identifiers of one or more terminal devices be acquired in a third period, and the fifth request includes the first indication. For the method of acquiring identifiers of one or more terminal devices in the third period, please refer to steps S503 to S508. Details will not be described again here. In other words, if the proportion of the second identifiers among the identifiers of one or more terminal devices received by the first network element in the second period is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the first network element can acquire identifiers of one or more terminal devices in the next period by using the method in steps S502 to S508.

[0223] If the proportion of the second identifier among the identifiers of one or more terminal devices received by the first network element in the second period is less than the first threshold, the first network element may obtain the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices in the next period by using S509 to S515.

[0224] The first threshold may be preset, or may be determined by the first network element, or may be obtained by the first network element from another device (eg, the AF).

[0225] According to the method shown in Figure 5, when a first network element inventory checks a terminal device, it may assign a first identifier to the terminal device and send the first identifier to the terminal device. In a subsequent procedure, such as inventory check, the terminal device may replace the second identifier of the first terminal device with the first identifier for access. After obtaining the identifier of the terminal device, the AN device may trigger the next terminal device to perform random access to quickly inventory the terminal device.

[0226] Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency and success rate of inventory checks and reducing power consumption of the terminal device.

[0227] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is a possible example of the method shown in Fig. 4. Please refer to the flowchart shown in Fig. 6. The following describes the steps of the method in detail by taking an example in which the first network element is a TMF 1.

[0228] S601: The AF sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1. Here, the access request 1 is used to request access to at least one terminal device.

[0229] Optionally, access request 1 may be used to request at least one terminal device to perform a target operation. The target operation may include at least one of a read operation, a write operation, and an inventory operation. For example, if the target operation is a read operation, access request 1 may be a read request. In another example, if the target operation is a write operation, access request 1 may be a write request.

[0230] The access request 1 may include an indication of a target area and an indication of a target object.

[0231] The target area is one or more areas where a target operation needs to be performed on a terminal device. The indication information of the target area may be at least one of geographical location information, local government location information (e.g., city A), 3GPP location information (e.g., track area (TA) list or cell list), and an access network device identifier, etc. For example, if the indication information of the target area is city A, it indicates that the AF requests to perform the target operation on a terminal device in city A. In another example, if the indication information of the target area is cell 1 and cell 2, it indicates that the AF requests to perform the target operation on a terminal device in cell 1 and cell 2. In another example, if the indication information of the target area is access network device 1, it indicates that the AF requests to perform the target operation on a terminal device within the coverage of access network device 1.

[0232] The indication information of the target object may be the indication information of at least one terminal device. There may be multiple specific forms of the indication information of the terminal device. Some possible forms are listed below. The forms listed below may be used independently or in combination. This is not limited to the embodiments of the present application.

[0233] Form 1: The indication information of the terminal device includes an EPC value interval. For example, if the EPC value interval is 1111000001 to 1111011111, the target object may include a terminal device whose EPC is located in the interval from 1111000001 to 1111011111.

[0234] Form 2: The indication information of the terminal device includes an EPC list. For example, if the EPC list includes 1111000001, 1111000010, and 1111000011, the target object may include terminal devices whose EPCs are 1111000001, 1111000010, and 1111000011.

[0235] Form 3: The indication information of the terminal device includes the first n bits of the EPC, where n is a positive integer. For example, if the EPC of the terminal device has 10 bits and the first 4 bits are 1111, the target object may include a terminal device whose EPC is 1111000000 to 1111111111.

[0236] Form 4: The indication information of the terminal device may be specified as all terminal devices, or may be regarded as all terminal devices by default without any specification.

[0237] Form 5: The indication information of the terminal device may specify a terminal device that supports a particular capability, for example, a terminal device that supports two-way security authentication.

[0238] Form 6: The indication information of the terminal device may specify a terminal device that belongs to a specified public land mobile network (PLMN), for example, PLMN=46001.

[0239] S602: The TMF 1 sends an inventory command 1 to the AN device, where the inventory command 1 is used to request to obtain the identifier of at least one terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check on at least one terminal device.

[0240] Inventory command 1 may include an indication of the target object.

[0241] In some possible manners, the inventory command 1 further includes a fourth indication, which instructs the at least one terminal device to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the at least one terminal device. In other words, the fourth indication instructs the at least one terminal device to preferentially transmit the first identifier.

[0242] In some other possible ways, at least one terminal device preferentially transmits the first identifier by default, in which case the inventory command 1 may not include the fourth indication.

[0243] S603: An AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 1.

[0244] The terminal device selection message 1 may include indication information of the target object.

[0245] Optionally, the terminal device selection message 1 further includes a fourth indication.

[0246] S604: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0247] The terminal device 1 is a terminal device that is located within the target object and successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0248] After S604, the terminal device 1 may send the identifier of the terminal device 1 to the TMF 1 by using branch a1 or branch a2. If the terminal device 1 does not have the first identifier of the terminal device 1, the terminal device may send the second identifier of the terminal device 1 to the TMF by using branch a1. If the terminal device 1 has the first identifier of the terminal device 1 obtained by using branch a1, the terminal device may send the first identifier of the terminal device 1 to the TMF by using branch a2. In the following, branch a1 and branch a2 will be described separately.

[0249] Branch a1 includes S605 to S611.

[0250] S605: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1.

[0251] The access request 1 may include a second identifier (e.g., an EPC) of the terminal device 1.

[0252] Optionally, the access request 1 may further include capability information of the terminal device 1, and the capability information may include the capability of the terminal device 1 to support the first identifier. For specific content of the capability information, please refer to the description of the capability information in step A4. The details will not be described again here.

[0253] Optionally, if the access request 1 does not include capability information of the terminal device 1, the method further includes S606 to S607.

[0254] S606: TMF 1 sends a request message 1 to UDM, where the request message 1 is used to request to obtain capability information of terminal device 1.

[0255] The request message 1 may include a second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0256] S607: UDM sends response message 1 to TMF 1.

[0257] Response message 1 is a response to request message 1. Response message 1 may include capability information of terminal device 1.

[0258] S608: The terminal device 1 and the network side perform security authentication.

[0259] S608 is an optional step. The specific process of security authentication is not limited in this application.

[0260] S609: The TMF 1 assigns a first identifier to the terminal device 1, which corresponds to the second identifier of the terminal device 1, and stores the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0261] For the specific content of S609, please refer to step A4, and the details will not be described again here.

[0262] Optionally, if the TMF 1 does not obtain capability information of the terminal device 1, the TMF 1 may determine, according to a default policy, whether to assign a first identifier to the terminal device 1. For example, the default policy may include at least one of assigning a first identifier to each terminal device and assigning a first identifier of a specified length to each terminal device.

[0263] The length of the first identifier may be fixed (e.g., 32 bits) or may be variable. If the length of the first identifier is variable, when encoding the first identifier, the TMF 1 may indicate the length of the first identifier in one of the following ways:

[0264] Scheme a1: The first O bits of the first identifier whose value is a first value (for example, 1) indicate that the length of the first identifier is O bytes, where O is a positive integer.

[0265] Method a2: The value of the first Q bits of the first identifier is used to determine the length of the first identifier, where Q is a positive integer. For example, if Q is 3 and the value of the first 3 bits of the first identifier is 111, the length of the first identifier is 8 bytes or 8+x bytes, where x is a positive integer and the value of x is a specified value.

[0266] Scheme a3: The first identifier may include U bytes, and the first bit of the first U-1 bytes is a second value (e.g., 1), where U is a positive integer. In other words, if the value of the first bit of each byte of the first identifier is the second value, it indicates that the first identifier further includes the next byte.

[0267] S610: The TMF 1 sends the first identifier of the terminal device 1 to the terminal device 1.

[0268] In some possible manners, the TMF 1 may send the first identifier of the terminal device 1 to the terminal device 1 by using the access success response.

[0269] In some other possible manners, the TMF 1 may send the first identifier of the terminal device 1 to the terminal device 1 in a security authentication procedure or access procedure for the terminal device 1. In this case, the TMF 1 may not need to send an access success response to the terminal device 1.

[0270] S611: The terminal device 1 stores the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0271] The terminal device 1 may store the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in one of the following ways:

[0272] Method b1: The terminal device 1 stores the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in a random access memory (RAM) of the terminal device 1. In this way, the first identifier can be used in subsequent inventory checks, provided that the terminal device 1 is not turned off. If the terminal device 1 is turned off, the terminal device 1 loses the first identifier.

[0273] Method b2: The terminal device 1 stores the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in a RAM of the terminal device 1, which has a special power supply design. After the terminal device 1 is turned off, the RAM may store the first identifier by using the remaining power within duration 1, and does not clear the first identifier stored in the RAM in the subsequent power-on process of the terminal device 1.

[0274] Method b3: The terminal device 1 stores the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in a persistent memory (e.g., an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) of the terminal device 1. In this way, the terminal device 1 can still use the first identifier after being turned off and restarted.

[0275] Optionally, if the terminal device 1 does not have the capability to support the first identifier, the terminal device 1 may ignore the first identifier and still use the second identifier to perform inventory checks in subsequent operations.

[0276] Branch a2 includes S612 to S616.

[0277] S612: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 2 to the TMF 1.

[0278] The access request 2 may include a first identifier of the terminal device 1 .

[0279] In some possible manners, if the terminal device selection message 1 in S603 includes a fourth indication, the terminal device 1 may decide to preferentially send the first identifier, so that the access request 2 includes the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0280] In some other possible manners, the terminal device may preferentially transmit the first identifier by default. In this way, the terminal device 1 may include the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in the access request 2.

[0281] Optionally, the access request 2 further includes capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0282] After S612, the method further includes sub-branch a1 and sub-branch a2, which will be described below separately.

[0283] Sub-branch a1 includes S613.

[0284] S613: The TMF 1 determines a second identifier of the terminal device 1 based on the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0285] The TMF 1 may determine the second identifier of the terminal device 1 based on the first identifier of the terminal device 1 and a locally stored correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1. For the specific content of S613, please refer to S404, and the details will not be described again here.

[0286] Sub-branch a2 includes S614 to S616.

[0287] S614: The TMF 1 does not find the second identifier of the terminal device 1 based on the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0288] S615: The TMF 1 sends an access reception message to the terminal device 1.

[0289] The access receive message includes an identifier indicating that the reject cause value is invalid.

[0290] S616: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 3 to the TMF 1.

[0291] The access request 3 includes a second identifier of the terminal device 1 .

[0292] Optionally, the access request 3 further includes capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0293] In addition, S606 to S611 may be executed after S616.

[0294] S617: The TMF 1 executes the access procedure for the terminal device 1.

[0295] For example, TMF 1 performs one or more read or write operations on terminal device 1.

[0296] S617 is an optional step. For example, if access request 1 in S601 is an inventory request, the method shown in Figure 6 may not include S617.

[0297] S618: The TMF 1 sends a continue inventory message to the AN device, where the continue inventory message is used to request to obtain the identifier of the next terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check on the next terminal device.

[0298] S619: Execute the target action on the next terminal device.

[0299] For the process of executing the target operation on the next terminal device, please refer to S604 to S617, except that terminal device 1 is replaced with the next terminal device, and the details will not be described again here.

[0300] S620: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory completion message to TMF 1. Here, the inventory completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0301] The feedback information of the terminal device may include at least one of an access result 1 fed back by the terminal device, a first identifier of the terminal device, and a second identifier of the terminal device.

[0302] S621: TMF 1 sends access result 2 to AF.

[0303] The access result 2 may include the access result 1 fed back by at least one terminal device and a second identifier of at least one terminal device. In addition, if the TMF 1 does not receive feedback information of any terminal device, the access result 2 may not include the access result 1 fed back by the terminal device and the second identifier of the terminal device.

[0304] In the method shown in Figure 6, steps S618 to S620 are optional steps. For example, if the at least one terminal device is one terminal device, the method shown in Figure 6 may not include steps S618 to S620. In another example, if TMF 1 determines that access result 1 of at least one terminal device has been received, the method shown in Figure 6 may not include steps S618 to S620.

[0305] In the method shown in Figure 6, S621 is an optional step. For example, after S617, TMF 1 sends the access result of terminal device 1 and the second identifier of terminal device 1 to the AF. That is, every time TMF 1 obtains the access result of the terminal device, TMF 1 may send the access result 1 and the second identifier of the terminal device to the AF. In this case, the method shown in Figure 6 may not include S621.

[0306] Optionally, in the method shown in FIG. 6, the UDM may be replaced by an AAA server or another network element that stores terminal device information.

[0307] According to the method shown in Figure 6, when the TMF inventory the terminal device, it may assign a first identifier to the terminal device and transmit the first identifier to the terminal device. In a subsequent procedure, such as an inventory, the terminal device may replace the second identifier with the first identifier for access. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of the inventory and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0308] In addition, in this method, the identifier transmitted between devices is the first identifier of the terminal device instead of the second identifier of the terminal device (e.g., EPC). In this way, even if a third party obtains the first identifier, the third party will not recognize the corresponding second identifier, thereby improving the security of transmitting the second identifier.

[0309] In addition, the length of the first identifier in the method may be variable, so that the method may be applicable to network serving terminal devices of different scales.

[0310] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is another possible example of the method shown in Figure 4. Please refer to the flowcharts shown in Figures 7A and 7B. The following will describe the steps of the method in detail by using an example in which the first network element is TMF 2 and the second network element is TMF 1.

[0311] FIG. 7A shows the procedure in which the TMF 1 assigns a first identifier to the terminal device 1.

[0312] S701: The AF sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1. Here, the access request 1 is used to request access to at least one terminal device.

[0313] S702: TMF 1 sends inventory command 1 to the AN device, where the inventory command is used to request to obtain the identifier of at least one terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check of at least one terminal device.

[0314] S703: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 1.

[0315] S704: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0316] S705: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1.

[0317] The access request 1 may include a second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0318] Optionally, the access request 1 further includes capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0319] For the specific contents of S701 to S705, please refer to S601 to S605, and the details will not be described again here.

[0320] Optionally, if the access request 1 does not include capability information of the terminal device 1, the method further includes S706 to S707.

[0321] S706: TMF 1 sends a request message 1 to UDM, where the request message 1 is used to request to obtain capability information of terminal device 1.

[0322] The request message 1 may include a second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0323] S707: UDM sends response message 1 to TMF 1.

[0324] Response message 1 is a response to request message 1. Response message 1 may include capability information of terminal device 1.

[0325] S708: The terminal device 1 and the network side perform security authentication.

[0326] S708 is an optional step. The specific process of security authentication is not limited to the present application.

[0327] S709: The TMF 1 assigns a first identifier to the terminal device 1, which corresponds to the second identifier of the terminal device 1, and stores the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0328] For the specific content of S709, please refer to step S609, and the details will not be described again here.

[0329] S710: The TMF 1 sends the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 to the UDM.

[0330] For specific details of the corresponding relationship, please refer to the description of the corresponding relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier in the method shown in Figure 4. The details will not be described again here.

[0331] Optionally, the TMF 1 may further send capability information of the terminal device 1 to the UDM.

[0332] S711: The UDM stores the correspondence relationship.

[0333] Optionally, the UDM may further store capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0334] The UDM may store the information obtained in S710 in dynamic memory (eg, RAM), or may store the information in non-volatile memory (eg, hard disk drive).

[0335] S712: The TMF 1 sends the first identifier of the terminal device 1 to the terminal device 1.

[0336] S713: The terminal device 1 stores the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0337] For the specific contents of S712 and S713, please refer to S610 and S611, and the details will not be described again here.

[0338] In addition, the execution order of S710 to S711 and S712 to S713 is not limited in the present application.

[0339] S714: The TMF 1 performs an access procedure to the terminal device 1.

[0340] S715: The TMF 1 sends a continue inventory message to the AN device, where the continue inventory message is used to request to obtain the identifier of the next terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check on the next terminal device.

[0341] S716: Execute the target action on the next terminal device.

[0342] For the process of executing the target operation on the next terminal device, please refer to S704 to S715, except that terminal device 1 is replaced with the next terminal device, and the details will not be described again here.

[0343] S717: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory check completion message to TMF 1. Here, the inventory check completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0344] S718: TMF 1 sends access result 2 to AF.

[0345] For the specific contents of S714 to S718, please refer to S617 to S621. The details will not be repeated here.

[0346] Optionally, S709 to S711 are optional steps. For example, in S706, request message 1 requests to obtain a first identifier of terminal device 1. In this case, request message 1 may include a second identifier of terminal device 1. Optionally, request message 1 further includes identification information of the AF. In S707, response message 1 includes the first identifier of terminal device 1. The first identifier may be stored in the UDM after being assigned to the terminal device by another TMF. Thus, the method shown in FIG. 7A may not include S709 to S711.

[0347] After the terminal device 1 obtains the first identifier by using the method shown in FIG. 7A, the TMF 2 may access the terminal device 1 by using the method shown in FIG. 7B.

[0348] S719: The AF sends an access request 2 to the TMF 2. Here, the access request 2 is used to request access to one or more terminal devices.

[0349] S720: TMF 2 sends inventory command 2 to the AN device, where inventory command 2 is used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices, that is, to request to perform inventory check of one or more terminal devices.

[0350] S721: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 2.

[0351] S722: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0352] The terminal device 1 is a terminal device that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure among the terminal devices requested to be inventoried by the inventory command 2.

[0353] For the specific contents of S719 to S722, please refer to S601 to S604, except that TMF 1 is replaced with TMF 2 and at least one terminal device is replaced with one or more terminal devices. The details will not be described again here.

[0354] S723: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 2 to the TMF 2.

[0355] The access request 2 may include a first identifier of the terminal device 1 .

[0356] Optionally, the access request 2 further includes capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0357] For the specific content of S723, please refer to S612, except that TMF 1 is replaced with TMF 2. The details will not be described again here.

[0358] S724: The TMF 2 determines whether a correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is locally stored; if the correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is locally stored, the TMF 2 determines the second identifier of the terminal device 1 based on the correspondence relationship and the first identifier of the terminal device 1. In this case, the method may not include S725 to S730.

[0359] For the specific content of S724, please refer to S404, and the details will not be described again here.

[0360] S725: If the TMF 2 does not locally store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1, the TMF 2 sends a request message 2 to the UDM. The request message 2 is used to request to obtain the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0361] The request message 2 includes a first identifier of the terminal device 1 .

[0362] Optionally, if the first information determined based on the first identifier of the terminal device 1 and the identification information of the sixth network element corresponds to the second identifier of the terminal device 1, the request message 2 further includes identification information of the sixth network element. For specific contents of the sixth network element and the first information, please refer to S403. The details will not be described again here.

[0363] After S725, the method further includes branch b1 and branch b2, which will be described separately below.

[0364] Branch b1 includes S726.

[0365] S726: UDM sends response message 2 to TMF 2.

[0366] Response message 2 is a response to request message 2. Response message 2 may include a second identifier of terminal device 1.

[0367] Optionally, the response message 2 further includes capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0368] After receiving the response message 2, the TMF 2 may store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 and / or the capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0369] Branch b2 includes S727 to S730.

[0370] S727: The UDM does not find the second identifier of the terminal device 1 based on the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0371] S728: UDM sends response message 3 to TMF 2.

[0372] Response message 3 is a response to request message 2. Response message 3 is used to notify TMF 2 that the second identifier of terminal device 1 cannot be found.

[0373] S729: The TMF 2 sends an access reception message to the terminal device 1.

[0374] The access receive message includes an identifier indicating that the reject cause value is invalid.

[0375] S730: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 3 to the TMF 2.

[0376] The access request 3 includes a second identifier of the terminal device 1 .

[0377] Optionally, the access request 3 further includes capability information of the terminal device 1.

[0378] After S730, S706 to S713 may be further executed.

[0379] S731: The TMF 2 executes an access procedure to the terminal device 1.

[0380] S732: TMF 2 sends a continue inventory message to the AN device, where the continue inventory message is used to request to obtain the identifier of the next terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check on the next terminal device.

[0381] S733: Execute the target operation on the next terminal device.

[0382] For the process of executing the target operation on the next terminal device, please refer to S722 to S733, except that terminal device 1 is replaced with the next terminal device, and the details will not be described again here.

[0383] S734: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory completion message to TMF 2. Here, the inventory completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0384] S735: TMF 2 sends access result 2 to AF.

[0385] The specific contents of S731 to S735 are the same as those of S617 to S618, except that TMF 1 is replaced by TMF 2. RaS621ma See the details below, which will not be repeated here.

[0386] Optionally, in the methods shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the UDM may be replaced by an AAA server or another network element that stores terminal device information.

[0387] 7A and 7B, when a TMF inventory-checks a terminal device, the TMF may assign a first identifier to the terminal device and store a correspondence between the first and second identifiers of the terminal device in a UDM or AAA server. In subsequent procedures, such as inventory-checking, the terminal device may replace the second identifier with the first identifier for access, and the TMF may obtain the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier from the UDM or AAA server. As a result, the first identifier can be shared by multiple TMFs using the UDM or AAA server to support scenarios where the terminal device is moved within the coverage areas of different TMFs.

[0388] Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the EPC, these methods can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency and success rate of inventory checks and reducing power consumption of the terminal device.

[0389] Additionally, in these methods, the identifier transmitted between devices is the first identifier of the terminal device instead of the second identifier of the terminal device (e.g., EPC). In this way, even if a third party obtains the first identifier, the third party will not recognize the corresponding second identifier, thereby improving the security of transmitting the second identifier.

[0390] In addition, the length of the first identifier in these methods may be variable, so that these methods may be applicable to network serving terminal devices of different scales.

[0391] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is another possible example of the method shown in Fig. 4. Please refer to the flowchart shown in Fig. 8. The following will describe the steps of the method in detail by taking an example in which the first network element is a TMF 1.

[0392] S801: In a process of initializing at least one terminal device, a correspondence between a first identifier and a second identifier of the terminal device is pre-configured in the terminal device and the UDM.

[0393] For example, the at least one terminal device includes a terminal device 1, and the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is pre-configured in the terminal device 1 and the UDM.

[0394] The correspondence may be stored in a non-volatile memory (eg, a hard disk drive) of the terminal device 1 and the UDM.

[0395] For specific details of the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1, please refer to the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier in the method shown in Fig. 4. For specific details of the first identifier of the terminal device 1, please refer to the description of the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in the method shown in Fig. 6. The details will not be described again here.

[0396] S802: The AF sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1. Here, the access request 1 is used to request access to at least one terminal device.

[0397] For the specific content of S802, please refer to S601, and the details will not be described again here.

[0398] S803: The TMF 1 sends an inventory command 1 to the AN device, where the inventory command 1 is used to request to obtain the identifier of at least one terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check on at least one terminal device.

[0399] S804: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 1.

[0400] For the specific contents of S803 and S804, please refer to S602 and S603. The repeated contents will not be explained again.

[0401] Optionally, the inventory command 1 and the terminal device selection message 1 further include a first indication. For specific content of the first indication, please refer to S502. The details will not be described again here.

[0402] S805: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0403] The terminal device 1 is a terminal device that is requested to be inventoried by the inventory command 1 and that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0404] S806: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 2 to the TMF 1.

[0405] The access request 2 may include a first identifier of the terminal device 1 .

[0406] For the specific content of S806, please refer to S612, and the details will not be described again here.

[0407] S807: The TMF 1 determines whether a correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is stored locally; if a correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is stored locally, the TMF 1 determines a second identifier of the terminal device 1 based on the correspondence relationship and the first identifier of the terminal device 1. In this case, S808 and S809 are optional steps.

[0408] S808: If the TMF 1 does not locally store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1, the TMF 1 sends a request message 2 to the UDM. The request message 2 is used to request to obtain the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0409] S809: UDM sends response message 2 to TMF 1.

[0410] Response message 2 is a response to request message 2. Response message 2 may include a second identifier of terminal device 1.

[0411] For the specific contents of S807 to S809, please refer to S724 to S726, except that TMF 2 is replaced with TMF 1. The details will not be described again here.

[0412] S810: The TMF 1 stores the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0413] S811: The terminal device 1 and the network side perform security authentication.

[0414] The specific process of security authentication is not limited in this application.

[0415] S810 and S811 are optional steps.

[0416] S812: The TMF 1 performs an access procedure to the terminal device 1.

[0417] S813: The TMF 1 sends a continue inventory message to the AN device, where the continue inventory message is used to request to obtain the identifier of the next terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check on the next terminal device.

[0418] S814: Execute the target action on the next terminal device.

[0419] For the process of performing the target operation on the next terminal device, please refer to S804 to S813, except that terminal device 1 is replaced with the next terminal device, and the details will not be described again here.

[0420] S815: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory completion message to TMF 1. Here, the inventory completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0421] The feedback information of the terminal device may include at least one of the access result 1 fed back by the terminal device and a first identifier of the terminal device.

[0422] S816: TMF 1 sends access result 2 to AF.

[0423] For the specific contents of S812 to S816, please refer to S617 to S621. The repeated contents will not be explained again.

[0424] Optionally, in the method shown in FIG. 8, the UDM may be replaced by an AAA server or another network element that stores terminal device information.

[0425] According to the method shown in Figure 8, the terminal device and the UDM / AAA server may store a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device. In this way, when an inventory of the terminal device is performed, the terminal device may substitute the second identifier with the first identifier for access, and the TMF may obtain the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier from the UDM or AAA server. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of the inventory and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0426] In addition, in this method, the identifier transmitted between devices is the first identifier of the terminal device instead of the second identifier of the terminal device (e.g., EPC). In this way, even if a third party obtains the first identifier, the third party will not recognize the corresponding second identifier, thereby improving the security of transmitting the second identifier.

[0427] In addition, the length of the first identifier in the method may be variable, so that the method may be applicable to network serving terminal devices of different scales.

[0428] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is another possible example of the method shown in Fig. 4. Please refer to the flowchart shown in Fig. 9. The following will describe the steps of the method in detail by taking an example in which the first network element is a TMF 1.

[0429] S901: In a process of initializing at least one terminal device, a correspondence between a first identifier and a second identifier of the terminal device is pre-configured in the terminal device and the UDM.

[0430] The at least one terminal device may include terminal device 1 and terminal device 2.

[0431] For the specific content of S901, please refer to S801, and the details will not be described again here.

[0432] S902: The AF sends an inventory request to the TMF 1. Here, the inventory request is used to request to obtain the identifier of at least one terminal device.

[0433] The inventory request may include target area indication information and target object indication information. For the specific contents of the target area indication information and target object indication information, please refer to S601. The details will not be described again here.

[0434] S903: The TMF 1 sends an inventory check command 1 to the AN device, where the inventory check command 1 is used to request to obtain the identifier of at least one terminal device, that is, to request to check the inventory of at least one terminal device.

[0435] S904: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 1.

[0436] For the specific contents of S903 and S904, please refer to S602 and S603. The repeated contents will not be explained again.

[0437] Optionally, the inventory command 1 and the terminal device selection message 1 further include a second indication. For the specific content of the second indication, please refer to S509. The details will not be described again here.

[0438] S905: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0439] The terminal device 1 is a terminal device that is requested to be inventoried by the inventory command 1 and that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0440] S906: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 2 to the AN device.

[0441] For the specific content of access request 2, please refer to the description of access request 2 in S806. The details will not be described again here.

[0442] S907: The AN device sends an access request 2 to the TMF 1.

[0443] S908: The TMF 1 determines whether a correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is stored locally; if a correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is stored locally, the TMF 1 determines a second identifier of the terminal device 1 based on the correspondence relationship and the first identifier of the terminal device 1. In this case, S909 and S910 are optional steps.

[0444] S909: If the TMF 1 does not locally store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1, the TMF 1 sends a request message 2 to the UDM. The request message 2 is used to request to obtain the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0445] S910: UDM sends response message 2 to TMF 1.

[0446] Response message 2 is a response to request message 2. Response message 2 may include a second identifier of terminal device 1.

[0447] For the specific contents of S908 to S910, please refer to S724 to S726, except that TMF 2 is replaced with TMF 1. The details will not be described again here.

[0448] S911: The TMF 1 stores the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0449] S911 is an optional step.

[0450] S912: The terminal device 2 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0451] The terminal device 2 is a terminal device among the terminal devices requested to be inventoried by the inventory command 1 that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0452] S913: The terminal device 2 sends an access request 4 to the AN device.

[0453] The access request 4 may include a first identifier of the terminal device 2 .

[0454] S914: The AN device sends an access request 4 to the TMF 1.

[0455] Then, a device such as TMF 1 may perform the same operations on terminal device 2 as those performed on terminal device 1 in S908 to S911. The details will not be described again here.

[0456] The order in which steps S907 to S911 and steps S912 to S914 are performed is not limited in the present application.

[0457] S915: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory completion message to TMF 1. Here, the inventory completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0458] The feedback information of the terminal device may include a first identifier of the terminal device.

[0459] S916: TMF 1 sends the inventory check results to AF.

[0460] The inventory check result may include a second identifier of at least one terminal device. In addition, if the TMF 1 does not receive feedback information of any terminal device, the inventory check result may not include a second identifier of any terminal device.

[0461] For the specific contents of S915 and S916, please refer to S620 and S621, and the details will not be described again here.

[0462] Optionally, in the method shown in FIG. 9, the UDM may be replaced by an AAA server or another network element that stores terminal device information.

[0463] According to the method shown in Figure 9, the terminal device and the UDM / AAA server may store a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device. In this way, when an inventory of the terminal device is performed, the terminal device may substitute the second identifier with the first identifier for access, and the TMF may obtain the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier from the UDM or AAA server. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of the inventory and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0464] In addition, in this method, the identifier transmitted between devices is the first identifier of the terminal device instead of the second identifier of the terminal device (e.g., EPC). In this way, even if a third party obtains the first identifier, the third party will not recognize the corresponding second identifier, thereby improving the security of transmitting the second identifier.

[0465] In addition, the length of the first identifier in the method may be variable, so that the method may be applicable to network serving terminal devices of different scales.

[0466] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is another possible example of the method shown in Fig. 4. Please refer to the flowchart shown in Fig. 10. The following describes the steps of the method in detail by taking an example in which the first network element is an AF.

[0467] S1001: In the process of initializing the terminal device 1, a correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1 is pre-configured in the terminal device 1 and the AF.

[0468] The correspondence may be stored in a non-volatile memory (eg, a hard disk drive) of the terminal device 1 and the AF.

[0469] For specific details of the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1, please refer to the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier in the method shown in Fig. 4. For specific details of the first identifier of the terminal device 1, please refer to the description of the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in the method shown in Fig. 6. The details will not be described again here.

[0470] S1002: The AF sends an inventory request to the AN device, where the inventory request is used to request to obtain an identifier of at least one terminal device.

[0471] For the specific content of the inventory check request, please refer to S902. The repeated content will not be explained again.

[0472] Optionally, the inventory request further includes a fourth indication. For the specific content of the fourth indication, please refer to S602. The details will not be described again here.

[0473] S1003: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 1.

[0474] For the specific content of S1003, please refer to S603. The repeated content will not be explained again.

[0475] Optionally, the terminal device selection message 1 further includes a fourth indication.

[0476] S1004: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0477] The terminal device 1 is a terminal device, among at least one terminal device, that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0478] S1005: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 2 to the AN device.

[0479] The access request 2 may include a first identifier of the terminal device 1 .

[0480] In some possible manners, if the terminal device selection message 1 includes the fourth indication, the terminal device 1 may decide to preferentially send the first identifier, so that the access request 2 includes the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0481] In some other possible manners, the terminal device may preferentially transmit the first identifier by default. In this way, the terminal device 1 may include the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in the access request 2.

[0482] S1006: The AN device acquires an identifier of another terminal device other than the terminal device 1 among the at least one terminal device. For the acquisition method, please refer to S1004 and S1005. The details will not be described again here.

[0483] S1007: When the AN device no longer receives the feedback information of the terminal device, the AN device sends the inventory check result to the AF.

[0484] The inventory check result may include a first identifier of the at least one terminal device.

[0485] S1008: The AF determines a second identifier of the at least one terminal device based on the first identifier of the at least one terminal device.

[0486] For the specific content of S1008, please refer to S404, and the details will not be described again here.

[0487] According to the method shown in Fig. 10, the terminal device and the AF may store a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device. In this way, when an inventory check of the terminal device is performed, the terminal device may substitute the second identifier with the first identifier for access, and the AF may obtain the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of the inventory check and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0488] In addition, in this method, the identifier transmitted between devices is the first identifier of the terminal device instead of the second identifier of the terminal device (e.g., EPC). In this way, even if a third party obtains the first identifier, the third party will not recognize the corresponding second identifier, thereby improving the security of transmitting the second identifier.

[0489] In addition, the length of the first identifier in the method may be variable, so that the method may be applicable to network serving terminal devices of different scales.

[0490] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is a possible example of the method shown in Fig. 5. Please refer to the flowchart shown in Fig. 11. The following will describe the steps of the method in detail by taking an example in which the first network element is a TMF 1.

[0491] S1101: The AF sends an inventory request 1 to the TMF 1. Here, the inventory request 1 is used to periodically perform an inventory check of one or more terminal devices, that is, to periodically obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices.

[0492] The inventory request 1 may include target area indication information and target object indication information. For the specific contents of the target area indication information and target object indication information, please refer to S601. The details will not be described again here.

[0493] Optionally, inventory request 1 may further include at least one of an inventory period, an inventory duration, and an inventory quantity. Thus, the AF may request TMF 1 to perform a continuous periodic inventory, or may request TMF 1 to perform a periodic inventory within a specified duration, or may request TMF 1 to perform a periodic inventory only a specified number of times, or may request TMF 1 to perform an infinite periodic inventory.

[0494] S1102: TMF 1 sends inventory command 1 to the AN device, where inventory command 1 is used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices in period 1.

[0495] S1103: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 1.

[0496] For the specific contents of S1102 and S1103, please refer to S602 and S603. The repeated contents will not be explained again.

[0497] In addition, the inventory check command 1 and the terminal device selection message 1 further include a first indication. For the specific content of the first indication, please refer to S502. The details will not be described again here.

[0498] S1104: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0499] The terminal device 1 is a terminal device that is requested to be inventoried by the inventory command 1 and that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0500] S1105: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1.

[0501] The access request 1 may include a second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0502] For the specific content of S1105, please refer to S605, and the details will not be described again here.

[0503] S1106: The TMF 1 assigns a first identifier to a terminal device 1 that supports the first identifier, and stores the correspondence relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0504] For the specific content of S1106, please refer to S609, and the details will not be described again here.

[0505] S1107: The TMF 1 sends an access success response to the terminal device 1.

[0506] The successful access response may include the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0507] S1108: The terminal device 1 stores the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0508] For the specific content of S1108, please refer to S611. The details will not be described again here.

[0509] S1109: TMF 1 acquires the identifier of the next terminal device among the one or more terminal devices until TMF 1 acquires the identifiers of all terminal devices among the one or more terminal devices or until period 1 ends.

[0510] The TMF 1 may send a continue inventory message to the AN device, where the continue inventory message is used to request to obtain the identifier of the next terminal device, that is, to request to inventory the next terminal device. Then, the AN device and devices such as the TMF 1 may operate the next terminal device by referring to the method for operating the terminal device 1 in S1104 to S1108.

[0511] S1110: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory completion message to TMF 1. Here, the inventory completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0512] The feedback information of the terminal device may include at least one of a first identifier of the terminal device and a second identifier of the terminal device.

[0513] S1111: TMF 1 sends inventory check result 1 to AF.

[0514] Inventory check result 1 may include one or more second identifiers of the terminal devices. In addition, if TMF 1 does not receive feedback information of any terminal devices, inventory check result 1 may not include any second identifiers of any terminal devices.

[0515] For the specific contents of S1110 and S1111, please refer to S620 and S621, and the details will not be described again here.

[0516] In a possible manner, after the inventory check is completed, within a duration a (e.g., 1 second), the AN device may broadcast an excitation signal, and one or more terminal devices within the coverage of the AN device may receive the excitation signal. For specific content of this manner, see S508, except that the first period is replaced with period 1. The repeated content will not be described again.

[0517] Duration a may be the first duration in S508. Duration a may be set by the AN device or may be obtained by the AN device from TMF 1 (e.g., duration a is included in inventory command 1).

[0518] In this way, one or more terminal devices may remain turned on to ensure that the first identifier is not lost.

[0519] In another possible manner, if one or more terminal devices do not receive an excitation signal, the one or more terminal devices may remain turned on for the first duration. For example, a memory area in the terminal device that stores the first identifier may still be powered by a power source after a power failure. In this way, even if the AN device does not broadcast an excitation signal after period 1 ends, the terminal device can still store the first identifier within the duration after being turned off.

[0520] S1112: TMF 1 sends inventory command 2 to the AN device, where inventory command 2 is used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices in period 2.

[0521] S1113: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 2.

[0522] For the specific contents of S1112 and S1113, please refer to S602 and S603. The repeated contents will not be explained again.

[0523] In addition, the inventory check command 2 and the terminal device selection message 2 further include a second indication. For the specific content of the second indication, please refer to S509. The details will not be described again here.

[0524] S1114: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0525] The terminal device 1 is a terminal device that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure among the terminal devices requested to be inventoried by the inventory command 2.

[0526] S1115: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 2 to the AN device.

[0527] The access request 2 may include an identifier of the terminal device 1. If the terminal device 1 includes a first identifier of the terminal device 1, the access request 2 includes the first identifier of the terminal device 1. If the terminal device 1 does not include the first identifier of the terminal device 1, the access request 2 includes a second identifier of the terminal device 1. In other words, the terminal device 1 may preferentially transmit the first identifier. The following describes a manner in which the terminal device 1 determines to preferentially transmit the first identifier.

[0528] In some possible manners, if the terminal device selection message 1 includes the fourth indication, the terminal device 1 may decide to preferentially send the first identifier, so that the access request 2 includes the first identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0529] In some other possible manners, the terminal device may preferentially transmit the first identifier by default. In this way, the terminal device 1 may include the first identifier of the terminal device 1 in the access request 2.

[0530] S1116: The AN device sends an access request 2 to the TMF 1.

[0531] S1117: The TMF 1 determines the second identifier of the terminal device 1.

[0532] If the access request 2 includes the first identifier of the terminal device 1, the TMF 1 may determine the second identifier of the terminal device 2 based on the first identifier of the terminal device 1. For specific content of the determination, please refer to S404. The details will not be described again here.

[0533] S1118: The terminal device 2 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0534] Terminal device 2 is a terminal device among the terminal devices requested to be inventoried by inventory command 2 that successfully accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0535] Optionally, S1118 may be executed after S1115.

[0536] S1119: The terminal device 2 sends an access request 5 to the AN device.

[0537] For the specific content of S1119, please refer to S1115, except that the terminal device 1 is replaced by the terminal device 2, and the access request 2 is replaced by the access request 5. The details will not be described again here.

[0538] S1120: The AN device sends an access request 5 to the TMF 1.

[0539] Next, TMF 1 may determine a second identifier of terminal device 2. For the manner in which TMF 1 determines the second identifier of terminal device 2, see S1117, except that terminal device 1 is replaced with terminal device 2. The details will not be described again here.

[0540] S1121: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory check completion message to TMF 1. Here, the inventory check completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0541] The feedback information of the terminal device may include at least one of the identifiers of the terminal device.

[0542] S1122: TMF 1 sends inventory check result 2 to AF.

[0543] Inventory check result 2 may include a second identifier of one or more terminal devices. In addition, if TMF 1 does not receive feedback information of any terminal devices, inventory check result 2 may not include a second identifier of any terminal devices.

[0544] For the specific contents of S1121 and S1122, please refer to S620 and S621, and the details will not be described again here.

[0545] In a possible manner, after the period 2 ends, within a duration a (e.g., 1 second), the AN device may broadcast an excitation signal, and one or more terminal devices within the coverage of the AN device may receive the excitation signal. For specific content of this manner, see S508, except that the first period is replaced by period 2. The repeated content will not be described again.

[0546] In another possible manner, if one or more terminal devices do not receive an excitation signal, the one or more terminal devices may remain turned on for the first duration. In this way, even if the AN device does not broadcast an excitation signal after period 2 ends, the one or more terminal devices can still store the first identifier assigned to the one or more terminal devices by TMF 1.

[0547] Optionally, if the proportion of the second identifiers among the identifiers of the terminal devices acquired in the previous period is less than the first threshold, in the next period, TMF 1 performs an inventory check of one or more terminal devices in the same manner as in period 2. If the proportion of the second identifiers among the identifiers of the terminal devices acquired in the previous period is greater than or equal to the first threshold, in the next period, TMF 1 performs an inventory check of one or more terminal devices in the same manner as in period 1.

[0548] According to the method shown in Figure 11, when the TMF periodically inventoryes a terminal device, it may assign a first identifier to the terminal device and transmit the first identifier to the terminal device in period 1. In subsequent periods, the terminal device may replace the second identifier with the first identifier for access. Because the length of the first identifier is shorter than the length of the second identifier, the method can reduce the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of inventory and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0549] In addition, in this method, the identifier transmitted between devices is the first identifier of the terminal device instead of the second identifier of the terminal device (e.g., EPC). In this way, even if a third party obtains the first identifier, the third party will not recognize the corresponding second identifier, thereby improving the security of transmitting the second identifier.

[0550] In addition, the length of the first identifier in the method may be variable, so that the method may be applicable to network serving terminal devices of the same scale.

[0551] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to the communication system shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. The following describes the steps of the method in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 12.

[0552] S1201: TMF 1 obtains the correspondence between the AF and the second identifier prefix (eg, EPC prefix).

[0553] In some possible ways, the correspondence between the AF and the second identifier prefix is ​​pre-configured in the TMF.

[0554] In some other possible manners, the TMF may obtain the correspondence between the AF and the second identifier prefix from the AF. For example, the AF may register the second identifier prefix corresponding to the AF with the TMF.

[0555] An AF may correspond to one second identifier prefix, or may correspond to multiple second identifier prefixes.

[0556] S1202: The AF sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1. Here, the access request 1 is used to request access to at least one terminal device.

[0557] For the specific content of S1202, please refer to S601, and the details will not be described again here.

[0558] S1203: TMF 1 sends inventory command 1 to the AN device, where inventory command 1 is used to request to obtain the identifier of at least one terminal device, that is, to request to perform inventory check of at least one terminal device.

[0559] For the specific content of S1203, please refer to S602. The repeated content will not be explained again.

[0560] Optionally, the inventory command 1 further includes a second identifier prefix 1 corresponding to AF.

[0561] In some possible manners, the AF may correspond to one second identifier prefix, and the second identifier prefix 1 may be obtained by the TMF 1 based on the correspondence relationship in S1201.

[0562] In some other possible manners, the AF may correspond to multiple second identifier prefixes, and second identifier prefix 1 may be included in access request 1.

[0563] Optionally, the inventory command 1 further includes information indicating a second identifier filtering condition, and a sixth indication, where the second identifier filtering condition is that first n bits of the second identifier of the terminal device are second identifier prefix 1, where n is a positive integer. The sixth indication instructs the terminal device to feed back the truncated second identifier if the second identifier filtering condition is satisfied.

[0564] The information indicating the second identifier filtering condition may include at least one of the following:

[0565] 1. Memory area indication information: Indication information indicating the memory area where the second identifier is located.

[0566] 2. Mask start position indication information: indicating the start position of the second identifier in the memory area, where the mask start position is the start position of the second identifier in the memory area.

[0567] 3. Indication information of a mask length used by the terminal device: indicating the length of the second identifier prefix 1. Optionally, the mask length is the length of the second identifier prefix 1. For example, if the mask length is n, it indicates that the length of the second identifier prefix 1 is n.

[0568] 4. The value of the mask used by the terminal device: indicates the second identifier prefix 1. For example, the value of the mask is equal to the second identifier prefix.

[0569] S1204: The AN device broadcasts a terminal device selection message 1.

[0570] For the specific content of S1204, please refer to S603. The repeated content will not be explained again.

[0571] The terminal device selection message 1 further includes at least one of a second identifier prefix 1, information indicating a second identifier filtering condition, and a sixth indication.

[0572] S1205: The terminal device 1 accesses the AN device by using a random access procedure.

[0573] S1206: The terminal device 1 sends an access request 1 to the TMF 1.

[0574] If the terminal device 1 satisfies the second identifier filtering condition, the access request 1 includes a truncated second identifier of the terminal device 1; or if the terminal device 1 does not satisfy the second identifier filtering condition, the access request 1 includes the second identifier of the terminal device 1. The terminal device 1 may remove the second identifier prefix 1 from the second identifier of the terminal device 1 to obtain the truncated second identifier.

[0575] S1207: If the access request 1 includes the truncated second identifier of the terminal device 1, the TMF 1 may obtain the second identifier of the terminal device 1 by concatenating the second identifier prefix 1 and the truncated second identifier.

[0576] S1208: The terminal device 1 and the network side perform security authentication.

[0577] S1208 is an optional step. The specific process of security authentication is not limited in this application.

[0578] S1209: The TMF 1 executes the access procedure for the terminal device 1.

[0579] S1210: The TMF 1 sends a continue inventory message to the AN device, where the continue inventory message is used to request to obtain the identifier of the next terminal device, that is, to request to perform an inventory check on the next terminal device.

[0580] S1211: Execute the target action on the next terminal device.

[0581] For the process of executing the target operation on the next terminal device, please refer to S1205 to S1210, except that terminal device 1 is replaced with the next terminal device, and the details will not be described again here.

[0582] S1212: When the AN device no longer receives feedback information from the terminal device, the AN device sends an inventory check completion message to TMF 1. Here, the inventory check completion message instructs the AN device to terminate the execution of the target operation.

[0583] S1213: TMF 1 sends access result 2 to AF.

[0584] For the specific contents of S1209 to S1213, please refer to S617 to S621. The details will not be described again here.

[0585] S1208 to S1210 are optional steps. For example, if access request 1 in S1202 is an inventory request, the method may not include S1208 to S1210.

[0586] According to the method shown in FIG. 12, when an inventory check of a terminal device is performed, the terminal device may report a truncated second identifier, thereby reducing the overhead and duration of transmitting the identifier over the air interface, thereby improving the speed, efficiency and success rate of the inventory check and reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

[0587] In addition, in this method, the identifier transmitted between devices is a part of the second identifier of the terminal device instead of the second identifier (e.g., EPC) of the terminal device. In this way, even if a third party obtains the first identifier, the third party does not recognize the corresponding second identifier, thereby improving the security of transmitting the second identifier.

[0588] Based on the same technical concept as the method embodiments in Figures 4 to 12, one embodiment of the present application provides a communication device by using Figure 12, which can be configured to perform the functions of the relevant steps in the above-mentioned method embodiments. These functions may be implemented by hardware, software, or hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software may include one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. The structure of the communication device is shown in Figure 13, and includes a communication unit 1301 and a processing unit 1302. The communication device 1300 may be used for a terminal device, an AN device, or an AF in the communication system shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2; or the communication device 1300 may be used for a TMF in the communication system shown in Figure 2, and may implement the communication methods provided in the above-mentioned embodiments and examples of the present application. The following describes the functions of the units in the communication device 1300.

[0589] The communication unit 1301 is configured to receive and transmit data.

[0590] When the communication device 1300 is used for an AF, TMF, or AN device (in a scenario where the AN device interacts with a network element in a core network), the communication unit 1301 may be implemented by using a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, or an input / output interface. The communication device 1300 may be connected to a network cable or cables by using the communication unit to establish a physical connection to another device.

[0591] When the communication apparatus 1300 is used for a terminal device or an AN device (in a scenario where the AN device interacts with a terminal device), the communication unit 1301 may be implemented by using a transceiver, for example, a mobile communication module, which may include at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (LNA), etc.

[0592] The processing unit 1302 may be configured to support the communications device 1300 in performing processing operations in the aforementioned method embodiments. The processing unit 1302 may be implemented by a processor. The processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, etc.

[0593] In one implementation, the communication device 1300 is used for the first network element in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, or for the TMF 1 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 6, Figure 8, Figure 9 or Figure 11, or for the TMF 2 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 7B, or for the AF in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 10. The following describes the specific functions of the processing unit 1302 in this implementation.

[0594] The processing unit 1302 is configured to send a first request to the access network device by using the communication unit 1301, where the first request is used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices; to receive a first identifier from the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301, where the first terminal device is a terminal device among the one or more terminal devices, the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or the second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier, the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, the length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier, the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within the service range of a sixth network element, and the sixth network element is a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and to obtain the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier.

[0595] In a first possible manner, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to obtain a correspondence relationship between a first identifier and a second identifier; and to determine a second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence relationship.

[0596] Optionally, when the communication device 1300 is a tag management function network element, before sending the first request to the access network device, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to receive a second request from the application function network element by using the communication unit 1301, where the second request is used to request one or more terminal devices to perform a target operation; and after obtaining a second identifier of the first terminal device, to send the second identifier to the application function network element by using the communication unit 1301.

[0597] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to retrieve a locally stored correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier, or to receive the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier from a third network element by using the communication unit 1301.

[0598] In one possible design, the correspondence is a correspondence between the first information and the second identifier, and the first information is determined based on the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element. The processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to determine a second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier, the identification information of the sixth network element, and the correspondence.

[0599] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 may be configured to assign a second identifier to the first terminal device. Specifically, before sending the first request to the access network device, the processing unit 1302 is configured to send a third request to the access network device by using the communication unit 1301, where the third request is used to request to obtain identifiers of at least one terminal device, where the at least one terminal device includes a first terminal device; is configured to receive a second identifier from the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301; is configured to assign a first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device; and is configured to send the first identifier to the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301.

[0600] Optionally, before assigning the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to obtain capability information of the first terminal device, where the capability information indicates that the first terminal device has the capability of supporting the first identifier.

[0601] In a possible design, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to receive capability information from the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301, or to receive capability information of the first terminal device from the fourth network element by using the communication unit 1301.

[0602] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to determine the length of the first identifier based on a preset number threshold of terminal devices, where the number threshold is a number threshold of terminal devices within the service range of the sixth network element; and is configured to assign a first identifier of the first terminal device based on the length of the first identifier.

[0603] Optionally, after assigning the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to send the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier to the fifth network element by using the communication unit 1301, and / or to store the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier.

[0604] In addition, the terminal device 1300 may be configured to perform an inventory check on one or more terminal devices. Optionally, before sending the third request to the access network device, the processing unit 1302 is configured to receive a fourth request from the application function network element by using the communication unit 1301. The fourth request is used to request periodically obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The third request is specifically used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices at a first period. The communication device 1300 assigns identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to one or more terminal devices at a first period. The first request is specifically used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices at a second period. The communication device 1300 receives a first identifier of a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices at a second period.

[0605] Optionally, if a proportion of unique identifiers among the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices received by the communication apparatus 1300 in the second period is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to send a fifth request to the access network device by using the communication unit 1301, where the fifth request is used to request to obtain identifiers of the one or more terminal devices in a third period. The communication apparatus 1300 assigns identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the one or more terminal devices in the third period.

[0606] Optionally, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to send a third indication to the access network device by using the communication unit 1301, where the third indication instructs the access network device to send an excitation signal to one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends.

[0607] In a second possible manner, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier is pre-configured in the terminal device 1300 .

[0608] In a third possible manner, the second identifier may be determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier, and the processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to send the first identifier to the fifth network element by using the communication unit 1301; and to receive, by using the communication unit 1301, the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier.

[0609] Optionally, the first information corresponds to a second identifier, and the first information is information determined based on the first identifier and identification information of the sixth network element. The processing unit 1302 is specifically configured to send the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element to the fifth network element by using the communication unit 1301; and is configured to receive, by using the communication unit 1301, a second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element.

[0610] Optionally, in any one of the above possible manners, before receiving the first identifier from the first terminal device, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to send a fourth indication to the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301 and the access network device, where the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to send the first identifier if the first identifier exists in the first terminal device.

[0611] In one implementation, the communication device 1300 is used for the first terminal device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, or for the terminal device 1 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figures 6 to 11. The following describes the specific functions of the processing unit 1302 in this implementation.

[0612] The processing unit 1302 is configured to receive a first message from an access network device by using the communication unit 1301, the first message being used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the communication device 1300 belonging to the one or more terminal devices; and to send a first identifier to a first network element by using the communication unit 1301, where the first identifier is assigned to the communication device 1300 by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the communication device 1300, or is pre-configured in the communication device 1300 and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the communication device 1300, and the length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier within the service range of a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the communication device 1300.

[0613] In a possible manner, before receiving the first message from the access network device, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to receive a second message from the access network device by using the communication unit 1301, where the second message is used to request obtaining an identifier of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the communication device 1300; to transmit the second identifier to the first network element by using the communication unit 1301; and to receive the first identifier from the first network element by using the communication unit 1301.

[0614] Optionally, before receiving the first identifier from the first network element, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to send capability information of the communication device 1300 to the first network element by using the communication unit 1301, wherein the capability information indicates that the communication device 1300 has the capability to support the first identifier.

[0615] Optionally, before transmitting the first identifier to the access network device, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to receive a fourth indication by using the communication unit 1301, the fourth indication instructing the communication device 1300 to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the communication device 1300.

[0616] In one implementation, the communication apparatus 1300 is used for the AN device in the embodiments of the present application shown in any one of Figures 4 to 11. The following describes the specific functions of the processing unit 1302 in this implementation.

[0617] The processing unit 1302 is configured to receive a first request from a first network element by using the communication unit 1301, where the first request is used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices; to send a first message to one or more terminal devices by using the communication unit 1301, where the first message is used to obtain identifiers of the one or more terminal devices; to receive a first identifier from the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301, where the first terminal device belongs to one or more terminal devices, and the first identifier is an identifier of the first network element. the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the network element or the second network element and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device, the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, the length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier, the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within the service range of the sixth network element, the sixth network element is a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and is configured to send the first identifier to the first network element by using the communication unit 1301.

[0618] In a possible manner, before receiving the first request from the first network element, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to: receive a third request from the first network element by using the communication unit 1301, where the third request is used to request obtaining an identifier of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; send a second message to the at least one terminal device by using the communication unit 1301, where the second message is used to request obtaining an identifier of the at least one terminal device; receive a second identifier from the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301; send the second identifier to the first network element by using the communication unit 1301; receive a first identifier from the first network element by using the communication unit 1301; and send the first identifier to the first terminal device by using the communication unit 1301.

[0619] Optionally, when the access network device periodically acquires identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the processing unit 1302 is further configured to receive a third indication from the first network element by using the communication unit 1301, where the third indication instructs the access network device to transmit an excitation signal to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends.

[0620] It should be noted that the division into these modules in the above-described embodiments of the present application is merely an example and is merely a logical division of functions, and other divisions may be used in actual implementation. In addition, the functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit.

[0621] When implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold and used as an independent product, the integrated unit may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application may essentially be implemented in the form of a software product, or a portion of the technical solutions may be implemented in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) or a processor to perform all or some of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. The storage medium includes any medium capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0622] Based on the same technical concept, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device by using Fig. 14, which can be configured to perform the relevant steps in the above-mentioned method embodiments. The communication device can be used for a terminal device, an AN device, or an AF in the communication system shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2; or Place 14002, may implement the communication methods provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application, and have the functions of the communication device shown in Fig. 13. Please refer to Fig. 14. The communication device 1400 includes a communication module 1401, a processor 1402, and a memory 1403. The communication module 1401, the processor 1402, and the memory 1403 are connected to each other.

[0623] Optionally, the communication module 1401, the processor 1402, and the memory 1403 are connected to each other through a bus 1404. The bus 1404 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus may be classified into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, only one thick line is used to represent a bus in Figure 14, but this does not indicate the presence of only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0624] The communication module 1401 is configured to receive and transmit data to implement communication and interaction with another device. For example, the communication module 1401 may be implemented through a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, or an input / output interface.

[0625] The processor 1402 may be configured to support the communications device 1400 in performing processing operations in the aforementioned method embodiments. When the communications device 1400 is configured to implement the aforementioned method embodiments, the processor 1402 may be further configured to implement the functionality of the processing unit 1302. The processor 1402 may be a CPU, or may be another general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, any conventional processor, or the like.

[0626] In one implementation, the communications device 1400 is used for the first network element in the embodiment of the present application shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, or for TMF 1 in the embodiment of the present application shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, or FIG. 11, or for TMF 2 in the embodiment of the present application shown in FIG. 7B, or for the AF in the embodiment of the present application shown in FIG. 10. The processor 1402 is specifically configured to: send a first request to the access network device by using the communication module 1401, where the first request is used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices; receive a first identifier from the first terminal device by using the communication module 1401, where the first terminal device is a terminal device among one or more terminal devices, the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or the second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier, the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, the length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier, the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within the service range of a sixth network element, and the sixth network element is a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and obtain the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier.

[0627] In one implementation, the communication device 1400 is used for the first terminal device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, or for the terminal device 1 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figures 6 to 11. The processor 1402 is specifically configured to receive a first message from an access network device by using the communication module 1401, the first message being used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the communication device 1400 belonging to the one or more terminal devices; and to send a first identifier to a first network element by using the communication module 1401, where the first identifier is assigned to the communication device 1400 by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the communication device 1400, or is pre-configured in the communication device 1400 and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the communication device 1400, and the length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier within the service range of a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the communication device 1400.

[0628] In one implementation, the communication apparatus 1400 is used for the AN device in the embodiment of the present application shown in any one of Figures 4 to 11. The processor 1402 is specifically configured to: receive a first request from a first network element by using the communication module 1401, where the first request is used to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices; send a first message to the one or more terminal devices by using the communication module 1401, where the first message is used to obtain identifiers of the one or more terminal devices; receive a first identifier from the first terminal device by using the communication module 1401, where the first terminal device belongs to the one or more terminal devices, and the first identifier is used to obtain identifiers of the first network element. the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the sixth network element or the second network element and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device, the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, the length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier, the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within the service range of the sixth network element, the sixth network element is a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and is configured to send the first identifier to the first network element by using the communication module 1401.

[0629] For specific functions of the processor 1402, please refer to the description of the communication method provided in the foregoing embodiments and examples of the present application, and the description of specific functions of the communication device 1300 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 13. The details will not be described again here.

[0630] The memory 1403 is configured to store program instructions, data, and the like. Specifically, the program instructions may include program code, which includes computer operation instructions. The memory 1403 may include a RAM, or may further include a non-volatile memory, for example, at least one magnetic disk memory. The processor 1402 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 1403 and implements the above-mentioned functions by using the data stored in the memory 1403 to implement the communication methods provided in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application.

[0631] It may be understood that the memory 1403 in Figure 14 of the present application may be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include volatile memory and nonvolatile memory. Nonvolatile memory may be ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory may be RAM, which acts as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM may be used, such as static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate SDRAM, DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), Synchlink dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM), and direct Rambus random access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DR RAM). It should be noted that memory in the systems and methods described herein includes, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0632] Based on the above-mentioned embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to perform the method provided in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0633] Based on the above embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to perform the method provided in the above embodiment.

[0634] The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. The following provides an example, not a limitation. Computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can hold or store expected program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

[0635] Based on the above embodiment, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is configured to read a computer program stored in a memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiment.

[0636] Based on the above-described embodiments, one embodiment of the present application provides a chip system. The chip system includes a processor configured to support a computer device in implementing functions related to the device in the above-described embodiments. In a possible design, the chip system further includes a memory configured to store programs and data required by the computer device. The chip system may include a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete components.

[0637] In conclusion, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus. In the method, a first network element sends a first request to an access network device to request to obtain identifiers of one or more terminal devices. The first network element may receive a first identifier from the first terminal device and obtain a second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier. The first terminal device is a terminal device among the one or more terminal devices. The first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to the second identifier, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier. The second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device. The length of the second identifier is greater than the length of the first identifier. The first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within the service range of a sixth network element. The sixth network element is a network element providing service for the first terminal device. According to the method, the first terminal device may perform an inventory check by using a shorter first identifier, thereby improving the efficiency and speed of the inventory check.

[0638] In various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise stated or logically contradictory, the terms and / or descriptions in different embodiments are consistent and may be cross-referenced, and the technical features in different embodiments may be combined based on their internal logical relationships to form new embodiments.

[0639] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present application may take the form of a hardware-only embodiment, a software-only embodiment, or an embodiment including a combination of software and hardware. In addition, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0640] The present application has been described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It will be understood that each procedure and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and / or combinations of procedures and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be implemented using computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or another programmable data processing device to create a machine, such that the instructions, when executed by the processor of the computer or another programmable data processing device, create an apparatus for implementing the functions specified in one or more procedures in the flowcharts and / or in one or more blocks of the block diagrams.

[0641] These computer program instructions may alternatively be stored in a computer-readable memory that can instruct a computer or any other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory generate an artifact that includes an instruction apparatus that implements a particular function in one or more processes of the flowcharts and / or in one or more blocks of the block diagrams.

[0642] The computer program instructions may alternatively be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing device such that a sequence of operations and steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to generate a computer-implemented process. Thus, the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing a particular function in one or more procedures in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

[0643] It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. The present application is intended to cover these modifications and variations, provided that they fall within the scope defined by the claims of the present application and their equivalents. 。 [Other possible items] [Item 1] 1. A communication method comprising: sending, by a first network element, a first request to an access network device, wherein the first request is used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices; receiving, by the first network element, a first identifier from a first terminal device, where the first terminal device is a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is preconfigured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, and a length of the second identifier is greater than a length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and obtaining, by the first network element, the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier. A method comprising: [Item 2] The step of obtaining, by the first network element, the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier includes: obtaining, by the first network element, a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier; determining, by the first network element, the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence relationship. having The method according to item 1. [Item 3] The method of item 2, wherein, if the first network element is a tag management function network element, before the step of sending a first request to an access network device by the first network element, the method further comprises a step of receiving a second request from an application function network element by the first network element, wherein the second request is used to request the one or more terminal devices to perform a target operation; and after the step of obtaining the second identifier of the first terminal device, the method further comprises a step of sending the second identifier to the application function network element by the first network element. [Item 4] The step of obtaining, by the first network element, a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier comprises: obtaining, by the first network element, a locally stored correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier; or receiving, by the first network element, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier from a third network element. Including, The method according to item 2 or 3. [Item 5] The correspondence is a correspondence between first information and the second identifier, and the first information is information determined based on the first identifier and identification information of the sixth network element; and determining, by the first network element, the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence relationship, determining, by the first network element, the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier, the identification information of the sixth network element, and the correspondence relationship; Including, 5. The method according to any one of items 2 to 4. [Item 6] Prior to the step of transmitting a first request by the first network element to the access network device, the method further comprises: sending a third request by the first network element to the access network device, wherein the third request is used to request obtaining an identifier of the at least one terminal device, and the at least one terminal device includes the first terminal device; receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier from the first terminal device; assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device; and transmitting, by the first network element, the first identifier to the first terminal device; 6. The method of any one of items 1 to 5, further comprising: [Item 7] Prior to the step of assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, the method further comprises: obtaining capability information of the first terminal device by the first network element, wherein the capability information indicates that the first terminal device has the capability to support the first identifier. Item 7. The method of item 6, further comprising: [Item 8] The step of obtaining capability information of the first terminal device by the first network element comprises: receiving, by the first network element, the capability information from the first terminal device; or receiving, by the first network element, the capability information of the first terminal device from a fourth network element; having The method according to item 7. [Item 9] the step of assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, determining, by the first network element, the length of the first identifier based on a preset number threshold of terminal devices, where the number threshold is a number threshold of terminal devices within the service range of the sixth network element; and assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier to the first terminal device based on the length of the first identifier. having 9. The method according to any one of items 6 to 8. [Item 10] After the step of assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the first network element, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier to a fifth network element; and / or storing, by the first network element, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier; 10. The method of any one of items 6 to 9, further comprising: [Item 11] Prior to the step of sending a third request by the first network element to the access network device, the method further comprises: receiving, by the first network element, a fourth request from the application function network element, wherein the fourth request is used to request periodically obtaining the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices; Furthermore, The third request is specifically used to request the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices to be obtained at a first period, and the first network element assigns identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the one or more terminal devices at the first period; and The first request is specifically used to request that the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices be acquired at a second period, and the first network element receives the first identifier of the first terminal device among the one or more terminal devices at the second period. 11. The method according to any one of items 6 to 10. [Item 12] If a proportion of unique identifiers among the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices received by the first network element in the second period is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the first network element sends a fifth request to the access network device, the fifth request is used to request obtaining the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices in a third period, and the first network element assigns the identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the one or more terminal devices in the third period. Item 12. The method according to item 11. [Item 13] transmitting, by the first network element, a third indication to the access network device, wherein the third indication instructs the access network device to transmit an excitation signal to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends. 13. The method according to item 11 or 12, further comprising: [Item 14] 5. The method according to any one of items 2 to 4, wherein the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier is pre-configured in the first network element. [Item 15] The step of obtaining, by the first network element, the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier includes: transmitting, by the first network element, the first identifier to a fifth network element; and receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier; having The method according to item 1. [Item 16] first information corresponds to the second identifier, and the first information is information determined based on the first identifier and identification information of the sixth network element; The step of transmitting the first identifier by the first network element to a fifth network element includes transmitting the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element by the first network element to the fifth network element; and The step of receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier includes receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element. Item 15. The method according to item 15. [Item 17] Prior to the step of receiving a first identifier from a first terminal device by the first network element, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the first network element, a fourth indication to the first terminal device by using the access network device, wherein the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the first terminal device. 17. The method of any one of items 1 to 16, further comprising: [Item 18] 1. A communication method comprising: receiving a first message from an access network device by a first terminal device, wherein the first message is used to request service acquisition of identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the first terminal device belonging to the one or more terminal devices; and transmitting a first identifier by the first terminal device to a first network element, wherein the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, and a length of the second identifier is greater than a length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the first terminal device. A method comprising: [Item 19] Prior to the step of receiving a first message from an access network device by a first terminal device, the method further comprises: receiving a second message from the access network device by the first terminal device, wherein the second message is used to request obtaining an identifier of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; transmitting, by the first terminal device, the second identifier to the first network element; and receiving, by the first terminal device, the first identifier from the first network element; Item 19. The method of item 18, further comprising: [Item 20] Prior to the step of receiving the first identifier from the first network element by the first terminal device, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the first terminal device, capability information of the first terminal device to the first network element, wherein the capability information indicates that the first terminal device has the capability to support the first identifier. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: [Item 21] Prior to the step of transmitting, by the first terminal device, a first identifier of the first terminal device to the access network device, the method further comprises: receiving a fourth indication by the first terminal device, wherein the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the first terminal device; 21. The method of any one of items 18 to 20, further comprising: [Item 22] 1. A communication method comprising: receiving, by the access network device, a first request from a first network element, wherein the first request is used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices; sending, by the access network device, a first message to the one or more terminal devices, wherein the first message is used to obtain the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices; receiving, by the access network device, a first identifier from a first terminal device, wherein the first terminal device belongs to the one or more terminal devices; the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, and a length of the second identifier is greater than a length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and transmitting the first identifier by the access network device to the first network element. A method comprising: [Item 23] Prior to the step of receiving a first request from a first network element by the access network device, the method further comprises: receiving, by the access network device, a third request from the first network element, wherein the third request is used to request obtaining an identifier of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; sending a second message by the access network device to the at least one terminal device, wherein the second message is used to request obtaining the identifier of the at least one terminal device; receiving, by the access network device, the second identifier from the first terminal device; transmitting, by the access network device, the second identifier to the first network element; receiving, by the access network device, the first identifier from the first network element; and transmitting the first identifier by the access network device to the first terminal device; 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: [Item 24] When the access network device periodically obtains the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices, the method further comprises: receiving, by the access network device, a third indication from the first network element, wherein the third indication instructs the access network device to transmit an excitation signal to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends. 24. The method of claim 22 or 23, further comprising: [Item 25] a communication unit configured to receive and transmit data; and a processing unit configured to perform the method according to any one of items 1 to 24 by using said communication unit. A communication device comprising: [Item 26] a first network element configured to implement the method according to any one of items 1 to 17; A terminal device configured to implement the method according to any one of items 18 to 21; and 25. An access network device configured to implement the method according to any one of items 22 to 24. A communication system comprising: [Item 27] 25. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program; and the computer program, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to perform the method according to any one of items 1 to 24. [Item 28] 25. A chip, wherein the chip is coupled to a memory, and the chip reads a computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of any one of items 1 to 24.

Claims

1. 1. A communication method comprising: sending, by a first network element, a first request to an access network device, wherein the first request is used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices; receiving, by the first network element, a first identifier from a first terminal device, where the first terminal device is a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is preconfigured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, and a length of the second identifier is greater than a length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and obtaining, by the first network element, the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier. A method comprising:

2. The step of obtaining, by the first network element, the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier, comprises: obtaining, by the first network element, a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier; determining, by the first network element, the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence relationship. having The method of claim 1.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein, when the first network element is a tag management function network element, before the step of transmitting a first request to an access network device by the first network element, the method further comprises a step of receiving a second request from an application function network element by the first network element, wherein the second request is used to request the one or more terminal devices to perform a target operation; and after the step of obtaining the second identifier of the first terminal device, the method further comprises a step of transmitting the second identifier to the application function network element by the first network element.

4. The step of obtaining, by the first network element, a correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier comprises: obtaining, by the first network element, a locally stored correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier; or receiving, by the first network element, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier from a third network element. Including, The method according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The correspondence is a correspondence between first information and the second identifier, and the first information is information determined based on the first identifier and identification information of the sixth network element; and determining, by the first network element, the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier and the correspondence relationship, determining, by the first network element, the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier based on the first identifier, the identification information of the sixth network element, and the correspondence relationship; Including, 5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. Prior to the step of transmitting a first request by the first network element to the access network device, the method further comprises: sending a third request by the first network element to the access network device, wherein the third request is used to request obtaining an identifier of the at least one terminal device, and the at least one terminal device includes the first terminal device; receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier from the first terminal device; assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device; and transmitting, by the first network element, the first identifier to the first terminal device; The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

7. Prior to the step of assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, the method further comprises: obtaining, by the first network element, capability information of the first terminal device, wherein the capability information indicates that the first terminal device has the capability to support the first identifier. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

8. The step of obtaining capability information of the first terminal device by the first network element comprises: receiving, by the first network element, the capability information from the first terminal device; or receiving, by the first network element, the capability information of the first terminal device from a fourth network element; having The method of claim 7.

9. the step of assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, determining, by the first network element, the length of the first identifier based on a preset number threshold of terminal devices, where the number threshold is a number threshold of terminal devices within the service range of the sixth network element; and assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier to the first terminal device based on the length of the first identifier. having 9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. After the step of assigning, by the first network element, the first identifier corresponding to the second identifier to the first terminal device, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the first network element, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier to a fifth network element; and / or storing, by the first network element, the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier; The method of any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising:

11. Prior to the step of sending a third request by the first network element to the access network device, the method further comprises: receiving, by the first network element, a fourth request from the application function network element, wherein the fourth request is used to request periodically obtaining the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices; Furthermore, The third request is specifically used to request the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices to be obtained at a first period, and the first network element assigns identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the one or more terminal devices at the first period; and The first request is specifically used to request that the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices be acquired at a second period, and the first network element receives the first identifier of the first terminal device among the one or more terminal devices at the second period.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10.

12. If a proportion of unique identifiers among the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices received by the first network element in the second period is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the first network element sends a fifth request to the access network device, the fifth request is used to request obtaining the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices in a third period, and the first network element assigns the identifiers within the service range of the sixth network element to the one or more terminal devices in the third period. The method of claim 11.

13. transmitting, by the first network element, a third indication to the access network device, wherein the third indication instructs the access network device to transmit an excitation signal to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends. The method of claim 11 or 12, further comprising:

14. The method of claim 2 , wherein the correspondence between the first identifier and the second identifier is pre-configured in the first network element.

15. The step of obtaining, by the first network element, the second identifier of the first terminal device based on the first identifier, comprises: transmitting, by the first network element, the first identifier to a fifth network element; and receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier; having The method of claim 1.

16. first information corresponds to the second identifier, and the first information is information determined based on the first identifier and identification information of the sixth network element; The step of transmitting the first identifier by the first network element to a fifth network element includes transmitting the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element by the first network element to the fifth network element; and The step of receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier includes receiving, by the first network element, the second identifier determined by the fifth network element based on the first identifier and the identification information of the sixth network element.

16. The method of claim 15.

17. Prior to the step of receiving a first identifier from a first terminal device by the first network element, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the first network element, a fourth indication to the first terminal device by using the access network device, wherein the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the first terminal device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

18. 1. A communication method comprising: receiving a first message from an access network device by a first terminal device, wherein the first message is used to request service acquisition for identifiers of one or more terminal devices, the first terminal device belonging to the one or more terminal devices; and transmitting a first identifier by the first terminal device to a first network element, wherein the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is preconfigured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, and a length of the second identifier is greater than a length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the first terminal device. A method comprising:

19. Prior to the step of receiving a first message from an access network device by a first terminal device, the method further comprises: receiving a second message from the access network device by the first terminal device, wherein the second message is used to request obtaining an identifier of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; transmitting, by the first terminal device, the second identifier to the first network element; and receiving, by the first terminal device, the first identifier from the first network element; 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

20. Prior to the step of receiving the first identifier from the first network element by the first terminal device, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the first terminal device, capability information of the first terminal device to the first network element, wherein the capability information indicates that the first terminal device has the capability to support the first identifier.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

21. Prior to the step of transmitting, by the first terminal device, a first identifier of the first terminal device to the access network device, the method further comprises: receiving a fourth indication by the first terminal device, wherein the fourth indication instructs the first terminal device to transmit the first identifier if the first identifier is present in the first terminal device.

21. The method of any one of claims 18 to 20, further comprising:

22. 1. A communication method comprising: receiving, by the access network device, a first request from a first network element, wherein the first request is used to request obtaining identifiers of one or more terminal devices; sending, by the access network device, a first message to the one or more terminal devices, wherein the first message is used to obtain the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices; receiving, by the access network device, a first identifier from a first terminal device, wherein the first terminal device belongs to the one or more terminal devices; the first identifier is assigned to the first terminal device by the first network element or a second network element and corresponds to a second identifier of the first terminal device, or is pre-configured in the first terminal device and corresponds to the second identifier of the first terminal device; the second identifier is a unique identifier of the first terminal device, and a length of the second identifier is greater than a length of the first identifier; and the first identifier is an identifier of the first terminal device within a service area of ​​a sixth network element, the sixth network element being a network element providing service for the first terminal device; and transmitting the first identifier by the access network device to the first network element. A method comprising:

23. Prior to the step of receiving a first request from a first network element by the access network device, the method further comprises: receiving, by the access network device, a third request from the first network element, wherein the third request is used to request obtaining an identifier of at least one terminal device, the at least one terminal device including the first terminal device; sending a second message by the access network device to the at least one terminal device, wherein the second message is used to request obtaining the identifier of the at least one terminal device; receiving, by the access network device, the second identifier from the first terminal device; transmitting, by the access network device, the second identifier to the first network element; receiving, by the access network device, the first identifier from the first network element; and transmitting the first identifier by the access network device to the first terminal device; 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

24. When the access network device periodically obtains the identifiers of the one or more terminal devices, the method further comprises: receiving, by the access network device, a third indication from the first network element, wherein the third indication instructs the access network device to transmit an excitation signal to the one or more terminal devices within a first duration after each period ends.

24. The method of claim 22 or 23, further comprising:

25. a communication unit configured to receive and transmit data; and A processing unit configured to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 24 by using said communication unit. A communication device comprising:

26. a first network element configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 17; A terminal device configured to implement the method of any one of claims 18 to 21; and An access network device configured to implement the method of any one of claims 22 to 24. A communication system comprising:

27. 25. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program; and the computer program, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 24.

28. A chip, wherein the chip is coupled to a memory, the chip reading a computer program stored in the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 24.

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