Communication method and related device

Abstract

A communication method and a related device. In the method, after sending first information for requesting a service, a first communication apparatus can receive, from N functional entities, data for the service, and the first information is used for determining the N functional entities that provide the service. In other words, the service requested by the first communication apparatus can be provided by the N functional entities; the N functional entities can be deployed on (and / or connected to) one or more communication apparatuses. That is, the data for the service requested by the first communication apparatus can be provided by means of the one or more communication apparatuses. Thus, in a communication system, the one or more communication apparatuses can provide a service on the basis of a request from another communication apparatus, thereby increasing the utilization rate of data processing capabilities of the communication apparatuses by means of collaboration between different communication apparatuses.

Description

Communication method and related equipment

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on December 21, 2023, with application number 202311776066.5 and application name “Communication Methods and Related Equipment,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and related equipment. Background Art

[0003] Traditional communication networks are designed to provide the connection channels required for data communication between terminals and between terminals and application servers, as well as corresponding lifecycle management mechanisms and communication quality of service (QoS) guarantees.

[0004] Currently, communication devices in communication networks may possess data processing capabilities in addition to signal transceiver capabilities. Generally, this data processing capability provides computing power to support the aforementioned data communication process. For example, this data processing capability can provide computing power to support the signal transceiver capabilities of the node, thereby determining the time and frequency domain resources for signal transceiver transmission and reception, and enabling communication between the communication device and other communication devices through the signal transceiver process.

[0005] However, in addition to processing signals received and sent in a communication network, a communication device may also perform other processing. Therefore, how to improve the utilization rate of the data processing capability of a communication device is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and related equipment for enabling a communication device to provide services based on requests from other communication devices, thereby improving the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices through the collaborative work of different communication devices.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a first communication device. The first communication device may be a communication device (such as a network device or a terminal device), or may be a component of a communication device (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system), or may be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the first communication device sends first information to a second communication device, where the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; and the first communication device receives service data from the N functional entities.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, after the first communication device sends the first information for requesting a service, the first communication device can receive service data from N functional entities, and the first information is used to determine the N functional entities that provide the service. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein some or all of the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, the one or more communication devices can provide data for the service requested by the first communication device. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on requests from other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0010] In this application, terms such as functional entity, entity, logical entity, and physical entity can be used interchangeably.

[0011] It should be noted that the number of communication devices deployed on (and / or connected to) N functional entities may be one or more, and the number of the communication devices may have multiple relationships with the value of N. For example, take the communication devices connected to N functional entities as an example. For example, when different functional entities are connected to different communication devices, the number of the communication devices may be equal to the value of N. For another example, when at least two different functional entities are connected to the same communication device, the number of the communication devices may be less than the value of N. For another example, when at least one different functional entity is connected to two or more communication devices, the number of the communication devices may be greater than the value of N.

[0012] Optionally, during the process of the first communication device receiving service data from the N functional entities, the first communication device may communicate via a direct link, for example, the first communication device communicates with the N functional entities respectively via the direct link to receive the service data. Alternatively, the first communication device may communicate via other means, for example, the first communication device communicates with the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) to receive the service data; for another example, the first communication device may communicate with a portion of the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) and communicate with another portion of the N functional entities via a direct link to receive the service data; for another example, the first communication device communicates with the N functional entities via a wireless link and / or a wired link to receive the service data.

[0013] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first communication device sending the first information to the second communication device includes: the first communication device sending the first information to the second communication device through a network exposure function (NEF).

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, when the first communication device is an application (for example, the application is a client application (Client APP) deployed on a terminal device or a server application (Server APP) deployed on an application server), the communication process between the first communication device and the second communication device can be forwarded through NEF, that is, the first communication device can send the first information for requesting service to the second communication device through NEF.

[0015] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0016] The service type information is used to indicate the type of the service, including at least one of Network as a Service (NaaS), Computing as a Service (CaaS), AI as a Service (AIaaS), and Data as a Service (DaaS);

[0017] Content information of the service, used to indicate demand for network resources and at least one of QoS requirements for the service;

[0018] The feedback triggering condition information of the service is used to indicate the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status.

[0019] Based on the above technical solution, the first information for requesting a service may include at least one of the above items to improve the flexibility of the solution implementation. In addition, the at least one item may also be used to represent the requested service-related information so that the first communication device can obtain the corresponding service.

[0020] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status includes a threshold of a QoS deviation degree and / or a QoS deviation value.

[0021] Based on the above technical solution, the feedback trigger condition information of the service contained in the first information can be used to indicate the QoS deviation degree and / or the threshold of the QoS deviation value. In this way, the subsequent second communication device can feedback the QoS status of the service to the first communication device based on the QoS status information of the service provided to the first communication device, as well as the QoS deviation degree and / or the threshold of the QoS deviation value.

[0022] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes: the first communication device receiving indication information indicating QoS status information of the service.

[0023] Based on the above technical solution, the first communication device may also receive the above indication information so that the first communication device can clearly understand the QoS status of the service.

[0024] Optionally, the indication information indicating the QoS status information of the service may come from the second communication device, N functional entities, or other communication devices mentioned later (eg, a third communication device, a fourth communication device, a fifth communication device, etc.).

[0025] Optionally, the indication information indicating the QoS status information of the service may be information sent periodically, or information triggered based on a condition (eg, QoS is lower than a threshold), and the like.

[0026] A second aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be a communication device (such as a network device), or the second communication device can be a component of the communication device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or the second communication device can also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the second communication device receives first information from the first communication device, the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; and the second communication device sends second information to the N functional entities, the second information is used to instruct the first communication device to provide the service.

[0027] Based on the above technical solution, after the second communication device receives the first information for requesting a service, the second communication device can determine N functional entities that provide the service based on the first information. In addition, the second communication device can send second information to the N functional entities to indicate that the service is to be provided to the first communication device, and subsequently the first communication device can receive data on services from the N functional entities. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on requests from other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0028] Optionally, the second communication device may send the second information to the N functional entities in a variety of ways. For example, the second communication device may send the second information to the N functional entities respectively, that is, each functional entity obtains the second information; or, the second information may include N copies of the same or different information and the second communication device may send the N copies of the same or different information to the N functional entities respectively, that is, each functional entity obtains one of the respective N copies of information.

[0029] Optionally, during the process of the second communication device sending the second information to the N functional entities, the second communication device may communicate via a direct link. For example, the second communication device communicates with the N functional entities respectively via the direct link to achieve the transmission of the second information. Alternatively, the second communication device may communicate via other means. For example, the second communication device communicates with the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) to achieve the transmission of the second information. For another example, the second communication device may communicate with a portion of the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) and communicate with another portion of the N functional entities via a direct link to achieve the transmission of the second information.

[0030] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the second communication device receives the first information from the first communication device, including: the second communication device receives the first information from the first communication device through the NEF.

[0031] Based on the above technical solution, when the first communication device is an application (for example, the application is a Client APP deployed on a terminal device or a Server APP deployed on an application server), the communication process between the first communication device and the second communication device can be forwarded through NEF, that is, the second communication device can receive the first information from the second communication device through NEF.

[0032] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes: the second communication device obtains third information, where the third information is used to indicate resource status information of M functional entities, where the M functional entities include the N functional entities, and M is greater than or equal to N.

[0033] Optionally, the third information may be used to determine N functional entities. In other words, the first information is used to determine the N functional entities providing the service, including: the first information and the third information are used to determine the N functional entities among the M functional entities.

[0034] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device can also obtain third information indicating the resource status information of M functional entities, and based on the first information and the third information, determine N functional entities that provide services to the first communication device among the M functional entities, so that the second communication device can determine N functional entities that meet the service requirements among the M functional entities.

[0035] Optionally, the second communication device can obtain the third information in a variety of ways. For example, the second communication device can receive the resource status information from the M functional entities respectively, and then obtain the third information based on the resource status information of the M functional entities; or, the second communication device can receive information from one or more management devices, and obtain the third information based on the received information; wherein, the one or more management devices are used to manage / control / obtain the resource status information of the M functional entities.

[0036] Optionally, the third information can be information periodically acquired by the second communication device, or information acquired by the second communication device based on conditional triggering (for example, when the resource status of one or more functional entities changes or the change value exceeds a threshold, etc.), or implemented in other ways, which is not limited here.

[0037] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the second information includes at least one of the following: an identifier of the task, a type of the task, a QoS requirement of the task, and a feedback trigger condition for the QoS achievement of the task; wherein the task is used to provide the service.

[0038] Based on the above technical solution, the second message sent by the second communication device can include at least one of the aforementioned task-related information, and the task is used to provide the service. In other words, after receiving the first message requesting the service, the second communication device can use the second message to send a task instructing N functional entities to provide the service. In this way, the service requested by the first communication device can be published in the form of a task, adapting to a "task-centric" network.

[0039] Optionally, the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device. When the second information includes at least one of the above-mentioned task-related information, the second communication device can provide the service in the form of a task. Accordingly, in the second aspect and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as a task management function (TMF), or a TMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0040] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the QoS requirement of the task includes one or more QoS requirements of the N functional entities.

[0041] Based on the above technical solution, the QoS requirements of the task may include the QoS requirements for providing services to N functional entities. In this way, the QoS requirements of the task can be guaranteed if the services provided by the N functional entities meet the QoS requirements of the services provided.

[0042] Optionally, among the one or more QoS requirements of N functional entities included in the QoS requirements of a task, the number of the one or more QoS requirements and the value of N may be realized in multiple ways. For example, when different functional entities have different QoS requirements, the number of QoS requirements may be equal to the value of N. For another example, when at least two different functional entities have the same QoS requirements, the number of QoS requirements may be less than the value of N.

[0043] Optionally, the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status of the task may include feedback triggering conditions of one or more QoS requirement achievement statuses of the N functional entities.

[0044] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the task satisfies at least one of the following:

[0045] The first information is used to determine the identifier of the task;

[0046] The first information includes type information of the service and / or content information of the service, where the type information of the service and / or the content information of the service are used to determine the type of the task;

[0047] The first information includes content information of the service, where the content information of the service is used to determine the QoS requirement of the task;

[0048] The first information includes feedback triggering condition information of the service, and the feedback triggering condition information of the service is used to determine a feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status of the task.

[0049] Optionally, the type of the task includes at least one of a computation offloading task, an AI task, and a data collection task.

[0050] Based on the above technical solution, the task-related information indicated by the second information can be determined by the first information requesting the service, so that the task indicated by the second information can provide the data required by the service.

[0051] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the method also includes: the second communication device receives fourth information from the N functional entities, and the fourth information is used to indicate the QoS achievement status of the service; the second communication device sends fifth information to the N functional entities and / or the first communication device based on the fourth information, and the fifth information is used to update the QoS requirements of the task.

[0052] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device can also receive fourth information from the N functional entities indicating the QoS achievement status of the service, and the second communication device can also send fifth information for updating the QoS requirements of the task based on the fourth information to achieve policy optimization of the QoS requirements of the task.

[0053] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0054] The type information of the service is used to indicate the type of the service, including at least one of Network as a Service, Compute as a Service, AI as a Service, and Data as a Service;

[0055] Content information of the service, used to indicate demand for network resources and at least one of QoS requirements for the service;

[0056] The feedback triggering condition information of the service is used to indicate the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status.

[0057] Based on the above technical solution, the first information for requesting a service may include at least one of the above items to improve the flexibility of the solution implementation. In addition, the at least one item may also be used to represent the requested service-related information so that the first communication device can obtain the corresponding service.

[0058] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status includes a threshold of the QoS deviation degree and / or the QoS deviation value.

[0059] Based on the above technical solution, the feedback trigger condition information of the service contained in the first information can be used to indicate the QoS deviation degree and / or the threshold of the QoS deviation value. In this way, the subsequent second communication device can feedback the QoS status of the service to the first communication device based on the QoS status information of the service provided to the first communication device, as well as the QoS deviation degree and / or the threshold of the QoS deviation value.

[0060] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the second communication device may be a component of the communication device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or the second communication device may also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the second communication device receives first information from the first communication device, the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the second communication device sends sixth information to the third communication device based on the first information, the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the second communication device receives seventh information from the third communication device, the seventh information is used to indicate resource status information of the one or more functional entities; the first information and the seventh information are used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities; the second communication device sends second information to the N functional entities, the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device.

[0061] Based on the above technical solution, after the second communication device receives the first information for requesting a service, the second communication device can determine the N functional entities that provide the service through the seventh information exchanged with the third communication device. In addition, the second communication device can send second information to the N functional entities to indicate that the service is to be provided to the first communication device, and subsequently the first communication device can receive service data from the N functional entities. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be connected to one or more communication devices, that is, the one or more communication devices connected to the N functional entities can provide data for the service requested by the first communication device. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on requests from other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0062] Optionally, the first information may also include: one or more of the demand for computing resources and / or transmission resources, QoS requirements, and feedback trigger conditions for QoS achievement. In this way, the second communication device can meet the one or more of the services indicated by the second information based on the first information. For example, the service indicated by the second information can meet the demand for computing resources and / or transmission resources and / or QoS requirements. For another example, the service indicated by the second information can provide feedback on QoS achievement when the feedback trigger condition is triggered.

[0063] Optionally, the second information may also be used to indicate a computing task allocation strategy on the N functional entities.

[0064] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device includes type information indicating that the type of the service is CaaS, and the second communication device can instruct the N functional entities to provide CaaS type services for the first communication device through the second information. Accordingly, in the third aspect and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as a computing management function (CMF), or a CMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0065] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a third communication device. The third communication device may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the third communication device may be a component of the communication device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or the third communication device may be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the third communication device receives sixth information from the second communication device, the sixth information being used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the third communication device sends seventh information to the second communication device, the seventh information being used to indicate the resource status information of the one or more functional entities; and the seventh information being used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities.

[0066] Based on the above technical solution, after the third communication device receives a request for resource status information of one or more functional entities, the third communication device can send seventh information indicating the resource status information of the one or more functional entities. Subsequently, the second communication device can determine N functional entities from the one or more functional entities through the seventh information and provide services to the first communication device through the N functional entities. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on requests from other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0067] Optionally, after receiving the request for resource status information of one or more functional entities, the third communication device first obtains the resource status information of the one or more functional entities, and then sends seventh information indicating the resource status information of the one or more functional entities.

[0068] Optionally, the third communication device obtains the resource status information of the one or more functional entities, including: the third communication device generates a resource status collection task, and sends the task to the one or more functional entities, so that the one or more functional entities report their own resource status information.

[0069] Optionally, the sixth information received by the third communication device includes resource status information for requesting one or more functional entities, and the third communication device is capable of indicating the resource status information of the one or more functional entities through the seventh information, that is, the third communication device is capable of providing DaaS-type services. Accordingly, in the fourth aspect and related implementation processes, the third communication device can be understood as a data management function (DMF), or a DMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0070] In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the seventh information includes at least one of the following: computing resource status information of the one or more functional entities, and transmission status information of the network where the one or more functional entities are located.

[0071] Based on the above technical solution, the seventh information may include at least one of the above items, so that the second communication device can obtain the computing resource status of each functional entity and the transmission status of the network based on the seventh information, so that the second communication device can determine N functional entities in the one or more functional entities based on this information.

[0072] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the second communication device may be a partial component in the communication device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the second communication device may also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the second communication device receives first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the second communication device sends eighth information to the third communication device based on the first information. The eighth information can be used to request AI data for the service, and / or the eighth information can be used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer.

[0073] Based on the above technical solution, after the second communication device receives the first information for requesting a service, the second communication device may send an eighth information for requesting AI data for the service to the third communication device. In addition, the third communication device may determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data based on the eighth information, and subsequently the first communication device may receive data on services from the N functional entities. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device may be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities may be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data may be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices may provide services based on requests from other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices may be improved.

[0074] Optionally, the first information may also include the AI ​​service type, resource requirements (including at least one of computing resources, transmission resources, and model resources), QoS requirements, QoS achievement feedback trigger conditions, etc. Accordingly, the N functional entities are subsequently instructed that the provided services can meet one or more of the requirements.

[0075] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device includes type information indicating that the type of the service is AIaaS, and the second communication device is capable of providing AIaaS type services to the first communication device through an eighth information indication. Accordingly, in the fifth aspect and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as an artificial intelligence management function (AI management function, AIMF), or an AIMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0076] In a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the method further includes:

[0077] The second communication device receives the AI ​​data from the third communication device and sends the AI ​​data to the first communication device; or,

[0078] The second communication device receives pipeline orchestration information from the third communication device and sends the pipeline orchestration information to the first communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes a forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the N functional entities and / or identifiers of the N functional entities.

[0079] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device can also receive AI data from the third communication device, and the second communication device can also send the AI ​​data to the first communication device. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the AI ​​data to provide AIaas for the first communication device.

[0080] Alternatively, the second communication device receives the pipeline orchestration information from the third communication device and can also send the pipeline orchestration information to the first communication device. The first communication device can then obtain the AI ​​data based on the pipeline orchestration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the AI ​​data to provide AIaas for the first communication device.

[0081] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a third communication device. The third communication device may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the third communication device may be a partial component of the communication device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or the third communication device may also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the third communication device receives eighth information from the second communication device. The eighth information may be used to request AI data for a service; and / or the eighth information may be used to request the determination of N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer. The third communication device receives the AI ​​data from the N functional entities and sends the AI ​​data to the second communication device; or the third communication device sends pipeline orchestration information to the second communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes the forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the N functional entities and / or the identifiers of the N functional entities; or the third communication device sends the pipeline orchestration information to the N functional entities.

[0082] Based on the above technical solution, after the third communication device receives the eighth information of the AI ​​data for requesting a service, the third communication device can determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data based on the eighth information, and then the first communication device can obtain the AI ​​data from the N functional entities in a variety of ways. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, one or more communication devices can provide data for the service requested by the first communication device. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0083] Optionally, after receiving the eighth information of AI data for requesting service, the third communication device first obtains AI data information. The third communication device generates an AI data collection task and sends the AI ​​data collection task to one or more communication devices, so that the first or one or more communication devices provide AI data to the third communication device according to the pipeline orchestration information included in the AI ​​data collection task. The third communication device receives the AI ​​data from the N functional entities and sends the AI ​​data to the second communication device.

[0084] Optionally, after receiving the eighth information of AI data for requesting service, the third communication device first determines the pipeline orchestration information. The third communication device generates an AI data collection task and sends the AI ​​data collection task to one or more communication devices, so that the first or more communication devices provide AI data to the first communication device according to the pipeline orchestration information included in the AI ​​data collection task, and the third communication device sends the pipeline orchestration information to the second communication device.

[0085] Optionally, the eighth information received by the third communication device is used to request AI data for the service, and the third communication device can provide AI data in a variety of ways, that is, the third communication device can provide DaaS-type services. Accordingly, in the sixth aspect and related implementation processes, the third communication device can be understood as a DMF, or a DMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0086] Optionally, the AI ​​data may include one or more of AI model parameters, data sets required for AI training, and data sets required for AI reasoning.

[0087] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the second communication device may be a component in the communication device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the second communication device may also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the second communication device receives first information from the first communication device, where the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, where the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the second communication device sends ninth information to the fourth communication device based on the first information, where the ninth information is used to request an AI calculation result of the service; and / or the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0088] Based on the above technical solution, after the second communication device receives the first information for requesting a service, the second communication device may send a ninth information for requesting the AI ​​calculation result of the service to the fourth communication device. In addition, the fourth communication device may determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result based on the ninth information, and subsequently the first communication device may receive service data from the N functional entities. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device may be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities may be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data may be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices may provide services based on requests from other communication devices, and the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices may be improved through the collaborative work of different communication devices.

[0089] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device includes type information indicating that the type of the service is AIaaS, and the ninth information sent by the second communication device can be used to determine N functional entities that provide AI calculation results for the service, that is, the second communication device can provide AIaaS type services. Accordingly, in the seventh aspect and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as an AIMF, or an AIMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0090] In a possible implementation of the seventh aspect, the method further includes:

[0091] The second communication device receives AI computing task information from the fourth communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or

[0092] The second communication device receives indication information indicating a processing result of the service from the fourth communication device; or,

[0093] The second communication device receives the AI ​​calculation result from the fourth communication device, and sends the AI ​​calculation result to the first communication device.

[0094] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device can use the above multiple methods to enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results provided by N functional entities, so as to improve the flexibility of the solution implementation.

[0095] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a fourth communication device, which may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the fourth communication device may be a component of the communication device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system, etc.), or the fourth communication device may also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the fourth communication device receives ninth information from the second communication device, and the ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; the fourth communication device sends AI calculation task information to the N functional entities, wherein the AI ​​calculation task information is used to indicate the task information for providing the AI ​​calculation result.

[0096] Based on the above technical solution, after the fourth communication device receives the ninth information of the AI ​​calculation result for requesting a service, the fourth communication device can determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result based on the ninth information, and then the fourth communication device can send AI calculation task information to the N functional entities, so that the N functional entities send the AI ​​calculation result to the first communication device based on the AI ​​calculation task information. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capacity of the communication device can be improved.

[0097] Optionally, after receiving the ninth information of the AI ​​computing result for requesting the service, the fourth communication device generates an AI computing offloading task. The fourth communication device can send the AI ​​computing offloading task to the N functional entities. The AI ​​computing offloading task includes the N functional entities and the AI ​​computing task allocation strategy on the N functional entities.

[0098] Optionally, the ninth information received by the fourth communication device is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service, and the fourth communication device can provide the AI ​​calculation result in multiple ways, that is, the fourth communication device can provide CaaS-type services. Accordingly, in the eighth aspect and related implementation processes, the fourth communication device can be understood as a CMF, or a CMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0099] In a possible implementation of the eighth aspect, the method further includes:

[0100] The fourth communication device sends AI computing task information to the second communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or

[0101] The fourth communication device sends indication information indicating a processing result of the service to the second communication device; or,

[0102] The fourth communication device receives the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities and sends the AI ​​calculation results to the second communication device or the first communication device; wherein the ninth information is determined based on a request from the first communication device.

[0103] Based on the above technical solution, the fourth communication device can also enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities, or enable the second communication device to know the execution results of the AI ​​calculation task through the above multiple methods.

[0104] In a ninth aspect of the present application, a communication method is provided, which is performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the second communication device may be a partial component in the communication device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the second communication device may also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the second communication device receives a first message from the first communication device, the first message is used to request a service; the first message includes type information of the service, the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the second communication device sends a tenth message to the fifth communication device based on the first message, the tenth message is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or the tenth message is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0105] Based on the above technical solution, after the second communication device receives the first information for requesting a service, the second communication device may send a tenth information for requesting the AI ​​calculation result of the service to the fifth communication device. In addition, the fifth communication device may determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result based on the tenth information, and subsequently the first communication device may receive service data from the N functional entities. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device may be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities may be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0106] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device includes type information indicating that the type of the service is CaaS, and the tenth information sent by the second communication device can be used to determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result. Accordingly, in the ninth aspect and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as a CMF, or a CMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0107] In a possible implementation of the ninth aspect, the method further includes:

[0108] The second communication device receives AI computing task information from the fifth communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or

[0109] The second communication device receives the AI ​​calculation result from the fifth communication device, and sends the AI ​​calculation result to the first communication device.

[0110] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication device can use the above multiple methods to enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results provided by N functional entities, so as to improve the flexibility of the solution implementation.

[0111] The tenth aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a fifth communication device, which may be a communication device (such as a network device), or the fifth communication device may be a component in the communication device (such as a processor, chip or chip system, etc.), or the fifth communication device may also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the communication device. In this method, the fifth communication device receives tenth information from the second communication device, the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; the fifth communication device sends AI calculation task information to the N functional entities, wherein the AI ​​calculation task information is used to indicate the task information for providing the AI ​​calculation result.

[0112] Based on the above technical solution, after the fifth communication device receives the tenth information of the AI ​​calculation result for requesting a service, the fifth communication device can determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result based on the tenth information, and then the fifth communication device can send AI calculation task information to the N functional entities, so that the N functional entities send the AI ​​calculation result to the first communication device based on the AI ​​calculation task information. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, one or more communication devices can provide data for the service requested by the first communication device. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capacity of the communication device can be improved.

[0113] Optionally, after receiving the tenth information of the AI ​​computing result for requesting the service, the fifth communication device first generates an AI computing task, and then sends the AI ​​computing task information to the N functional entities, where the AI ​​computing task information includes the N functional entities for providing the AI ​​computing result.

[0114] Optionally, the tenth information received by the fifth communication device is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service, and the fifth communication device can provide the AI ​​calculation result in multiple ways, that is, the fifth communication device can provide AIaaS type services. Accordingly, in the eighth aspect and related implementation processes, the fourth communication device can be understood as an AIMF, or an AIMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0115] In a possible implementation of the tenth aspect, the method further includes:

[0116] The fifth communication device sends the AI ​​computing task information to the second communication device; or

[0117] The fifth communication device receives the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities, and sends the AI ​​calculation results to the second communication device or the first communication device.

[0118] Based on the above technical solution, the fifth communication device can also enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities, or enable the second communication device to know the execution results of the AI ​​calculation task through the above multiple methods.

[0119] Optionally, the AI ​​computing task information includes at least one of the following: the forwarding path of the AI ​​computing result in the N functional entities, the identifiers of the N functional entities, AI model information, and AI training set information.

[0120] Optionally, the AI ​​calculation result includes model parameters of the AI ​​model and / or AI data.

[0121] In an eleventh aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be a first communication device or a partial component of the first communication device (e.g., a processor, a chip, a chip system, a logic module, or software, etc.). The device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The processing unit is used to determine first information; the transceiver unit is used to send first information to a second communication device, where the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; and the transceiver unit is further used to receive service data from the N functional entities.

[0122] A twelfth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a second communication device or a partial component of the second communication device (such as a processor, chip, chip system, logic module, or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is used to receive first information from a first communication device, the first information being used to request a service; the first information being used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; the processing unit is used to determine second information; and the transceiver unit is further used to send second information to the N functional entities, the second information being used to instruct the first communication device to provide the service.

[0123] In a thirteenth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, which may be a second communication device or a partial component in the second communication device (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a logic module or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit). The transceiver unit is used to receive first information from a first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the processing unit is used to determine sixth information; the transceiver unit is also used to send sixth information to a third communication device based on the first information, and the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the transceiver unit is also used to receive seventh information from the third communication device, and the seventh information is used to indicate resource status information of one or more functional entities; the first information and the seventh information are used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities; the transceiver unit is also used to send second information to the N functional entities, and the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device.

[0124] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a third communication device or a partial component (such as a processor, chip, chip system, logic module, or software) in the third communication device. The device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is used to receive sixth information from a second communication device, where the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the processing unit is used to determine seventh information; the transceiver unit is further used to send seventh information to the second communication device, where the seventh information is used to indicate the resource status information of the one or more functional entities; and the seventh information is used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities.

[0125] In a fifteenth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, which may be a second communication device or a partial component of the second communication device (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a logic module or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit). The transceiver unit is used to receive first information from a first communication device, where the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, where the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the processing unit is used to determine eighth information based on the first information; the transceiver unit is also used to send eighth information to a third communication device, where the eighth information is used to request AI data of the service; the eighth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer.

[0126] In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a third communication device or a partial component of the third communication device (such as a processor, chip, chip system, logic module or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is used to receive eighth information from the second communication device, and the eighth information is used to request AI data for service; the eighth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer; the transceiver unit is also used to receive AI data from the N functional entities and send the AI ​​data to the second communication device; or, the processing unit is used to determine pipeline orchestration information; the transceiver unit is also used to send pipeline orchestration information to the second communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes the forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the N functional entities, and / or the identifiers of the N functional entities; or, the third communication device sends pipeline orchestration information to the N functional entities.

[0127] In a seventeenth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, which may be a second communication device or a partial component of the second communication device (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a logic module or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit). The transceiver unit is used to receive first information from a first communication device, where the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, where the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the processing unit is used to determine ninth information based on the first information; the transceiver unit is also used to send ninth information to a fourth communication device, where the ninth information is used to request an AI calculation result of the service; and / or the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0128] In an eighteenth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, which may be a fourth communication device or a partial component of the fourth communication device (such as a processor, chip, chip system, logic module or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit). The transceiver unit is used to receive ninth information from the second communication device, and the ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the ninth information is used to determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; the transceiver is also used to determine AI calculation task information; the transceiver unit is also used to send AI calculation task information to the N functional entities, wherein the AI ​​calculation task information is used to indicate the task information that provides the AI ​​calculation result.

[0129] In a nineteenth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, which may be a second communication device or a partial component in the second communication device (such as a processor, a chip, a chip system, a logic module or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit). The transceiver unit is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the processing unit is used to determine tenth information based on the first information; the transceiver unit is also used to send tenth information to the fifth communication device, and the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0130] The twentieth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a fifth communication device or a partial component of the fifth communication device (such as a processor, chip, chip system, logic module or software, etc.), and the device includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is used to receive tenth information from the second communication device, the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, N being a positive integer; the processing unit is used to determine AI calculation task information; the transceiver unit is also used to send AI calculation task information to the N functional entities, wherein the AI ​​calculation task information is used to indicate task information that provides the AI ​​calculation result.

[0131] In aspect 21 of the present application, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is coupled to a memory; the memory is used to store programs or instructions; the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions so that the device implements the method described in any possible implementation method of any one of aspects 1 to 10.

[0132] In aspect 22 of the present application, a communication device is provided, comprising at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to execute the method described in any possible implementation method of any one of aspects 1 to 10 above.

[0133] In aspect twenty-third of the present application, a communication system is provided, which includes the above-mentioned first communication device and second communication device.

[0134] Optionally, the communication system further includes at least one of the third communication device, the fourth communication device, and the fifth communication device.

[0135] Optionally, the communication system further includes the above-mentioned N functional entities.

[0136] In aspect 24 of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which is used to store one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any aspect from aspect 1 to aspect 10 above.

[0137] The twenty-fifth aspect of the present application provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program in the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any aspect from the first to the tenth aspect.

[0138] In aspect 26 of the present application, a chip system is provided, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the method described in any possible implementation method of any aspect from aspect 1 to aspect 10 above.

[0139] In one possible design, the chip system may further include a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system may be composed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete components. Optionally, the chip system may further include an interface circuit for providing program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor.

[0140] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in aspects 11 to 26 can refer to the technical effects brought about by different design methods in aspects 1 to 10 mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0141] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system involved in this application;

[0142] FIG2 is another schematic diagram of the communication system involved in this application;

[0143] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0144] FIG4a is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0145] FIG4 b is a schematic diagram of a communication architecture provided by this application;

[0146] FIG4c is another schematic diagram of the communication architecture provided by this application;

[0147] FIG5a is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0148] FIG5 b is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0149] FIG6 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0150] FIG7 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0151] FIG8 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0152] FIG9 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0153] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0154] FIG11 is another schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0155] FIG12 is another schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0156] FIG13 is another schematic diagram of the communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0157] First, some of the terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0158] (1) In this application, “used for indication” can include direct indication and indirect indication. When describing that a certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can be understood that the indication information carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A.

[0159] In this application, the information indicated by the indication information is referred to as the information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated. For example, it can be implemented by direct indication, such as by indicating the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. It can also be implemented by indirectly indicating other information, wherein there is an association between the other information and the information to be indicated. It is also possible to indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information can also be achieved with the help of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, stipulated in the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent.

[0160] The information to be indicated can be sent as a whole, or divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited in this application. Among them, the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be pre-defined, for example, pre-defined according to the protocol, or configured by the transmitting device by sending configuration information to the receiving device. Among them, the configuration information can, for example, but not limited to, include one or a combination of at least two of radio resource control (RRC) signaling, media access control (MAC) layer signaling and physical layer signaling. Among them, MAC layer signaling, for example, includes MAC control element (CE); physical layer signaling, for example, includes downlink control information (DCI).

[0161] (2) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects.

[0162] (3) “Sending” and “receiving” in the embodiments of the present application indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, “sending information to device X” can be understood as the destination of the information being device X, which can include direct sending through the air interface, as well as indirect sending through the air interface by other units or modules. “Receiving information from device Y” can be understood as the source of the information being device Y, which can include direct receiving from device Y through the air interface, as well as indirect receiving from device Y through the air interface from other units or modules. “Sending” can also be understood as the “output” of the chip interface, and “receiving” can also be understood as the “input” of the chip interface.

[0163] For example, let's take the communication process between entity A and entity B as an example. In this application, when entity A sends information to entity B, it can be A sending it directly to B, or A sending it to B indirectly through another entity. Similarly, when entity B receives information from entity A, it can be entity B receiving the information sent by entity A directly, or entity B receiving the information sent by entity A indirectly through another entity. Entities A and B here can be RAN nodes or terminals, or modules within a RAN node or terminal. The sending and receiving of information can be information exchange between a RAN node and a terminal, for example, information exchange between a base station and a terminal; the sending and receiving of information can also be information exchange between two RAN nodes, for example, information exchange between a CU and a DU; the sending and receiving of information can also be information exchange between different modules within a device, for example, information exchange between a terminal chip and other modules of the terminal, or information exchange between a base station chip and other modules in the base station.

[0164] (4) Protocol data unit session (PDU Session): Protocol data unit (PDU) session is the carrier of PDU services.

[0165] For example, taking the terminal device as user equipment (UE), the PDU connection service can be a service for exchanging PDU data packets between the UE and the external data network (DN); the PDU connection service is implemented by the UE initiating the establishment of a PDU session. After a PDU session is established, a data transmission channel between the UE and the DN is established. The transmission process of the user plane tunnel of the PDU session includes connection processes such as the radio interface between the user equipment and the access network (UE-AN), the N3 interface between the access network and the user plane function (AN-UPF), and the N6 interface between the user plane function and the data network (UPF-DN). The PDU session in 5G contains one or more attributes such as S-NSSAI, data network name (DNN), PDU Session type (type), service and session continuity mode (SSC Mode), PDU Session identifier (ID), user plane security enforcement information, and multi-access PDU connectivity service.

[0166] (5) Computing network: It can be a new type of information infrastructure that can allocate and flexibly schedule computing resources, storage resources, and network resources on demand between the cloud, edge, and end according to business needs. The essence of the computing network is a computing resource service. In the future, corporate customers or individual users will not only need networks and clouds, but also need to flexibly schedule computing tasks to appropriate locations. The computing network consists of three components: "computing", "network", and "brain". "Computing" is used to generate computing power, "network" is used to connect computing power, and "brain" is used to uniformly perceive, orchestrate, schedule, and coordinate "computing power in the network".

[0167] Alternatively, the computing power network has other names, such as computing-aware network (CAN), computing first network or computing force network, computing first network (CFN), computing power network (CPN), and similar different names.

[0168] (6) Computing power: computing power. The "China Computing Power White Paper (2022)" defines computing power as the ability of a data center server to process data and output results. Therefore, the broad definition of computing power is the computing power to process information data and output the target results; the narrow definition of computing power is the theoretical maximum number of floating point operations per second (FLOPS) that a computer can achieve. The unit of computing power is an indicator and benchmark for measuring the strength of computing power. There are currently many different measurement methods. Common ones include million instructions per second (MIPS), dhrystone million instructions executed per second (DMIPS), operations per second (OPS), floating-point operations per second (FLOPS), hash operations per second (Hash / s), etc. Among them, the FLOPS unit has always been regarded as one of the main indicators for measuring computer computing speed.

[0169] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system 1000 used in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include the Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110), and may also include at least one terminal (such as 120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal 120 is connected to the RAN node 110 wirelessly, and the RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 wirelessly or by wire. The core network equipment in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 may be independent and different physical devices, or they may be the same physical device that integrates the logical functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the RAN node. Terminals and RAN nodes may be connected to each other via wired or wireless means.

[0170] RAN100 may be an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future radio access system defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). RAN100 may also include two or more of the aforementioned different radio access systems. RAN100 may also be an open RAN (O-RAN).

[0171] A RAN node, also known as a radio access network device, RAN entity, or access node, facilitates wireless access to a communication system by a terminal. In one application scenario, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. A RAN node can be a macro base station (such as 110a in Figure 1), a micro base station, an indoor station (such as 110b in Figure 1), a relay node, or a donor node.

[0172] In another application scenario, multiple RAN nodes can collaborate to help terminals achieve wireless access, with different RAN nodes implementing portions of the base station's functions. For example, a RAN node can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). The CU implements the base station's radio resource control protocol and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) functions, as well as the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) functions. The DU implements the base station's radio link control layer and medium access control (MAC) layer functions, as well as some or all of the physical layer functions. For detailed descriptions of each of the above protocol layers, please refer to the relevant 3GPP technical specifications. The RU can be used to implement the transmission and reception of radio frequency signals. The CU and DU can be two independent RAN nodes, or they can be integrated into the same RAN node, such as in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in radio frequency equipment, such as a remote radio unit (RRU) or an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU can be further divided into two types of RAN nodes: CU-control plane and CU-user plane.

[0173] In different systems, RAN nodes may have different names. For example, in an open access network (open RAN, O-RAN or ORAN) system, CU may also be called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0174] The communication between the access network device and the terminal device follows a certain protocol layer structure. The protocol layer may include a control plane protocol layer and a user plane protocol layer. The control plane protocol layer may include at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, or a physical (PHY) layer. The user plane protocol layer may include at least one of the following: a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, or a physical layer.

[0175] For the correspondence between network elements in the ORAN system and their achievable protocol layer functions, please refer to Table 1 below.

[0176] Table 1

[0177] For ease of description, a base station is taken as an example of a RAN node for description below.

[0178] A terminal is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities that can send signals to a base station or receive signals from a base station. A terminal may also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. A terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable device, vehicle, airplane, ship, robot, robotic arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal.

[0179] Base stations and terminals can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of base stations and terminals.

[0180] The roles of base stations and terminals can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 1 can be configured as a mobile base station. To terminals 120j accessing the wireless access network 100 via 120i, terminal 120i is a base station. However, to base station 110a, 120i is a terminal, meaning that communication between 110a and 120i occurs via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, communication between 110a and 120i can also occur via a base station-to-base station interface protocol. In this case, 120i is also a base station relative to 110a. Therefore, base stations and terminals can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be referred to as communication devices with base station functionality, while 120a-120j in Figure 1 can be referred to as communication devices with terminal functionality.

[0181] Communication between base stations and terminals, between base stations, and between terminals can be carried out through authorized spectrum, unauthorized spectrum, or both; communication can be carried out through spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), spectrum above 6 GHz, or spectrum below 6 GHz and spectrum above 6 GHz. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0182] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes the base station functions. The control subsystem that includes the base station functions here may be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or modem) in the terminal, or by a device that includes the terminal functions.

[0183] In recent years, as many industries, including healthcare, factories, ports, coal mines, and government and enterprises, have accelerated their digital transformation, computing and communications are becoming core foundational capabilities that enable these digital transformations. Consequently, operators have proposed the concept of a computing network. This network can be understood as enabling ubiquitous computing and services through network awareness, dispatching computing tasks to the optimal execution nodes for processing. This improves the utilization efficiency of network and computing resources, while providing users with low-latency and highly reliable services and ensuring a consistent user experience. Furthermore, computing services can be expanded to include various types of services, including artificial intelligence (AI) services and data services.

[0184] At the same time, the requirements of the sixth generation (6G) network and future services, such as the low latency requirements of immersive services such as extended reality (XR) and holograms, and the real-time processing requirements of massive data for intelligent services such as robots, intelligent agents, and large models of AI-generated content (AIGC). In addition, 6G services are likely to exhibit immersive and intelligent characteristics. 6G networks need to support the scheduling of AI resources and the processing of extremely large amounts of data to reduce the computing power and energy consumption of terminals to meet the requirements of lighter, more immersive, and more intelligent terminal capabilities. Therefore, the 6G network architecture is likely to shift from "connection-centric" to "task-centric." The traditional "connection-centric" network architecture is designed to provide the connection channels required for data communication between terminals and terminals, and between terminals and application servers, as well as the corresponding lifecycle management mechanism and communication QoS guarantee.

[0185] Taking Figure 2 as an example, the current 5G network connection establishment method, namely the PDU session establishment process, provides a transmission channel for data transmission between the UE and the application server (DN). This includes establishing the data radio bearer (DRB) between the UE and the RAN and the NG interface user plane channel (NG-U tunnel) between the RAN and the core network's UPF, and providing corresponding QoS guarantees. However, the "task-centric" network architecture requires not only that the network provide connection services but also that the network coordinate and allocate the computing power, connections, algorithms, and data resources of network nodes to jointly achieve a specific goal. 6G networks introduce computing power, storage resources, and multi-node computing power, algorithms, and data coordination mechanisms to provide various services, such as data services, computing services, AI services, and traditional communication connection services.

[0186] Currently, communication devices in communication networks may possess data processing capabilities in addition to signal transceiver capabilities. Generally, this data processing capability provides computing power to support the aforementioned data communication process. For example, this data processing capability can provide computing power to support the signal transceiver capabilities of the node, thereby determining the time and frequency domain resources for signal transceiver transmission and reception, and enabling communication between the communication device and other communication devices through the signal transceiver process.

[0187] However, in addition to processing signals received and sent in a communication network, a communication device may also perform other processing. Therefore, how to improve the utilization rate of the data processing capability of a communication device is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0188] For example, using 5G networks as an example, 5G networks establish PDU sessions to provide a transmission channel for data transmission between UEs and application servers located on the data network. They only provide QoS guarantees for air-interface transmission between the UE and the RAN, and for the user-plane channel between the RAN and the UPF. Network elements within the network do not provide QoS guarantees for other types of services, such as data or computing, to the UE. Furthermore, for network-native services such as wireless sensing and AI services used to optimize wireless network performance, coordinated control of transmission, computing power, AI, and data resources across the UE, RAN, and CN network elements is required to complete these computationally or data-intensive services. Similarly, for external application services such as XR and cloud gaming rendering, coordinated scheduling and configuration of connectivity, computing power, AI, and data resources between terminals, edge clouds, and central clouds are also required to support low-latency and high-capacity services. However, current wireless network architectures only support simple communication connectivity and communication QoS guarantees. They do not support the provision of AI, data, or computing services, nor do they support the coordinated allocation of multiple resource elements, including connectivity, computing power, AI, and data, to deliver services. Therefore, it is necessary to design a unified network architecture to provide various services and to centrally manage and control various services to ensure QoS.

[0189] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a communication method and related equipment, which can enable a communication device to provide services based on requests from other communication devices, and improve the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication device through the collaborative work of different communication devices.

[0190] Please refer to FIG3 , which is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the communication method provided in this application. The method includes the following steps.

[0191] It should be noted that in Figure 3, the method is illustrated by taking the first communication device and the second communication device as the execution entities of the interaction diagram as an example, but this application does not limit the execution entities of the interaction diagram. For example, in Figure 3 and other figures below (such as Figures 5b, 6, 7, 8, and 9), the execution entities of the method can be replaced by chips, chip systems, processors, logic modules, or software in the communication devices.

[0192] The method shown in FIG3 may include the following S301 , S302 and S303 .

[0193] S301: A first communication device sends a first message, and a second communication device receives the first message, wherein the first message is used to request a service.

[0194] In S301, the first information sent by the first communication device can be used to determine N functional entities providing the service, where N is a positive integer; in other words, the second communication device receives the first information and can determine the N functional entities providing the service based on the first information.

[0195] In a possible implementation, the first information sent by the first communication device in S301 includes at least one of the following information A to information C:

[0196] Information A: Service type information. Information A may be used to indicate the type of the service, including at least one of Network as a Service (NaaS), Computing as a Service (CaaS), AI as a Service (AIaaS), and Data as a Service (DaaS).

[0197] Information B: Service content information. Information B may indicate at least one of the requirements for network resources and the QoS requirements for the service. For example, the network resource requirements may include requirements for transmission resources, computing resources, data resources, or AI model resources. For another example, the QoS requirements for the service may include one or more of requirements for computing latency and transmission latency.

[0198] Information C: Service feedback triggering condition information. Information C may be used to indicate the feedback triggering condition for QoS achievement.

[0199] Optionally, in information C, the feedback trigger condition for the QoS achievement status includes a threshold for the QoS deviation degree and / or the QoS deviation value. Specifically, the feedback trigger condition information of the service contained in the first information can be used to indicate the threshold for the QoS deviation degree and / or the QoS deviation value. The second communication device can determine, based on the QoS status of the service provided to the first communication device and the threshold for the QoS deviation degree and / or the QoS deviation value, that when the trigger condition indicated by the information C is met, the second communication device feeds back the QoS status of the service to the first communication device (or, the second communication device adjusts the QoS requirements for the service and feeds back the adjusted QoS requirements to the first communication device).

[0200] The first information for requesting a service may include at least one of the aforementioned information A through information C, which can enhance the flexibility of the solution implementation. Furthermore, at least one of the aforementioned information A through information C may also be used to represent the requested service-related information, enabling the first communication device to obtain the corresponding service.

[0201] In one possible implementation, in S301, the process of a first communication device sending first information to a second communication device may include: the first communication device sending the first information to the second communication device via a network exposure function (NEF). Specifically, the first communication device is an application (e.g., the application is a client app deployed on a terminal device or a server app deployed on an application server), and the communication process between the first communication device and the second communication device can be forwarded via the NEF, that is, the first communication device can send the first information for requesting a service to the second communication device via the NEF.

[0202] S302: The second communication device sends second information, and correspondingly, N functional entities receive the second information, wherein the second information is used to instruct the first communication device to provide the service.

[0203] The second communication device determines N functional entities that provide the service based on the first information, and sends second information to the determined N functional entities. After receiving the second information, the N functional entities may determine, based on the second information, to provide the service to the first communication device, and send data for the service in S303. The second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device.

[0204] In one possible implementation, before S302, the method further includes: the second communication device obtaining third information, the third information being used to indicate resource status information of M functional entities, the M functional entities including the N functional entities, where M is greater than or equal to N; accordingly, the second communication device may determine the N functional entities from the M functional entities based on the first information and the third information. Specifically, the second communication device may further obtain third information indicating resource status information of the M functional entities, and determine, based on the first information and the third information, the N functional entities from the M functional entities that provide services to the first communication device, so that the second communication device can determine the N functional entities from the M functional entities that meet the service requirements.

[0205] Optionally, the second communication device can obtain the third information in a variety of ways. For example, the second communication device can receive resource status information from the M functional entities respectively; or, the second communication device can receive information from one or more management devices and obtain the third information based on the received information; wherein, the one or more management devices are used to manage / control / obtain the resource status information of the M functional entities.

[0206] Optionally, the third information can be information periodically acquired by the second communication device, or information acquired by the second communication device based on conditional triggering (for example, when the resource status of one or more functional entities changes or the change value exceeds a threshold, etc.), or implemented in other ways, which is not limited here.

[0207] In a possible implementation, in S302, the second information sent by the second communication device includes at least one of the following information 1 to information 4:

[0208] Information 1: The identification of the task.

[0209] Information 2: Task type.

[0210] Information 3: QoS requirements of the task.

[0211] Information 4: Feedback triggering conditions for task QoS achievement.

[0212] In the above information 1 to information 4, the task is used to provide the service.

[0213] Specifically, the second information sent by the second communication device may include at least one of the aforementioned task-related information, and the task is used to provide the service. In other words, after the second communication device obtains the first information requesting the service in S301, it may send a task instructing the N functional entities to provide the service via the second information in S302. In this way, the service requested by the first communication device can be published in the form of a task, adapting to a "task-centric" network.

[0214] Optionally, a “task-centric” network can be called an XaaS network, where X can refer to one or more of network, computing, AI, and data.

[0215] Optionally, the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device. When the second information includes at least one of the above-mentioned task-related information, the second communication device can provide the service in the form of a task. Accordingly, in the second aspect and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as a task management function (TMF), or a TMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0216] In one possible implementation, the second information includes information 3, wherein the QoS requirement of the task may include one or more QoS requirements of the N functional entities. Specifically, the QoS requirement of the task may include the QoS requirement for providing services to the N functional entities. In this way, if the services provided by the N functional entities meet the QoS requirements for providing the services, the QoS requirement of the task can be guaranteed.

[0217] Optionally, information 3 (i.e., the QoS requirements of the task) includes one or more QoS requirements of N functional entities. The number of the one or more QoS requirements and the value of N can be realized in various ways. For example, if different functional entities have different QoS requirements, the number of the QoS requirements can be equal to the value of N. For another example, if at least two different functional entities have the same QoS requirements, the number of the QoS requirements can be less than the value of N.

[0218] Similarly, for information 4 included in the second information, the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status of the task may include feedback triggering conditions of one or more QoS requirement achievement statuses of the N functional entities.

[0219] In one possible implementation, in the above information 1 to information 4, the task satisfies at least one of the following:

[0220] The first information is used to determine the identifier of the task;

[0221] The first information includes type information of the service and / or content information of the service, where the type information of the service and / or the content information of the service are used to determine a type of the task, where the type of the task includes at least one of a computation offloading task, an AI task, and a data collection task;

[0222] The first information includes content information of the service, where the content information of the service is used to determine the QoS requirement of the task;

[0223] The first information includes feedback triggering condition information of the service, and the feedback triggering condition information of the service is used to determine a feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status of the task.

[0224] Specifically, the task-related information indicated by the second information can be determined by the first information requesting the service, so that the tasks indicated by the second information of the N functional entities can provide the data required for the service.

[0225] Optionally, in S302, the second communication device may send the second information to the N functional entities in a variety of ways. For example, the second communication device may send the second information to the N functional entities separately, i.e., each functional entity obtains the second information; or, the second information may include N copies of the same information, and the second communication device may send the N copies of the same information to the N functional entities separately, i.e., each functional entity obtains one of the N copies of information. Optionally, the QoS requirements of the task include one or more QoS requirements of the N functional entities, and the QoS requirements of the N different functional entities are different. In this case, the second information may include N different pieces of information and the information corresponding to specific functional entities among the N functional entities is sent to the N functional entities separately. If the QoS requirements of the N functional entities are the same for at least two different functional entities, while the other QoS requirements are different, then for the at least two different functional entities, the second communication device may send the same information to the at least two functional entities.

[0226] Optionally, in S302, during the process of the second communication device sending the second information to the N functional entities, the second communication device may communicate via a direct link, for example, the second communication device communicates with the N functional entities respectively via the direct link to achieve the sending of the second information. Alternatively, the second communication device may communicate via other means, for example, the second communication device communicates with the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) to achieve the sending of the second information; for another example, the second communication device may communicate with a portion of the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) and communicate with another portion of the N functional entities via a direct link to achieve the sending of the second information.

[0227] S303 : N functional entities send data of the service, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the data of the service.

[0228] In this application, terms such as functional entity, entity, logical entity, and physical entity can be used interchangeably.

[0229] It should be noted that the number of communication devices deployed on (and / or connected to) N functional entities can be one or more, and the number of communication devices and the value of N can have multiple relationships. For example, take the communication devices connected to N functional entities as an example. For example, when different functional entities are connected to different communication devices, the number of communication devices can be equal to N. For another example, when at least two different functional entities are connected to the same communication device, the number of communication devices can be less than N. For another example, when one of the N functional entities is connected to two or more communication devices, the number of communication devices can be greater than N.

[0230] Optionally, during the process of receiving the service data from the N functional entities in S303, the first communication device may communicate via a direct link. For example, the first communication device communicates with the N functional entities respectively via the direct link to receive the service data. Alternatively, the first communication device may communicate via other means. For example, the first communication device communicates with the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) to receive the service data. For another example, the first communication device may communicate with a portion of the N functional entities via one or more relay nodes (or forwarding nodes) and communicate with another portion of the N functional entities via a direct link to receive the service data. For another example, the first communication device may communicate with the N functional entities via a wireless link and / or a wired link to receive the service data.

[0231] Optionally, in addition to receiving data from the N functional entities, the first communication device may send data to one or more functional entities among the N functional entities, so that the first communication device obtains services through data interaction.

[0232] Based on the technical solution shown in Figure 3, after the first communication device sends the first information for requesting a service in S301, the first communication device can receive service data from N functional entities in S303, and the first information is used by the second communication device to determine the N functional entities that provide the service. In other words, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, one or more communication devices can provide data for the service requested by the first communication device in S303. Therefore, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0233] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the solution shown in Figure 3, the method further includes: the first communication device receiving indication information indicating QoS status information of the service. Specifically, the first communication device may also receive the above indication information so that the first communication device can know the QoS status of the service.

[0234] Optionally, the indication information indicating the QoS status information of the service may come from the second communication device, one or more of the N functional entities, or other communication devices mentioned below (e.g., the third communication device, the fourth communication device, the fifth communication device, etc.). For example, if the indication information indicating the QoS status information of the service comes from the first functional entity among the N functional entities, the indication information may include the first QoS status information of the first functional entity; or if the indication information indicating the QoS status information of the service comes from the first functional entity and the second functional entity among the N functional entities, the indication information may include the first QoS status information of the first functional entity and the second QoS status information of the second functional entity.

[0235] Optionally, the indication information indicating the QoS status information of the service can be information sent periodically, or information triggered based on conditions (for example, one or more QoS states corresponding to one or more functional entities among N functional entities are lower than a threshold, or the overall QoS weighted value of N functional entities is lower than a threshold), etc.

[0236] In one possible implementation of the solution shown in FIG3 , the method further includes: the second communication device receiving fourth information from the N functional entities, the fourth information being used to indicate QoS achievement status of the service; and the second communication device sending fifth information to the N functional entities and / or the first communication device based on the fourth information, the fifth information being used to update the QoS requirements of the task. Specifically, the second communication device may also receive fourth information from the N functional entities indicating QoS achievement status of the service, and the second communication device may also send fifth information for updating the QoS requirements of the task based on the fourth information, thereby achieving policy optimization of the QoS requirements of the task.

[0237] The technical solution provided by this application will be described in detail below with reference to more drawings.

[0238] As an implementation example, as shown in Figure 4a, the communication device requesting the service (for example, the first communication device in the previous embodiment) may be the UE in Figure 2, and the communication device providing the service may include various types of "network nodes (i.e., N functional entities in the previous embodiment)" in Figure 4a, which may include the gNB on the access network side, the core network equipment, and at least one of the mobile edge computing (MEC) equipment.

[0239] For example, in the example shown in FIG4 a , the functions of each device are introduced as follows.

[0240] UE: A terminal device that allows users to access the network. It has local communication capabilities and a certain amount of computing power. This computing power is used to process third-party application services such as XR and AI services within the wireless network.

[0241] gNB: A 5G base station protocol functional entity, including the functions of CU and / or DU. It is the interface device for mobile devices to access the Internet. Its internal computing power is used to process AI and perception services within the network, and can also process third-party application (3rd App) services.

[0242] Task management function (TMF): This function is deployed on the RAN side or the core network side to orchestrate and manage the resources of nodes such as terminals, base stations, core networks, MECs, and edge clouds.

[0243] 5G core network (5GC): includes access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), UPF, etc.

[0244] MEC: The mobile edge computing platform is deployed in the DN behind the core network UPF. It can interact with the 5G system through the N6 interface for application layer data, providing low-latency computing services. MEC can be deployed on the base station side together with the local UPF.

[0245] It should be noted that Figure 4a is only an example. The technical solution provided in this application can be applied to a variety of communication networks, including but not limited to the 5G network, LTE network, 6G network, etc. shown in Figure 4a.

[0246] As can be seen from the above implementation process, the second communication device can receive a request from the first communication device and, based on the request, determine N functional entities to provide services to the first communication device. Accordingly, when the second communication device is applied to a "task-centric" network, the second communication device can provide services in the form of tasks. That is, the second communication device can be a module that manages tasks in the network. For example, the second communication device can be a task management function (TMF), or a TMF node / module / network element.

[0247] Optionally, there may be multiple task requirements in the network. For this purpose, TMF may include one or more of computing management function (CMF), data management function (DMF), artificial intelligence management function (AIMF), etc.

[0248] As an implementation example, TMF can undertake service requests from service objects inside and outside the network. For example, NEF acts as a service platform, and TMF can undertake service requests through NEF and confirm the provision of various services to service objects (i.e., service requesters, such as the first communication device mentioned above), including: network as a service (NaaS), computing as a service (CaaS), AI as a service (AIaaS), and data as a service (DaaS). Service objects include network elements within the network (such as RAN functions, CN functions, UE) and third-party applications (such as Client APP, Server APP). It can be understood that NEF has a communication interface with the service requester and a communication interface with the network elements within the network.

[0249] As an implementation example, TMF can manage, orchestrate, and monitor tasks required to provide various services, including managing one or more of computing offload tasks, data collection tasks, AI tasks, and traditional network connection tasks, and orchestrate one or more of these tasks and monitor and control the task execution process. Task monitoring and control includes sensing the QoS status of the system during the execution of the task and making corresponding adjustments. For example, TMF orchestrates data collection tasks, monitors and controls the execution process of data collection tasks, senses whether the system has achieved the QoS of the data collection service, and makes corresponding adjustments; TMF can orchestrate computing offload tasks, monitor and control the execution of computing tasks, sense whether the system has achieved the QoS of the computing service, and make corresponding adjustments; TMF can also orchestrate and execute control of AI tasks, including the transmission of AI models / AI data, training / inference of AI models, etc.; TMF's orchestration and execution control of network connection tasks can be the process of establishing a PDU session on an existing network, as well as the process of providing corresponding session QoS guarantees.

[0250] In addition, TMF can have various deployment forms, which will be described below with more implementation examples.

[0251] Implementation method 1, as shown in FIG4 b , the TMF may include classified task management functions and may be deployed on the core network side and / or the RAN side.

[0252] Implementation method 2, as shown in FIG4c , TMF may include a unified task management function and may be deployed on the core network side and / or the RAN side.

[0253] Optionally, in Figure 4b or Figure 4c, the DMF may include a data collection function (DCF) and a data access control function (DAC). The DCF orchestrates data collection tasks, monitors and controls the execution of data collection tasks, senses the system's QoS for data collection services, and makes corresponding adjustments. The DACF controls which nodes' data can be accessed and obtains permissions for the node's data.

[0254] It should be noted that when TMF is deployed on the core network side, TMF can manage the functional entities that communicate with the core network side. That is, the N functional entities described above may include functional entities deployed in core network network elements, functional entities deployed in RAN network elements, etc. Similarly, when TMF is deployed on the RAN side, TMF can manage the functional entities that communicate with the RAN side. That is, the N functional entities described above may include functional entities deployed in the RAN, functional entities deployed in one or more terminal devices connected to the RAN, etc.

[0255] In addition, when TMF is deployed on both the core network and RAN sides, hierarchical scheduling can be implemented. For example, the TMF deployed on the core network side can negotiate task scheduling with the TMF deployed on the RAN side. The TMF deployed on the RAN side can be responsible for managing computing nodes deployed on the RAN side or locally, while the TMF deployed on the core network side can be responsible for managing edge cloud or MEC nodes close to the core network.

[0256] Optionally, in implementation method 1 or implementation method 2, the TMF may be a native function of the gNB-CU or DU. A new protocol layer may be added on the RAN side to perform the TMF function, either above or in parallel with the RRC layer. Specifically, for various task management functions, corresponding protocol layers may be added on the RAN side to perform the corresponding functions, with the new protocol layers being above or in parallel with the RRC layer. For example, a computing resource control (CRC) protocol layer corresponding to the CMF, a data resource control (DRC) protocol layer corresponding to the DMF, and an AI resource control (AIRC) protocol layer corresponding to the AIMF may be added.

[0257] Optionally, in implementation mode 1 or 2, when TMF is deployed on the RAN side, a task resource control (TRC) protocol layer corresponding to TMF can be added. When TMF is deployed on the core network side, it can be connected to other functions through a bus.

[0258] It should be understood that the CRC protocol layer can be used to manage computing-related resources, the DRC protocol layer can be used to manage data-related resources, AIRC can be used to manage AI-related resources, and TRC can be used to manage task-related resources. In addition, the above names such as CRC, DRC, AIRC, and TRC are only examples and can be replaced with other names in actual applications.

[0259] To facilitate understanding of the architecture provided by the above-mentioned Implementation Methods 1 and 2, more implementation examples will be introduced below.

[0260] As an implementation example of implementation method one, as shown in Figures 5a and 5b below, the first communication device in the above embodiment can be the service object in Figures 5a and 5b (including but not limited to RAN / CN / UE, Client / Server APP, etc.), the second communication device in the above embodiment can be the TMF in Figures 5a and 5b, and the N functional entities in the above embodiment can be the task execution nodes in Figure 5a.

[0261] In the solution shown in Figure 5a, a service object can initiate a service request to the TMF (via the NEF). The TMF can then dispatch a task to a task execution node based on the service request. The task execution node can then provide service data to the service object. Through the XaaS service process presented in the embodiment shown in Figure 5a, the network can generate and execute tasks based on different service requests, ensuring that the QoS requirements of the tasks are met during execution.

[0262] In some implementations, TMF generates corresponding tasks and QoS requirements based on the service type and service content.

[0263] In some implementations, the TMF dispatches tasks to task execution nodes and sends feedback trigger conditions corresponding to the QoS requirements of the task execution nodes and the QoS achievement status of the task execution nodes to the task execution nodes.

[0264] In some implementations, the task execution node detects whether QoS is achieved and feeds back information indicating that QoS is not achieved or the degree of deviation to the TMF and / or the service object.

[0265] It should be understood that in FIG5a, the service request is an example of the first information, and the "task dispatch" is an example of the second information.

[0266] As an implementation example of implementation method 1, as shown in FIG5b , the following steps are included.

[0267] It should be noted that S501 shown in FIG5b may be an implementation example of the aforementioned S301, S504 may be an implementation example of the aforementioned S302, and S507 may be an implementation example of the aforementioned S303. Furthermore, the other steps shown in FIG5b are optional steps.

[0268] S501. The service object initiates a service request to the TMF.

[0269] It is understandable that the service object can be a RAN network element, CN network element or UE, or a Client APP or Server App; if the service object is a third-party application outside the network, a service request can be initiated through the NEF.

[0270] Specifically, in S501, the service request includes at least one of a service type, service content, and a service feedback condition.

[0271] Exemplarily, the service type can be a computing service, data service, AI service, or communication service type; the service content includes the demand for network resources (resource demand) and QoS requirements. Network resources include transmission resources, computing resources, data resources, or AI model resources. Different service requests may require different network resources. Computing service requests only require computing resources and transmission resources. Service feedback conditions include feedback trigger conditions for QoS achievement.

[0272] S502. TMF generates corresponding tasks according to the service type and service content, and generates QoS requirements that need to be met to complete the tasks.

[0273] As an implementation example, taking the computing service type as an example, TMF generates computing offloading tasks based on the computing service type, the demand for computing power and transmission resources, and the QOS requirements. It can also generate the QoS requirements (called computing QoS) that need to be met to complete the computing offloading tasks, such as computing volume, computing latency, etc.; TMF can generate the QoS requirements of S502 based on the QoS requirements of S501.

[0274] As an implementation example, taking AI service types as an example, TMF generates AI model / AI data transmission, AI model training, or AI inference tasks based on the AI ​​service type and the requirements for computing power, transmission, AI, and data resources. It also generates the QoS requirements (called AI-QoS) required to complete the AI ​​tasks, including AI model accuracy, training / inference latency, and other requirements. For example, the AI-QoS requirements for federated learning include: training accuracy of 83%-90%, training latency of 105-325ms, uplink transmission latency of 1.05s-3.25s, uplink rate (uncompressed) of 325Mbps-1Gbps, and uplink rate (compressed) of 26.13Mbps-80.88Mbps.

[0275] As an implementation example, taking data service types as an example, TMF generates data collection tasks based on the data service type and the requirements for connection and data resources, and generates the QoS required to complete the data collection tasks (called data QoS). Data QoS includes requirements such as data type / accuracy, transmission latency, and transmission rate. Taking perception data as an example, different types / levels of perception data have different transmission rate requirements. For example, the I / Q data rate QoS requirement is 5.2 Gbps, the spectral information rate requirement is 1.2 Gbps, the point cloud information rate is 1.2 Mbps, and the target information rate is 40 Kbps.

[0276] S503. TMF controls the execution process of the task, including controlling which nodes' data are accessed, determining the network nodes involved in the task execution (i.e., the task execution nodes, or the N functional entities), and part or all of the authentication process for these network nodes; TMF can also collect the computing, transmission, AI, or data resource status data of the task execution nodes.

[0277] S504. The TMF dispatches the task to the task execution node and issues feedback triggering conditions for QoS requirements and QoS achievement. For details on QoS for different tasks, refer to S502; triggering conditions can be QoS deviation levels or deviation thresholds. Optionally, the TMF also assigns a task ID to the network node.

[0278] S505a. The task execution node executes the task according to the task assignment and schedules connection resources, computing, AI or data resources to complete the task; during this period, the task execution node monitors the QoS achievement.

[0279] Optionally, when it is detected that the QoS achieved by the task execution node (training / inference delay, data transmission delay / rate) deviates from the assigned QoS by more than a preset threshold, the task execution node can feedback the QoS failure or feedback the deviation degree information to the TMF in S505b.

[0280] S506a. TMF monitors the QoS status during the task completion process and adjusts the QoS policy according to the QoS status feedback from the task execution node.

[0281] Optionally, TMF can notify the task execution node and / or service object of the adjusted QoS policy in S506b and S506c. For example, when the QoS deviation exceeds a certain negative value, it is adjusted to a better QoS requirement; if the deviation exceeds a certain positive value, it is adjusted to a looser QOS requirement. For example, if the calculation delay requirement is 10ms and the deviation is 5ms, it is adjusted to a more relaxed calculation delay requirement of 15ms (i.e., providing a guarantee based on the delay that is met as much as possible). TMF notifies the service object to let the service object know that the original QoS requirement information needs to be adjusted, as well as the adjusted QoS requirement information.

[0282] S507. After completing the task assigned by the TMF, the task execution node provides the service data corresponding to the task to the service object.

[0283] As an implementation example of the second implementation method, when the second communication device is a CMF and the service type requested by the first communication device is CaaS, it can be implemented through the solution shown in Figure 6.

[0284] As shown in FIG6 , it is another implementation diagram of the communication method provided in the present application, and the method includes the following steps.

[0285] S601. A first communication device sends first information, and correspondingly, a second communication device receives the first information, wherein the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is CaaS.

[0286] It should be noted that the implementation process of the first information can refer to Figure 3 / Figure 5b and the description of related embodiments. For example, the first information can also include one or more of the information B, information C, etc. described above.

[0287] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device in S601 includes type information indicating that the type of the service is CaaS, and the second communication device can instruct the N functional entities to provide CaaS type services for the first communication device through the second information. Accordingly, in Figure 6 and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as a CMF, or a CMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0288] S602: The second communication device sends sixth information, and correspondingly, the third communication device receives the sixth information, wherein the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities.

[0289] It can be understood that in S602, the second communication device can request computing network status data information from the third communication device through the sixth information based on the computing service request indicated by the first information, including computing resource status data of one or more functional entities and transmission status data of the network.

[0290] S603. The third communication device sends seventh information, and the second communication device receives the seventh information accordingly. The seventh information is used to indicate resource status information of the one or more functional entities; the second communication device may determine N functional entities from the one or more functional entities based on the first information and the seventh information.

[0291] Optionally, the third communication device generates a network status data collection task based on the network status data request sent by the second communication device to obtain the network status data. The third communication device can send the network status data collection task to the one or more functional entities, so that the one or more functional entities report the network status data information.

[0292] Optionally, after receiving the request for resource status information of one or more functional entities, the third communication device first obtains the resource status information of the one or more functional entities, and then sends seventh information indicating the resource status information of the one or more functional entities.

[0293] Optionally, the third communication device obtains the resource status information of the one or more functional entities, including: the third communication device generates a resource status collection task, and sends the task to the one or more functional entities, so that the one or more functional entities report their own resource status information.

[0294] It should be understood that in S603, the second communication device can generate a computing task allocation strategy based on the computing network status indicated by the seventh information, and notify the computing task assigned to the network node. The network node receives the computing task data of the service object. After the network node executes the computing task and obtains the computing result, it returns the computing result to the service object. In other words, after S603, the second communication device can be used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities based on the first information and the seventh information, and the second communication device sends second information to the N functional entities, and the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device. The implementation process of the second information can refer to Figure 3 / Figure 5b and the description of the related embodiments.

[0295] Optionally, the second information may also be used to indicate a computing task allocation strategy on the N functional entities.

[0296] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device in S601 may further include: one or more of the demand for computing resources and / or transmission resources, QoS requirements, and feedback trigger conditions for QoS achievement. In this way, the service indicated by the second information by the second communication device can meet the one or more items. For example, the service indicated by the second information can meet the demand for computing resources and / or transmission resources and / or QoS requirements. For another example, the service indicated by the second information can provide feedback on QoS achievement when the feedback trigger condition is triggered.

[0297] Optionally, the sixth information received by the third communication device includes request information for requesting resource status information of one or more functional entities, and the third communication device is capable of indicating the resource status information of the one or more functional entities through the seventh information, i.e., the third communication device is capable of providing DaaS-type services. Accordingly, in Figure 6 and related implementation processes, the third communication device can be understood as a DMF, or a DMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0298] In one possible implementation, the seventh information sent by the third communication apparatus in S603 includes at least one of the following: computing resource status information of the one or more functional entities, and transmission status information of the network where the one or more functional entities are located. Specifically, the seventh information may include at least one of the above items, so that the second communication apparatus can obtain the computing resource status of each functional entity and the transmission status of the network based on the sixth information, so that the second communication apparatus can determine N functional entities from the one or more functional entities based on this information.

[0299] Based on the technical solution shown in Figure 6, the second communication device can be CMF, and the third communication device can be DMF, that is, CMF requests computing network status data information from DMF, DMF generates a data collection task, and replies the collected computing network status data to CMF, that is, computing services are provided through the collaborative workflow of CMF and DMF. Among them, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capacity of the communication device can be improved.

[0300] As an implementation example of the second implementation manner, when the second communication device is an AIMF and the service type requested by the first communication device is AIaaS, it can be implemented through the solution shown in FIG7 .

[0301] As shown in FIG7 , it is another implementation diagram of the communication method provided in the present application, and the method includes the following steps.

[0302] S701. A first communication device sends a first message, and a second communication device receives the first message. The first message is used to request a service and includes service type information, where the service type information indicates that the service type is AIaaS.

[0303] Optionally, the first information sent by the first communication device in S701 may further include one or more of the following: AI service type, resource requirements (including at least one of computing resources, transmission resources, and model resources), QoS requirements, and QoS achievement feedback trigger conditions. Accordingly, the N functional entities are subsequently instructed that the provided service can meet the one or more of the requirements.

[0304] It should be noted that the implementation process of the first information can refer to Figure 3 / Figure 5b and the description of related embodiments. For example, the first information can also include one or more of the information B, information C, etc. described above.

[0305] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device includes type information indicating that the service type is AIaaS, and the second communication device can provide the AIaaS type service to the first communication device through the eighth information indication. Accordingly, in FIG7 and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as an AIMF, or an AIMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0306] S702. The second communication device sends eighth information, and the third communication device receives the eighth information accordingly. The eighth information is used to request AI data for the service and to determine N functional entities providing the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer.

[0307] Specifically, in S702, the second communication device may generate eighth information based on the first information, and the eighth information may be used to request AI data for the service from the third communication device. The AI ​​data may include one or more of AI model parameters, a data set required for AI training, and a data set required for AI reasoning.

[0308] Optionally, the eighth information received by the third communication device in S702 is used to request AI data for the service, and the third communication device can provide AI data in a variety of ways, that is, the third communication device can provide DaaS-type services. Accordingly, in Figure 7 and related implementation processes, the third communication device can be understood as a DMF, or a DMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0309] Optionally, after receiving the eighth information of AI data for requesting service, the third communication device first obtains AI data information. The third communication device generates an AI data collection task and sends the AI ​​data collection task to one or more functional entities, so that the first one or more functional entities provide AI data to the third communication device according to the pipeline orchestration information included in the AI ​​data collection task. The third communication device receives the AI ​​data from the one or more functional entities and sends the AI ​​data to the second communication device.

[0310] Optionally, after receiving the eighth information of AI data for requesting service, the third communication device first determines the pipeline orchestration information. The third communication device generates an AI data collection task and sends the AI ​​data collection task to one or more functional entities, so that the first or one or more functional entities provide AI data to the first communication device according to the pipeline orchestration information included in the AI ​​data collection task, and the third communication device sends the pipeline orchestration information to the second communication device.

[0311] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG7 further includes:

[0312] The second communication device receives the AI ​​data from the third communication device and sends the AI ​​data to the first communication device; or,

[0313] The second communication device receives pipeline orchestration information from the third communication device and sends the pipeline orchestration information to the first communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes a forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the one or more functional entities and / or an identifier of the one or more functional entities.

[0314] In other words, the second communication device can also receive AI data from the third communication device, and the second communication device can also send the AI ​​data to the first communication device. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the AI ​​data to provide AIaaS for the first communication device.

[0315] Alternatively, the second communication device receives the pipeline orchestration information from the third communication device and can also send the pipeline orchestration information to the first communication device. The first communication device can then obtain the AI ​​data based on the pipeline orchestration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the AI ​​data to provide AIaaS for the first communication device.

[0316] Based on the above technical solution, when the second communication device is AIMF and the third communication device is DMF, AIMF can request AI data from DMF, DMF generates an AI data collection task, and DMF can enable the first communication device to obtain AI data in a variety of ways, that is, provide AI services through the collaborative workflow of AIMF and DMF. Among them, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the one or more functional entities, wherein the one or more functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0317] As an implementation example of the second implementation manner, when the second communication device is an AIMF and the service type requested by the first communication device is AIaaS, it can be implemented through the solution shown in FIG8 .

[0318] As shown in FIG8 , it is another implementation diagram of the communication method provided in this application, which includes the following steps.

[0319] S801. A first communication device sends a first message, and a second communication device receives the first message. The first message is used to request a service and includes service type information, where the service type information indicates that the service type is AIaaS.

[0320] It should be noted that the implementation process of the first information can refer to Figure 3 / Figure 5b and the description of related embodiments. For example, the first information can also include one or more of the information B, information C, etc. described above.

[0321] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device includes type information indicating that the service type is AIaaS, and the ninth information sent by the second communication device can be used to determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation results of the service, that is, the second communication device can provide AIaaS type services. Accordingly, in Figure 8 and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as an AIMF, or an AIMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0322] S802. The second communication device sends ninth information, and the fourth communication device receives the ninth information accordingly. The ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0323] Optionally, after receiving the ninth information of the AI ​​computing result for requesting the service, the fourth communication device generates an AI computing offloading task. The fourth communication device can send the AI ​​computing offloading task to the N functional entities. The AI ​​computing offloading task includes the N functional entities and the AI ​​computing task allocation strategy on the N functional entities.

[0324] Optionally, the ninth information received by the fourth communication device is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service, and the fourth communication device can provide the AI ​​calculation result in a variety of ways, that is, the fourth communication device can provide CaaS-type services. Accordingly, in Figure 8 and related implementation processes, the fourth communication device can be understood as a CMF, or a CMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0325] Optionally, the AI ​​calculation result includes model parameters of the AI ​​model and / or AI data.

[0326] Optionally, when the second communication device is an AIMF and the third communication device is a CMF, after S802, the CMF may generate an AI computing offload task, including an AI computing task allocation policy, based on the AI ​​computing offload request. During this process, the CMF may also initiate a computing network status collection process to the DMF, and generate an offload policy for the AI ​​computing task based on the computing network status information, including the network node that executes the AI ​​computing task, and optionally the AI ​​model information or AI training set information required to execute the AI ​​computing task. The CMF sends the generated AI computing offload task to the network node for execution.

[0327] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG8 further includes:

[0328] The second communication device receives AI computing task information from the fourth communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or

[0329] The second communication device receives indication information indicating a processing result of the service from the fourth communication device; or,

[0330] The second communication device receives the AI ​​calculation result from the fourth communication device, and sends the AI ​​calculation result to the first communication device.

[0331] Specifically, the second communication device can use the above-mentioned multiple methods to enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results provided by N functional entities, so as to improve the flexibility of the solution implementation.

[0332] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG8 further includes:

[0333] The fourth communication device sends AI computing task information to the second communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing offloading task is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or

[0334] The fourth communication device sends indication information indicating a processing result of the service to the second communication device; or,

[0335] The fourth communication device receives the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities and sends the AI ​​calculation results to the second communication device or the first communication device; wherein the ninth information is determined based on a request from the first communication device.

[0336] Specifically, the fourth communication device can also enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities, or enable the second communication device to know the execution results of the AI ​​calculation task through the above-mentioned multiple methods.

[0337] Based on the technical solution of Figure 8, when the second communication device is AIMF and the fourth communication device is CMF, AIMF can initiate an AI computing offloading request to CMF, CMF generates an AI computing offloading task, and replies to AIMF with the result information of AI computing offloading, that is, AI services are provided through the collaborative workflow of AIMF and CMF. Among them, the service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capabilities of the communication devices can be improved.

[0338] As an implementation example of the second implementation method, when the second communication device is a CMF and the service type requested by the first communication device is CaaS, it can be implemented through the solution shown in Figure 9.

[0339] As shown in FIG9 , it is another implementation diagram of the communication method provided in this application, which includes the following steps.

[0340] S901. A first communication device sends a first message, and a second communication device receives the first message. The first message is used to request a service and includes service type information, where the service type information indicates that the service type is CaaS.

[0341] It should be noted that the implementation process of the first information can refer to Figure 3 / Figure 5b and the description of related embodiments. For example, the first information can also include one or more of the information B, information C, etc. described above.

[0342] Optionally, the first information received by the second communication device includes type information indicating that the type of the service is CaaS, and the tenth information sent by the second communication device can be used to determine the N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result. Accordingly, in Figure 9 and related implementation processes, the second communication device can be understood as a CMF, or a CMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0343] S902. The second communication device sends a tenth message, and the fifth communication device receives the tenth message accordingly. The tenth message is used to request an AI calculation result for the service; and / or the tenth message is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0344] Optionally, after receiving the tenth information of the AI ​​computing result for requesting the service, the fifth communication device first generates an AI computing task, and then sends the AI ​​computing task information to the N functional entities, where the AI ​​computing task information includes the N functional entities for providing the AI ​​computing result.

[0345] Optionally, the tenth information received by the fifth communication device is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service, and the fifth communication device can provide the AI ​​calculation result in a variety of ways, that is, the fifth communication device can provide AIaaS type services. Accordingly, in Figure 9 and related implementation processes, the fourth communication device can be understood as an AIMF, or an AIMF node / module / network element, etc.

[0346] Optionally, when the second communication device is a CMF and the fifth communication device is an AIMF, after S902, the AIMF may generate an AI data / AI model delivery task based on the AI ​​model / AI data request. During this process, the AIMF may further initiate an AI data / AI model collection task to the DMF, referring to the collaborative workflow between AIMF and DMF. The AIMF sends the AI ​​data / AI model delivery task to the network node for execution.

[0347] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG9 further includes:

[0348] The second communication device receives AI computing task information from the fifth communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or

[0349] The second communication device receives the AI ​​calculation result from the fifth communication device, and sends the AI ​​calculation result to the first communication device.

[0350] Specifically, the second communication device can use the above-mentioned multiple methods to enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results provided by N functional entities, so as to improve the flexibility of the solution implementation.

[0351] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG9 further includes:

[0352] The fifth communication device sends the AI ​​computing task information to the second communication device; or

[0353] The fifth communication device receives the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities, and sends the AI ​​calculation results to the second communication device or the first communication device.

[0354] Specifically, the fifth communication device can also enable the first communication device to obtain the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities, or enable the second communication device to know the execution results of the AI ​​calculation task through the above-mentioned multiple methods.

[0355] Optionally, the AI ​​computing task information includes at least one of the following: the forwarding path of the AI ​​computing result in the N functional entities, the identifiers of the N functional entities, AI model information, and AI training set information.

[0356] Optionally, the AI ​​calculation result includes model parameters of the AI ​​model and / or AI data.

[0357] Based on the technical solution shown in Figure 9, when the second communication device is CMF and the fifth communication device is AIMF, CMF can request AI data / AI model from AIMF, AIMF generates AI data / AI model transfer task, and notifies CMF of the AI ​​data / AI model transfer result, that is, computing service is provided through the collaborative workflow of CMF and AIMF. The service requested by the first communication device can be provided by the N functional entities, wherein the N functional entities can be deployed in (and / or connected to) one or more communication devices, that is, data can be provided for the service requested by the first communication device through one or more communication devices. Thus, in the communication system, the one or more communication devices can provide services based on the requests of other communication devices, and through the collaborative work of different communication devices, the utilization rate of the data processing capacity of the communication device can be improved.

[0358] It should be noted that the collaborative working processes of CMF, DMF and AIMF given in the four implementations in Figures 6 to 9 can occur simultaneously or successively without distinguishing the order, and the steps in different implementations can be applied to each other (or combined with each other).

[0359] Referring to Figure 10, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1000. The communication device 1000 can implement the functions of the communication devices (e.g., the first communication device, the second communication device, the third communication device, the fourth communication device, or the fifth communication device) in the above-mentioned method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned method embodiments. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device 1000 can be a terminal device (or network device), or it can be an integrated circuit or component, such as a chip, within the terminal device (or network device).

[0360] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the first communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine first information; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to send first information to the second communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to receive service data from the N functional entities.

[0361] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine second information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send second information to the N functional entities, and the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device.

[0362] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine sixth information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send sixth information to the third communication device based on the first information, and the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to receive seventh information from the third communication device, and the seventh information is used to indicate resource status information of one or more functional entities; the first information and the seventh information are used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send second information to the N functional entities, and the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device.

[0363] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the third communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive sixth information from the second communication device, and the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine seventh information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send seventh information to the second communication device, and the seventh information is used to indicate the resource status information of the one or more functional entities; the seventh information is used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities.

[0364] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine eighth information based on the first information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send eighth information to the third communication device, and the eighth information is used to request AI data of the service; the eighth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer.

[0365] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the third communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive eighth information from the second communication device, and the eighth information is used to request AI data for service; the eighth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to receive AI data from the N functional entities and send the AI ​​data to the second communication device; or, the processing unit 1001 is used to determine pipeline orchestration information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send pipeline orchestration information to the second communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes the forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the N functional entities, and / or, the identifiers of the N functional entities; or, the third communication device sends pipeline orchestration information to the N functional entities.

[0366] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine ninth information based on the first information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send ninth information to the fourth communication device, and the ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0367] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the fourth communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive ninth information from the second communication device, where the ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; the transceiver is also used to determine AI computing task information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send AI computing task information to the N functional entities, where the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information that provides the AI ​​computing result.

[0368] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine tenth information based on the first information; the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send tenth information to the fifth communication device, and the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0369] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the fifth communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive tenth information from the second communication device, where the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine AI computing task information; and the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send AI computing task information to the N functional entities, where the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information that provides the AI ​​computing result.

[0370] It should be noted that, for details of the information execution process and other contents of the units of the above-mentioned communication device 1000, please refer to the description in the method embodiment shown above in this application, and will not be repeated here.

[0371] Please refer to Figure 11, which is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1100 provided in this application. The communication device 1100 includes a logic circuit 1101 and an input / output interface 1102. The communication device 1100 may be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0372] The transceiver unit 1002 shown in FIG10 may be a communication interface, which may be the input / output interface 1102 in FIG11 , which may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0373] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the first communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine the first information; the input-output interface 1102 is used to send the first information to the second communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine the N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to receive data on the service from the N functional entities.

[0374] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine second information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send second information to the N functional entities, and the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device.

[0375] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine sixth information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send sixth information to the third communication device based on the first information, and the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to receive seventh information from the third communication device, and the seventh information is used to indicate resource status information of one or more functional entities; the first information and the seventh information are used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send second information to the N functional entities, and the second information is used to indicate that the service is provided to the first communication device.

[0376] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the third communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive sixth information from the second communication device, and the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine seventh information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send seventh information to the second communication device, and the seventh information is used to indicate the resource status information of the one or more functional entities; the seventh information is used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities.

[0377] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine eighth information based on the first information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send eighth information to the third communication device, and the eighth information is used to request AI data of the service; the eighth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer.

[0378] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the third communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive eighth information from the second communication device, where the eighth information is used to request AI data for service; the eighth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to receive AI data from the N functional entities and send the AI ​​data to the second communication device; or, the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine pipeline orchestration information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send pipeline orchestration information to the second communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes the forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the N functional entities, and / or, the identifiers of the N functional entities; or, the third communication device sends pipeline orchestration information to the N functional entities.

[0379] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine ninth information based on the first information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send ninth information to the fourth communication device, and the ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0380] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the fourth communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive ninth information from the second communication device, where the ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; the transceiver unit is also used to determine AI computing task information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send AI computing task information to the N functional entities, where the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information that provides the AI ​​computing result.

[0381] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the second communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive first information from the first communication device, and the first information is used to request a service; the first information includes type information of the service, and the type information of the service is used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine tenth information based on the first information; the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send tenth information to the fifth communication device, and the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

[0382] In one possible implementation, when the device 1100 is used to execute the method executed by the fifth communication device in the aforementioned embodiment, the input-output interface 1102 is used to receive tenth information from the second communication device, where the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; the logic circuit 1101 is used to determine AI computing task information; and the input-output interface 1102 is also used to send AI computing task information to the N functional entities, where the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information that provides the AI ​​computing result.

[0383] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1001 shown in FIG10 may be the logic circuit 1101 in FIG11 .

[0384] Optionally, the logic circuit 1101 may be a processing device, and the functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software. The functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software.

[0385] Optionally, the processing device may include a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the memory to perform corresponding processing and / or steps in any one of the method embodiments.

[0386] Alternatively, the processing device may include only a processor. A memory for storing the computer program is located outside the processing device, and the processor is connected to the memory via circuits / wires to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be integrated or physically separate.

[0387] Optionally, the processing device may be one or more chips, or one or more integrated circuits. For example, the processing device may be one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), central processor units (CPUs), network processors (NPs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips, or any combination of the above chips or processors.

[0388] Please refer to Figure 12, which shows the communication device 1200 involved in the above-mentioned embodiments provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1200 can specifically be a communication device serving as a terminal device in the above-mentioned embodiments. The example shown in Figure 12 is that the terminal device is implemented through the terminal device (or a component in the terminal device).

[0389] Herein, a possible logical structure diagram of the communication device 1200 is shown. The communication device 1200 may include but is not limited to at least one processor 1201 and a communication port 1202 .

[0390] Further optionally, the device may also include at least one of a memory 1203 and a bus 1204. In an embodiment of the present application, the at least one processor 1201 is used to control and process the actions of the communication device 1200.

[0391] In addition, the processor 1201 can be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, and so on. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that for the sake of convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0392] It should be noted that the communication device 1200 shown in Figure 12 can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the terminal device in the aforementioned method embodiment and achieve the corresponding technical effects of the terminal device. The specific implementation methods of the communication device shown in Figure 12 can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0393] Please refer to Figure 13, which is a structural diagram of the communication device 1300 involved in the above-mentioned embodiments provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1300 can specifically be a communication device as a network device in the above-mentioned embodiments. The example shown in Figure 13 is that the network device is implemented through the network device (or a component in the network device), wherein the structure of the communication device can refer to the structure shown in Figure 13.

[0394] The communication device 1300 includes at least one processor 1311 and at least one network interface 1314. Further optionally, the communication device also includes at least one memory 1312, at least one transceiver 1313 and one or more antennas 1315. The processor 1311, the memory 1312, the transceiver 1313 and the network interface 1314 are connected, for example, via a bus. In an embodiment of the present application, the connection may include various interfaces, transmission lines or buses, etc., which are not limited in this embodiment. The antenna 1315 is connected to the transceiver 1313. The network interface 1314 is used to enable the communication device to communicate with other communication devices through a communication link. For example, the network interface 1314 may include a network interface between the communication device and the core network device, such as an S1 interface, and the network interface may include a network interface between the communication device and other communication devices (such as other network devices or core network devices), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0395] Processor 1311 is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process software program data, for example, to support the communication device in performing the actions described in the embodiments. The communication device may include a baseband processor and a central processing unit. The baseband processor is primarily used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit is primarily used to control the entire terminal device, execute software programs, and process software program data. Processor 1311 in Figure 13 may integrate the functions of both a baseband processor and a central processing unit. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the baseband processor and the central processing unit may also be independent processors interconnected via a bus or other technology. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a terminal device may include multiple baseband processors to accommodate different network standards, multiple central processing units to enhance its processing capabilities, and various components of the terminal device may be connected via various buses. The baseband processor may also be referred to as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processing unit may also be referred to as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The functionality for processing communication protocols and communication data may be built into the processor or stored in memory as a software program, which is executed by the processor to implement the baseband processing functionality.

[0396] The memory is primarily used to store software programs and data. Memory 1312 can exist independently and be connected to processor 1311. Alternatively, memory 1312 can be integrated with processor 1311, for example, within a single chip. Memory 1312 can store program code for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and execution is controlled by processor 1311. The various computer program codes executed can also be considered drivers for processor 1311.

[0397] Figure 13 shows only one memory and one processor. In an actual terminal device, there may be multiple processors and multiple memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device. The memory may be a storage element on the same chip as the processor, i.e., an on-chip storage element, or an independent storage element, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0398] The transceiver 1313 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device and the terminal. The transceiver 1313 can be connected to the antenna 1315. The transceiver 1313 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 1315 can receive radio frequency signals. The receiver Rx of the transceiver 1313 is used to receive the radio frequency signal from the antenna, convert the radio frequency signal into a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal, and provide the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to the processor 1311 so that the processor 1311 can further process the digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal, such as demodulation and decoding. In addition, the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 1313 is also used to receive a modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 1311, convert the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal into a radio frequency signal, and transmit the radio frequency signal through one or more antennas 1315. Specifically, the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more stages of down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion on the RF signal to obtain a digital baseband signal or a digital intermediate frequency signal. The order of the down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion processes is adjustable. The transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more stages of up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion on the modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal to obtain a RF signal. The order of the up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion processes is adjustable. The digital baseband signal and the digital intermediate frequency signal may be collectively referred to as digital signals.

[0399] The transceiver 1313 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc. Optionally, a device in the transceiver unit that implements a receiving function may be referred to as a receiving unit, and a device in the transceiver unit that implements a transmitting function may be referred to as a transmitting unit. That is, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, an input port, a receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitting unit may be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0400] It should be noted that the communication device 1300 shown in Figure 13 can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the network device in the aforementioned method embodiment, and to achieve the corresponding technical effects of the network device. The specific implementation method of the communication device 1300 shown in Figure 13 can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here one by one.

[0401] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method described in the possible implementation method of the communication device (such as a terminal device or a network device) in the above embodiment.

[0402] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method of the possible implementation method of the above-mentioned communication device (such as a terminal device or a network device).

[0403] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the functions involved in the possible implementation methods of the above-mentioned communication device. Optionally, the chip system also includes an interface circuit, which provides program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor. In one possible design, the chip system may also include a memory, which is used to store the necessary program instructions and data for the communication device. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices, wherein the communication device can specifically be a terminal device or a network device in the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0404] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, wherein the network system architecture includes the first communication device and the second communication device in any of the above embodiments.

[0405] Optionally, the communication system further includes at least one of the third communication device, the fourth communication device, and the fifth communication device.

[0406] Optionally, the communication system further includes the above-mentioned N functional entities.

[0407] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0408] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0409] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit. If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the contributing part or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first communication device, the method comprises: Sending first information to a second communication device, where the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; Receive data of the service from the N functional entities.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The sending the first information to the second communication device includes: The first information is sent to the second communication device through a network opening function NEF.

3. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second communication device, the method comprises: Receiving first information from a first communication device, where the first information is used to request a service; the first information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the service, where N is a positive integer; Sending second information to the N functional entities, where the second information is used to instruct to provide the service to the first communication device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: Receiving first information from a first communication device, comprising: First information from the first communication device is received through the NEF.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Also includes: Acquire third information, where the third information is used to indicate resource status information of M functional entities, where the M functional entities include the N functional entities, and M is greater than or equal to N.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The second information includes at least one of the following: The identification of the task, the type of the task, the quality of service (QoS) requirement of the task, and the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement of the task; The task is used to provide the service.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The QoS requirement of the task includes one or more QoS requirements of the N functional entities.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The task meets at least one of the following requirements: The first information is used to determine the identity of the task; The first information includes type information of the service and / or content information of the service, and the type information of the service and / or the content information of the service are used to determine the type of the task; The first information includes content information of the service, and the content information of the service is used to determine the QoS requirement of the task; The first information includes feedback triggering condition information of the service, and the feedback triggering condition information of the service is used to determine a feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status of the task.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: Also includes: receiving fourth information from the N functional entities, where the fourth information is used to indicate a QoS achievement status of the service; Send fifth information to the N functional entities and / or the first communication device based on the fourth information, where the fifth information is used to update the QoS requirement of the task.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The first information includes at least one of the following: The type information of the service is used to indicate the type of the service, including at least one of network as a service, computing as a service, artificial intelligence AI as a service, and data as a service; The content information of the service is used to indicate at least one of the demand for network resources and the QoS requirement for the service; The feedback triggering condition information of the service is used to indicate the feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The feedback triggering condition of the QoS achievement status includes a QoS deviation degree and / or a threshold of a QoS deviation value.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second communication device, the method comprises: receiving first information from a first communication device, the first information being used to request a service; the first information comprising type information of the service, the type information of the service being used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; Sending sixth information to a third communication device according to the first information, where the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities; receiving seventh information from the third communication device, wherein the seventh information is used to indicate resource status information of the one or more functional entities; the first information and the seventh information are used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities; Sending second information to the N functional entities, where the second information is used to instruct to provide the service to the first communication device.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a third communication device, the method includes: receiving sixth information from the second communication device, where the sixth information is used to request resource status information of one or more functional entities, where M is a positive integer; Sending seventh information to the second communication device, where the seventh information is used to indicate resource status information of the one or more functional entities; and the seventh information is used to determine N functional entities among the one or more functional entities.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The seventh information includes at least one of the following: The computing resource status information of the one or more functional entities and the transmission status information of the network where the one or more functional entities are located.

15. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second communication device, the method comprises: receiving first information from a first communication device, the first information being used to request a service; the first information comprising type information of the service, the type information of the service being used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; Sending eighth information to the third communication device according to the first information, wherein the eighth information is used to request the AI ​​data of the service; the eighth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that Also includes: receiving the AI ​​data from the third communication device and sending the AI ​​data to the first communication device; or, Receive pipeline orchestration information from the third communication device, and send the pipeline orchestration information to the first communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes a forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the N functional entities, and / or identifiers of the N functional entities.

17. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a third communication device, the method includes: receiving eighth information from the second communication device, the eighth information being used to request AI data of a service; the eighth information being used to determine N functional entities providing the AI ​​data, where N is a positive integer; Receive the AI ​​data from the N functional entities and send the AI ​​data to the second communication device; or, the third communication device sends pipeline orchestration information to the second communication device; wherein the pipeline orchestration information includes a forwarding path of the AI ​​data in the N functional entities, and / or, identifiers of the N functional entities; or, the third communication device sends the pipeline orchestration information to the N functional entities.

18. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second communication device, the method comprises: receiving first information from a first communication device, the first information being used to request a service; the first information comprising type information of the service, the type information of the service being used to indicate that the type of the service is AI as a service; Sending ninth information to the fourth communication device according to the first information, wherein the ninth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the ninth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that Also includes: receiving AI computing task information from the fourth communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or, receiving indication information indicating a processing result of the service from the fourth communication device; or, The AI ​​calculation result is received from the fourth communication device, and the AI ​​calculation result is sent to the first communication device.

20. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a fourth communication device, the method includes: receiving ninth information from the second communication device, the ninth information being used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or the ninth information being used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; Sending AI computing task information to the N functional entities, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that Also includes: sending AI computing task information to the second communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing offloading task is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or, sending indication information indicating a processing result of the service to the second communication device; or, receiving the AI ​​calculation results from the N functional entities, and sending the AI ​​calculation results to the second communication device or the first communication device; wherein the ninth information is determined based on a request of the first communication device.

22. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second communication device, the method comprises: receiving first information from a first communication device, the first information being used to request a service; the first information comprising type information of the service, the type information of the service being used to indicate that the type of the service is computing as a service; Sending tenth information to the fifth communication device according to the first information, wherein the tenth information is used to request the AI ​​calculation result of the service; and / or, the tenth information is used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that Also includes: receiving AI computing task information from the fifth communication device, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result; or The AI ​​calculation result is received from the fifth communication device, and the AI ​​calculation result is sent to the first communication device.

24. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a fifth communication device, the method includes: receiving tenth information from the second communication device, the tenth information being used to request an artificial intelligence (AI) calculation result of the service; and / or the tenth information being used to determine N functional entities that provide the AI ​​calculation result, where N is a positive integer; Sending AI computing task information to the N functional entities, wherein the AI ​​computing task information is used to indicate task information for providing the AI ​​computing result.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that Also includes: Sending the AI ​​computing task information to the second communication device; or, The AI ​​calculation results are received from the N functional entities, and the AI ​​calculation results are sent to the second communication device or the first communication device.

26. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 25, characterized in that The AI ​​computing task information includes at least one of the following: The forwarding path of the AI ​​calculation result in the N functional entities, the identifiers of the N functional entities, the AI ​​model information, and the AI ​​training set information.

27. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 26, characterized in that The AI ​​calculation results include model parameters of the AI ​​model and / or AI data.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising means for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one processor configured to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27.

30. The communication device according to claim 29, characterized in that The communication device is a chip or a chip system.

31. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instruction, and when the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 27 is implemented.

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