Communication method, and related apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application are a communication method, and a related apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal device sending a first message, wherein the first message requests the creation of a first session, and the first message comprises first identification information, the first identification information indicating that the first session is used for collecting first information, and the first information being used for performing data analysis processing, model inference processing or model training processing on a network element (e.g., a network data analytics function) of a core network; and the terminal device sending the first information to a first network element by means of the first session, wherein the first information comprises measurement information of the terminal device. The terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without the need to acquire address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (e.g., a data analysis network element or a model training network element) performs processing, such as data analysis processing, model training or model inference, on the basis of the first information. In this way, the security and privacy of a core network device is effectively guaranteed, and the hiding of the topology of internal network elements of a core network is facilitated, thereby improving the security of networks.

Description

A communication method and related device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on December 18, 2023, with application number 202311760447.4 and application name “A communication method and related devices”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0003] The rapid development of artificial intelligence and big data analysis has provided the foundational technology for network intelligence. To achieve intelligent mobile networks, network equipment can provide artificial intelligence and big data analysis and output analysis results.

[0004] Currently, the network device performing the above analysis process may be a core network device, for example, the core network device may include a network data analytics function (NWDAF). The basis for the NWDAF to perform the analysis may include measurement information obtained from the terminal device, where the measurement information is measured by the terminal device during the communication process.

[0005] When a core network device obtains measurement information from a terminal device, it needs to send its own address information to the terminal device so that the terminal device can report the measurement information to the core network device based on the address information of the core network device. This is not conducive to the security and privacy protection of the core network device and affects network security. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device and includes:

[0007] The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests creation of a first session. The first message includes first identification information, where the first identification information is used to identify the first session. The first identification information is also used to indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, where the first information is used for model training or model inference. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session, where the first information includes measurement information of the terminal device.

[0008] Optionally, the first message requests modification of the first session.

[0009] Optionally, the first session is a user plane connection between the terminal device and a user plane session network element.

[0010] Optionally, the first session is a protocol data unit (PDU) session.

[0011] In one example, the first session is a session dedicated to transmitting the first information.

[0012] In one example, the first identification information (or the second identification information determined based on the first identification information) is identification information specifically used to identify the first session, such as a data network name (DNN) specifically used to identify the first session. The first identification information (or the second identification information) is also used to indicate that the first session is used to collect or transmit the first information.

[0013] In another example, the first identification information (or the second identification information) is a special identification information, such as a special type of DNN.

[0014] In another example, the first identification information (or the second identification information) is also used to indicate that the first information collected or transmitted by the first session needs to be transmitted to the first network element, and the first network element performs model training or model inference based on the first information.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device sends first information to a first network element in a first session associated with first identification information. The first information includes measurement information of the terminal device, and the first information is used to perform data analysis, model reasoning, or model training processing in a network element of the core network (such as a network data analysis function). The terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without obtaining the address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) performs data analysis processing, model training, or model reasoning based on the first information. It effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network equipment, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the amount of transmission data of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the throughput of the network.

[0016] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device and includes:

[0017] The terminal device sends first information to the user plane network element through the first session, where the first session is used to collect first information, and the first information is used for model training or model inference, and the first information includes measurement information of the terminal device; the terminal device sends seventh indication information to the user plane network element through the first session, and the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to locally save the data of the first session, or the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0018] In one possible implementation, when the terminal device sends the first information to the user plane network element through the first session, the first information also includes seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to identify that the first information needs to be forwarded to the first network element. For example, the message carrying the first information carries the seventh indication information. Then, the user plane network element determines the data forwarding strategy of the first session (or determines the data forwarding strategy of the first information, or the data processing strategy of the first information) based on the seventh indication information. The user plane network element locally caches the first information or forwards it to the first network element based on the seventh indication information.

[0019] In another possible implementation, when the terminal device sends the first information to the user-plane network element through the first session, the terminal device sends seventh indication information to the user-plane network element through the first session, where the seventh indication information and the first information are independent of each other in the first session. The user-plane network element determines, based on the seventh indication information, to locally cache the first information transmitted in the first session, or determines to forward the first information to the first network element.

[0020] Optionally, the first session is a user plane connection established between the terminal device and the user plane network element. Other information can be forwarded between the terminal device and the user plane network element through the first session. In other words, the first session is not a dedicated session for the first information.

[0021] Optionally, the seventh indication information may also be used to identify that the first information is measurement information of a terminal device, and the user-plane network element is configured in advance to locally cache or forward the measurement information of the terminal device to the first network element. When the user-plane network element receives the first information, it locally caches or forwards the first information to the first network element based on the seventh indication information included in the first information.

[0022] Optionally, the seventh indication information may further include identification information of the first network element, so that the user plane network element determines that the first information corresponding to the seventh indication information needs to be forwarded to the first network element.

[0023] Exemplarily, the first information includes a newly added field. When the newly added field is "00", it instructs the user-plane network element to perform normal forwarding processing on the data in the session carrying the newly added field; when the newly added field is "01", it instructs the user-plane network element to perform local storage (or local cache) processing on the data in the session carrying the newly added field; when the newly added field is "11", it instructs the user-plane network element to forward the data in the session carrying the newly added field to the first network element.

[0024] In another example, the first information includes a newly added field, which is used to carry seventh indication information. When the seventh indication information is "01", it indicates that the first information needs to be locally stored (or locally cached) in the user plane network element, or indicates that the first information needs to be forwarded by the user plane network element to the first network element.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device sends first information to a user-plane network element through a first session. The first information also includes seventh indication information, which is used to indicate a data forwarding policy for the first session. The user-plane network element determines how to process data in the first session based on the seventh indication information. After receiving the first information transmitted in the first session, the user-plane network element forwards the first information to the first network element. Alternatively, after receiving the first information transmitted in the first session, the user-plane network element locally stores the first information so that when the first network element needs the first information, the user-plane network element can report the locally stored first information to the first network element. The terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without obtaining the address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (e.g., a data analysis network element or a model training network element) performs data analysis, model training, or model inference based on the first information. This effectively protects the security and privacy of core network devices, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, this application reports measurement information through the user side, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the network throughput.

[0026] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the method further includes: the terminal device sends first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting the first information.

[0027] Specifically, the terminal device may report its capabilities to the network side when accessing the network, for example, the terminal device sends a registration request to the access and mobility management network element, and the registration request includes the first indication information. Alternatively, when the first network element needs to obtain the first information, or the first network element enables the analysis and processing function (for example, enabling the model training or model reasoning function of artificial intelligence), the first network element sends a first request to other network elements. In response to the first request, the network side requests the terminal device to report its capabilities. At this time, the terminal device reports its capabilities to the network side.

[0028] In one example, a terminal device sends first indication information to an access and mobility management network element through an access network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting of the first information.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can send a first indication message to the network side so that the network side can determine which terminal devices can support reporting the first information, so as to flexibly adapt to various business requirements, avoid the network side asking terminal devices that do not support reporting the first information to report the first information, and save signaling overhead.

[0030] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the method further includes: the terminal device sending second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the type of information of the first information that the terminal device supports reporting. For example, the second indication information indicates that the terminal device supports reporting measurement parameters of reference signals and indexes of synchronization signal blocks.

[0031] Regarding the information type of the first information, the embodiments of the present application do not impose specific restrictions. In an example, the information type of the first information includes at least one of the following: power spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER, committed information rate CIR, measurement parameters of the reference signal, or the index of the synchronization signal block SSB, the reference signal includes at least one of the following: sounding reference signal SRS, or channel state information reference signal CSI-RS; or reference signal received power RSRP, reference signal received quality RSRQ, or signal-to-noise and interference ratio SINR; or quality of service QoS statistical information of the terminal device, the QoS statistical information includes at least one of the following: maximum traffic rate, average traffic rate, minimum traffic rate, maximum message delay, minimum message delay, average message delay, bit error rate, or packet loss rate. For example, the second indication information indicates that the information type of the first information supported by the terminal device for reporting is power spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER and committed information rate CIR. In another example, the information type of the first information includes: underlying measurement information, which includes but is not limited to: power time spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER, committed information rate CIR, measurement parameters of the reference signal, or the index of the synchronization signal block SSB.

[0032] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can send a second indication message to the network side so that the network side can determine which terminal devices can support reporting which types of first information, so as to flexibly adapt to various business requirements.

[0033] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the method further includes:

[0034] The terminal device obtains the first identification information from a local configuration; or, the terminal device receives the first identification information from an access and mobility management network element.

[0035] For example, the terminal device sends a registration request carrying the first indication information and / or the second indication information to the access and mobility management network element. In response to the registration request, the access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information, and then the access and mobility management network element sends a registration acceptance message to the terminal device, where the registration acceptance message includes the first identification information.

[0036] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can obtain the first identification information in a variety of ways, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0037] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, sending the first information through the first session includes: the terminal device receives third indication information, and the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information; in response to the third indication information, the terminal device sends the first information through the first session.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may send the first information to the first network element through the first session under the instruction of the network side. When the network side does not need the first information, the terminal device does not send the first information to save communication resources.

[0039] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the method further includes: the terminal device receiving fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate an information type of the first information requested to be reported. In response to the fourth indication information, the first information is sent through the first session, where the information type of the first information is the information type indicated by the fourth indication information.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present application, the network side can use the fourth indication information to instruct the terminal device which types of first information to report, so as to flexibly adapt to various types of services, avoid the terminal device actively reporting the first information that is not needed by the network side, and save communication resources.

[0041] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, after sending the first information through the first session, the method also includes: the terminal device receives fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information; the terminal device stops sending the first information through the first session in response to the fifth indication information.

[0042] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may, under the instruction of the network side, stop sending the first information to the first network element through the first session. When the network side does not need the first information, the terminal device is prevented from occupying communication resources for a long time to send the first information, thereby saving communication resources.

[0043] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the method also includes: the terminal device receives sixth indication information, and the sixth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information that the terminal device stops sending; in response to the sixth indication information, the terminal device stops sending the first information corresponding to the sixth indication information through the first session.

[0044] In an embodiment of the present application, the network side can instruct the terminal device to stop reporting which types of first information through the sixth indication information, so as to flexibly adapt to various types of services and save communication resources.

[0045] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first identification information is the data network name DNN, the single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI, or the session identifier.

[0046] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the destination of the first information is a first network element, and the first network element includes: a data collection and coordination function, or a network data analysis function.

[0047] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first information is also used by the first network element to perform model training or model reasoning of the artificial intelligence model. The model training or model reasoning of the artificial intelligence model can specifically be model training or model reasoning of an air interface artificial intelligence model. For another example, the first network element can evaluate the service of the terminal device based on the first information. For another example, the first network element can construct a service profile of the terminal device based on the first information, and then determine the service path or service quality requirements or quality perception (quality of experience, QOE) of the terminal device-related services.

[0048] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0049] Power time spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER, committed information rate CIR, reference signal measurement parameters, or synchronization signal block SSB index, the reference signal includes at least one of the following: sounding reference signal SRS, or channel state information reference signal CSI-RS;

[0050] Or, reference signal received power RSRP, reference signal received quality RSRQ, or signal-to-noise and interference ratio SINR;

[0051] Alternatively, the quality of service QoS statistical information of the terminal device, the QoS statistical information includes at least one of the following: maximum traffic rate, average traffic rate, minimum traffic rate, maximum message delay, minimum message delay, average message delay, bit error rate, or packet loss rate.

[0052] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, the first message also includes: eighth indication information, and the eighth indication information is used to indicate that the first identification information included in the first message is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information. Specifically, the terminal device randomly generates the first identification information, and the first message also includes the eighth indication information. The access and mobility management network element finds that it cannot select a session management function that supports the first identification information for the terminal device, and the access and mobility management network element determines that the first session is the first network element collecting the first information based on the eighth indication information, and the access and mobility management network element assigns a second identification information to the terminal device. The implementation flexibility of the solution is improved.

[0053] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to an access and mobility management network element, the method comprising: receiving a fourth message from a first network element, the fourth message being used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting first information, the first information being used for model training or model inference;

[0054] In response to the fourth message, a first identification set is sent to the first network element, where the first identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates a terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0055] Exemplarily, the fourth message is used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting measurement information of the terminal device.

[0056] In another possible implementation, the fourth message includes first identification information, where the first identification information is used to identify the first session and the first identification information is further used to indicate that the first session is used to collect the first information. The fourth message is used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting the first information through the first session.

[0057] In another possible implementation, the fourth message includes ninth indication information, where the ninth indication information is used to indicate a terminal device that supports reporting the first information. Based on the ninth indication information, the access and mobility management network element finds a terminal device that supports reporting the first information from one or more terminal devices managed by the access and mobility management network element, and further determines the first identifier set based on the identification information of these terminal devices.

[0058] In another possible implementation, the fourth message includes tenth indication information, where the tenth indication information is used to indicate an information type of the first information. The access and mobility management network element, based on the tenth indication information, finds a terminal device that supports reporting the first information indicated by the tenth indication information from one or more terminal devices managed by the access and mobility management network element, and further determines the first identifier set based on the identification information of these terminal devices.

[0059] In another possible implementation manner, the fourth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0060] In an embodiment of the present application, after receiving the fourth message from the first network element, the access and mobility management network element may send a terminal device that supports reporting the first information through the first session to the first network element. Without leaking its own address information, the first network element obtains the identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information through the first session, so that the first network element obtains the first identification information reported by the terminal device based on the identification information of the terminal device. The first network element then performs data analysis, model training, or model inference based on the first information. This effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network devices, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security.

[0061] In combination with the third aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the access and mobility management network element sends third indication information to the terminal device in response to the fourth message, and the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device may, under the instruction of the network side, send first information to a first network element through a first session. When the network side does not need the first information, the terminal device does not send the first information to save communication resources. On the premise that the core network device does not leak its own address information, the terminal device is instructed to report the first information to the first network element through the first session so that the first network element (e.g., a data analysis network element or a model training network element) performs data analysis processing, model training, or model inference based on the first information.

[0063] In combination with the third aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the method also includes: the access and mobility management network element receives a first message sent by the terminal device, the first message requests the creation of a first session, the first message includes first identification information, the first identification information is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information; the access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element, the second message requests the creation of the first session, the second message includes second identification information, the second identification information is determined by the first identification information, the second identification information is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the first identification information and the second identification information are the same identification information.

[0065] In some other possible implementations, the access and mobility management network element reallocates the second identification information according to the first identification information.

[0066] In an embodiment of the present application, the first session is used to collect first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the network throughput.

[0067] In an embodiment of the present application, the access and mobility management network element can reallocate the second identification information based on the first identification information reported by the terminal device so that the terminal device can successfully create or modify the first session. The terminal device sends the first information to the first network element through the first session, thereby increasing the scope of application of the terminal device.

[0068] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, which is applied to an access and mobility management network element, and the method includes: receiving a first message sent by a terminal device, the first message requesting the creation of a first session, the first message including first identification information, the first identification information being used to identify the first session and the first session being used to collect the first information; sending a second message to a session management network element, the second message requesting the creation of the first session, the second message including second identification information, the second identification information being determined by the first identification information, the second identification information being used to identify the first session and the first session being used to collect the first information.

[0069] In a possible implementation, the first identification information and the second identification information are the same identification information.

[0070] In some other possible implementations, the access and mobility management network element reallocates the second identification information according to the first identification information.

[0071] In an embodiment of the present application, the access and mobility management network element can reallocate the second identification information based on the first identification information reported by the terminal device, so that the terminal device can successfully create or modify the first session. The terminal device sends the first information to the first network element via the first session, thereby increasing the applicability of the terminal device. The first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared to reporting measurement information via signaling, the present application reports measurement information via the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the amount of transmission data of the terminal device's measurement information, and improve network throughput.

[0072] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the method also includes: receiving a fourth message from a first network element, the fourth message being used to request first information of a terminal device, the first information being used for model training or model inference; and in response to the fourth message, sending third indication information to the terminal device, the third indication information being used to request reporting of the first information.

[0073] In an embodiment of the present application, after the access and mobility management network element receives the fourth message from the first network element, it can instruct the terminal device to report the first information by sending a third instruction message to the terminal device. On the premise that the core network device does not disclose its own address information, the terminal device is instructed to report the first information to the first network element through the first session, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) performs data analysis processing, model training, or model reasoning based on the first information. This effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network devices, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security.

[0074] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending the first identification information to the terminal device. For example, the terminal device sends a registration request to the access and mobility management network element, carrying the first indication information and / or the second indication information. In response to the registration request, the access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information, and then the access and mobility management network element sends a registration acceptance message to the terminal device, where the registration acceptance message includes the first identification information.

[0075] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the access and mobility management network element sends the first identification information to the terminal device, including: the access and mobility management network element sends the first identification information to the terminal device in response to the fourth message; or, the access and mobility management network element receives the first indication information of the terminal device, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting the first information; the access and mobility management network element sends the first identification information to the terminal device in response to the first indication information.

[0076] In the embodiment of the present application, the access and mobility management network element can configure the first identification information to the terminal device in a variety of ways, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0077] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes:

[0078] The access and mobility management network element obtains identification information of the terminal device;

[0079] The access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information from the subscription information of the terminal device according to the identification information of the terminal device.

[0080] In an embodiment of the present application, the access and mobility management network element can obtain the first identification information that can be assigned to the terminal device from the contract information of the terminal device, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0081] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes:

[0082] The access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information from the policy control function network element. For example, the policy control function network element configures the first identification information to the access and mobility management network element.

[0083] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes:

[0084] The first identification information is obtained from the fourth message sent by the first network element, where the fourth message is also used to carry the first identification information.

[0085] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the fourth message includes any one or more of the following information: identification information of the terminal device, third indication information, or fourth indication information, wherein the first identification information is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information, the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

[0086] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes: in response to the fourth message, determining a terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0087] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending third indication information to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0088] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may send the first information to the first network element through the first session under the instruction of the network side. When the network side does not need the first information, the terminal device does not send the first information to save communication resources.

[0089] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending fourth indication information to the terminal device, wherein the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

[0090] In an embodiment of the present application, the network side can use the fourth indication information to instruct the terminal device which types of first information to report, so as to flexibly adapt to various types of services, avoid the terminal device actively reporting the first information that is not needed by the network side, and save communication resources.

[0091] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the first message also includes: eighth indication information, and the eighth indication information is used to indicate that the first identification information included in the first message is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information. Specifically, the terminal device randomly generates the first identification information, and the first message also includes the eighth indication information. The access and mobility management network element finds that it cannot select a session management function that supports the first identification information for the terminal device, and the access and mobility management network element determines that the first session is for the first network element to collect the first information based on the eighth indication information, and the access and mobility management network element assigns a second identification information to the terminal device. The implementation flexibility of the solution is improved.

[0092] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes: obtaining the first identification information from the first message; detecting whether the first identification information is available; if the first identification information is not available, and the first message further includes: eighth indication information, the eighth indication information is used to indicate that the first identification information included in the first message is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information, then obtaining the second identification information.

[0093] Specifically, the access and mobility management network element locally maintains a fourth identification set (or obtains first identification information that can be assigned to the terminal device from the subscription information of the terminal device). The fourth identification set includes one or more identification information. The identification information included in the fourth identification set indicates that the session corresponding to the identification information is used to collect the first information for the first network element. After receiving the first message, the access and mobility management network element extracts the first identification information from the first message and then detects whether the first identification information is recorded in the fourth identification set. If the first identification information exists in the fourth identification set, it is determined that the first identification information is used to identify the first session and indicates that the first session collects the first information for the first network element; if the first identification information does not exist in the fourth identification set, the first session is not for the first network element to collect the first information, and the first message is processed according to the normal business process; if the first identification information does not exist in the fourth identification set, but the first message also includes eighth indication information, the eighth indication information is used to indicate that the first identification information included in the first message is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information, then the second identification information is determined from the fourth identification combination.

[0094] In an embodiment of the present application, the access and mobility management network element can reallocate the second identification information based on the first identification information reported by the terminal device so that the terminal device can successfully create or modify the first session. The terminal device sends the first information to the first network element through the first session, thereby increasing the scope of application of the terminal device.

[0095] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the fourth message also includes: identification information of the first network element; the second message also includes identification information of the first network element, and the identification information of the first network element is used to determine the data forwarding strategy of the first session.

[0096] In an embodiment of the present application, by sending the identification information of the first network element to the session management network element, the first network element can receive the first information of the terminal device forwarded from the user plane network element without sending a first request to the session management network element or the user plane network element, thereby saving signaling overhead and improving communication efficiency.

[0097] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method also includes: in response to the fourth message, sending a first identification set to the first network element, the first identification set including one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates a terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0098] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method also includes: sending a second identifier set to the first network element, the second identifier set including one or more identifiers, the identifiers included in the second identifier set indicating one or more session management network elements, and the session management network elements indicated by the second identifier set correspond to terminal devices that support sending the first information.

[0099] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method also includes: sending a third identification set to the first network element, the third identification set including one or more identifications, the identifications included in the third identification set indicating one or more user plane network elements, and the user plane network elements indicated by the third identification set correspond to terminal devices that support sending the first information.

[0100] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes: sending fifth indication information to the terminal device, wherein the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

[0101] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may, under the instruction of the network side, stop sending the first information to the first network element through the first session. When the network side does not need the first information, the terminal device is prevented from occupying communication resources for a long time to send the first information, thereby saving communication resources.

[0102] In combination with the third aspect or the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, the method further includes:

[0103] Send sixth indication information to the terminal device, where the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the information type of the first information.

[0104] In an embodiment of the present application, the network side can instruct the terminal device to stop reporting which types of first information through the sixth indication information, so as to flexibly adapt to various types of services and save communication resources.

[0105] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, which is applied to a session management network element, and the method includes: receiving a second message sent by an access and mobility management network element, the second message requesting the creation of a first session, the second message including second identification information, the second identification information being used to identify the first session and indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, the first information being used for model training or model inference; determining a data forwarding strategy for the first session based on the second message; and sending the data forwarding strategy for the first session to the user plane network element.

[0106] In an embodiment of the present application, after receiving the second message, the session management network element determines the data forwarding policy of the first session based on the second identification information carried in the second message. The session management network element then configures the data forwarding policy of the first session to the user plane network element, so that after receiving the data of the first session, the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element, so that the first network element can analyze and process the data of the first session. On the premise that the core network device does not disclose its own address information, the terminal device reports the first information to the first network element through the first session, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) can perform data analysis, model training, or model inference based on the first information. This effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network devices, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security.

[0107] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the data forwarding strategy of the first session includes: the user plane network element locally storing the data of the first session, or the user plane network element forwarding the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0108] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the second message also includes: identification information of the first network element; based on the second message, determining the data forwarding strategy of the first session, including: based on the identification information of the first network element also included in the second message, determining that the data forwarding strategy of the first session is: the user-side network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0109] In the embodiment of the present application, the identification information of the first network element includes but is not limited to: address information of the first network element, or the port number of the first network element, etc.

[0110] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the method also includes: in response to the second message, sending a third message to the user plane network element, the third message being used to request creation of the first session, and the third message including the second identification information and / or identification information of the first network element.

[0111] In this embodiment of the present application, during the process of creating or modifying the first session, the session management network element may further send the identification information and second identification information of the first network element to the user plane network element. This allows the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session associated with the second identification information (or the first identification information) to the first network element, ensuring that the first network element can successfully receive the data of the first session (e.g., the first information). The first network element can obtain the first information without sending a first request to the user plane network element, thus saving signaling overhead.

[0112] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the data forwarding policy for sending the first session to the user plane network element includes: sending seventh indication information to the user plane network element, the seventh indication information being used to instruct the user plane network element to locally save (or locally cache) the data of the first session, or the seventh indication information being used to instruct the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0113] Exemplarily, when the seventh indication information is "01", it instructs the user plane network element to perform local storage (or local caching) processing on the data in the session carrying the seventh indication information.

[0114] In this embodiment of the present application, the session management network element may further send the first information to the user plane network element. Furthermore, the session management network element may further send identification information of the first session to the user plane network element. The seventh indication information is used to indicate a data forwarding policy for the first session. The user plane network element may determine a processing method for data in the first session based on the seventh indication information.

[0115] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the method also includes: receiving a sixth message sent by the first network element, the sixth message being used to request the first information of the terminal device; in response to the sixth message, sending any one or more of the following information to the first network element: identification information of the terminal device supporting reporting of the first information, identification information of the user-side network element corresponding to the terminal device supporting reporting of the first information, or the second identification information.

[0116] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network element may further send a sixth message to the session management network element. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element feeds back to the first network element identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting the first information, identification information of a user-plane network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information, or second identification information associated with the first session. This allows the first network element to obtain the first information related to the first session from the user-plane network element, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0117] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, which is applied to a user-plane network element, and the method includes: receiving second identification information, where the second identification information is used to identify a first session, and the second identification information is also used to indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, and the first information is used for model training or model inference; receiving a data forwarding policy for the first session, where the data forwarding policy for the first session is used to indicate a data forwarding policy for the first information sent by a terminal device through the first session; and sending the first information received by the user-plane network element through the first session to the first network element according to the data forwarding policy of the first session.

[0118] In an embodiment of the present application, the user-plane network element supports forwarding the locally stored (or locally cached) data of the first session to the first network element according to the data forwarding policy of the first session, or forwarding the data of the first session sent by the terminal device to the first network element. After the user-plane network element receives the first information reported by the terminal device, the user-plane network element forwards the first information to the first network element according to the second identification information and the data forwarding policy of the first session, so that the first network element can successfully receive the first information transmitted by the first session. It is ensured that the first network element can perform model training or model inference based on the first information. The security and privacy of the core network equipment are effectively protected, the internal network element topology of the core network is concealed, and the network security is improved. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the network throughput.

[0119] With reference to the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, receiving the second identification information includes: receiving the second identification information sent by the first network element; or receiving the second identification information sent by the session management network element. The user plane network element can obtain the second identification information in a variety of ways. In various scenarios, the user plane network element determines the data forwarding policy corresponding to the first session based on the second identification information, and further determines the forwarding policy for the data carried by the first session, thereby improving implementation flexibility.

[0120] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, the data forwarding strategy of the first session includes any one of the following: the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session, or the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0121] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, receiving the second identification information sent by the first network element includes: receiving a third message sent by a session management network element, the third message being used to request creation of the first session, the third message including the second identification information, the second identification information being used to identify the first session and the first session being used to collect the first information.

[0122] In the embodiment of the present application, by carrying the second identification information in the third message for creating or modifying the first session, the first session can access the first network element corresponding to the second identification information, thereby preventing the data of the first session from being forwarded to the Internet.

[0123] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, when the data forwarding policy of the first session is that the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session, receiving the second identification information sent by the session management network element includes: receiving a fifth message sent by the first network element, the fifth message including the second identification information; sending the first information to the first network element according to the data forwarding policy of the first session, including: sending the first information to the first network element in response to the fifth message, wherein the first information is data determined by the user plane network element from the locally stored data according to the second identification information.

[0124] In an embodiment of the present application, when the fifth message includes the second identification information, the user-side network element forwards the locally stored (or locally cached) data of the first session related to the second identification information to the first network element according to the fifth message, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0125] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, the fifth message also includes identification information of the first network element.

[0126] In an embodiment of the present application, when the fifth message includes the identification information of the first network element, the user-side network element directly forwards the data of the first session sent by the terminal device to the first network element based on the identification information of the first network element included in the fifth message, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0127] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, when the data forwarding policy of the first session is for the user-plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element, forwarding the first information to the first network element according to the data forwarding policy of the first session, including: receiving a third message sent by the session management network element, the third message is used to request creation of the first session, the third message includes the second identification information, and the second identification information indicates that the first session is used to collect the first information for the first network element; determining that the forwarding destination of the data of the first session is the first network element according to the identification information of the first network element included in the third message; and forwarding the first information from the terminal device to the first network element according to the data forwarding policy of the first session.

[0128] In an embodiment of the present application, the user-side network element can also obtain the identification information of the first network element during the creation or modification stage of the first session, so that the user-side network element can directly forward the data of the first session sent by the terminal device to the first network element based on the identification information of the first network element, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0129] In combination with the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, receiving the data forwarding strategy of the first session includes: receiving the first information sent by the terminal device, the first information also including seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate the data forwarding strategy of the first session.

[0130] In an embodiment of the present application, the user-side network element can also determine the data forwarding strategy of the first session based on the indication of the terminal device (the seventh indication information), which improves the implementation flexibility of the solution and can effectively reduce signaling overhead.

[0131] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, which is applied to a first network element, and the method includes: sending a first request, the first request including second identification information, the first request being used to instruct the user-plane network element to report first information corresponding to the second identification information, the first session being a session established between a terminal device and the first network element; receiving first information from the user-plane network element, the first information being transmitted in the first session, and the first information including measurement information of the terminal device.

[0132] For example, the first network element may perform model training or model inference of an artificial intelligence model based on the first information. The model training or model inference of the artificial intelligence model may specifically be model training or model inference of an air interface artificial intelligence model. For another example, the first network element may evaluate the service of the terminal device based on the first information. For another example, the first network element may construct a service profile of the terminal device based on the first information, and then determine the service path, service quality requirements, or quality perception of the terminal device-related service.

[0133] In an embodiment of the present application, when the first network element subscribes to the first information from other network elements (such as an access and mobility management network element, a session management network element, or a user plane network element), it subscribes to the first information related to the second identification information by sending the second identification information. Without leaking its own address information, the first information of the terminal device is obtained, which effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network equipment, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the amount of transmission data of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the throughput of the network.

[0134] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation of the seventh aspect, analyzing and processing according to the first information includes: performing model training or model derivation according to the first information.

[0135] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the first request also includes: identification information of the first network element, and the identification information of the first network element is used to determine the data forwarding strategy of the first session.

[0136] In an embodiment of the present application, by sending the identification information of the first network element to other network elements, the first network element can receive the first information of the terminal device forwarded from the user plane network element without sending a first request to the session management network element or the user plane network element, thereby saving signaling overhead and improving communication efficiency.

[0137] In combination with the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation of the seventh aspect, sending the first request includes: sending a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, the fourth message being used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information; or, sending a fifth message to the user plane network element, the fifth message being used to request the first information of the terminal device; or, sending a sixth message to the session management network element, the sixth message being used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0138] Optionally, the fourth message is also used to request identification information of a session management network element related to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0139] Optionally, the fourth message is further used to configure the first identification information and / or the second identification information to the access and mobility management network element.

[0140] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network element can send a first request to multiple network elements to obtain the first information, thereby improving the implementation flexibility of the solution.

[0141] In conjunction with the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation of the seventh aspect, the method further includes:

[0142] Receive a third identifier set sent by a session management network element, where the third identifier set includes one or more identifiers, and the identifiers included in the third identifier set indicate one or more user plane network elements, where the user plane network elements indicated by the third identifier set correspond to terminal devices that support sending the first information.

[0143] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device, wherein the communication device includes:

[0144] a transceiver module, configured to send a first message requesting the creation of a first session, the first message including first identification information, the first identification information being used to identify the first session, the first identification information being further used to indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, the first information being used for model training or model inference;

[0145] The transceiver module is further configured to send the first information through the first session, where the first information includes measurement information of the terminal device.

[0146] In one possible implementation,

[0147] The transceiver module is further used to send first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting the first information.

[0148] In one possible implementation,

[0149] The transceiver module is also used for second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information supported by the terminal device for reporting.

[0150] In one possible implementation,

[0151] The transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first identification information from a local configuration;

[0152] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further configured to receive the first identification information from an access and mobility management network element.

[0153] In one possible implementation,

[0154] The transceiver module is further configured to receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information;

[0155] The transceiver module is further configured to send the first information through the first session in response to the third indication information.

[0156] In one possible implementation,

[0157] The transceiver module is further configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate an information type of the first information requested to be reported;

[0158] The transceiver module is further configured to send the first information through the first session in response to the fourth indication information, where the information type of the first information is the information type indicated by the fourth indication information.

[0159] In one possible implementation,

[0160] The transceiver module is further configured to receive fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information;

[0161] The transceiver module is further configured to, in response to the fifth indication information, stop sending the first information through the first session.

[0162] In one possible implementation,

[0163] The transceiver module is further configured to receive sixth indication information, where the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending an information type of the first information;

[0164] The transceiver module is further configured to, in response to the sixth indication information, stop sending the first information corresponding to the sixth indication information through the first session.

[0165] In one possible implementation, the first identification information is a data network name DNN, a single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI, or a session identifier.

[0166] In a possible implementation, the destination of the first information is a first network element, and the first network element includes: a data collection and coordination function, or a network data analysis function.

[0167] In one possible implementation, the first information is also used by the first network element to perform model training or model inference of an artificial intelligence model.

[0168] In a possible implementation, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0169] Power time spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER, committed information rate CIR, reference signal measurement parameters, or synchronization signal block SSB index, the reference signal includes at least one of the following: sounding reference signal SRS, or channel state information reference signal CSI-RS;

[0170] Or, reference signal received power RSRP, reference signal received quality RSRQ, or signal-to-noise and interference ratio SINR;

[0171] Alternatively, the quality of service QoS statistical information of the terminal device, the QoS statistical information includes at least one of the following: maximum traffic rate, average traffic rate, minimum traffic rate, maximum message delay, minimum message delay, average message delay, bit error rate, or packet loss rate.

[0172] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to a terminal device, and includes:

[0173] The transceiver module is further configured to send first information to a user plane network element through a first session, where the first session is used to collect first information, the first information being used for model training or model inference, and the first information including measurement information of the terminal device;

[0174] The transceiver module is further used to send seventh indication information to the session management network element through the first session, and the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to locally save the data of the first session, or the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0175] In one possible implementation,

[0176] The transceiver module is further configured to send the seventh indication information to the session management network element through the first session.

[0177] In one possible implementation,

[0178] The transceiver module is further used to send first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting the first information.

[0179] In one possible implementation,

[0180] The transceiver module is further used to send second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information supported by the terminal device for reporting.

[0181] In one possible implementation,

[0182] The transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first identification information from a local configuration;

[0183] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further configured to receive the first identification information from an access and mobility management network element.

[0184] In one possible implementation,

[0185] The transceiver module is further configured to receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information;

[0186] The transceiver module is further configured to send the first information through the first session in response to the third indication information.

[0187] In one possible implementation,

[0188] The transceiver module is further configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate an information type of the first information requested to be reported;

[0189] The transceiver module is further configured to send the first information through the first session in response to the fourth indication information, where the information type of the first information is the information type indicated by the fourth indication information.

[0190] In one possible implementation,

[0191] The transceiver module is further configured to receive fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information;

[0192] The transceiver module is further configured to, in response to the fifth indication information, stop sending the first information through the first session.

[0193] In one possible implementation,

[0194] The transceiver module is further configured to receive sixth indication information, where the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending an information type of the first information;

[0195] The transceiver module is further configured to, in response to the sixth indication information, stop sending the first information corresponding to the sixth indication information through the first session.

[0196] In a possible implementation, the destination of the first information is a first network element, and the first network element includes: a data collection and coordination function, or a network data analysis function.

[0197] In one possible implementation, the first information is also used by the first network element to perform model training or model inference of an artificial intelligence model.

[0198] In a possible implementation, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0199] Power time spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER, committed information rate CIR, reference signal measurement parameters, or synchronization signal block SSB index, the reference signal includes at least one of the following: sounding reference signal SRS, or channel state information reference signal CSI-RS;

[0200] Or, reference signal received power RSRP, reference signal received quality RSRQ, or signal-to-noise and interference ratio SINR;

[0201] Alternatively, the quality of service QoS statistical information of the terminal device, the QoS statistical information includes at least one of the following: maximum traffic rate, average traffic rate, minimum traffic rate, maximum message delay, minimum message delay, average message delay, bit error rate, or packet loss rate.

[0202] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to an access and mobility management network element, and the communication device includes:

[0203] a transceiver module, configured to receive a first message sent by a terminal device, wherein the first message requests to establish a first session, the first message includes first identification information, the first identification information is used to identify the first session, and the first session is used to collect the first information;

[0204] The transceiver module is further used to send a second message to the session management network element, where the second message requests to create the first session, and the second message includes second identification information, where the second identification information is determined by the first identification information, and the second identification information is used to identify the first session, and the first session is used to collect the first information.

[0205] In one possible implementation,

[0206] The transceiver module is further configured to receive a fourth message from the first network element, where the fourth message is used to request first information of the terminal device, where the first information is used for model training or model inference;

[0207] The transceiver module is further used to send third indication information to the terminal device in response to the fourth message, and the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0208] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module is also used to send a first identification set to the first network element in response to the fourth message, where the first identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates a terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0209] In one possible implementation,

[0210] The transceiver module is further configured to send the first identification information to the terminal device.

[0211] In one possible implementation,

[0212] The fourth message includes any one or more of the following information:

[0213] The identification information, third indication information, or fourth indication information of the terminal device, wherein the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

[0214] In one possible implementation,

[0215] The transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first identification information from the contract information of the terminal device;

[0216] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first identification information from a policy control function network element;

[0217] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further used to obtain the first identification information from the fourth message sent by the first network element, and the fourth message is further used to carry the first identification information.

[0218] In a possible implementation, the fourth message further includes: identification information of the first network element;

[0219] The second message also includes identification information of the first network element, where the identification information of the first network element is used to determine a data forwarding strategy for the first session.

[0220] In one possible implementation,

[0221] The transceiver module is further used to send fourth indication information to the terminal device, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

[0222] In one possible implementation,

[0223] The transceiver module is further used to send fifth indication information to the terminal device, and the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

[0224] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to an access and mobility management network element, and includes:

[0225] a transceiver module, configured to receive a fourth message from the first network element, the fourth message being used to request identification information of a terminal device supporting reporting of the first information, the fourth message being used to request identification information of a terminal device supporting reporting of the first information, the first information being used for model training or model inference;

[0226] The transceiver module is also used to send a first identification set to the first network element in response to the fourth message, where the first identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates a terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0227] In one possible implementation,

[0228] The transceiver module is further used to send third indication information to the terminal device in response to the fourth message, and the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0229] In one possible implementation,

[0230] The transceiver module is further configured to receive a first message sent by a terminal device, the first message requesting to establish a first session, the first message including first identification information, the first identification information being used to identify the first session, and the first session being used to collect the first information;

[0231] Send a second message to the session management network element, where the second message requests creation of the first session, and the second message includes second identification information, where the second identification information is determined by the first identification information, where the second identification information is used to identify the first session, and the first session is used to collect the first information.

[0232] In one possible implementation,

[0233] The transceiver module is further configured to send the first identification information to the terminal device.

[0234] In one possible implementation,

[0235] The fourth message includes any one or more of the following information:

[0236] The identification information, third indication information, or fourth indication information of the terminal device, wherein the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

[0237] In one possible implementation,

[0238] The transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first identification information from the contract information of the terminal device;

[0239] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further configured to obtain the first identification information from a policy control function network element;

[0240] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further used to obtain the first identification information from the fourth message sent by the first network element, and the fourth message is further used to carry the first identification information.

[0241] In a possible implementation, the fourth message further includes: identification information of the first network element;

[0242] The second message also includes identification information of the first network element, where the identification information of the first network element is used to determine a data forwarding strategy for the first session.

[0243] In one possible implementation,

[0244] The transceiver module is further used to send fourth indication information to the terminal device, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

[0245] In one possible implementation,

[0246] The transceiver module is further used to send fifth indication information to the terminal device, and the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

[0247] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to a session management network element, and the communication device includes:

[0248] a transceiver module, configured to receive a second message sent by an access and mobility management network element, where the second message requests creation of a first session, and the second message includes second identification information, where the second identification information is used to identify the first session and indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, where the first information is used for model training or model inference;

[0249] a processing module, configured to determine a data forwarding strategy for the first session according to the second message;

[0250] The transceiver module is further configured to send the data forwarding policy of the first session to the user plane network element.

[0251] In a possible implementation, the data forwarding strategy for the first session includes: the user plane network element locally storing the data of the first session, or the user plane network element forwarding the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0252] In a possible implementation, the second message further includes: identification information of the first network element;

[0253] The processing module is further configured to determine, based on the identification information of the first network element included in the second message, that the data forwarding policy for the first session is: the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0254] In one possible implementation,

[0255] The transceiver module is further used to send a third message to the user plane network element in response to the second message, where the third message is used to request creation of the first session, and the third message includes the second identification information and / or identification information of the first network element.

[0256] In one possible implementation,

[0257] The transceiver module is further used to send seventh indication information to the user plane network element, where the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to locally store the data of the first session, or the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0258] In one possible implementation,

[0259] The transceiver module is further configured to receive a sixth message sent by the first network element, where the sixth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device;

[0260] The transceiver module is also used to send any one or more of the following information to the first network element in response to the sixth message: identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information, identification information of the user-side network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information, or the second identification information.

[0261] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to a user plane network element, and the communication device includes:

[0262] a transceiver module, configured to receive second identification information, where the second identification information is used to identify the first session, and the second identification information is further configured to indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, where the first information is used for model training or model inference;

[0263] The transceiver module is further configured to receive a data forwarding policy for the first session, where the data forwarding policy for the first session is used to indicate a data forwarding policy for the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session;

[0264] A processing module is configured to send, to the first network element according to a data forwarding policy of the first session, the first information received by the user plane network element through the first session.

[0265] In one possible implementation,

[0266] The transceiver module is further configured to receive the second identification information sent by the first network element;

[0267] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further configured to receive the second identification information sent by the session management network element.

[0268] In a possible implementation, the data forwarding strategy for the first session includes any one of the following: the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session, or the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0269] In one possible implementation,

[0270] The transceiver module is further configured to, when the data forwarding policy of the first session is that the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session, receive a fifth message sent by the first network element, the fifth message including the second identification information;

[0271] The transceiver module is further used to send the first information to the first network element in response to the fifth message, wherein the first information is data determined by the user-plane network element from locally stored data based on the second identification information.

[0272] In one possible implementation,

[0273] The transceiver module is further configured to, when the data forwarding policy of the first session is for the user plane network element to forward data of the first session to the first network element, receive a third message sent by the session management network element, the third message being used to request creation of the first session, and the third message including the second identification information;

[0274] a processing module, configured to determine, based on the identification information of the first network element included in the third message, that the forwarding destination of the data of the first session is the first network element;

[0275] The transceiver module is further configured to forward the first information from the terminal device to the first network element according to a data forwarding policy of the first session.

[0276] In one possible implementation,

[0277] The transceiver module is further used to receive the first information sent by the terminal device, where the first information also includes seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate a data forwarding strategy for the first session.

[0278] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which is applied to a first network element, and includes:

[0279] a transceiver module, configured to send a first request, where the first request includes second identification information, where the first request is used to instruct a user plane network element to report first information corresponding to the second identification information, where the first session is a session established between a terminal device and the first network element;

[0280] The transceiver module is further used to receive first information from the user plane network element, where the first information is transmitted in the first session and includes measurement information of the terminal device.

[0281] In one possible implementation,

[0282] The processing module is further used to perform model training or model derivation based on the first information.

[0283] In a possible implementation, the first request further includes identification information of the first network element, where the identification information of the first network element is used to determine a data forwarding policy for the first session.

[0284] In one possible implementation,

[0285] The transceiver module is further configured to send a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, wherein the fourth message is used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting the first information;

[0286] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further configured to send a fifth message to the user plane network element, where the fifth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device;

[0287] Alternatively, the transceiver module is further used to send a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0288] In one possible implementation,

[0289] The transceiver module is also used to receive a third identifier set sent by a session management network element, where the third identifier set includes one or more identifiers, and the identifiers included in the third identifier set indicate one or more user plane network elements, and the user plane network elements indicated by the third identifier set correspond to terminal devices that support sending the first information.

[0290] A fifteenth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which can implement the method in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. The device includes corresponding units or modules for executing the above-mentioned method. The units or modules included in the device can be implemented by software and / or hardware. For example, the device can be a terminal device, or the device can be a component in the terminal device (such as a processor, chip or chip system, etc.), or the device can also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device. Among them, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module. For example, the communication device is a server with a terminal device.

[0291] In a sixteenth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, which can implement the method in the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. The device includes corresponding units or modules for executing the above-mentioned method. The units or modules included in the device can be implemented by software and / or hardware. For example, the device can be a terminal device, or the device can be a component in the terminal device (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the device can also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device. Among them, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

[0292] The seventeenth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which can implement the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect. The device includes corresponding units or modules for executing the above method. The units or modules included in the device can be implemented by software and / or hardware. For example, the device can be an access and mobility management network element, or the device can be a component in the access and mobility management network element (such as a processor, chip or chip system, etc.), or the device can also be a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the access and mobility management network element. Among them, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

[0293] In an eighteenth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided, which can implement the method in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect. The device includes corresponding units or modules for executing the above method. The units or modules included in the device can be implemented in software and / or hardware. For example, the device can be an access and mobility management network element, or the device can be a component in the access and mobility management network element (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the device can also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the access and mobility management network element. Among them, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

[0294] In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can implement the method in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect. The device includes corresponding units or modules for executing the above method. The units or modules included in the device can be implemented in software and / or hardware. For example, the device can be a session management network element, or the device can be a component in the session management network element (such as a processor, chip or chip system, etc.), or the device can also be a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the session management network element. The communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

[0295] The twentieth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which can implement the method in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect. The device includes corresponding units or modules for executing the above method. The units or modules included in the device can be implemented by software and / or hardware. For example, the device can be a user plane network element, or the device can be a component in the user plane network element (such as a processor, chip or chip system, etc.), or the device can also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the user plane network element. Among them, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

[0296] In aspect 21 of the present application, a communication device is provided, which can implement the method in aspect 7 or any possible implementation of aspect 7. The device includes corresponding units or modules for executing the above method. The units or modules included in the device can be implemented by software and / or hardware. For example, the device can be a first network element, or the device can be a component in the first network element (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the device can also be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the first network element. Among them, the communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

[0297] A twenty-second aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one processor, which 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 any possible implementation method of the first to seventh aspects mentioned above.

[0298] The twenty-third aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, including a communication interface for inputting and / or outputting signaling or data; a processor for executing a computer-executable program so that the device can implement any possible implementation method of the first to seventh aspects mentioned above.

[0299] A twenty-fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface; the input / output interface is used to input or output information; the logic circuit is used to execute the method as any possible implementation method in the first to seventh aspects mentioned above.

[0300] The twenty-fifth aspect of the embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the above-mentioned first to seventh aspects, and any possible implementation method.

[0301] A twenty-sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the above-mentioned first to seventh aspects, and any possible implementation method.

[0302] 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.

[0303] The twenty-seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes the communication device of the eighth aspect, the communication device of the ninth aspect, the communication device of the tenth aspect, the communication device of the eleventh aspect, the communication device of the twelfth aspect, the communication device of the thirteenth aspect and / or the communication device of the fourteenth aspect.

[0304] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the eighth to twenty-seventh aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the different implementation methods in the above-mentioned first to seventh aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0305] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0306] FIG2 is another schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0307] FIG3 is another schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0308] FIG4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a communication method proposed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0309] FIG5 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0310] FIG6 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0311] FIG7 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0312] FIG8 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0313] FIG9 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0314] FIG10 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0315] FIG11 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0316] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0317] FIG13 is another schematic diagram of the communication device provided by the present application;

[0318] FIG14 is another schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0319] FIG15 is another schematic diagram of the communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0320] First, some of the terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0321] (1) Terminal device: It can be a wireless terminal device that can receive network device scheduling and instruction information. The wireless terminal device can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to the user, or a handheld device with wireless connection function, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem.

[0322] Terminal devices can communicate with one or more core networks or the Internet via a radio access network (RAN). Terminal devices can be mobile terminal devices, such as mobile phones (also known as "cellular" phones, mobile phones), computers, and data cards. For example, they can be portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and / or data with the radio access network. Examples include personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, and computers with wireless transceiver capabilities. A wireless terminal device may also be referred to as a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station (MS), a remote station, an access point (AP), a remote terminal, an access terminal, a user terminal, a user agent, a subscriber station (SS), a customer premises equipment (CPE), a terminal, a user equipment (UE), a mobile terminal (MT), an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), etc. A terminal device may also be a wearable device or a next-generation communication system, for example, a terminal device in a 5G communication system or a terminal device in a future-evolved public land mobile network (PLMN).

[0323] (2) Network equipment: It can be a device in a wireless network, for example, a network device can be a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a terminal device to a wireless network, which can also be called a base station. Currently, some examples of RAN equipment are: a new generation Node B (gNodeB) in a 5G communication system, a transmission reception point (TRP), an evolved Node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP). In addition, in a network structure, a network device can include a centralized unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node.

[0324] In some implementations, the network equipment may also include satellites, aircraft, drones, and ground station equipment connected to the satellites, aircraft, and drones.

[0325] Among them, the network device can send configuration information to the terminal device (for example, carried in a scheduling message and / or an indication message), and the terminal device further performs network configuration according to the configuration information, so that the network configurations between the network device and the terminal device are aligned; or, through the network configuration preset in the network device and the network configuration preset in the terminal device, the network configurations between the network device and the terminal device are aligned. Specifically, "alignment" means that when there are interactive messages between the network device and the terminal device, the two have a consistent understanding of the carrier frequency for sending and receiving interactive messages, the determination of the interactive message type, the meaning of the field information carried in the interactive message, or other configurations of the interactive message.

[0326] In addition, in other possible cases, the network device may be another device that provides wireless communication functions for the terminal device. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form used by the network device. For the convenience of description, the embodiments of this application are not limited.

[0327] In the embodiments of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the network device may be the network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the network device as an example.

[0328] (3) Configuration and pre-configuration: In this application, configuration and pre-configuration are used simultaneously. Configuration refers to the network device sending some parameter configuration information or parameter values ​​to the terminal device through messages or signaling, so that the terminal device can determine the communication parameters or resources during transmission based on these values ​​or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration, and can be parameter information or parameter values ​​negotiated in advance between the network device and the terminal device, or parameter information or parameter values ​​used by the network device or terminal device as specified by the standard protocol, or parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-stored in the network device or terminal device. This application does not limit this.

[0329] Furthermore, these values ​​and parameters can be changed or updated.

[0330] (4) 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.

[0331] The present application can be applied to a long term evolution (LTE) system, a new radio (NR) system, or other communication systems, wherein the communication system includes a network device and a terminal device, the network device serves as a configuration information sending entity, and the terminal device serves as a configuration information receiving entity. Specifically, in the communication system, there is an entity that sends configuration information to another entity, and sends data to another entity, or receives data sent by another entity; another entity receives the configuration information, and sends data to the configuration information sending entity according to the configuration information, or receives data sent by the configuration information sending entity. Among them, the present application can be applied to a terminal device in a connected state or an active state (ACTIVE), and can also be applied to a terminal device that enters a non-connected state (INACTIVE) or an idle state (IDLE).

[0332] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can refer to each other. In the various embodiments in this application, and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, implementation methods, implementation methods, or implementation methods according to their inherent logical relationships. The implementation methods of this application described below do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0333] To facilitate understanding of the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the system architecture of the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described below. It is understandable that the system architecture described in the embodiments of the present application is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0334] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the configuration information sending entity may be a network device, wherein the configuration information receiving entity may be UE1-UE6. In this case, the network device and UE1-UE6 constitute a communication system. In this communication system, UE1-UE6 can send uplink data to the network device, and the network device needs to receive uplink data sent by UE1-UE6. At the same time, the network device can send configuration information to UE1-UE6.

[0335] Please refer to Figure 2, which is another schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the communication system includes a terminal device 100 and a network device 200. The network device 200 may include an access network device 201 and a core network device 202. The terminal device 100 and the access network device 201 may communicate via a wireless link. The access network device 201 and the core network device 202 may communicate with each other. In other words, the terminal device 100 may communicate with the access network device 201 and / or the core network device 202.

[0336] As an implementation example of the communication system shown in Figure 2, the communication system may be a 5G network system. As shown in Figure 3, the terminal device 100 in Figure 2 may include a UE including an application (APP) in Figure 3, the access network device 201 in Figure 2 may include a gNB in ​​Figure 3, and the core network device 202 in Figure 2 may include an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a session management function (SMF) network element, a user plane function (UPF) network element, a network data analytics function (NWDAF) network element, and a data collection coordination function (DCCF) network element in Figure 3.

[0337] The devices or network elements shown in FIG3 are introduced below respectively.

[0338] Access and mobility management network element (or access and mobility management function): mainly used for the attachment, mobility management, and tracking area update processes of terminals in mobile networks. The access management network element terminates the non-access stratum (NAS) message, completes registration management, connection management and reachability management, allocates tracking area lists (TA lists) and mobility management, etc., and transparently routes session management (SM) messages to the session management network element. In the 5th generation (5G) communication system, the access management network element can be an access and mobility management function (AMF). It can be understood that with the evolution of communication technology, the access and mobility management network element can also use other names or include other network elements, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0339] Session management network element (or session management function): mainly used for session management in mobile networks, such as session establishment, modification, and release. Specific functions include allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to terminals and selecting user-plane network elements that provide message forwarding functions. In 5G communication systems, the session management network element can be a session management function (SMF). It is understandable that with the evolution of communication technology, the session management network element can also use other names or include other network elements, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0340] Data analysis network element: collects data from each network function NF (Network Function, i.e. AMF or SMF, etc.) and performs analysis and prediction. Data can be collected through the network development function NEF (Network Exposure Function) or directly from the application function AF (Application Function), as well as from the OAM (operation, administration, and maintenance) system and analyzed, processed and predicted. In the 5G communication system, the data analysis network element can be an NWDAF network element or a system related to the management data analytics system (MDAS). It is understandable that with the evolution of communication technology, the data analysis network element can also use other names or include other network elements, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0341] User plane network element: mainly responsible for processing user messages, such as forwarding, billing, legal monitoring, etc. The user plane network element can also be called a protocol data unit (PDU) session anchor (PSA). In a 5G communication system, the user plane network element can be a user plane function (UPF) network element. The UPF can communicate directly with the NWDAF through a service-like interface, or through other channels, such as through an SMF network element or a private interface or internal interface between the SMF network element and the NWDAF network element. It can be understood that with the evolution of communication technology, the user plane network element can also use other names or include other network elements, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0342] It is understandable that service-oriented development enables the core network to form a flat architecture. Through the control plane signaling bus, the control plane network function entities of the same network slice can discover each other through the Network Repository Function (NRF), obtain each other's access address information, and then communicate directly with each other through the control plane signaling bus.

[0343] In addition to the above-mentioned service-oriented control plane network functional entities, this application may also involve the following devices or network elements:

[0344] Data collection application function: An application server deployed on the network side that receives measurement information transmitted by terminal devices through network connections. The data collection application function can be an independent data collection coordination function or a data collection application function (DCAF) network element, or it can be a data collection unit module within the NWDAF network element, or it can be a data collection unit module within the UPF network element. It is understandable that with the evolution of communication technology, the data collection application function can also include other network elements, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0345] Terminal network status data collection application: As an application client program running on the terminal device, it reads the measurement information of the terminal device's wireless link in real time, and reports the measurement information as the terminal device's communication quality parameters to the data collection application function through the network connection.

[0346] Network Exposure Function (not shown in Figure 3): Network operators can deploy a network exposure function (NEF) to isolate third-party application functions from network functions. When the data collection application function is a server deployed by a third party, the data collection application function must communicate with the aforementioned network functions such as the AMF, SMF, or UPF through the NEF.

[0347] The rapid development of artificial intelligence and big data analytics has provided foundational technologies for network intelligence in communication systems (such as those shown in Figures 1, 2, or 3). To achieve mobile network intelligence, the NWDAF network element and related MDAS systems have been defined. The NWDAF or MDAS provides intelligent analysis services, leveraging artificial intelligence and big data analysis to output analysis results in a format defined by the specification. These output results generally come in two forms: statistical analysis of historical data and predictions of future data. Service-processing network elements (NEs) use NWDAF outputs to make network adjustments and optimize network operations. For example, if the NWDAF statistical analysis reveals that the packet loss rate of ongoing service packets transmitted by a terminal exceeds a threshold, impacting the service experience, the service NE will take appropriate measures, such as increasing the retransmission rate, to improve the service experience. There are several possible reasons for an increased packet loss rate: for example, poor wireless coverage and poor wireless link quality at the terminal's location can lead to an increased packet loss rate. Alternatively, high traffic volume in the area and temporary congestion of wireless devices can lead to a lack of link resources for some service packets, resulting in packet loss. For the first reason, increasing the retransmission ratio can improve the service experience. However, for the second reason, increasing the retransmission ratio will only lead to increased wireless device congestion, resulting in more packet drops and a further deterioration in the service experience. Therefore, it is necessary to first analyze the terminal's wireless status before taking appropriate measures. For example, in the case of network congestion, the application bandwidth can be reduced by lowering the resolution, while packet loss caused by weak wireless signals or interference can be improved by increasing retransmissions.

[0348] The basis for the NWDAF network element to perform analysis may include the network information of the terminal device obtained from operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM). Generally, the network information collected by OAM is cell-level network information, such as the network information of all terminal devices within the service range of one or more cells. However, the network information of the terminal device obtained by the NWDAF network element from OAM is not the original data reported by the terminal device, but information processed by other devices (including but not limited to OAM, access network equipment, etc.). It cannot accurately reflect the real-time wireless status of a specific terminal device, and thus cannot take correct measures in a timely manner based on the network status of the terminal device.

[0349] Due to numerous drawbacks in obtaining terminal device network information from OAM, current data collection applications, such as NWDAF network elements or DCCF network elements, can send their own address information to terminal devices. This allows the terminal device to establish a user plane connection with the NWDAF or DCCF network element, allowing the terminal device to report measurement information through this user plane connection. However, this transmission of address information by NWDAF or DCCF network elements to terminal devices compromises the security and privacy of core network devices, hinders the concealment of the core network's internal network element topology, and impacts network security.

[0350] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, in which a terminal device sends first information to a first network element in a first session associated with first identification information. The first information includes measurement information of the terminal device, and the first information is used to perform data analysis, model inference or model training processing in a network element of the core network (such as a network data analysis function). The terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without obtaining the address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) performs data analysis processing, model training or model inference processing based on the first information. It effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network equipment, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information for the first network element. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the terminal device's measurement information, and improve the network throughput.

[0351] Below, the embodiment of the present application is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flow chart of an embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application. A communication method proposed in the embodiment of the present application includes:

[0352] First, the terminal device sends the first information to the first network element through the first session, which can be implemented in two ways: Method (1): when creating or modifying the first session, the first session is associated with the first identification information, and the first identification information indicates that the first session is used to collect the first information. Method (2): when the terminal device sends the first information to the user-plane network element through the first session, the first information also includes seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user-plane network element to locally save (or locally cache) the data of the first session, or the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user-plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0353] It should be noted that the first network element in the embodiment of the present application includes a data collection network element and / or a data analysis network element, wherein the data collection network element is used to collect data and forward the data to the data analysis network element, and the data analysis network element is used for data analysis processing, model reasoning and / or model training processing. Exemplarily, the data collection network element may be: a data collection coordination function (DCCF) network element, or a data collection application function (DCAF) network element, etc. Exemplarily, the data analysis network element may be: an NWDAF network element or a system related to the management data analysis system (MDAS). In a possible implementation, the first network element only includes a data collection network element, and the network also includes a data analysis network element. After receiving the first information, the first network element forwards the first information to the data analysis network element.

[0354] Method (1):

[0355] S1-1. The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session. The first message includes first identification information, where the first identification information indicates that the first session is used to collect first information.

[0356] In step S1-1, the terminal device sends a first message to the network side, the first message requesting to create or modify a first session. The first message includes first identification information, and the first identification information indicates that the first session is for a first network element to collect first information.

[0357] The first message may be a non-access stratum request message. The non-access stratum is primarily used for connection and mobility control between a terminal device and an access and mobility management network element. Non-access stratum messages include interaction messages between a terminal device and an access and mobility management network element, such as mobility and connection process messages such as attach, bearer establishment, or service request. In the embodiment of the present application, the first message is, for example, a "PDU Session Establishment" message.

[0358] The first identification information includes but is not limited to: data network name (DNN), single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) or session identification. The data network name is used to identify a data network. By carrying the data network name in the session creation request message, the data network that the session requests to access is indicated to achieve data isolation. The network slice selection assistance information can be used to identify the network slice. The session identification includes but is not limited to the identification information of the protocol data unit (PDU) session.

[0359] Taking the first identification information as DNN as an example, the first identification information can be information configured locally on the terminal device. The terminal device and the network side agree in advance on which DNN-indicated sessions collect the first information for the first network element, and these DNNs are pre-configured in the terminal device.

[0360] The first identification information may also be information sent from the network to the terminal device, for example, assigned to the terminal device by the access and mobility management network element when the terminal device joins the network. The access and mobility management network element may obtain the terminal device's subscription information from the unified data management (UDM) function. The terminal device's subscription information may be information assigned to the terminal device by a network service provider (e.g., an operator), and the terminal device's subscription information may include the first identification information. The access and mobility management network element may obtain the first identification information from the terminal device's subscription information.

[0361] The first identification information may also be identification information randomly generated by the terminal device. In this case, the first message carries eighth indication information, which indicates that the first identification information included in the first message indicates that the first session is used to collect the first information. Based on the eighth indication information, the network replaces the first identification information with second identification information identifiable by the network, where the second identification information indicates that the first session is used to collect the first information.

[0362] The first information includes measurement information of the terminal device. The first information includes but is not limited to: power delay profile (PDP), channel energy response (CER), committed information rate (CIR), measurement parameters of a reference signal, or an index of a synchronization signal and PBCH block (SSB), wherein the reference signal includes at least one of the following: a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS); or a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR); or quality of service (QoS) statistical information of the terminal device, wherein the QoS statistical information includes at least one of the following: maximum flow rate, average flow rate, minimum flow rate, maximum message delay, minimum message delay, average message delay, bit error rate, or packet loss rate.

[0363] Exemplarily, the first session may be a PDU session.

[0364] In one possible example, a terminal device sends a first message to an access network device. After receiving the first message, the access network device forwards the first message to an access and mobility management network element, triggering the creation or modification process of a first session. Accordingly, the access and mobility management network element sends a second message to a session management network element, requesting the creation or modification of the first session. The second message includes second identification information, indicating that the first session is used to collect the first information. Accordingly, in response to the second message, the session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element, requesting the creation of the first session. The third message includes the second identification information.

[0365] S1-2. The terminal device sends first information through the first session.

[0366] After step S1-1, the process proceeds to step S1-2. In step S1-1, the terminal device creates or modifies a first session. Then, in step S1-2, the terminal device sends a first message via the first session. For example, the terminal device sends the first message to the first network element via the first session.

[0367] Step S3 is performed after step S1-2.

[0368] Method (2):

[0369] S2. The terminal device sends the first information and the seventh indication information through the first session. The seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to locally save the data of the first session, or the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0370] In step S2, in a possible implementation method, when the terminal device sends the first information to the user plane network element through the first session, the first information also includes seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to identify that the first information needs to be forwarded to the first network element. For example, the message carrying the first information carries the seventh indication information. Then, the user plane network element determines the data forwarding strategy of the first session (or determines the data forwarding strategy of the first information, or the data processing strategy of the first information) based on the seventh indication information. The user plane network element locally caches the first information or forwards it to the first network element based on the seventh indication information.

[0371] In another possible implementation, when the terminal device sends the first information to the user-plane network element through the first session, the terminal device sends seventh indication information to the user-plane network element through the first session, where the seventh indication information and the first information are independent of each other in the first session. The user-plane network element determines, based on the seventh indication information, to locally cache the first information transmitted in the first session, or determines to forward the first information to the first network element.

[0372] Optionally, the first session is a user plane connection established between the terminal device and the user plane network element. Other information can be forwarded between the terminal device and the user plane network element through the first session. In other words, the first session is not a dedicated session for the first information.

[0373] Optionally, the seventh indication information may be used to identify that the first information is measurement information of a terminal device. The user plane network element is configured in advance to locally cache or forward the measurement information of the terminal device to the first network element. When the user plane network element receives the first information, it locally caches or forwards the first information to the first network element based on the seventh indication information included in the first information.

[0374] Optionally, the seventh indication information may further include identification information of the first network element, so that the user plane network element determines that the first information corresponding to the seventh indication information needs to be forwarded to the first network element.

[0375] Exemplarily, the first information includes a newly added field. When the newly added field is "00", it instructs the user-plane network element to perform normal forwarding processing on the data in the session carrying the newly added field; when the newly added field is "01", it instructs the user-plane network element to perform local storage (or local cache) processing on the data in the session carrying the newly added field; when the newly added field is "11", it instructs the user-plane network element to forward the data in the session carrying the newly added field to the first network element.

[0376] In another example, the first information includes a newly added field, which is used to carry seventh indication information. When the seventh indication information is "01", it indicates that the first information needs to be locally stored (or locally cached) in the user plane network element, or indicates that the first information needs to be forwarded by the user plane network element to the first network element.

[0377] In another possible implementation, in step S2, the terminal device sends the first information through the first session, and the terminal device may also send the seventh indication information separately.

[0378] Step S3 is executed after step S2.

[0379] It is understandable that the above-mentioned method (1) and method (2) can also be executed simultaneously.

[0380] S3. The user-plane network element determines a data forwarding policy for the first information according to the data forwarding policy for the first session.

[0381] In step S3, the user-plane network element can determine the data forwarding policy for the first session in various ways. In one example, the session management network element determines, during the process of creating or modifying the first session, that the first session is associated with the first identification information. Because the first identification information indicates that the first session is used to collect the first information, the session management network element determines the data forwarding policy for the first session based on the first identification information, including: the user-plane network element forwarding the data of the first session to the first network element, or the user-plane network element locally storing (or locally caching) the data of the first session.

[0382] In another example, the user plane network element determines the data forwarding strategy of the first session according to the seventh indication information.

[0383] S4. The first network element sends a first request, where the first request is used to request first information of the terminal device.

[0384] In step S4, when the first network element needs to use the first information, it sends a first request to other network elements (such as an access and mobility management network element, a session management network element, or a user plane network element). The first request includes second identification information, and the first request is used to instruct the user plane network element to report the first information corresponding to the second identification information.

[0385] In a possible example, the first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, and the fourth message is used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information. The access and mobility management network element responds to the fourth message and sends a first identification set to the first network element in response to the fourth message. In the embodiment of the present application, for ease of explanation, the set of identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information is referred to as a first identification set, and the first identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0386] Then, the first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message includes a first identification set, so that the session management network element feeds back to the first network element the identification information and / or second identification information of the user plane network element corresponding to the support for reporting the first information based on the first identification set included in the sixth message.

[0387] Then, the first network element sends a fifth message to the user plane network element (the user plane network element corresponding to the identification information of the user plane network element fed back by the session management network element) based on the identification information and / or second identification information of the user plane network element fed back by the session management network element. The fifth message includes the identification information and / or second identification information of the terminal device requesting to report the first information, so that the user plane network element reports the first information to the first network element based on the second identification information and / or the identification information of the terminal device.

[0388] Optionally, the access and mobility management network element sends identification information of a session management network element to the first network element in response to the fourth message, and the session management network element has an association relationship with the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0389] In the above example, a first session may have already been established between the terminal device and the user-plane network element. The terminal device may report the first information through the first session based on the third indication information sent by the network side. The terminal device may also report the first information directly through the first session after the first session is established.

[0390] In the above example, the first session may not be established between the terminal device and the user plane network element. The terminal device creates the first session according to the third instruction information sent by the network side.

[0391] Regarding the above-mentioned third indication information, it can be carried in multiple messages. The fourth message sent by the first network element to the access and mobility management network element also includes the third indication information. The access and mobility management network element sends the third indication information to the terminal device based on the fourth message. For example, it is carried in the "N2 message" message sent by the access and mobility management network element to the terminal device. For another example, after the access and mobility management network element receives the registration request message sent by the terminal device, it sends the third indication information to the terminal device through a registration accept response message.

[0392] Optionally, the access and mobility management network element notifies the terminal device to report the first information, or the access and mobility management network element notifies the session management network element in response to the fourth message, and the session management network element notifies the user plane network element to report the first information to the first network element, or the session management network element feeds back the identification information of the user plane network element to the first network element, and the first network element can obtain the first information from the fed-back user plane network element.

[0393] In another possible example, the first network element sends a fifth message to the user plane network element, where the fifth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device. In response to the fifth message, the user plane network element reports the first information to the first network element.

[0394] In another possible example, the first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request first information about the terminal device. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element notifies the user plane network element to report the first information to the first network element. Alternatively, in response to the sixth message, the session management network element feeds back identification information of the user plane network element to the first network element, and the first network element may obtain the first information from the user plane network element that has fed back the information.

[0395] It should be noted that the execution order of step S4, steps S1-1 to S1-2, step S2 and step S3 is not limited.

[0396] S5. The user plane network element sends first information to the first network element.

[0397] In step S5, after determining the data forwarding policy of the first information, the user plane network element sends the first information to the first network element according to the data forwarding policy of the first information.

[0398] In one possible implementation, the data forwarding strategy for the first session includes: the user plane network element locally storing the data of the first session. The data forwarding strategy for the first information includes: the user plane network element locally storing the first information. In response to the first request of the first network element, the user plane network element sends the first information to the first network element.

[0399] In another possible implementation, the data forwarding policy for the first session includes: the user-plane network element forwarding the data of the first session to the first network element. The data forwarding policy for the first information includes: the user-plane network element forwarding the first information to the first network element. After the user-plane network element receives the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session, the user-plane network element sends the first information to the first network element, i.e., the user-plane network element does not locally store the first information.

[0400] S6. The first network element performs analysis and processing based on the first information (for example, performing model training or model inference of an artificial intelligence model based on the first information).

[0401] In step S6, after the first network element receives the first information, it performs analysis and processing based on the first information. The specific analysis and processing is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. For example, the first network element can perform model training or model reasoning of an artificial intelligence model based on the first information, and the model training or model reasoning of the artificial intelligence model can specifically be model training or model reasoning of an air interface artificial intelligence model. For another example, the first network element can evaluate the service of the terminal device based on the first information. For another example, the first network element can construct a service profile of the terminal device based on the first information, and then determine the service path or service quality requirements or quality perception (quality of experience, QOE) of the terminal device-related service.

[0402] In another possible implementation, the first network element only performs data collection and processing. After receiving the first information, the first network element may forward the first information to the data processing network element, which then analyzes and processes the first information. For example, the data processing network element may perform model training or model inference of an artificial intelligence model based on the first information.

[0403] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device sends first information to a first network element in a first session associated with first identification information. The first information includes measurement information of the terminal device, and the first information is used to perform data analysis, model reasoning, or model training processing in a network element of the core network (such as a network data analysis function). The terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without obtaining the address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) performs data analysis processing, model training, or model reasoning based on the first information. It effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network equipment, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the amount of transmission data of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the throughput of the network.

[0404] In combination with the above embodiments, another embodiment proposed by the present application is now introduced. Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed by the embodiment of the present application. A communication method proposed by the embodiment of the present application further includes:

[0405] D1. Terminal device reporting capability.

[0406] In step D1, the terminal device reports its capabilities to the network side, and the reported capabilities indicate whether the terminal device supports reporting the first information. Optionally, if the terminal device supports reporting the first information to the network side, the terminal device may also report to the network side the information type of the first information supported by the terminal device.

[0407] In one possible implementation, the terminal device reports its capabilities to the network side when accessing the network.

[0408] In another possible implementation, when a first network element needs to obtain first information, or when the first network element enables analysis and processing functions (e.g., enabling artificial intelligence model training or model inference functions), or when a data processing network element requires the first information and requests the first information from the first network element (which only performs data collection and processing), the first network element sends a first request to other network elements. In response to the first request, the network side requests the terminal device to report its capabilities. At this point, the terminal device reports its capabilities to the network side.

[0409] In one example, a terminal device sends first indication information to an access and mobility management network element through an access network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting of the first information.

[0410] In another example, the terminal device sends a second indication message to the access and mobility management network element through the access network device, where the second indication message is used to indicate the type of first information that the terminal device supports reporting. For example, the second indication message indicates that the terminal device supports reporting measurement parameters of reference signals and indexes of synchronization signal blocks.

[0411] Exemplarily, the terminal device initiates a registration process to the access and mobility management network element, and the terminal device sends a registration request to the access and mobility management network element, the registration request carrying the first indication information and / or the second indication information. Exemplarily, the registration request may be a "registration request" message.

[0412] D2. The terminal device obtains the first identification information.

[0413] In step D2, the terminal device may obtain the first identification information in a variety of ways, which are described below respectively.

[0414] In one possible implementation, a terminal device receives first identification information assigned by the network side. For example, the terminal device sends a registration request carrying the first indication information and / or the second indication information to an access and mobility management network element. In response to the registration request, the access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information and then sends a registration accept message to the terminal device, the registration accept message including the first identification information. Exemplarily, the registration accept message may be a "registration accept" message. For example, the access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information assignable to the terminal device from the terminal device's subscription information (the subscription information of the terminal device is obtained from a user plane network element). In another example, the access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information assignable to the terminal device from a policy control function (PCF) network element. In another example, the access and mobility management network element obtains the first identification information (or the second identification information) from a fourth message sent by the first network element. The first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, the fourth message being used to request the first information of the terminal device and including the first identification information (or the second identification information). The access and mobility management network element determines, based on the fourth message, the first identification information (or second identification information) that can be assigned to the terminal device, and then assigns the first identification information (or second identification information) to the terminal device.

[0415] In another possible implementation manner, the first identification information is pre-configured in the terminal device, and the terminal device obtains the first identification information from a local configuration.

[0416] In another possible implementation, the terminal device randomly generates the first identification information. In this case, the first message sent by the terminal device also needs to include: eighth indication information, and the eighth indication information is used to indicate that the first identification information included in the first message indicates that the first session is used to collect the first information.

[0417] D3. The first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, where the fourth message is used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0418] In step D3, when the first network element needs to use the first information, the first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, where the fourth message is used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0419] In one possible implementation, the fourth message may be used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting the first information. Then, in response to the fourth message, the access and mobility management network element sends a first identification set to the first network element, where the first identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates a terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0420] In another possible implementation, the fourth message includes the first identification information, and the fourth message can be used to request the identification information of a terminal device that supports the first identification information. The terminal device that supports the first identification information can create a first session associated with the first identification information, and then the terminal device sends the first information to the user plane network element through the first session. Then, the access and mobility management network element sends a first identification set to the first network element in response to the fourth message. The first identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates a terminal device that supports the first identification information.

[0421] In another possible implementation, the fourth message includes ninth indication information, where the ninth indication information is used to indicate a terminal device that supports reporting the first information. Based on the ninth indication information, the access and mobility management network element finds a terminal device that supports reporting the first information from one or more terminal devices managed by the access and mobility management network element, and further determines the first identifier set based on the identification information of these terminal devices.

[0422] In another possible implementation, the fourth message includes tenth indication information, where the tenth indication information is used to indicate an information type of the first information. The access and mobility management network element, based on the tenth indication information, finds a terminal device that supports reporting the first information indicated by the tenth indication information from one or more terminal devices managed by the access and mobility management network element, and further determines the first identifier set based on the identification information of these terminal devices.

[0423] The fourth message may include one or more of the following information: identification information of the terminal device, first identification information, third indication information, or fourth indication information. The third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the type of the first information requested to be reported.

[0424] The first identification information (or second identification information) included in the fourth message indicates the first information that the first network element needs to associate with the first identification information or the second identification information. For example, the first information that the UE can report includes: power spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER, committed information rate CIR, reference signal received power RSRP, and service quality QoS statistics of the terminal device. The terminal device obtains the first identification information including: DNN#1, DNN#2 and DNN#3. The terminal device and the network side agree that the data requested by DNN#1 includes: power spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER and committed information rate CIR, the data requested by DNN#2 includes: reference signal received power RSRP, and the data requested by DNN#3 includes: service quality QoS statistics of the terminal device. Accordingly, when the fourth message includes DNN#1, the first information requested by the first network element to report the terminal device includes: power spectrum PDP, channel energy response CER and committed information rate CIR. When the fourth message includes DNN#2, the first information requested by the first network element to report the terminal device includes: reference signal received power RSRP. When the fourth message includes DNN#3, the first information of the terminal device requested to be reported by the first network element includes: quality of service QoS statistical information of the terminal device.

[0425] Optionally, the fourth message also includes third indication information and / or fourth indication information, the third indication information is used to request the terminal device to report the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported by the terminal device.

[0426] Optionally, the fourth message is also used to request the access and mobility management network element to report the identification information of the session management network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information. For ease of explanation, the identification information of the session management network element corresponding to the session management network element corresponding to the terminal device indicated by the first identification set is referred to as the second identification set. The second identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the second identification set indicates the session management network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information. In other words, the fourth message is also used to request the access and mobility management network element to report the second identification set. Accordingly, in response to the fourth message, the access and mobility management network element sends the second identification set to the first network element.

[0427] Optionally, the fourth message also includes identification information of the first network element, so that the access and mobility management network element forwards the identification information of the first network element to the user plane network element. After receiving the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session, the user plane network element forwards the first information to the first network element according to the identification information of the first network element.

[0428] Optionally, the fourth message further includes identification information of the terminal device, and then the access and mobility management network element determines which terminal devices need to be instructed to report the first information based on the identification information of the terminal device.

[0429] In one example, the fourth message is a "Namf_EventExposure_Subscribe / notify" message, and the "Event ID" field in the fourth message is set to the first identification information.

[0430] It should be noted that there is no restriction on the execution order of step D3 and the aforementioned steps D1 to D2.

[0431] D4. The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session and includes first identification information.

[0432] In step D4, the terminal device sends a first message to the access and mobility management network element, requesting the creation or modification of a first session. The first message includes first identification information, indicating that the first session is for the first network element to collect first information. The first message may be a non-access stratum request message, such as a "PDU Session Establishment" message. For details about the first message, refer to step S1-1 above and are not further described here.

[0433] In one example, the "UE Requested DNN" field of the first message is set to the first identification information. The "UE Requested DNN" field indicates the name of the data network that the terminal device wants to access through the first session, and the first session is established between the terminal device and the data network that the terminal device wants to access.

[0434] D5. The access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element. The second message requests to create the first session. The second message includes second identification information. The second identification information is determined by the first identification information.

[0435] In step D5, in a possible implementation, the access and mobility management network element responds to the first message and determines, based on the first identification information included in the first message, that the first session established by the first message is used to report the first information to the first network element. Specifically, the access and mobility management network element locally maintains a fourth identification set (or obtains the first identification information that can be assigned to the terminal device from the contract information of the terminal device), and the fourth identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the fourth identification set indicates that the session corresponding to the identification information is used to collect the first information for the first network element. After receiving the first message, the access and mobility management network element extracts the first identification information from the first message, and then detects whether the first identification information is recorded in the fourth identification set. If the first identification information exists in the fourth identification set, the first identification information is used to identify the first session and indicate that the first session collects the first information for the first network element; if the first identification information does not exist in the fourth identification set, the first session is not for the first network element to collect the first information, and the first message is processed according to the normal business process; if the first identification information is not available, and the first message also includes: eighth indication information, the eighth indication information is used to indicate that the first identification information included in the first message is used to identify the first session and the first session is used to collect the first information, then the second identification information is obtained.

[0436] In another possible implementation, the access and mobility management network element detects, in response to the first message, whether the first message includes the eighth indication information. If the first message includes the eighth indication information, the first identification information is considered to be used to identify the first session and to instruct the first session to collect the first information for the first network element. At this point, if the first indication information does not belong to the fourth identification set, the access and mobility management network element assigns identification information from the fourth identification set to the first message, referred to as the second identification information. The second identification information is used to identify the first session and to instruct the first session to collect the first information for the first network element.

[0437] After the access and mobility management network element determines that the first session is a first session and the first network element collects the first information, the access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element. The second message requests the creation or modification of the first session. The second message includes second identification information, and the second identification information is determined by the first identification information. For example, when the first identification information belongs to the fourth identification set, the second identification information is the same as the first identification information. For another example, when the first identification information does not belong to the fourth identification set, the second identification information is identification information obtained by the access and mobility management network element from the fourth identification set.

[0438] Exemplarily, the second message is a "Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request" message. The "selected DNN" field in the second message includes the second identification information, and the "UE request DNN" field in the second message includes the first identification information.

[0439] In one possible example scenario, the terminal device randomly generates first identification information, and the first message also includes eighth indication information. The access and mobility management network element finds that it cannot select a session management function that supports the first identification information for the terminal device, and the access and mobility management network element determines, based on the eighth indication information, that the first session is for the first network element to collect first information, and the access and mobility management network element assigns second identification information to the terminal device.

[0440] In another possible example scenario, a terminal device roams from a first network to a second network in a roaming scenario. The first identification information is the identification information assigned by the network side of the first network to the terminal device for reporting the first information to the first network element. If the second network cannot recognize the first identification information, the access and mobility management network element in the second network assigns the terminal device identification information applicable within the second network as the second identification information.

[0441] D6. The session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element. The third message requests to create the first session. The third message includes the second identification information.

[0442] In step D6, in response to the second message, the session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element, the third message requesting to create or modify the first session, the third message including the second identification information, illustratively, the third message is an "N4 Session Establishment Request" message.

[0443] D7. The session management network element determines a data forwarding strategy for the first session.

[0444] In step D7, in one possible implementation, the session management function determines, in response to the second identification information included in the second message, a data forwarding policy for the first session by the session management network element. The data forwarding policy for the first session includes: the user plane network element forwarding the data for the first session to the first network element, or the user plane network element locally storing (or locally caching) the data for the first session.

[0445] The session management network element may determine the data forwarding policy for the first information carried by the first session based on the data forwarding policy of the first session. Specifically: when the data forwarding policy of the first session includes: the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session, the data forwarding policy of the first information is determined to be the user plane network element locally stores the first information based on the data forwarding policy of the first session. In response to the first request of the first network element, the user plane network element sends the first information to the first network element. Alternatively, when the data forwarding policy of the first session includes: the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element, the data forwarding policy of the first information is determined to be the user plane network element forwards the first information to the first network element based on the data forwarding policy of the first session. After the user plane network element receives the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session, the user plane network element sends the first information to the first network element, that is, the user plane network element does not store the first information locally.

[0446] In another possible implementation, the data forwarding policy of the first session includes the seventh indication information. The user-plane network element detects whether the data carried by the session includes the seventh indication information based on the data forwarding policy of the first session. When the data transmitted in the session includes the seventh indication information, the session is considered to be the first session, and the data forwarding policy of the first session is applicable to the session. Furthermore, the data carried by the session is processed based on the data forwarding policy of the first session or the data forwarding policy of the first information. Optionally, the data forwarding policy of the first session includes the seventh indication information. The data forwarding policy of the first session may be configured by the session management network element to the user-plane network element. After the session management network element configures the data forwarding policy of the first session to the user-plane network element, upon receiving the first message carrying the first indication information, the user-plane network element locally stores the first message or forwards it to the first network element based on the data forwarding policy of the first session. Alternatively, the data forwarding policy of the first session may be pre-configured by the user-plane network element, without requiring configuration by the session management network element. Upon receiving the first message carrying the first indication information, the user-plane network element locally stores the first message or forwards it to the first network element based on the data forwarding policy of the first session.

[0447] Optionally, the session management network element may also directly determine the data forwarding strategy of the first information, where the data forwarding strategy of the first information includes: the user plane network element forwarding the first information to the first network element, or the user plane network element locally storing (or locally caching) the first information.

[0448] D8. The session management network element sends the data forwarding policy for the first session to the user plane network element.

[0449] In step D8, after the session management network element determines the data forwarding policy for the first session, the session management network element sends the data forwarding policy for the first session (or the data forwarding policy for the first information) to the user plane network element in response to the third message. For example, the session management network element sends an N4 session establishment request to the user plane network element, and the N4 session establishment request includes the data forwarding policy for the first session (or the data forwarding policy for the first information).

[0450] In one possible implementation manner, the session management network element sends the data forwarding policy of the first session and the second identification information to the user plane network element, and determines that the first session is related to the second identification information in combination with the second identification information.

[0451] Optionally, the session management network element may further send identification information of the first session to the user plane network element, so that the user plane network element determines the first session according to the identification information of the first session, and further determines the data forwarding policy of the first session in combination with the seventh indication information.

[0452] It is understood that steps D7 and D8 can be performed after step D6. That is, after the session management network element sends the third message to the user plane network element and creates or modifies the first session, the session management network element configures the data forwarding policy for the first session to the user plane network element. Steps D7 and D8 can also be combined with step D6. In other words, after the session management network element determines the data forwarding policy for the first session, it configures the data forwarding policy for the first session to the user plane network element via the third message. The user plane network element determines the data forwarding policy for the first session during the process of creating or modifying the first session.

[0453] D9. The first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0454] In step D9, the first network element determines, in step D3, the session management network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information (the session management network element indicated by the second identifier set). The first network element then sends a sixth message to the session management network element, the sixth message being used to request the first information of the terminal device. The sixth message may include the first identifier information.

[0455] Exemplarily, the sixth message is an "Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe / notify" message, and the "Event ID" field in the sixth message is set to the first identification information.

[0456] D10. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element sends, to the first network element, an identifier of the user plane network element corresponding to the terminal device supporting reporting of the first information.

[0457] In step D10, the session management function finds, based on the first identification information carried in the sixth message, a terminal device corresponding to the first identification information, and the terminal device supports reporting the first information to the first network element. In response to the sixth message, the session management function sends, to the first network element, an identifier of the user plane network element corresponding to the terminal device supporting reporting the first information.

[0458] D11. The first network element sends a fifth message to the user plane network element, where the fifth message is used to request first information of the terminal device.

[0459] In step D11, the first network element determines, in step D10, the user plane network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information. The first network element then sends a fifth message to the user plane network element, requesting the first information of the terminal device. The fifth message includes first identification information, enabling the user plane network element to determine first information related to the first identification information and then forward the first information to the user plane network element.

[0460] Optionally, the fifth message also includes identification information of the first network element, so that after the user plane network element receives the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session, it forwards the first information to the first network element according to the identification information of the first network element.

[0461] Optionally, the fifth message also includes identification information of the terminal device, so that the user-plane network element forwards the first information related to the terminal device to the first network element according to the identification information of the terminal device.

[0462] Exemplarily, the fifth message is a "Nupf_EventExposure_Subscribe / notify" message, and the "Event ID" field in the fifth message is set to the first identification information.

[0463] After step D11, proceed to step D13.

[0464] D12. The terminal device receives the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0465] In step D12, the network side sends third indication information to the terminal device, and the third indication information is used to request the terminal device to report the first information.

[0466] Optionally, the network side sends fourth indication information to the terminal device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported by the terminal device.

[0467] In one possible implementation, the access and mobility management network element sends the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information to the terminal device. For example, the access and mobility management network element sends the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information to the terminal device in response to the fourth message.

[0468] Exemplarily, the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information is carried in the "N2 message" message.

[0469] In a possible implementation, step D12 is performed after step D3.

[0470] For example, step D12 is performed after step D3. In response to step D12, the terminal device proceeds to step D4, whereby the terminal device creates or modifies the first session based on the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information. Specifically, in response to the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information, the terminal device sends a first message to the access and mobility management network element, where the first message requests the creation or modification of the first session. The terminal device then sends the first message within the already established first session and proceeds to step D13.

[0471] For another example, after the terminal device completes the creation of the first session, the terminal device receives the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information. In response to the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information, the terminal device sends the first information in the already established first session, and the process proceeds to step D13. For example, after step D8, the first session has been established. When the first network element needs the first information, the process proceeds to step D12, and the first network element sends the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information to the terminal device via the access and mobility management network element.

[0472] D13. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session.

[0473] Step D13 is similar to the aforementioned step S1-2 or step S2 and is not described in detail here.

[0474] D14. The user-plane network element sends the first information to the first network element.

[0475] In step D14, after receiving the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session, the user plane network element determines a processing method for the first information according to the data forwarding policy of the first session.

[0476] For example, the data forwarding strategy for the first session includes: the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session. The data forwarding strategy for the first information is that the user plane network element locally stores the first information. In response to the first request (fifth message) of the first network element, the user plane network element sends the first information to the first network element.

[0477] For another example, the data forwarding policy for the first session includes: the user-plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element. The data forwarding policy for the first information includes: the user-plane network element forwards the first information to the first network element. After the user-plane network element receives the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session, the user-plane network element sends the first information to the first network element, i.e., the user-plane network element does not locally store the first information.

[0478] D15. The terminal device receives the fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request to stop reporting the first information.

[0479] In step D15, the network side sends a fifth indication message to the terminal device, and the fifth indication message is used to request the terminal device to stop reporting the first information.

[0480] Optionally, the network side sends a sixth indication message to the terminal device, where the sixth indication message is used to indicate the type of first information that the terminal device is requested to stop reporting. For example, after receiving the sixth indication message, the terminal device stops reporting part of the first information indicated by the sixth indication message, while continuing to report the remaining first information.

[0481] In one possible implementation, the access and mobility management network element sends the fifth indication information and / or the sixth indication information to the terminal device. For example, the access and mobility management network element sends the fifth indication information and / or the sixth indication information to the terminal device in response to the fourth message.

[0482] Exemplarily, the fifth indication information and / or the sixth indication information is carried in the "N2 message" message.

[0483] Optionally, in step D15, after the terminal device stops reporting the first information according to the fifth indication information, the terminal device may release the first session.

[0484] Optionally, in response to the subscription cancellation request sent by the first network element, the network side sends fifth indication information to the terminal device.

[0485] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without obtaining the address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) can perform data analysis processing, model training or model inference based on the first information. It effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network equipment, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user side, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the network throughput. The first network element can subscribe to the first information of the terminal device to the core network network element through multiple first requests, which improves the implementation flexibility of the solution. The terminal device can start reporting the first information or stop reporting the first information according to the instructions of the network side, so as to flexibly adapt to various business needs and save communication resources.

[0486] In conjunction with the above embodiments, an example proposed in the embodiments of the present application will be described below. Please refer to Figure 6, which is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application. A communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0487] F1. Terminal device reporting capability.

[0488] F2. The terminal device obtains the first identification information.

[0489] F3. The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session and includes first identification information.

[0490] Steps F1 to F3 are similar to the aforementioned steps D1 to D3 and are not described in detail here.

[0491] F4. The access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element. The second message requests to create the first session, and the second message includes second identification information.

[0492] F5. The session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element. The third message requests to create the first session. The third message includes the second identification information and the seventh indication information. The seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to locally save (or locally cache) the data of the first session.

[0493] Steps F4 to F5 are similar to the aforementioned steps D5 to D6 and are not described in detail here.

[0494] F6. The first session is created successfully.

[0495] In step F6, a first session is established between the terminal device and the user plane network element using the above method.

[0496] F7. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session.

[0497] Step F7 is similar to the aforementioned step D13 and will not be described in detail here.

[0498] F8. The user-plane network element caches the data of the first session (first information) according to the data forwarding policy of the first session.

[0499] In step F8, after receiving the first information sent by the terminal device through the first session, the user plane network element determines that the data of the first session, ie, the first information, needs to be locally cached according to the data forwarding policy of the first session.

[0500] After step F8, the process proceeds to step F9.

[0501] F9. The first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, where the fourth message is used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0502] In step F9, when the first network element needs the first information, the first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element. For details, please refer to the above step D3, which will not be repeated here.

[0503] F10. In response to the fourth message, the access and mobility management network element sends the identifier of the terminal device and / or the identifier of the session management network element to the first network element.

[0504] Step F10 is similar to the aforementioned step D3 and will not be described in detail here.

[0505] F11. The first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request first information of the terminal device.

[0506] F12. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element sends, to the first network element, an identifier of the user plane network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0507] Steps F11 to F12 are similar to the aforementioned steps D9 to D10 and are not described in detail here.

[0508] F13. The first network element sends a fifth message to the user plane network element, where the fifth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0509] Step F13 is similar to the aforementioned step D11 and will not be described in detail here.

[0510] F14. The user-plane network element sends the first information to the first network element.

[0511] Step F14 is similar to the aforementioned step D13 and will not be described in detail here.

[0512] In an embodiment of the present application, after the terminal device and the user plane network element have completed the creation of the first session, the terminal device reports the first information to the user plane network element through the first session. The user plane network element responds to the first request of the first network element and reports the first information to the first network element. The first network element collects the first information of the terminal device through the first session (for example, a PDU session) established through the user plane. It can ensure that the core network device (i.e., the network element of the core network) collects enough measurement data of the terminal device when performing air interface model training without increasing the air interface signaling overhead of the terminal device, so that the first network element can complete the model training and reasoning of the air interface AI. It avoids the implementation of air interface AI model training and reasoning on the base station side, and provides better air interface resources for the terminal device.

[0513] In conjunction with the above embodiments, another example proposed in the embodiments of the present application will be described below. Please refer to Figure 7, which is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application. A communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0514] G1. Terminal device reporting capability.

[0515] G2. The terminal device obtains the first identification information.

[0516] G3. The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session and includes first identification information.

[0517] G4. The access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element. The second message requests to create the first session, and the second message includes second identification information.

[0518] G5. The session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element. The third message requests to create the first session. The third message includes the second identification information and the seventh indication information.

[0519] Steps G1 to G5 are consistent with the aforementioned steps F1 to F5 and are not described in detail here.

[0520] G6. The first session is created successfully.

[0521] G7. The first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, where the fourth message is used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

[0522] Step G7 is similar to the aforementioned step D3 and will not be described in detail here.

[0523] G8. The terminal device receives the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0524] In step G8, the access and mobility management network element, in response to the fourth message, determines the terminal device that needs to report the first information. The access and mobility management network element then sends third indication information to the terminal device, so that the terminal device reports the first information based on the third indication information. Step G8 is similar to step D12 above and is not further described here.

[0525] G9. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session.

[0526] Step G9 is similar to the aforementioned step D13 and will not be described in detail here.

[0527] G10. The user-plane network element caches the data of the first session (first information) according to the seventh instruction information.

[0528] Step G10 is similar to the aforementioned step F8 and will not be described in detail here.

[0529] G11. The first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request first information of the terminal device.

[0530] G12. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element sends the identifier of the user plane network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information to the first network element.

[0531] G13. The first network element sends a fifth message to the user plane network element, where the fifth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0532] G14. The user-plane network element sends first information to the first network element.

[0533] Steps G11 to G14 are similar to the aforementioned steps D9 to D11 and step D14 and are not described in detail here.

[0534] G15. The terminal device receives the fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request to stop reporting the first information.

[0535] Step G15 is similar to the aforementioned step D15 and will not be described in detail here.

[0536] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device reports the first information in the first session created according to the instructions of the access and mobility management network element, so as to adapt to the business needs of the first network element, reduce the occupancy rate of communication resources, and improve network throughput.

[0537] In conjunction with the above embodiments, another example proposed in the embodiments of the present application will be described below. Please refer to Figure 8, which is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application. A communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0538] H1. Terminal device reporting capability.

[0539] H2. The terminal device obtains the first identification information.

[0540] H3. The first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, where the fourth message is used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting the first information. After step H3, execute step H4.

[0541] Steps H1 to H3 are similar to the aforementioned steps D1 to D3 and are not described in detail here.

[0542] H4. The terminal device receives the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0543] After step H4, execute step H5.

[0544] Specifically, in step H4, after receiving the fourth message, the access and mobility management network element sends third indication information to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to request the terminal device to report the first information. Because a first session for transmitting the first information has not yet been established between the terminal device and the user plane network element, the terminal device establishes the first session based on the third indication information.

[0545] Optionally, the third indication information is further used to instruct the terminal device to create a first session for reporting the first information. The terminal device creates the first session according to the third indication information.

[0546] Step H4 is similar to the aforementioned step D12 and will not be described in detail here.

[0547] H5. The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session and includes first identification information.

[0548] H6. The access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element. The second message requests to create the first session, and the second message includes second identification information.

[0549] H7. The session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element. The third message requests to create the first session. The third message includes the second identification information and the seventh indication information.

[0550] Steps H5 to H7 are similar to the aforementioned steps D4 to D6 and are not described in detail here.

[0551] H8. The first session is created successfully.

[0552] H9. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session.

[0553] H10. The user-plane network element caches the data of the first session (first information) according to the seventh instruction information.

[0554] Steps H8 to H10 are similar to the aforementioned steps F6 to F8 and are not described in detail here.

[0555] H11. The first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request first information of the terminal device.

[0556] H12. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element sends the identifier of the user plane network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information to the first network element.

[0557] H13. The first network element sends a fifth message to the user plane network element, where the fifth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0558] H14. The user-plane network element sends the first information to the first network element.

[0559] Steps H11 to H14 are similar to the aforementioned steps F11 to F14 and are not described in detail here.

[0560] H15. The terminal device receives the fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request to stop reporting the first information.

[0561] Step H15 is similar to the aforementioned step D15 and will not be described in detail here.

[0562] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without obtaining the address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) can perform data analysis processing, model training or model inference based on the first information. It effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network equipment, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user side, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the network throughput. The first network element can subscribe to the first information of the terminal device to the core network network element through multiple first requests, which improves the implementation flexibility of the solution. The terminal device can start reporting the first information or stop reporting the first information according to the instructions of the network side, so as to flexibly adapt to various business needs and save communication resources.

[0563] In conjunction with the above embodiments, another example proposed in the embodiments of the present application will be described below. Please refer to Figure 9, which is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application. A communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0564] J1. Terminal device reporting capability.

[0565] J2. The terminal device obtains the first identification information.

[0566] J3. The first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element. The fourth message is used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information. The fourth message also includes identification information of the first network element.

[0567] J4. The terminal device receives the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0568] J5. The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session and includes first identification information.

[0569] J6. The access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element. The second message requests to create the first session. The second message includes the second identification information and the identification information of the first network element.

[0570] J7. The session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element. The third message requests to create the first session. The third message includes the second identification information and the identification information of the first network element.

[0571] In step J7, the session management network element obtains the identification information of the first network element from the access and mobility management network element, and then the session management network element forwards the identification information of the first network element to the user plane network element, so that after the user plane network element receives the first information reported by the terminal device, it can send the first information to the first network element according to the identification information of the first network element.

[0572] J8. The first session is created successfully.

[0573] Steps J1 to J8 are similar to the aforementioned steps H1 to H8 and are not described in detail here.

[0574] J9. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session.

[0575] J10. The user-plane network element forwards the data of the first session (first information) to the first network element according to the identification information of the first network element.

[0576] Steps J9 to J10 are similar to the aforementioned steps D13 to D14 and are not described in detail here.

[0577] J11. The terminal device receives the fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request to stop reporting the first information.

[0578] Step J11 is similar to the aforementioned step D15 and will not be described in detail here.

[0579] In the embodiment of the present application, the first network element does not need to send the first request to the user plane network element or the session management network element. After receiving the first information, the user plane network element directly forwards the first information to the first network element, saving communication resources.

[0580] In conjunction with the above embodiments, another example proposed in the embodiments of the present application will be described below. Please refer to Figure 10, which is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application. A communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0581] K1. Terminal device reporting capability.

[0582] K2. The terminal device obtains the first identification information.

[0583] K3. The terminal device sends a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session and includes first identification information.

[0584] K4. The access and mobility management network element sends a second message to the session management network element. The second message requests to create the first session, and the second message includes second identification information.

[0585] K5. The session management network element sends a third message to the user plane network element. The third message requests to create the first session. The third message includes the second identification information and the seventh indication information.

[0586] K6. The first session is created successfully.

[0587] Steps K1 to K6 are similar to the aforementioned steps G1 to G6 and are not described in detail here.

[0588] K7. The first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

[0589] Step K7 is similar to the aforementioned step G11. In step K7, the first network element sends a sixth message to the session management network element. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element sends third indication information to the terminal device via the access and mobility management network element.

[0590] K8. The terminal device receives the third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0591] Step K8 is similar to the aforementioned step D12 and will not be described in detail here.

[0592] K9. In response to the sixth message, the session management network element sends the identifier of the user plane network element corresponding to the terminal device that supports reporting the first information to the first network element.

[0593] Step K9 is similar to the aforementioned step G12 and will not be described in detail here.

[0594] K10. The session management network element configures seventh indication information, where the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0595] In step K10, the session management network element configures a data forwarding policy for the first session in the terminal device through the access and mobility management network element, causing the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element. In one possible implementation, the session management network element sends seventh indication information to the terminal device, where the seventh indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0596] The session management network element configures a data forwarding policy for the first session to the user plane network element so that the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element. In one possible implementation, the session management network element sends seventh indication information to the user plane network element.

[0597] K11. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session, and the first session is also used to transmit the seventh indication information.

[0598] In step K11, when the terminal device sends the first information through the first session, the terminal device also sends seventh indication information through the first session. The seventh indication information instructs the user plane network element to forward the data of the first session to the first network element.

[0599] K12. The user-plane network element forwards the data of the first session (first information) to the first network element according to the seventh instruction information.

[0600] K13. The terminal device receives the fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request to stop reporting the first information.

[0601] Step K13 is similar to the aforementioned step J11 and will not be described in detail here.

[0602] K14. The session management network element configures the updated data forwarding policy for the first session to the user plane network element.

[0603] In step K14, after the terminal device stops reporting the first information, the terminal device may send other information to the user-plane network element via the first session. In this case, the user-plane network element may not need to forward the data of the first session to the first network element. Therefore, the session management network element configures the updated data forwarding policy for the first session to the user-plane network element. The updated data forwarding policy for the first session indicates that the data of the first session is processed normally.

[0604] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can send the first information to the first network element without obtaining the address information of the first network element, so that the first network element (such as a data analysis network element or a model training network element) can perform data analysis processing, model training or model inference based on the first information. It effectively protects the security and privacy of the core network equipment, facilitates hiding the internal network element topology of the core network, and improves network security. In addition, the first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user side, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the measurement information of the terminal device, and improve the network throughput. The first network element can subscribe to the first information of the terminal device to the core network network element through multiple first requests, which improves the implementation flexibility of the solution. The terminal device can start reporting the first information or stop reporting the first information according to the instructions of the network side, so as to flexibly adapt to various business needs and save communication resources.

[0605] In conjunction with the above embodiments, another example proposed in the embodiments of the present application will be described below. Please refer to Figure 11, which is a flow chart of another embodiment of the communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application. A communication method proposed in the embodiments of the present application includes:

[0606] L1, terminal equipment reporting capability.

[0607] Step L1 is similar to the aforementioned step D1 and will not be described in detail here.

[0608] L2. The first network element sends a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element. The fourth message is used to request identification information of the terminal device that supports reporting the first information. The fourth message also includes user plane information of the first network element.

[0609] Step L2 is similar to the aforementioned step D3. The fourth message further includes user plane information of the first network element. The user plane information includes but is not limited to: address information or port information.

[0610] L3. The terminal device receives the third indication information and the user plane information of the first network element, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

[0611] In step L3, after receiving the fourth message, the access and mobility management network element sends third indication information (or fourth indication information) to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information. The access and mobility management network element is further configured to send user plane information of the first network element to the terminal device, so that the terminal device establishes a first session with the first network element based on the user plane information.

[0612] L4. Create a first session between the terminal device and the first network element.

[0613] L5. The terminal device sends the first information through the first session.

[0614] In an embodiment of the present application, after the terminal device obtains the user plane information of the first network element, a first session is established with the first network element. The first session is used to collect the first information. The first session is a data collection session. Compared with reporting measurement information through signaling, the present application reports measurement information through the user plane, which can effectively save signaling overhead, increase the transmission data volume of the terminal device's measurement information, and improve the network throughput.

[0615] The present application is described above from the perspective of method, and other embodiments provided in the present application will be further described below.

[0616] Please refer to Figure 12, which is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the communication device provided in the present application. The communication device 1200 includes a processing module 1201 and a transceiver module 1202. The communication device 1200 can implement the functions of the communication device (including the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element, etc.) in the above method embodiment, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiment. In the embodiment of the present application, the communication device 1200 can be a terminal device, an access and mobility management network element, a session management network element, a user plane network element and / or a first network element, or an integrated circuit or component, such as a chip, inside the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or the first network element, or an integrated circuit or component integrated with the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or the first network element.

[0617] Please refer to Fig. 13, which is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1300 provided in this application. The communication device 1300 at least includes an input and output interface 1302. The communication device 1300 may be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0618] Optionally, the communication device further includes a logic circuit 1301 .

[0619] The transceiver module 1202 shown in FIG12 may be a communication interface, which may be the input / output interface 1302 in FIG13 , 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.

[0620] Optionally, when the communication device 1300 is the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element in the aforementioned embodiment, the input and output interface 1302 is used to input and output information; the logic circuit 1301 is used to execute the method executed by the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0621] The logic circuit 1301 and the input / output interface 1302 may also execute other steps executed by the communication device in any embodiment and achieve corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be described in detail here.

[0622] In a possible implementation, the processing module 1201 shown in FIG. 12 may be the logic circuit 1301 in FIG. 13 .

[0623] Optionally, the logic circuit 1301 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.

[0624] 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.

[0625] 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.

[0626] 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.

[0627] Please refer to Figure 14, which shows the communication device 1400 involved in the above-mentioned embodiments provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1400 can specifically be a communication device serving as a terminal device, an access and mobility management network element, a session management network element, a user plane network element and / or a first network element in the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0628] Herein, a possible logical structure diagram of the communication device 1400 is shown. The communication device 1400 may include but is not limited to at least one processor 1401 and a communication port 1402 .

[0629] Further optionally, the device may also include at least one of a memory 1403 and a bus 1404. In an embodiment of the present application, the at least one processor 1401 is used to control and process the actions of the communication device 1400.

[0630] In addition, processor 1401 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.

[0631] It should be noted that the communication device 1400 shown in Figure 14 can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element in the aforementioned method embodiment, and to achieve the technical effects corresponding to the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element. The specific implementation method of the communication device shown in Figure 14 can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here one by one.

[0632] Please refer to Figure 15, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1500 involved in the above embodiments provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1500 may specifically be a communication device serving as a terminal device, an access and mobility management network element, a session management network element, a user plane network element, and / or a first network element in the above embodiments. The structure of the communication device may refer to the structure shown in Figure 15.

[0633] The communication device 1500 includes at least one processor 1501 and at least one network interface 1504. Further optionally, the communication device also includes at least one memory 1502, at least one transceiver 1503 and one or more antennas 1505. The processor 1501, the memory 1502, the transceiver 1503 and the network interface 1504 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 1505 is connected to the transceiver 1503. The network interface 1504 is used to enable the communication device to communicate with other communication devices through a communication link. For example, the network interface 1504 may include a network interface between the communication device and a 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 radio access networks or core network devices), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0634] Processor 1501 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 1501 in Figure 15 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.

[0635] The memory is primarily used to store software programs and data. Memory 1502 can exist independently and be connected to processor 1501. Alternatively, memory 1502 can be integrated with processor 1501, for example, within a single chip. Memory 1502 can store program code for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and execution is controlled by processor 1501. The various computer program codes executed can also be considered drivers for processor 1501.

[0636] Figure 15 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 present embodiment.

[0637] The transceiver 1503 can be used to support the reception or transmission of radio frequency signals between the communication device and the terminal. The transceiver 1503 can be connected to the antenna 1505. The transceiver 1503 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, one or more antennas 1505 can receive radio frequency signals. The receiver Rx of the transceiver 1503 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 1501 so that the processor 1501 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 1503 is also used to receive a modulated digital baseband signal or digital intermediate frequency signal from the processor 1501, 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 1505. 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.

[0638] The transceiver 1503 may also be referred to as a transceiver module, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc. Optionally, a device in the transceiver module that implements a receiving function may be referred to as a receiving unit, and a device in the transceiver module that implements a transmitting function may be referred to as a transmitting unit. That is, the transceiver module 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.

[0639] It should be noted that the communication device 1500 shown in Figure 15 can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element in the aforementioned method embodiment, and to achieve the technical effects corresponding to the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element. The specific implementation method of the communication device 1500 shown in Figure 15 can refer to the description in the aforementioned method embodiment, and will not be repeated here one by one.

[0640] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method as a possible implementation method of the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0641] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product (or computer program) storing one or more computers. When the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes a method of possible implementation of the above-mentioned terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element.

[0642] 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 a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices, wherein the communication device can specifically be a terminal device, an access and mobility management network element, a session management network element, a user plane network element and / or a first network element in the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0643] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes the terminal device, access and mobility management network element, session management network element, user plane network element and / or first network element in any of the above embodiments.

[0644] 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 unit is only 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 interface, device or unit, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0645] 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 the units may be selected to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0646] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processing module, 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, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a wireless access network, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method of each embodiment 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: The method is applied to a terminal device, and the method comprises: Sending a first message, where the first message requests to create a first session, and the first message further includes first identification information, where the first identification information is used to identify the first session, and the first identification information is further used to indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, where the first information is used for model training or model inference; The first information is sent through the first session, where the first information includes measurement information of the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting the first information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information supported by the terminal device for reporting.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: Acquire the first identification information from the local configuration; Alternatively, the first identification information is received from an access and mobility management network element.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Sending the first information through the first session includes: receiving third indication information, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information; In response to the third indication information, the first information is sent through the first session.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate an information type of the first information requested to be reported; In response to the fourth indication information, the first information is sent through the first session, and the information type of the first information is the information type indicated by the fourth indication information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that After sending the first information through the first session, the method further includes: receiving fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information; In response to the fifth indication information, stop sending the first information through the first session.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first identification information is the data network name DNN, single network slice selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI, or a session identifier.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The destination of the first information is a first network element, and the first network element includes: a data collection and coordination function, or a network data analysis function.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to an access and mobility management network element, and the method comprises: receiving a fourth message from the first network element, where the fourth message is used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting first information, where the first information is used for model training or model reasoning; In response to the fourth message, a first identification set is sent to the first network element, the first identification set includes one or more identification information, and the identification information included in the first identification set indicates a terminal device that supports reporting the first information.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The method further comprises: In response to the fourth message, third indication information is sent to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: The method further comprises: receiving a first message sent by a terminal device, wherein the first message requests to create a first session, the first message includes first identification information, the first identification information is used to identify the first session, and the first session is used to collect the first information; A second message is sent to a session management network element, wherein the second message requests to create the first session, the second message includes second identification information, the second identification information is determined by the first identification information, the second identification information is used to identify the first session, and the first session is used to collect the first information.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send the first identification information to the terminal device.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that The fourth message includes any one or more of the following information: The identification information, the third indication information, or the fourth indication information of the terminal device, wherein the third indication information is used to request reporting of the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: Acquire the first identification information from the contract information of the terminal device; Alternatively, obtaining the first identification information from a policy control function network element; Alternatively, the first identification information is obtained from the fourth message sent by the first network element, and the fourth message is also used to carry the first identification information.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that The fourth message further includes: identification information of the first network element; The second message also includes identification information of the first network element, where the identification information of the first network element is used to determine a data forwarding strategy for the first session.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send fourth indication information to the terminal device, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate the information type of the first information requested to be reported.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send fifth indication information to the terminal device, where the fifth indication information is used to request the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

19. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a user plane network element, and the method comprises: receiving second identification information, where the second identification information is used to identify the first session, and the second identification information is further used to indicate that the first session is used to collect first information, and the first information is used for model training or model inference; receiving a data forwarding policy for the first session, where the data forwarding policy for the first session is used to indicate a data forwarding policy for the first information sent by a terminal device through the first session; The first information received by the user plane network element through the first session is sent to the first network element according to the data forwarding policy of the first session.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that Receiving the second identification information includes: receiving the second identification information sent by the first network element; Alternatively, receive the second identification information sent by the session management network element.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The data forwarding strategy for the first session includes any one of the following: the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session, or the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that When the data forwarding strategy of the first session is that the user plane network element locally stores the data of the first session, Receiving the second identification information sent by the first network element includes: receiving a fifth message sent by the first network element, where the fifth message includes the second identification information; The step of sending, according to the data forwarding policy of the first session, to the first network element, the first information received by the user plane network element through the first session, includes: In response to the fifth message, the first information is sent to the first network element, wherein the first information is data determined by the user plane network element from locally stored data according to the second identification information.

23. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that When the data forwarding policy of the first session is that the user plane network element forwards the data of the first session to the first network element, Receiving the second identification information sent by the session management network element includes: receiving a third message sent by a session management network element, where the third message is used to request to create the first session, and the third message includes the second identification information; The step of sending, according to the data forwarding policy of the first session, to the first network element, the first information received by the user plane network element through the first session, includes: Determining, according to the identification information of the first network element included in the third message, that a forwarding destination of the data of the first session is the first network element; According to the data forwarding policy of the first session, the first information from the terminal device is forwarded to the first network element.

24. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that Receiving the data forwarding policy of the first session includes: Receive the first information sent by the terminal device, where the first information also includes seventh indication information, and the seventh indication information is used to indicate a data forwarding strategy for the first session.

25. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a first network element, and the method includes: Sending a first request, where the first request includes second identification information, where the first request is used to instruct a user plane network element to report first information corresponding to the second identification information, where the first session is a session established between a terminal device and the first network element; Receive first information from the user plane network element, where the first information is transmitted in the first session, and the first information includes measurement information of the terminal device.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The method further comprises: Model training or model derivation is performed according to the first information.

27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that The first request also includes: identification information of the first network element, where the identification information of the first network element is used to determine a data forwarding strategy for the first session.

28. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that The sending of the first request comprises: Sending a fourth message to the access and mobility management network element, where the fourth message is used to request identification information of a terminal device that supports reporting the first information; Alternatively, sending a fifth message to a user plane network element, where the fifth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device; Alternatively, a sixth message is sent to the session management network element, where the sixth message is used to request the first information of the terminal device.

29. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive a third identifier set sent by a session management network element, the third identifier set including one or more identifiers, the identifiers included in the third identifier set indicating one or more user plane network elements, and the user plane network elements indicated by the third identifier set correspond to terminal devices that support sending the first information.

30. A communication device, characterized in that: Including transceiver module and processing module: The transceiver module is used to input and / or output signaling or data; The processing module is used to execute, through the communication unit: the method described in any one of claims 1-9, or the method described in any one of claims 10-18, or the method described in any one of claims 19-24, or the method described in any one of claims 25-29.

31. A communication device, characterized in that: Including communication interface and processor: The communication interface is used to input and / or output signaling or data; The processor is used to execute a computer executable program so that the method described in any one of claims 1 to 9 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 10 to 18 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 19 to 24 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 25 to 29 is executed.

32. A communication device, characterized in that: including a processor and memory, The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions; The processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction in the memory so that the method described in any one of claims 1 to 9 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 10 to 18 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 19 to 24 is executed, or the method described in any one of claims 25 to 29 is executed.

33. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, characterized in that: When the instructions are executed by a processor, the method of any one of claims 1-9, or claims 10-18, or claims 19-24, or any one of claims 25-29 is implemented.

34. A computer program product comprising a program, characterized in that When the program is executed by a processor, the method of any one of claims 1-9, or claims 10-18, or claims 19-24, or any one of claims 25-29 is implemented.

35. A chip system, characterized in that: The chip system includes at least one processor, and when the program instructions are executed in the at least one processor, the method described in any one of claims 1-9, or claims 10-18, or claims 19-24, or claims 25-29 is implemented.

36. A communication system, characterized in that: It includes a communication device for executing the method described in any one of claims 1 to 9, a communication device for executing the method described in any one of claims 10 to 18, a communication device for executing the method described in any one of claims 19 to 24, and a communication device for executing the method described in any one of claims 25 to 29.

Images