Sample determination method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a sample determination method and apparatus, which are used for assisting vertical federated entities in executing vertical federated learning tasks. The method comprises: a first network element acquires first identifiers of terminals in a first terminal set of a first application function (AF) of a vertical federated alliance, the terminals in the first terminal set being terminals supported by the first AF for tasks in the vertical federated alliance; the first network element acquires second identifiers of terminals in a second terminal set of a second AF of the vertical federated alliance, the terminals in the second terminal set being terminals supported by the second AF for the tasks in the vertical federated alliance; and on the basis of the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set, the first network element determines a first terminal comprised in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set, data of the first terminal serving as a sample for the tasks in the vertical federated alliance.

Description

A sample determination method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on December 27, 2023, with application number 202311840523.2 and invention name "A Sample Determination Method and Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular to a sample determination method and device. Background Art

[0004] Entities participating in vertical federated learning tasks (e.g., network elements in a vertical federated alliance) must align their sample sizes, meaning that different entities perform training and / or inference on the same data set. Currently, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) supports training and / or inference through vertical federated learning tasks to enable mobile network-related analytics.

[0005] At present, how to assist vertical federated entities in performing vertical federated learning tasks is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a sample determination method and device to assist vertical federated entities in performing vertical federated learning tasks.

[0007] In a first aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method can be implemented by a first network element or a component in the first network element, and the first network element can also be referred to as a communication device or a network device, etc. The first network element is, for example, a network data analytics function (NWDAF), a network exposure function (NEF) or a storage network element, and the storage network element can be a unified data management (UDM), a unified data repository (UDR) or an analytics data storage function (ADRF). Among them, the components in the present application may, for example, include at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, a transceiver, a processing unit, or a transceiver unit. Taking the execution subject as the first network element as an example, the method can be implemented through the following steps: the first network element obtains the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first application function of the vertical federation, and the terminals in the first terminal set are the terminals supported by the first application function for the task of the vertical federation; the first network element obtains the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second application function of the vertical federation, and the terminals in the second terminal set are the terminals supported by the second application function for the task of the vertical federation; the first network element determines the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and the data of the first terminal is used as a sample of the task of the vertical federation. In other words, the data of the first terminal is used for the task of the vertical federation.

[0008] Based on the method described in the first aspect, a first network element can obtain a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set and a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set, and determine, based on the first identifier and the second identifier, a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set. The data of this first terminal can be used as a sample for a task in a vertical federation alliance, thereby enabling efficient sample determination. Therefore, this method can be used to assist vertical federation entities in executing vertical federated learning tasks.

[0009] Optionally, “the first network element obtains the first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first application function of the vertical federation alliance” may be replaced with “the first network element obtains the first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set”.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the first network element may determine a user permanent identifier (SUPI) of the terminal in the first terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, determine the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and determine the first terminal according to the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set.

[0011] In the present application, the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal are identifiers used by the terminal outside the core network, respectively. The first identifier of the terminal in the first application function is different from the second identifier of the terminal in the second application function. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the same terminal by comparing only the first identifier and the second identifier. Based on this implementation method, the first network element can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into the SUPI of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into the SUPI, so that the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set can be accurately determined based on the SUPI. In the present application, the SUPI can also be replaced by the GPSI and the third identifier. The third identifier can be an identifier used to identify the terminal that supports the learning task of the vertical federal alliance, that is, the terminal that supports the task of the vertical federal alliance can be represented by the third identifier in different application functions. The third identifier is, for example, a VFL UE ID.

[0012] In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, and / or send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second application function.

[0013] Based on this implementation, the first identifier / second identifier of the first terminal can be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance, such as for determining terminals related to the learning tasks of the vertical federation alliance, or for screening samples. For example, the first identifier of the first terminal can be used for screening samples for a first application function, such as for the first application function to determine the data of the first terminal as a task sample. The second identifier of the first terminal can be used for screening samples for a second application function, such as for the second application function to determine the data of the first terminal as a task sample.

[0014] In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send a third identifier allocated to the first terminal to the first application function and the second application function.

[0015] Based on this implementation, the third identifier of the first terminal can be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance, such as determining terminals related to the learning tasks of the vertical federation alliance, or for screening samples. Optionally, the first network element can send the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first application function to establish an association between the first terminal and the third identifier or the vertical federation alliance. Optionally, the first network element can send the second identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the second application function to establish an association between the first terminal and the third identifier or the vertical federation alliance.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also send the third identifier of the first terminal and / or at least one of the following information to the storage network element: the identifier of the vertical federal alliance; or the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the public land mobile network (PLMN) corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the first identifier of the first terminal; or the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0017] Based on this implementation, the first network element may indicate the third identifier of the first terminal to the storage network element to indicate the association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and the first terminal and / or the vertical federation alliance.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also send information about the vertical federal alliance to the first application function, where the information about the vertical federal alliance is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set, and / or send information about the vertical federal alliance to the second application function, where the information about the vertical federal alliance is used to determine the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0019] Based on this implementation, a first network element can request a first application function for a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set, and / or a first network element can request a second application function for a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set. The first application function can determine the terminals in the first terminal set based on information about the vertical federation alliance, and the second application function can determine the terminals in the second terminal set based on information about the vertical federation alliance, thereby accurately determining the sample.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also send information about the vertical federal alliance to the storage network element, where the information about the vertical federal alliance is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set and / or the terminals in the second terminal set; the first network element may also receive a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set from the storage network element, and / or receive a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

[0021] Based on this implementation, the first network element may request the first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set and / or the second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set from the storage network element. The storage network element may determine the terminals in the first terminal set and / or the terminals in the second terminal set based on the information of the vertical federation alliance, thereby accurately determining the sample.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the first network element may also receive information about the vertical federation alliance from a network data analysis function.

[0023] Based on this implementation, the information of the vertical federation alliance can be provided by NWDAF.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the information about the vertical federation alliance includes at least one of the following information: an identifier of the vertical federation alliance; or an identifier of an analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or an identifier of an application function corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or a PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or information about a device vendor corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or information about a terminal intended to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance. The information about the terminal intended to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance may include one or more of the SUPI, the first identifier, or the second identifier of the terminal intended to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

[0025] Based on this implementation, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance can be used to indicate the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance. The terminal can be the terminal to which the data required for the task belongs. Therefore, the terminal can be screened based on the information of the vertical federation alliance to achieve reasonable determination of the sample. In this application, "expect" can also be replaced by "request", "specify", "candidate", "alternative" or "expected".

[0026] In one possible implementation, the information of the vertical federal alliance includes information of a terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance, and the information of the terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance includes the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance; the first network element may also determine the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance and / or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance based on the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance.

[0027] Based on this implementation, if the information obtained by the first network element about the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance is the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, the first network element can convert the SUPI of the terminal into a first identifier or a second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, provide the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the first network element, and provide the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the second network element. The first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance can be used by the first application function to filter terminals in the first terminal set, which can narrow the range of terminals in the first terminal set and obtain more accurate sample results. For example, the first application function can determine, from among the terminals that support the vertical federation alliance, terminals whose first identifiers belong to the first identifiers of terminals expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, as terminals in the first terminal set. Similarly, the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance can be used by the second application function to filter terminals in the second terminal set.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the first network element may send the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element, and receive the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and / or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance from the storage network element.

[0029] Based on this implementation, the first network element may convert the SUPI into the first identifier and / or the second identifier through the storage network element.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the first network element may determine the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance based on the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and the first identifier; and / or determine the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance based on the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and the second identifier.

[0031] Based on this implementation, the first network element may convert the SUPI into the first identifier according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal and the first identifier, and / or the first network element may convert the SUPI into the second identifier according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal and the second identifier.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the first network element may send a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set to a storage network element, and receive a SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set from the storage network element; and / or the first network element may send a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set to the storage network element, and receive a SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

[0033] Based on this implementation, the first network element may convert the SUPI into the first identifier and / or the second identifier through the storage network element.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the first network element may determine the SUPI corresponding to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set based on the correspondence between the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the SUPI; and / or the first network element may determine the SUPI corresponding to the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set based on the correspondence between the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set and the SUPI.

[0035] Based on this implementation, the first network element may convert the SUPI into the first identifier according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal and the first identifier, and / or the first network element may convert the SUPI into the second identifier according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal and the second identifier.

[0036] In the second aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method can be implemented by a first application function or a component in the first application function, and the first application function can also be called a communication device or a network device, etc. The first application function is, for example, an application function (AF). Taking the execution subject as the first application function as an example, the method can be implemented by the following steps: sending a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal device, where the terminal in the first terminal set is a terminal supported by the first application function for the task of the vertical federal alliance; receiving a first identifier of a first terminal from a network open function, where the first terminal is a terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set determined based on the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second application function of the vertical federal alliance, and the data of the first terminal is used as a sample of the task of the vertical federal alliance.

[0037] In a possible implementation manner, the first application function may further receive information of a vertical federation alliance, where the information of the vertical federation alliance is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the information of the vertical federal alliance includes at least one of the following information: the identifier of the vertical federal alliance; or the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the identifier of the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance (such as including the first application function); or the PLMN corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance.

[0039] In a possible implementation manner, the first application function may also receive a third identifier allocated to the first terminal.

[0040] Optionally, in the second aspect, the first application function may be replaced by the second application function, the first terminal set may be replaced by the second terminal set, and the first identifier may be replaced by the second identifier.

[0041] The beneficial effects of the above second aspect and its various possible implementations can be found in the description of the beneficial effects in the first aspect and corresponding implementations, and will not be repeated here.

[0042] In a third aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method can be implemented by a storage network element or a component within the storage network element. The storage network element can also be referred to as a communication device or network equipment. Taking the storage network element as an example, the method can be implemented by the following steps: the storage network element obtains information about a vertical federation alliance; the storage network element determines, based on the information about the vertical federation alliance, first identifiers of terminals in a first terminal set for a first application function, where the terminals in the first terminal set are terminals for tasks supported by the first application function for the vertical federation alliance; the storage network element determines, based on the information about the vertical federation alliance, second identifiers of terminals in a second terminal set for a second application function, where the terminals in the second terminal set are terminals for tasks supported by the second application function for the vertical federation alliance; the storage network element determines, based on the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set, a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set, where the data of the first terminal serves as a sample for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

[0043] Based on this implementation, the storage network element can determine the first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set of the first application function of the vertical federation based on the information of the vertical federation, and determine the second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set of the second application function. In addition, the storage network element can also determine. In addition, the storage network element can also determine the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set based on the first identifier and the second identifier. The data of the first terminal can be used as a sample of the task of the vertical federation, thereby achieving efficient determination of the sample. Therefore, this method can be used to assist the vertical federation entity in performing vertical federated learning tasks.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the storage network element may determine the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, determine the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set based on the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and determine the first terminal based on the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set.

[0045] Based on this implementation, the storage network element can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into the SUPI of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into the SUPI, so that the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set can be accurately determined based on the SUPI.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the storage network element may receive information about the vertical federation alliance from the network data analysis function; or, receive information about the vertical federation alliance from the network open function; or, receive information about the vertical federation alliance from the first application function; or, receive information about the vertical federation alliance from the second application function.

[0047] Based on this implementation, the storage network element may obtain the information of the vertical federation from the NWDAF, the NEF, the first application function, or the second application function.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the information of the vertical federal alliance includes at least one of the following information: an identifier of the vertical federal alliance; or an identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or an identifier of the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or a PLMN corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or information of a terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance.

[0049] Based on this implementation, terminals can be screened according to the information of the vertical federal alliance to achieve reasonable determination of samples.

[0050] In one possible implementation, the storage network element may also send the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal and the identifier of the first application function to the network open function, and the network open function may send the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal to the first application function based on the identifier of the first application function; and / or, the storage network element may also send the second identifier (or the second identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal and the identifier of the second application function to the network open function, and the network open function may send the second identifier (or the second identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal to the second application function based on the identifier of the second application function.

[0051] Based on this implementation, the first identifier / second identifier of the first terminal can be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance, such as for determining terminals related to the learning tasks of the vertical federation alliance, or for screening samples. For example, the first identifier of the first terminal can be used for screening samples for a first application function, such as for the first application function to determine the data of the first terminal as a task sample. The second identifier of the first terminal can be used for screening samples for a second application function, such as for the second application function to determine the data of the first terminal as a task sample.

[0052] In a fourth aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method can be implemented by a first application function or a component in the first application function, and the first application function can also be called a communication device or a network device, etc. The first application function is, for example, AF. Taking the execution subject as the first application function as an example, the method can be implemented by the following steps: the first application function sends information about the vertical federal alliance, and the information about the vertical federal alliance is used to determine the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set of the first application function, and the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance includes the first application function; the first application function can also receive the first identifier of the first terminal from the network open function, and the first terminal is a terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set determined based on the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second application function of the vertical federal alliance, and the data of the first terminal serves as a sample of the task of the vertical federal alliance.

[0053] In a possible implementation manner, the first application function may also receive a third identifier allocated to the first terminal.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the information of the vertical federal alliance includes at least one of the following information: the identifier of the vertical federal alliance; or the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the identifier of the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the PLMN corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance.

[0055] Optionally, in the fourth aspect, the first application function may be replaced by the second application function, the first terminal set may be replaced by the second terminal set, and the first identifier may be replaced by the second identifier.

[0056] The beneficial effects of the fourth aspect and its various possible implementations can be found in the description of the beneficial effects in the third aspect and its corresponding implementations, and will not be repeated here.

[0057] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The device can implement the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first to fourth aspects. The device has the functions of the first network element, the first network element, the second network element, or the storage network element. The device is, for example, the first network element, the first network element, the second network element, or the storage network element, or is a functional module in the first network element, a functional module in the first network element, a functional module in the second network element, or a functional module in the storage network element.

[0058] In an optional implementation, the device may include a module corresponding to the method / operation / step / action described in any possible implementation of any aspect from the first to the fourth aspect, and the module may be a hardware circuit, or software, or a hardware circuit combined with software. In an optional implementation, the device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module, a communication module, etc.). The transceiver unit can implement a sending function and a receiving function. When the transceiver unit implements the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also referred to as a sending module). When the transceiver unit implements the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional module can implement a sending function and a receiving function; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional modules.

[0059] Exemplarily, when the apparatus is used to execute the method described in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the apparatus may include a communication unit and a processing unit.

[0060] In the sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, comprising a processor for executing a computer program (or computer executable instructions) stored in a memory, so that when the computer program (or computer executable instructions) is executed, the device executes the method described in any possible implementation of any aspect from the first to the fourth aspect.

[0061] In one possible implementation, the processor and memory are integrated;

[0062] In another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device.

[0063] The communication device also includes a communication interface, which is used for the communication device to communicate with other devices, such as sending or receiving data and / or signals. Exemplarily, the communication interface can be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module or other type of communication interface.

[0064] In the seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which is used to store computer programs or instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed, the method described in any possible implementation of any aspect from the first to the fourth aspect and the method shown in any possible implementation thereof are implemented.

[0065] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method described in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects to be implemented.

[0066] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device for executing the method described in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects above.

[0067] In the tenth aspect, a chip system is provided, which includes a logic circuit (or it can be understood that the chip system includes a processor, and the processor may include a logic circuit, etc.), and may also include an input and output interface. The input and output interface can be used to input messages and can also be used to output messages. The input and output interfaces can be the same interface, that is, the same interface can implement both the sending function and the receiving function; or, the input and output interfaces include an input interface and an output interface, the input interface is used to implement the receiving function, that is, for receiving messages; the output interface is used to implement the sending function, that is, for sending messages. The logic circuit can be used to perform the operations other than the sending and receiving functions in the method described in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects above; the logic circuit can also be used to transmit messages to the input and output interface, or receive messages from other communication devices from the input and output interface. The chip system can be used to implement the method described in any possible implementation of any one of the first to fourth aspects above. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0068] Optionally, the chip system may further include a memory, which may be used to store instructions, and the logic circuit may call the instructions stored in the memory to implement corresponding functions.

[0069] In an eleventh aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The sample determination method may include the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof and the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof. Alternatively, the sample determination method may include the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof and the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0070] As an example of the sample determination method, if it includes the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof and the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof, the method may include: a first application function sends a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal device to a first network element, where the terminals in the first terminal set are terminals supported by the first application function for the vertical federation task. A second application function sends a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal device to the first network element, where the terminals in the second terminal set are terminals supported by the second application function for the vertical federation task. Accordingly, the first network element obtains the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first application function of the vertical federation. The first network element obtains the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second application function of the vertical federation. The first network element determines, based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set, and the data of the first terminal serves as a sample for the vertical federation task. In other words, the data of the first terminal is used for the vertical federation task.

[0071] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also determine the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set based on the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set, determine the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set based on the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set, and determine the first terminal based on the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0072] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, and accordingly, the first application function receives the first identifier of the first terminal; and / or, the first network element may also send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second application function, and accordingly, the second application function receives the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0073] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also send the third identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, and accordingly, the first application function receives the third identifier of the first terminal; and / or, the first network element may also send the third identifier of the first terminal to the second application function, and accordingly, the second application function receives the third identifier of the first terminal.

[0074] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also send the third identifier of the first terminal and / or at least one of the following information to the storage network element: the identifier of the vertical federal alliance; or the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the PLMN corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or the first identifier of the first terminal; or the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0075] In one possible implementation, the first network element may also send information about the vertical federal alliance to the first application function, where the information about the vertical federal alliance is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set. Accordingly, the first application function may receive the information about the vertical federal alliance; and / or send information about the vertical federal alliance to the second application function, where the information about the vertical federal alliance is used to determine the terminals in the second terminal set. Accordingly, the second application function may receive the information about the vertical federal alliance.

[0076] In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send information about the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element, where the information about the vertical federation alliance is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set and / or the terminals in the second terminal set; the storage network element may receive the information about the vertical federation alliance and determine the terminals in the first terminal set and / or the terminals in the second terminal set based on the information about the vertical federation alliance. The storage network element may further send the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and / or the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set to the first network element. The first network element may further receive the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set from the storage network element, and / or receive the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

[0077] In a possible implementation, the network data analysis function may provide the information of the vertical federation alliance to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element may also receive the information of the vertical federation alliance from the network data analysis function.

[0078] In one possible implementation, the information of the vertical federal alliance includes at least one of the following information: an identifier of the vertical federal alliance; or an identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or an identifier of the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or a PLMN corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or information of a terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance.

[0079] In one possible implementation, the information about the vertical federation alliance includes information about a terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance, and the information about the terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance includes the SUPI of the terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance. The first network element may further determine, based on the SUPI of the terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance, a first identifier of the terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance and / or a second identifier of the terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance. The first network element may further send the first identifier of the terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance to the first application function, and / or the first network element may send the second identifier of the terminal that is expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance to the second application function.

[0080] In a possible implementation, the first network element may send the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element. Accordingly, the storage network element may obtain the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, and determine the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and / or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance based on the SUPI. The storage network element may also send the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and / or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the first network element, and accordingly, the first network element may receive the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and / or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance from the storage network element.

[0081] In a possible implementation, the first network element may also determine the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation based on the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation and the first identifier; and / or determine the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation based on the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation and the second identifier.

[0082] In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send first identifiers of terminals in the first terminal set to the storage network element. Accordingly, the storage network element may receive the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and determine the SUPIs of the terminals in the first terminal set based on the correspondence between the first identifiers and the SUPIs of the terminals. The storage network element may further send the SUPIs of the terminals in the first terminal set to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element may receive the SUPIs of the terminals in the first terminal set from the storage network element. And / or, the first network element may send second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set to the storage network element. Accordingly, the storage network element may receive the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set and determine the SUPIs of the terminals in the second terminal set based on the correspondence between the second identifiers and the SUPIs of the terminals. The storage network element may further send the SUPIs of the terminals in the second terminal set to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element may receive the SUPIs of the terminals in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

[0083] As an example of the sample determination method, if the method shown in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof and the method shown in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof are included, the method may include:

[0084] The network data analysis function, the network opening function, the first application function and / or the second application function send information about the vertical federation alliance, and accordingly, the storage network element obtains the information about the vertical federation alliance. The storage network element determines the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first application function based on the information about the vertical federation alliance, and the terminals in the first terminal set are terminals supported by the first application function for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance; the storage network element determines the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second application function based on the information about the vertical federation alliance, and the terminals in the second terminal set are terminals supported by the second application function for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance; the storage network element determines the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and the data of the first terminal serves as a sample of the tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

[0085] In one possible implementation, the storage network element may send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, and accordingly, the first application function obtains the first identifier of the first terminal; and / or, the storage network element may send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second application function, and accordingly, the second application function obtains the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0086] In one possible implementation, the storage network element may determine the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, determine the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set based on the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and determine the first terminal based on the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set.

[0087] In one possible implementation, the information of the vertical federal alliance includes at least one of the following information: an identifier of the vertical federal alliance; or an identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or an identifier of the application function corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or a PLMN corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; or information of a terminal expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance.

[0088] In one possible implementation, the storage network element may also send the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal and the identifier of the first application function to the network open function, and the network open function may send the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal to the first application function based on the identifier of the first application function; and / or, the storage network element may also send the second identifier (or the second identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal and the identifier of the second application function to the network open function, and the network open function may send the second identifier (or the second identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal to the second application function based on the identifier of the second application function.

[0089] In a twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, which may include a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device may be used to implement the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the second communication device may be used to implement the method described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof. Alternatively, the first communication device may be used to implement the method described in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and the second communication device may be used to implement the method described in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0090] The technical effects brought about by the above-mentioned third to twelfth aspects can be found in the description of the beneficial effects of the corresponding schemes in the above-mentioned first to second aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another wireless communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a vertical federation alliance provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG4 is a flow chart of a sample determination method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] FIG5 is a flow chart of another sample determination method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] FIG6 is a flow chart of another sample determination method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] FIG7 is a flow chart of another sample determination method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] FIG8 is a flow chart of another sample determination method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] FIG9 is a flow chart of another sample determination method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0102] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a service-oriented architecture. The 5G network architecture shown in Figure 1 may include terminal equipment, access network equipment, and core network (CN) equipment. The terminal equipment accesses the data network (DN) through the access network equipment and the core network equipment. Among them, the core network equipment includes a variety of network functions (NFs) or network elements, for example, including some or all of the following network elements: UDM network element, UDR network element, NEF network element (not shown in the figure), application function (AF) network element, policy control function (PCF) network element, access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, session management function (SMF) network element, user plane function (UPF) network element, NWDAF network element, network repository function (NRF) network element (not shown in the figure), and location management function (LMF) network element (not shown in the figure).

[0103] The access network device may be a radio access network (RAN) device. For example: a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a sixth generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, etc.; it may also be a module or unit that performs part of the functions of a base station, for example, a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The radio access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the radio access network device.

[0104] Terminal devices can be user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, and smart cities. Terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, urban air vehicles (such as drones and helicopters), ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc.

[0105] Access network equipment and terminal devices can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water; or in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of access network equipment and terminal devices.

[0106] The following describes the core network equipment involved in this application:

[0107] The AMF network element performs functions such as mobility management and access authentication / authorization. It is also responsible for delivering user policies between terminal devices and the PCF. The SMF network element performs functions such as session management, execution of control policies issued by the PCF, selection of the UPF, and allocation of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for terminal devices. The UPF network element, as an interface with the data network, performs functions such as user plane data forwarding, session / flow-level billing and statistics, and bandwidth limitation. The UDM network element performs functions such as managing subscription data and user access authorization. The UDR network element performs functions for accessing subscription data, policy data, application data, and other types of data. The NEF network element supports the opening of capabilities and events. The AF network element delivers application-side requirements to the network side, such as quality of service (QoS) requirements or user status event subscriptions. The AF can be a third-party functional entity or an application server deployed by the operator. The PCF network element is responsible for policy control functions such as billing at the session and service flow levels, QoS bandwidth assurance, mobility management, and terminal device policy decisions. NRF network elements can be used to provide network element discovery functions, providing network element information corresponding to the network element type based on requests from other network elements. NRF network elements also provide network element management services, such as network element registration, update, deregistration, and network element status subscription and push.

[0108] The NWDAF network element is mainly used to collect data (including one or more of terminal device data, access network device data, core network network element data, and third-party application device data). Among them, this data can be the terminal device, access network device, core network element or third-party application device's own data, or it can be the terminal device's data on the access network device, the core network element or the third-party application device. Data analysis is then performed based on the collected data, and the data analysis results are output for use by the network, network management equipment, and application execution policy decisions. The NWDAF can use machine learning models for data analysis. 3GPP splits the training function and reasoning function of the NWDAF. An NWDAF can support only the model training function, only the data reasoning function, or both the model training function and the data reasoning function. Among them, an NWDAF that supports the model training function can also be called a training NWDAF, or an NWDAF that supports the model training logical function (MTLF) (abbreviated as MTLF). The training NWDAF can perform model training based on the acquired data to obtain a trained model. An NWDAF that supports data reasoning function can also be called a reasoning NWDAF, or a NWDAF that supports analytics logical function (AnLF) (abbreviated as AnLF). The reasoning NWDAF can input input data into the trained model to obtain analysis results or reasoning data. In the embodiment of the present application, the training NWDAF refers to an NWDAF that at least supports the model training function. As a possible implementation method, the training NWDAF can also support the data reasoning function. The reasoning NWDAF refers to an NWDAF that at least supports the data reasoning function. As a possible implementation method, the reasoning NWDAF can also support the model training function. If an NWDAF supports both model training function and data reasoning function, the NWDAF can be called a training NWDAF, a reasoning NWDAF, a training reasoning NWDAF, or an NWDAF. In the embodiment of the present application, an NWDAF can be a separate network element, or it can be set up together with other network elements, for example, the NWDAF is set up in a PCF network element or an AMF network element.

[0109] The ADRF network element, referred to as ADRF, can be used to store model-related data. The data can be generated by the AnLF. The ADRF can provide model-related data to the MTLF upon request. The ADRF is not shown in Figures 1 or 2.

[0110] The LMF network element is used to manage the location information of terminal devices. It can calculate or verify the location of terminal devices and / or estimate the speed of terminal devices, and provide the estimated accuracy. The LMF network element can receive the location request of the terminal device from the AMF network element through the Nlmf interface. The granularity of the terminal location calculated by the LMF network element can be one or more of longitude, latitude, altitude, cell, and global positioning system (GPS).

[0111] A DN is a network located outside of a carrier network. A carrier network can connect to multiple DNs, and a variety of services can be deployed on the DN, providing data and / or voice services to terminal devices. For example, a DN is the private network of a smart factory. Sensors installed in the workshop can be terminal devices. The DN houses a sensor control server, which provides services to the sensors. Sensors can communicate with the control server, receive instructions from the control server, and transmit collected sensor data to the control server based on the instructions. Another example is a DN that is a company's internal office network. An employee's mobile phone or computer can be a terminal device, allowing them to access information and data resources on the company's internal office network.

[0112] It can be understood that the above network elements are examples of one implementation method, and this application does not exclude the existence of network elements or devices with the above network element functions in 6G or newer wireless communication systems that have other names or other forms.

[0113] In Figure 1, Nudr, Npcf, Namf, Nudm, Nsmf, Naf, and Nnwdaf are service-oriented interfaces provided by the UDR, PCF, AMF, UDM, SMF, AF, and NWDAF, respectively, and are used to invoke corresponding service-oriented operations. N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6 are interface serial numbers, and their meanings are as follows:

[0114] 1) N1: The interface between the AMF network element and the terminal device, which can be used to transmit non-access stratum (NAS) signaling (such as QoS rules from the AMF network element) to the terminal device.

[0115] 2) N2: The interface between the AMF network element and the access network equipment, which can be used to transmit radio bearer control information from the core network side to the access network equipment.

[0116] 3) N3: The interface between the access network equipment and the UPF network element, mainly used to transmit uplink and downlink user plane data between the access network equipment and the UPF network element.

[0117] 4) N4: The interface between the SMF network element and the UPF network element, which can be used to transmit information between the control plane and the user plane, including controlling the issuance of forwarding rules, QoS rules, traffic statistics rules, etc. for the user plane and reporting information on the user plane.

[0118] 5) N6: Interface between UPF network element and DN, used to transmit uplink and downlink user data flows between UP network element F and DN.

[0119] In addition, in the architecture shown in Figure 1, Nadrf can serve as a service-oriented interface for ADRF.

[0120] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on point-to-point interfaces. The functions of the network elements in Figure 2 can be referred to as those of the corresponding network elements in Figure 1 and will not be repeated here. The main difference between Figure 2 and Figure 1 is that the interfaces between the control plane network elements in Figure 1 are service-oriented interfaces, while the interfaces between the control plane network elements in Figure 2 are point-to-point interfaces.

[0121] In the architecture shown in Figure 2, the interface names and functions between the various network elements of the core network are as follows:

[0122] 1) N5: The interface between the AF network element and the PCF network element, which can be used to issue application service requests and report network events.

[0123] 2) N7: The interface between the PCF network element and the SMF network element, which can be used to issue protocol data unit (PDU) session granularity and service data flow granularity control strategy.

[0124] 3) N8: The interface between the AMF network element and the UDM network element, which can be used by the AMF network element to obtain access and mobility management related contract data and authentication data from the UDM network element, and the AMF network element to register the current mobility management related information of the terminal device to the UDM network element.

[0125] 4) N9: User plane interface between UPF network elements, used to transmit uplink and downlink user data flows between UPF network elements.

[0126] 5) N10: The interface between the SMF network element and the UDM network element, which can be used by the SMF network element to obtain session management related contract data from the UDM network element, and the SMF network element to register the current session related information of the terminal device to the UDM network element.

[0127] 6) N11: The interface between the SMF network element and the AMF network element, which can be used to transmit PDU session tunnel information between the access network device and the UPF network element, transmit control messages sent to the terminal device, transmit wireless resource control information sent to the access network device, etc.

[0128] 7) N15: The interface between the PCF network element and the AMF network element, which can be used to issue terminal device policies and access control related policies.

[0129] 8) N23: The interface between the PCF network element and the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element can collect data on the PCF network element through this interface. It should be noted that the NWDAF network element can also have interfaces with other devices (such as AMF network elements, UPF network elements, access network equipment, terminal equipment, etc.), which are not fully shown in the figure.

[0130] 9) N35: The interface between the UDM network element and the UDR network element, which can be used by the UDM network element to obtain user contract data information from the UDR network element.

[0131] 10) N36: Interface between PCF network element and UDR network element, which can be used by PCF network element to obtain policy-related contract data and application data-related information from UDR network element.

[0132] It is understood that the above-mentioned network element or function can be a network element in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). As a possible implementation method, the above-mentioned network element or function can be implemented by a single device, or can be implemented by multiple devices together, or can be a functional module within a single device, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0133] As an implementation method, the data analysis network element in the embodiment of the present application can be the above-mentioned NWDAF network element, or it can be a network element having the functions of the above-mentioned NWDAF network element in future communications such as 6G networks. For ease of explanation, the following description is based on the example that the data analysis network element is an NWDAF network element, and the NWDAF network element is referred to as NWDAF for short.

[0134] In this application, AnLF can be used to perform inference, derive analysis information, and expose analysis services. Analysis can refer to the export of statistical information and / or predictions based on requests from analysis consumers. MTLF can be used to train machine learning (ML) models and expose new training services, for example, providing trained ML models to AnLF. In this application, for the process of obtaining model-related data, AnLF can serve as a data producer network element, denoted as NFp; MTLF can serve as a data consumer network element, denoted as NFc.

[0135] Currently, AnLF can request a model from MTLF through the model subscription (MLModelProvision_Subscribe) service or message, and the model can be obtained by MTLF training based on the relevant data of the model (such as samples). In addition, AnLF can use a data set tag to specify a data set, and the data set can contain data related to a model. Therefore, the data set tag can be used to mark a data set, that is, to mark the data related to the model. The data set tag can also be understood as the index of the data set or the index of the data. MTLF can act as a consumer network element of model-related data to obtain data stored in the data store by the data producer network element, wherein the data producer network element can be AnLF, and the data store network element can be a network element for storing data such as the analytics data repository functional (ADRF). In this application, relevant data can be understood as data used for vertical federated learning tasks, such as input data, training data, inference data or sample data.

[0136] Specifically, model-related data may include any data from the model input data, model output data (e.g., prediction results or prediction data), model true value data, and deviation data during prediction from ADRF. Among them, the model input data can be used to train and obtain the model. The model output data is, for example, the prediction result obtained based on the input data, or the model prediction result corresponding to the input data. The model true value data can be used to represent the true value of the output data corresponding to the model input data, and can also be called the true result of the input data. The deviation data during prediction can identify the deviation between the prediction data and the true value data. The model output data and the model true value data can be used for monitoring the accuracy of the model and retraining and / or re-providing relevance. That is, the model can be obtained based on the model training data, wherein, when the model is obtained by the first training, the model can be obtained based on the model input data and the model true value data. In addition, the model can also be obtained by retraining on the basis of the historical model based on the data related to the model, and the historical model is an existing model. Among them, the prediction data can be the output result of the model.

[0137] To train data from different domains, distributed model training can be achieved using vertical federated learning (VFL). As a machine learning technique, VFL can be used to address model training and inference challenges when participants are reluctant to share their original data. It is suitable for scenarios where participants' training sample identifications (IDs) overlap significantly, but their data features overlap less. VFL combines the different data features of shared samples from multiple participants for federated learning, meaning that each participant's training data is vertically partitioned. This is why it's called vertical federated learning.

[0138] Taking the linear regression algorithm as an example, the process of vertical federated learning training is shown in Figure 3.

[0139] Client A has a dataset Client B has a dataset where y i It is the label data, so the model to be trained is as follows:

[0140] Assume that the objective function used for linear regression is as follows,

[0141] Where L is the loss function, as follows:

[0142] Since the original data D on client A A D on client B B They cannot be aggregated together, so they cannot be trained based on the traditional centralized training method. However, they can be trained based on the vertical federation training method, as follows:

[0143] make Then the L transformation is as follows:

[0144] make Then L = L A +L B +L AB (Formula 5)

[0145] Let the residual Then L is about Θ A and Θ B The gradient is as follows:

[0146] Accordingly, the model parameters are updated as follows:

[0147] The training process of vertical federated learning is as follows:

[0148] Step 1: Client A and client B initialize model parameters Θ respectively A and Θ B ;

[0149] Step 2, client A based on Θ A calculate and L A , and then send it to client B;

[0150] Step 3, client B based on Θ B calculate Further based on and y i Calculate d i , L AB , L B , and finally based on L A , L AB , L B Calculate L. Client B will d i Send to client A;

[0151] Step 4: Client A and client B each use d i Calculate separately as well as Then based on as well as Update model parameters Θ A and Θ B .

[0152] Among them, steps 2 to 4 are executed in a loop until the model training end condition is met, such as the number of iterations reaches a set threshold (such as 10,000 times) or the value of the loss function L is less than a set threshold (such as 0.001).

[0153] Through the above technology, the interaction of original data between different domains is avoided, and the business experience model can be trained. In the inference phase, client A and client B are based on the trained model parameters Θ A and Θ B Compute local inference results as well as Then client A will send the local inference results Sent to client B, who will finalize the inference result

[0154] Currently, how the core network assists the participating entities of vertical federated learning tasks in completing them is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. In this application, the participating entities of the vertical federated learning task include the aforementioned client A and client B. Optionally, the participating entities of the vertical federated learning task can also include more clients, without specific restrictions. For example, client A and client B can be different AFs or different NWDAFs, or can be an AF and an NWDAF respectively.

[0155] For example, a vertical federation alliance needs to analyze the network experience of the terminal, and the participants of the vertical federation alliance may include NWDAF, AF1 and AF2. The terminal can be connected to AF1 and / or AF2 through the network. In the learning task of the vertical federation alliance, the terminal-related data that NWDAF can provide or use may include the configuration of the terminal in the core network, such as the QoS configuration of the terminal. In addition, for NWDAF, the terminal-related data may also include the delay between the terminal and the core network (such as UPF) or the terminal-related network data collected by UPF. For AF, the terminal-related data that it can provide or use include the network data generated by the terminal when using AF or connecting to AF. These data are data generated or managed by AF, but these data are not necessarily shared with the network. For example, these data include application layer data, such as data related to behaviors or actions triggered by the terminal or application; for example, the type of transmission data selected by the terminal, such as voice, video, game, etc.; and service-related configurations such as whether retransmission is required.

[0156] In other words, for the NWDAF, the input data for learning tasks can include data related to the NWDAF's terminals in the core network, such as the terminal's QoS configuration. For the AF, the input data for learning tasks can include data related to the AF's terminals, such as network data generated by the terminals when using or connecting to the AF. For example, taking terminal network experience analysis as an example, the output data of the vertical federation's learning tasks can be the terminal's historical network experience or predicted future network experience.

[0157] It's understandable that when executing a vertical federation, participants must ensure they use data from the same terminal for model training or inference. Misalignment of samples from participants can lead to poor training or inference results. NWDAF can determine the terminal to which sample data belongs based on the terminal's unique identifier.

[0158] The present application provides a sample determination method for assisting a vertical federation entity in performing vertical federation tasks. The method can be implemented by a first network element or a module or chip in the first network element. The first network element can be a core network element. For example, the first network element can be an NEF, an NWDAF, a storage network element, or another core network element. In the present application, the storage network element can be any one of a UDM, a UDR, or an ADRF, or other network elements with a data storage function. In the following, the storage network element is described as an example of a UDM.

[0159] It can be understood that a vertical federation alliance can be a professional group composed of two or more members (or participants) whose goal is to participate in a vertical federation of common activities or to share each other's resources to achieve common results. Among them, any member can be a natural person, a company, an organization, a network element entity (such as an application function or service) or a network (such as a PLMN or CN), etc., or can be a combination of any of the above members. All members or some members of the alliance participate in vertical federation tasks together. Vertical federation tasks refer to tasks corresponding to vertical federation learning, and vertical federation tasks can include training and / or reasoning. Vertical federation tasks can also be called vertical federation activities or vertical federation learning tasks, or simply learning tasks or federation tasks, etc. In various embodiments of the present application, the multiple AFs included in the vertical federation alliance can maintain their respective data respectively, for example, each AF maintains terminal data of different terminals. Among them, the object of vertical federation learning can be a terminal.

[0160] For vertical federation tasks, the terminal data contained in each of the multiple AFs within a vertical federation alliance can serve as samples for the learning task. Vertical federation learning generally requires that members of the vertical federation use the same object data for training. Determining samples for a vertical federation task can be understood as each member of the vertical federation determining which object data to share for the vertical federation task. For example, if the vertical federation task involves analyzing a terminal's PDU session, and the vertical federation members include the CN, AF1, and AF2, then the CN, AF1, and AF2 all need to use the same terminal data for the vertical federation task. AF1 and AF2 can be connected to the CN. For example, if the vertical federation members include a NF (such as an NWDAF) in a PLMN network, AF1, and AF2, then the NWDAF, AF1, and AF2 all need to use the same terminal data for the vertical federation task. AF1 and AF2 can be AFs within the PLMN network. Alternatively, the AF can be an AF outside the network, a trusted AF within the PLMN, or an untrusted AF. In other words, the relationship between the AF and the network is not restricted. It is understood that there is no restriction on the relationship between members in the vertical federation. In this application, AF can be an application provider, for example, an application server (AS) or an application-related network element entity.

[0161] In this application, the first network element can be used to align samples of each AF within the vertical federation alliance to assist the vertical federation entity in performing vertical federated learning tasks. In this application, the AF sample can be data of the AF terminal, such as application data of the terminal, PDU session-related data of the terminal, or traffic data of the terminal.

[0162] In this application, a vertical federation alliance can be identified or distinguished by its information. For example, the vertical federation alliance information includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the vertical federation alliance, the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the information of the network corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, or the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federation alliance.

[0163] The identifier of the vertical federation alliance may be used to indicate or identify a vertical federation alliance, and may be referred to as an alliance ID hereinafter.

[0164] The identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance can be used to indicate the analysis service supported by the vertical federation alliance. For example, the identifier of the analysis service is an analysis ID. Taking the analysis ID as an example, a vertical federation alliance can correspond to one or more analysis IDs. The analysis ID can, for example, indicate analysis services such as terminal anomaly detection and terminal session analysis (such as Quality of Service (QoS) analysis).

[0165] The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance can be used to indicate the AF that supports the vertical federation alliance. The first AF and the second AF in this application can support the same vertical federation alliance.

[0166] The information of the network corresponding to the vertical federation alliance may indicate a network that supports the vertical federation alliance, that is, a network that is a member of the federation alliance. For example, the network may be one or more PLMNs, or may be a network corresponding to one or more access modes.

[0167] The information of the equipment vendors corresponding to the vertical federation alliance can be used to indicate the equipment vendors that support the vertical federation alliance, that is, can indicate the equipment vendors that are members of the federation alliance. For example, the information of the equipment vendors can be the equipment vendor ID.

[0168] The data granularity supported by the vertical federation. Data granularity can be terminal granularity, alliance identifier granularity, analysis identifier granularity, alliance member granularity, etc. This indicates the granularity of the data used in this learning task. For example, terminal granularity indicates that the samples used in this learning task are data from terminals within a certain range. For example, the data granularity supported by the vertical federation can be used to indicate that the samples used in this learning task are terminal traffic data on the AF or terminal service data on the AF.

[0169] It is understood that the alliance ID corresponds to at least one of the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, or the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federation alliance. Therefore, the alliance ID can be used to indicate or determine at least one of the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, or the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federation alliance. It is understood that the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance and / or the network corresponding to the vertical federation alliance (such as the PLMN) can serve as a member of the vertical federation alliance.

[0170] The following describes the sample determination method provided by this application in conjunction with the process shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the method may include the following steps:

[0171] S101: The first network element obtains the first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF of the vertical federation alliance, and obtains the second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF of the vertical federation alliance. The terminals in the first terminal set are terminals supported, authorized or allowed by the first AF for tasks used in the vertical federation alliance, or the terminals in the first terminal set support, authorize or allow the first AF to use their relevant data for tasks used in the vertical federation alliance; the terminals in the second terminal set are terminals supported, authorized or allowed by the second AF for tasks used in the vertical federation alliance, or the terminals in the second terminal set support, authorize or allow the second AF to use its related data for tasks used in the vertical federation alliance.

[0172] It can be understood that the granularity of the terminal's support, authorization or permission for the first AF to use its relevant data for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance can be terminal granularity (i.e., supporting the first AF to use the relevant data of the terminal for the tasks of all vertical federal alliances), vertical federal alliance granularity (i.e., supporting the first AF to use the relevant data of the terminal for all tasks of one or some vertical federal alliances) or analysis identifier granularity (i.e., supporting the first AF to use the relevant data of the terminal for tasks corresponding to one or some analysis identifiers of the vertical federal alliance).

[0173] S102: The first network element determines a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and the data of the first terminal is used as a sample of the task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0174] The first terminal may be the intersection of the terminals in the first terminal set and the terminals in the second terminal set, so sample alignment of the terminals of the first AF and the terminals of the second AF may be achieved.

[0175] In the present application, the AF terminal identifier, or the identifier of the terminal with respect to the AF, may be an identifier of the terminal assigned by the network to the AF, and is used by the AF and / or the network to manage the terminal. The AF terminal identifier may be used as an identifier of the terminal outside the core network. The AF terminal identifier may be assigned by a storage network element or a network element such as the AF. For example, the AF terminal identifier may be registered by the AF to the storage network element or pre-assigned by a network element in the network (such as the storage network element). For example, the AF terminal identifier is an AF specific terminal identifier (AF specific UE ID), a generic public subscription identifier (GPSI), or an IP address or media access control (MAC) address of the terminal, or the AF terminal identifier may be determined based on the AF specific terminal identifier, GPSI, IP address, and / or MAC address. Currently, the network may assign different AF terminal identifiers to different AFs for the same terminal, and it can be understood that different AFs maintain their own terminals. In other words, the AF terminal identifiers of the same terminal are different in different AFs. For easy distinction, the AF terminal identifier of the first AF terminal is called the first identifier, and the AF terminal identifier of the second AF terminal is called the second identifier, that is, the first identifier and the second identifier of the same terminal are different.

[0176] The AF terminal identifier of the terminal under the AF indicates that the AF can use the relevant data (such as sample data) corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to perform the vertical federation task, or that the AF is authorized by the UE corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to use its data to perform the vertical federation task. In other words, the AF terminal identifier of the terminal under the AF indicates that the AF can use the relevant data corresponding to the AF terminal identifier in the vertical federation task corresponding to the vertical federation alliance.

[0177] As an example of S101, the first network element may obtain a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set from the first AF, and obtain a second identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set from the second AF. For example, the first network element may receive the first identifier from the first AF, and receive the second identifier from the second AF.

[0178] For example, in this example, the first network element may send a first request to the first AF and / or the second AF to request the first identifier and / or the second identifier of the terminal of the vertical federation alliance. The first request may be a vertical federation alliance information acquisition request.

[0179] In one possible implementation, the first request may carry information about a vertical federal alliance, which is used by the first AF to determine the terminals in the first terminal set of the first AF, and / or, by the second AF to determine the terminals in the second terminal set of the second AF. That is, the information about the vertical federal alliance can be used by the AF to screen samples, and the AF can determine the vertical federal alliance supported by the terminal based on the contract information of the terminal, thereby determining the terminals that support the vertical federal alliance indicated by the first request. The information about the vertical federal alliance may include one or more of the identifier of the federal alliance, the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, the information of the network corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, and the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance.

[0180] For example, if the information of the vertical federal alliance includes the identifier of the federal alliance, the AF can query the terminal based on the vertical federal alliances supported by the terminal and the identifier of the federal alliance in the information of the vertical federal alliance. The terminal obtained as a result of the query can be used as a terminal in the first terminal set and / or a terminal in the second terminal set.

[0181] If the information of the vertical federation alliance includes the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the AF can query the contract information or configuration information of the terminal to determine the analysis service supported by the terminal, or to determine whether the terminal or the user corresponding to the terminal allows the AF to use the terminal-related data corresponding to the analysis service to perform the vertical federation learning task. Among them, the terminal-related data corresponding to the analysis service can be understood as the data required by the AF to perform the analysis service, and these data can be used as samples for vertical federation training. Among them, regarding the form in which the user allows the AF to use the terminal-related data corresponding to the analysis service to perform the vertical federation learning task, one possible implementation method is that the AF obtains the consent or authorization of the terminal through a protocol or dynamic window confirmation. Another possible implementation method is to allow the AF to use the above data for the vertical federation task by the terminal or the user through pre-configuration. If the analysis service supported by the terminal or the analysis service authorized by the terminal to be carried out by the AF is consistent with the analysis service indicated by the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the terminal can be used as a terminal in the first terminal set and / or a terminal in the second terminal set.

[0182] If the vertical federation information includes the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation, the first network element may request the AF to provide terminal information supporting the federation task. For example, the terminal information supporting the federation task may include the terminal identifier. This terminal information supporting the federation task can be used to determine samples for the vertical federation task, i.e., sample screening can be performed based on the AF's terminal identifier.

[0183] If the information of the vertical federal alliance includes the information of the network corresponding to the vertical federal alliance (such as PLMN), the AF can query the contract information of the terminal to determine the PLMN supported by the terminal. If the PLMN supported by the terminal is consistent with the PLMN information in the information of the vertical federal alliance, the terminal can be used as a terminal in the first terminal set and / or a terminal in the second terminal set.

[0184] If the information of the vertical federal alliance includes the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, AF can query the contract information of the terminal to determine the equipment vendor of the terminal. If the information of the equipment vendor of the terminal is consistent with the information of the equipment vendor in the information of the vertical federal alliance, the terminal can be used as a terminal in the first terminal set and / or a terminal in the second terminal set.

[0185] In addition, the first request may also carry information about the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation task, such as the AF terminal identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation task.

[0186] In this application, the AF terminal identifier may be used to identify the terminal in the AF.

[0187] For the first AF, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance may include the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance. The first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance can be used by the first AF to determine the terminals in the first terminal set. For example, the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance is used as a list of expected terminals, and the first AF can determine the terminals belonging to the first terminal set from the list. When the first request contains the information of the federal alliance and the list of expected terminals, if a terminal of the AF belongs to the terminals filtered according to the information of the federal alliance, but does not belong to the terminals in the list of expected terminals, then the terminal may not be used as a terminal in the first terminal set. Similarly, for the second AF, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance may include the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance. The second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance can be used by the second AF to determine the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0188] The information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance may be included in the information of the vertical federation alliance, or may be independent of the information of the vertical federation alliance as a separate information element or field, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0189] It can be understood that the AF can also determine the intersection of terminals based on the vertical federal alliance information and the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance, as the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF and / or the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF.

[0190] In addition, in this example, the terminal determination may also be initiated by the AF, that is, in S101, the first AF may actively provide the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, and / or the second AF may actively provide the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set. For example, the first AF and / or the second AF may send a second request to the first network element, and the second request may be used to request the first network element to determine the sample. The second request sent by the first AF may include the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, and the second request sent by the second AF may include the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set. The second request may be initiated based on a specific time condition or event condition, for example, when the time for performing a vertical federated learning task arrives, or when the sample collection condition of the learning task is met (for example, when the model accuracy is insufficient, model training is started, and samples need to be collected at this time).

[0191] In a possible implementation, the second request may further include information about the vertical federation alliance, such as an identifier of the vertical federation alliance, which is used to identify the vertical federation alliance related to the current learning task.

[0192] As another example of S101, the first network element may obtain the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF, and obtain the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF from the storage network element. Wherein, if the AF terminal identifier is allocated by the storage network element, the storage network element may store the correspondence between the AF terminal identifier and at least one of the vertical federation alliance information, terminal or AF after allocating the AF terminal identifier. The first network element may query the storage network element for the AF terminal identifier based on the information of the vertical federation alliance, such as providing the storage network element with the information of the vertical federation alliance, and the storage network element may determine the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the first identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set based on the vertical federation alliance information provided by the first network element. The storage network element may also provide the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set to the first network element.

[0193] In this application, the correspondence relationship can also be replaced by an association relationship or a mapping relationship. In which, the correspondence relationship between A and B can be used to determine the B corresponding to A, or to determine the A corresponding to B.

[0194] It is understandable that the storage network element can store the first identifier and / or second identifier of the AF terminal. For example, the AF registers the AF terminal identifier of the terminal managed by the AF with the storage network element. The manner in which the storage network element determines the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the first identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set based on the vertical federation alliance information can refer to the manner in which the AF determines the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the first identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set based on the vertical federation alliance information, and will not be repeated.

[0195] In one possible implementation, in the process of determining the first terminal, the first network element may also provide the storage network element with information about the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance, so that the storage network element can filter the terminals according to the information about the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance to determine the first terminal.

[0196] The information provided to the storage network element may include the unique identifier, the first identifier, the second identifier, or the third identifier of the terminal that is expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0197] In this application, the unique identifier of the terminal may also become a network-side identifier, which can be used to uniquely identify the terminal, for example, it can be a unique identifier within the core network. The unique identifier may include the terminal's SUPI, international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), terminal equipment identifier (TEI), or permanent equipment identifier (PEI). The following mainly introduces the example of SUPI as the unique identifier.

[0198] The third identifier can be the VFL identifier of the terminal (for example, called VFL UE ID), which is used to identify the terminal that supports vertical federated learning or vertical federated alliance. The third identifier of the same terminal in multiple AFs that support vertical federated alliance is the same. In other words, the third identifier can be the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federated alliance. It can be understood that the third identifier can be universal in different granularities of the vertical federated alliance. For example, in all tasks of the alliance, the identifier of the first terminal is the third identifier.

[0199] For example, the first network element may provide the storage network element with the first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set, the second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set, and information about a terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance. After determining at least one terminal (such as a second terminal) included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set, the storage network element filters at least one terminal from the second terminals as the first terminal based on the information about the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the first identifier, second identifier, unique identifier, or third identifier of the first terminal is included in the information about the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance. In this implementation, the AF does not need to filter the terminals based on the information about the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, thereby reducing the processing complexity of the AF.

[0200] As shown in Table 1, AF1 UE ID represents the first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF, and AF2 UE ID represents the second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF. It can be seen that the SUPIs of the intersection of the first terminal set and the second terminal set are terminals corresponding to SUPI2, SUPI3, and SUPI4, that is, the first terminal includes terminals corresponding to SUPIs SUPI2, SUPI3, and SUPI4. The first network element can assign VFL UE IDs to terminals corresponding to SUPIs SUPI2, SUPI3, and SUPI4, which are counted as V1, V2, and V3, respectively. The VFL UE ID is the third identifier.

[0201] Table 1

[0202] The storage network element can convert the unique identifier and / or the third identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance into an AF terminal identifier, such as the first identifier and / or the second identifier. The storage network element can also query the AF terminal identifier of the terminal of the first AF and the AF terminal identifier of the terminal of the second AF, determine the intersection of the AF terminal identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and the AF terminal identifier of the terminal of the first AF as the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF, and determine the intersection of the AF terminal identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and the AF terminal identifier of the terminal of the second AF as the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF.

[0203] It can be understood that the storage network element can also determine the intersection of terminals based on the vertical federal alliance information and the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federal alliance, as the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF and / or the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF.

[0204] It can be understood that if the first network element is NEF, the vertical federation alliance information and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation task (such as the terminal's unique identifier, first identifier, second identifier or third identifier) ​​can come from NWDAF.

[0205] Wherein, if the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance provided by NWDAF to NEF is the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal, then NEF can convert the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance into the first identifier and / or second identifier of the terminal, and carry the first identifier and / or second identifier of the terminal in the aforementioned first request. Wherein, the third identifier of the terminal may be assigned to the terminal in the previous learning task; or, the third identifier may be pre-assigned to the terminal by NWDAF in this learning task, in which case NWDAF can also provide NEF with the correspondence between the third identifier of the terminal and at least one of the first identifier, second identifier or unique identifier, or, NWDAF can provide the storage network element with the correspondence between the third identifier and at least one of the first identifier, second identifier or unique identifier.

[0206] It can be understood that the way in which the NEF converts the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance into the first identifier and / or second identifier of the terminal is, for example, that the NEF sends to the UDM the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation as the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal, and the storage network element maps the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal based on the correspondence between the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal and the first identifier and / or second identifier, obtains the first identifier and / or second identifier of the terminal, and provides the first identifier and / or second identifier of the terminal to the NEF. In addition, the NEF can also map the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal based on the correspondence between the unique identifier or third identifier of the terminal stored locally and the first identifier and / or second identifier, and obtain the first identifier and / or second identifier of the terminal.

[0207] In addition, any one or more members of the vertical federation alliance may send vertical federation alliance information and / or information of terminals expected to be used for the vertical federation alliance's tasks to the first network element to initiate the task. The member may be the first AF or the second AF, or may be a core network element, etc., without specific limitation. That is, the task may be triggered by a part of the member AFs (such as one AF). At this time, the first network element may determine all member AFs based on the information of the vertical federation alliance, and send a first request to some or all member AFs. For example, the first request may be sent to other member AFs other than the member AF that initiates the task. Optionally, the member AF that initiates the task may also provide the AF terminal identifier of the terminal set to the first network element. For example, when the first AF is the member AF that initiates the task, the first AF may send the vertical federation alliance information and / or information of terminals expected to be used for the vertical federation alliance's tasks to the first network element, and may also send the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set. The first network element may send a first request to the second AF to request to obtain the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF.

[0208] In S102, the first terminal may be determined based on the unique identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the unique identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set. For example, the first network element may determine the unique identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set based on the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set, and determine the unique identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set based on the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set, and then determine the first terminal by finding the intersection of the unique identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the unique identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0209] Among them, one way in which the first network element determines the unique identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set is, for example, that the first network element sends the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to a storage network element, and the storage network element determines the unique identifier of the terminal based on the correspondence between the first identifier of the terminal and the unique identifier of the terminal, and provides the unique identifier of the terminal to the first network element. Another way is that the first network element locally stores the correspondence between the first identifier of the terminal and the unique identifier of the terminal, so that the first network element can query the correspondence based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to determine the unique identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set.

[0210] Similarly, the first network element can obtain the unique identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set through the storage network element, or can query the correspondence between the second identifier of the terminal and the unique identifier based on the second identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to determine the unique identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set.

[0211] In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send a first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF. The first identifier may be used for the vertical federated learning task. For example, the first AF may filter sample information for the vertical federated learning task based on the first identifier. Similarly, the first network element may further send a second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF. The second identifier may be used for the vertical federated learning task. For example, the second AF may filter sample information for the vertical federated learning task based on the second identifier. It is understood that sample information refers to information about a sample. For example, sample information is identification information of a sample. For example, the sample may be terminal data, and accordingly, the AF terminal identifier of the terminal may be understood as identification information of the sample. The first AF may determine relevant data for the vertical federated learning task based on the first identifier. Specifically, the first AF may determine data corresponding to the first identifier for the vertical federated learning task based on the first identifier. For example, the data corresponding to the first identifier may include network data of the user corresponding to the first identifier, PDU session-related data, and the like. This data is used by the first AF for the vertical federated learning task, for example, for training and / or inference of the model corresponding to the first AF's vertical federated task.

[0212] It can be understood that the first network element sending the message or information to the first AF includes the first network element sending the message or information to the first AF through an interface or transmission channel between the first network element and the first AF, and may also include the first network element sending the message or information to the first AF through other network elements or communication devices. For example, if the first network element is an NWDAF, the first network element may send the message or information to the first AF through the NEF.

[0213] In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send a third identifier allocated to the first terminal to the first AF. The first network element may further send the third identifier allocated to the first terminal to the second AF. As an example, the first network element may send the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF. The first network element may further send the second identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

[0214] The third identifier may be allocated by the first network element, the storage network element or other network elements.

[0215] For example, if the third identifier is allocated by the first network element, the first network element may further send the third identifier to the storage network element after allocating the third identifier. For example, the first network element sends the storage network element the correspondence between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the vertical federation alliance, the first identifier of the first terminal, or at least one of the second identifier of the first terminal, so that the storage network element obtains and stores the association between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the vertical federation alliance of the first identifier and the second identifier of the first terminal, to facilitate subsequent terminal search.

[0216] If the third identifier is assigned by the storage network element, then after determining the first terminal in S102, the first network element may send at least one of the first terminal's unique identifier, the first identifier, or the second identifier to the storage network element to request the first network element to assign the third identifier. Accordingly, after assigning the third identifier, the storage network element may obtain and store the association between the third identifier of the first terminal and at least one of the first terminal's unique identifier, the first identifier, or the second identifier. Optionally, the first network element may also send information about a vertical federation alliance to provide a corresponding relationship between the first terminal and the vertical federation alliance to facilitate subsequent terminal searches.

[0217] The method provided by this application is described below with reference to the examples. The following examples 1 to 4 are respectively descriptions of the process of Figure 4 and various possible implementations related to Figure 4. In some cases, Examples 1 to 4 can serve as illustrations of the process of Figure 4 and the above-mentioned implementation methods. In addition, Examples 1 to 4 are illustrative examples of the method provided by this application and should not be understood as being the process that must be strictly followed for the method provided by this application.

[0218] In embodiment 1, the NWDAF or NEF serves as the first network element, and the NWDAF / NEF requests the first AF to provide the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, and the NWDAF / NEF requests the second AF to provide the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set. The method provided in this application may include the following steps shown in FIG5:

[0219] S201: A first network element sends a vertical federation preparation request to a first AF. The vertical federation preparation request includes information about a vertical federation alliance and / or information about a terminal that is expected to be used for a task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0220] As described in this application, the information of the vertical federal alliance included in the vertical federal task request may include one or more of the identifier of the federal alliance, the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, the information of the network corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, and the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance may include at least one of the unique identifier, the first identifier, or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance.

[0221] It can also be considered that the information of the terminal desired to be used for the task of the vertical federation is included in the information of the vertical federation.

[0222] It is understood that in Example 1, the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation alliance task can be determined by the first network element based on the requirements of the vertical federation alliance's learning task, and the determination method is not limited to the content of this application. The requirements of the vertical federation alliance's learning task can include the requirements of analyzing services (such as analyzing identification), the requirements of the learning task for data, the requirements of the learning task for accuracy, etc.

[0223] The vertical federation preparation request in S201 may be taken as an example of a first request. The vertical federation alliance information in the vertical federation preparation request may be used by the first AF to determine the first identification of a terminal in the first terminal set.

[0224] The information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance may include the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0225] S201 may also be replaced by: the first network element sends the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the first AF.

[0226] S202: The first network element sends a vertical federation preparation request to the second AF. The vertical federation preparation request includes information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

[0227] The vertical federation preparation request in S202 may be taken as an example of a first request. The vertical federation alliance information in the vertical federation preparation request may be used by the second AF to determine the second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set.

[0228] The information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance may include the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0229] S202 may also be replaced by: the first network element sends the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the second AF.

[0230] This application does not limit the execution sequence between S201 and S202.

[0231] Optionally, before S201 and / or S202, the first AF and the second AF each obtain or determine sample information and / or identification information of the sample, where the sample information may be the AF terminal identification of the terminal, terminal-related data, etc. For example, the AF terminal identification may include the AF-specific terminal identification, GPSI, IP address, or MAC address of the terminal.

[0232] S203: The first AF may determine the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set according to the vertical federation preparation request, and the second AF may determine the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set according to the vertical federation preparation request.

[0233] The first AF may filter terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance to determine terminals in the first terminal set, and the second AF may filter terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance to determine terminals in the second terminal set. The method for filtering terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance can be found in the description of this application.

[0234] S204: The first AF sends the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to the first network element.

[0235] The first identifier may be the AF1 UE ID of the terminal.

[0236] S205: The second AF sends the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set to the first network element.

[0237] The second identifier may be the AF2 UE ID of the terminal.

[0238] It can be understood that S204 and S205 can be used as an example of an implementation method of S101 in the process of FIG. 4 .

[0239] S206: The first network element sends a request for obtaining the network side identifier of the terminal to the storage network element.

[0240] The network side identifier of the UE may be a unique identifier, such as SUPI, or other identifiers such as TEI and PEI.

[0241] The SUPI acquisition request may be used to request to obtain the SUPIs of terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPIs of terminals in the second terminal set.

[0242] S207: The storage network element sends the SUPIs of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPIs of the terminals in the second terminal set to the first network element.

[0243] It can be understood that S206 and S207 can be used as an example of an implementation method of S102 in the process of FIG. 4 .

[0244] S208: The first network element determines the first terminal according to the SUPIs of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPIs of the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0245] The first terminal is an intersection terminal of the first terminal set and the second terminal set.

[0246] S209: Optionally, the first network element allocates a third identifier to the first terminal.

[0247] For example, the third identifier is the VFL UD ID.

[0248] The third identifier can be the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. It is understood that the third identifier can be universal across different granularities of the vertical federation alliance. For example, in all tasks of the alliance, the identifier of the first terminal is the third identifier.

[0249] In addition, the third identifier may also be allocated by the NWDAF or other network elements, and S209 may be skipped in this case.

[0250] S210: Optionally, the first network element sends the association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element, so that the UDM can store the information of the first terminal that supports the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. Optionally, the first network element indicates to the storage network element the association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the vertical federation alliance, the first identifier, the second identifier, or the unique identifier of the first terminal. For example, the first network element may send the SUPI and the third identifier of the first terminal to indicate the association relationship between the two, so that the storage network element can learn the association relationship between the SUPI and the third identifier. Moreover, the storage network element knows the correspondence relationship between the SUPI of the first terminal and at least one of the information of the vertical federation alliance, the first identifier, or the second identifier of the first terminal, and thus can learn the correspondence relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and at least one of the information of the vertical federation alliance, the first identifier, or the second identifier of the first terminal. Specifically, the first network element may send a list of (SUPI, VFL UE ID), where (SUPI, VFL UE ID) may indicate the correspondence relationship between the SUPI of the first terminal and the VFL UE ID. The storage network element may determine the association relationship between the SUPI and the VFL UE ID according to the list.

[0251] S211: The first network element sends the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal to implement sample screening.

[0252] Optionally, the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the first network element sends the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF.

[0253] S212: The first network element sends the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal to implement sample screening.

[0254] Optionally, the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the first network element sends the second identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

[0255] Optionally, before S201, any one or more members of the vertical federation alliance may initiate a vertical federation task request to the first network element to initiate the task. The vertical federation task request may include information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance. Among them, the member may be the first AF or the second AF. That is, the task may be triggered by a part of the member AFs (such as one AF). The first network element may determine all member AFs based on the information of the vertical federation alliance and execute S201 and / or S202. Among them, if the member AF that sends the vertical federation task request to the first network element is the first AF, the first network element may skip (or ignore execution) S201. At this time, the vertical federation task request may also include the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set. The method for determining the terminal in the first terminal set may refer to S203, with the difference that the determination of the first terminal set may be initiated by the first AF at this time. Similarly, if the member AF that sends the vertical federation task request to the first network element is the second AF, the first network element can skip (or ignore execution) S202. At this time, the vertical federation task request can also include the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set. The method for determining the terminal in the second terminal set can refer to S204. The difference is that the determination of the first terminal set can be initiated by the first AF at this time.

[0256] In Example 2, the NEF, as the first network element, requests the first AF to provide the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and requests the second AF to provide the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set based on the information of the vertical federation alliance provided or preconfigured by other network elements (such as the NWDAF) and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance. In addition, in Example 2, the NEF notifies the NWDAF of the determination result of the first terminal, and the NWDAF indicates the first terminal to the first AF and the second AF. The method provided in this application may include the following steps shown in Figure 6:

[0257] S301: NWDAF sends a vertical federation task request to NEF.

[0258] The vertical federation task request includes information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for the vertical federation task, which is used by the NEF to determine which terminals and / or samples the NWDAF supports to participate in this vertical federation task.

[0259] Optionally, S301 may also be replaced by: the NWDAF sends information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about the terminal expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

[0260] In Example 2, NWDAF can be one of the members of the vertical federation task. It can be understood that in Example 2, the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance can be determined by NWDAF based on the requirements of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance, and the determination method does not fall within the scope of the limitations of this application. Among them, the requirements of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance may include the requirements for analyzing business (such as analyzing identification), the requirements of the learning task for data, the requirements of the learning task for accuracy, etc.

[0261] As described in this application, the information of the vertical federal alliance included in the vertical federal task request may include one or more of the identifier of the federal alliance, the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, the information of the network corresponding to the vertical federal alliance, and the information of the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federal alliance; the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance may include at least one of the unique identifier, the first identifier, or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance.

[0262] S302: The NEF sends a vertical federation preparation request to the first AF. The vertical federation preparation request includes information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals that are expected to be used for tasks in the vertical federation alliance.

[0263] The vertical federation preparation request in S302 may be taken as an example of a first request. The vertical federation alliance information in the vertical federation preparation request may be used by the first AF to determine the first identification of a terminal in the first terminal set.

[0264] The information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance may include the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0265] S302 may also be replaced by: the first network element sends the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the first AF.

[0266] S303: The NEF sends a vertical federation preparation request to the second AF. The vertical federation preparation request includes information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals that are expected to be used for tasks in the vertical federation alliance.

[0267] The vertical federation preparation request in S303 may be taken as an example of a first request. The vertical federation alliance information in the vertical federation preparation request may be used by the second AF to determine the second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set.

[0268] The information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance may include the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0269] S303 may also be replaced by: the first network element sends the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to the second AF.

[0270] This application does not limit the execution sequence between S303 and S303.

[0271] Optionally, before S302 and / or S303, the first AF and the second AF each obtain sample information, where the sample information may be the AF terminal identifier of the terminal. For example, the AF terminal identifier may include the AF-specific terminal identifier, GPSI, IP address, or MAC address of the terminal.

[0272] S304: The first AF may determine the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set according to the vertical federation preparation request, and the second AF may determine the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the vertical federation preparation request.

[0273] The first AF may filter terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance to determine terminals in the first terminal set, and the second AF may filter terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance to determine terminals in the second terminal set. The method for filtering terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance can be found in the description of this application.

[0274] S305: The first AF sends the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to the NEF.

[0275] The first identifier may be the AF1 UE ID of the terminal.

[0276] S306: The second AF sends the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set to the NEF.

[0277] The second identifier may be the AF2 UE ID of the terminal.

[0278] It can be understood that S204 and S205 can be used as an example of an implementation method of S101 in the process of FIG. 4 .

[0279] S307: The NEF determines the first terminal according to the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0280] The first terminal is an intersection terminal of the first terminal set and the second terminal set.

[0281] As an example, the NEF may determine the first terminal with reference to the method shown in S206 to S208.

[0282] As another example, if in S301, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance includes the first identifier, the second identifier and the unique identifier of the terminal, that is, there is a correspondence between the unique identifier of the terminal and the first identifier and the second identifier, then the NEF can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into a unique identifier, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into a unique identifier, and further determine the intersection terminal in the first terminal set and the second terminal set based on the unique identifier to obtain the first terminal.

[0283] Similarly, if in S301, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federal alliance includes the first identifier, the second identifier and the third identifier of the terminal, that is, there is a correspondence between the unique identifier of the terminal and the first identifier and the second identifier, then the NEF can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into the third identifier, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into the third identifier, and further determine the intersection terminal in the first terminal set and the second terminal set based on the third identifier to obtain the first terminal.

[0284] The above S307 can be used as an example of S102.

[0285] S308: Optionally, the NEF allocates a third identifier to the first terminal.

[0286] In addition, the third identifier may also be allocated by the NWDAF or other network elements, and S308 may be skipped in this case.

[0287] S309: Optionally, the NEF sends the association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element, so that the UDM can store the information of the first terminal that supports the learning task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0288] S308 to S309 can be implemented with reference to S209 to S210.

[0289] S310: The NEF sends the first identifier of the first terminal and the second identifier of the first terminal to the NWDAF.

[0290] Optionally, the NEF may send the first identifier and the second identifier of the first terminal to the NWDAF, and may also send the unique identifier and / or the third identifier of the first terminal.

[0291] Therefore, the NWDAF can obtain the information of the first terminal, which facilitates the NWDAF to indicate the first terminal to the first AF and the second AF.

[0292] S311: The NWDAF sends the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0293] Optionally, the NWDAF may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the NWDAF sends the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF.

[0294] S312: The NWDAF sends the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0295] Optionally, the NWDAF may also send the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the NWDAF sends the second identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

[0296] In Example 3, in a scenario where the AF initiates a vertical federation information task, the AF may proactively provide the AF terminal identifier of its own terminal to the first network element. For example, the first network element may be an NEF or an NWDAF. The method shown in Example 3 may include the following steps shown in FIG7 :

[0297] S401: The first AF determines the first identification of a terminal in a first terminal set, and the second AF determines the second identification of a terminal in a second terminal set.

[0298] The first AF may filter terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance to determine terminals in the first terminal set, and the second AF may filter terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance to determine terminals in the second terminal set. The method for filtering terminals based on information about the vertical federation alliance and / or information about terminals expected to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance can be found in the description of this application.

[0299] In Example 3, the vertical federation information and / or the information of the terminals expected to be used for the vertical federation tasks may be configured or stored in the AF. For example, the vertical federation requires the AF to initiate a learning task when a certain period or event is met. The vertical federation information corresponding to the learning task and / or the information of the terminals expected to be used for the vertical federation tasks may be pre-configured in the AF of the vertical federation.

[0300] For the first AF, the information about the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation task may include the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation task. For the second AF, the information about the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation task may include the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the vertical federation task.

[0301] Optionally, before S401, the first AF and the second AF each obtain sample information, where the sample information may be the AF terminal identifier of the terminal. For example, the AF terminal identifier may include the AF-specific terminal identifier, GPSI, IP address, or MAC address of the terminal.

[0302] S402: The first AF sends a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set to a first network element.

[0303] The first identifier may be the AF1 UE ID of the terminal.

[0304] Optionally, the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set may be included in the vertical federation alliance information construction request sent by the first AF to the first network element.

[0305] The first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set may be carried in the vertical federation preparation request. The vertical federation preparation request may be used as an example of the second request shown in this application.

[0306] S403: The second AF sends the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set to the first network element.

[0307] The second identifier may be the AF2 UE ID of the terminal.

[0308] Optionally, the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set may be included in the vertical federation alliance information construction request sent by the second AF to the first network element.

[0309] The second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set may be carried in the vertical federation preparation request. The vertical federation preparation request may be used as an example of the second request shown in this application.

[0310] It can be understood that S402 and S403 can be used as an example of an implementation method of S101 in the process of FIG. 4 .

[0311] S404: The first network element determines the first terminal according to the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0312] S404 can be implemented with reference to S307 and will not be described in detail.

[0313] S404 may be taken as an example of an implementation of S102 in the process of FIG. 4 .

[0314] S405: Optionally, the first network element allocates a third identifier to the first terminal.

[0315] For example, the third identifier is the VFL UD ID.

[0316] The third identifier can be the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. It is understood that the third identifier can be universal across different granularities of the vertical federation alliance. For example, in all tasks of the alliance, the identifier of the first terminal is the third identifier.

[0317] In addition, the third identifier may also be allocated by the NWDAF or other network elements, and S405 may be skipped in this case.

[0318] S406: Optionally, the first network element sends the association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element, so that the UDM can store the information of the first terminal that supports the learning task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0319] S405 to S406 can be implemented with reference to S209 to S210.

[0320] S407: The first network element sends the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0321] Optionally, the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the first network element sends the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF.

[0322] S408: The first network element sends the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0323] Optionally, the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the first network element sends the second identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

[0324] Optionally, S407 to S408 may be replaced by S310 to S312. In this case, the NEF may execute S404 to determine the first terminal, and the NWDAF may send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF and send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

[0325] In Example 4, in a scenario where a vertical federation information task is initiated by an AF, the storage network element may also obtain the AF terminal identifiers of the terminals in each AF and determine the intersection terminal based on the AF terminal identifiers of each AF to obtain the first terminal. The AF may provide the AF terminal identifier to the storage network element via the NEF. For example, in a scenario where a vertical federation information task is initiated by a first AF and a second AF, the method provided in this application may include the following steps shown in FIG8 :

[0326] S501: The first AF determines the first identification of a terminal in a first terminal set, and the second AF determines the second identification of a terminal in a second terminal set.

[0327] S502: The first AF sends the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to the NEF.

[0328] S503: The second AF sends the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set to the NEF.

[0329] Among them, S501 to S503 can refer to S401 to S403.

[0330] It can be understood that S502 and S503 can be used as an example of an implementation method of S101 in the process of FIG. 4 .

[0331] S504: The NEF sends the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set to the storage network element.

[0332] S505: The storage network element determines the first terminal according to the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0333] As an implementation method, the storage network element can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into the unique identifier of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into the unique identifier of the terminal, so that the intersection terminal included in the first terminal set and the second terminal set can be determined based on the unique identifier, and the intersection terminal is the first terminal.

[0334] As another implementation method, the storage network element can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into the third identifier of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into the third identifier of the terminal, so that the intersection terminal included in the first terminal set and the second terminal set can be determined according to the third identifier, and the intersection terminal is the first terminal.

[0335] S505 may be used as an example of an implementation of S102 in the process of FIG. 4 .

[0336] S506: Optionally, the storage network element allocates a third identifier to the first terminal.

[0337] For example, the third identifier is the VFL UD ID.

[0338] The third identifier can be the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. It is understood that the third identifier can be universal across different granularities of the vertical federation alliance. For example, in all tasks of the alliance, the identifier of the first terminal is the third identifier.

[0339] In addition, the third identifier may also be allocated by the NWDAF or other network elements, and S405 may be skipped in this case.

[0340] S507: Optionally, the storage network element stores an association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the vertical federation alliance, so that the UDM can store the information of the first terminal supporting the learning task of the vertical federation alliance.

[0341] S508: The storage network element sends the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0342] The storage network element may send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF through the NEF.

[0343] Optionally, the storage network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the storage network element sends the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF.

[0344] S509: The storage network element sends the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF determines sample data of the learning task of the vertical federation alliance according to the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0345] Optionally, the storage network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the vertical federation alliance. For example, the storage network element sends the second identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

[0346] In Example 4, NEF may also be replaced by NWDAF.

[0347] It can be understood that in Examples 1 to 4, the AFs corresponding to the vertical federation alliance include the first AF and the second AF. When the vertical federation alliance includes more AFs, the implementation can be referred to and will not be repeated in this application.

[0348] As another sample determination method provided in the present application, the storage network element may obtain information of the vertical federation alliance, and determine the AF terminal identifier of the terminal under each AF of the vertical federation alliance according to the information of the vertical federation alliance.

[0349] The AF terminal identifier of the terminal can be registered by the AF to the storage network element or pre-allocated by a network element in the network (e.g., a storage network element). The AF terminal identifier of the terminal under the AF indicates that the AF can use the relevant data (e.g., sample data) corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to perform a vertical federation task, or that the AF is authorized by the terminal corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to use its data to perform a vertical federation task. In other words, the AF terminal identifier of the terminal under the AF indicates that the AF can use the relevant data corresponding to the AF terminal identifier in the vertical federation task corresponding to the vertical federation alliance. Therefore, when it is necessary to execute a learning task of the vertical federation alliance, the first network element and / or at least one AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance can provide the storage network element with information about the vertical federation alliance, and the storage network element determines the terminals in the first terminal set and the terminals in the second terminal set based on the information about the vertical federation alliance. The AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance may include multiple AFs, and one or more of the AFs may provide the storage network element with information about the vertical federation alliance. That is, it is not required that all AFs corresponding to the vertical federation alliance provide the storage network element with information about the vertical federation alliance to reduce signaling overhead. Optionally, the AF can provide the storage network element with information about the vertical federation alliance through the NEF.

[0350] The information about the vertical federation alliance may include one or more of the following: the identifier of the federation alliance, the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, the identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, information about the network corresponding to the vertical federation alliance, and information about the equipment vendor corresponding to the vertical federation alliance. Furthermore, the information about the vertical federation alliance may also include information about terminals that are intended to be used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

[0351] As shown in Figure 9, taking the AFs of the vertical federal alliance including the first AF and the second AF as an example, in S601, the storage network element can obtain the information of the vertical federal alliance; in S602, the storage network element can determine the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF based on the information of the vertical federal alliance, and determine the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF.

[0352] As a possible implementation, in this embodiment, the storage network element may determine the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, as shown in S603 in Figure 9. The storage network element may also notify the first network element of the first identifier of the first terminal and the second identifier of the first terminal, so that the first network element sends the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF and / or sends the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF. In addition, after determining the first terminal, the storage network element may also send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF and / or send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

[0353] As another possible implementation, the storage network element may provide the first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set to the first network element, and the first network element may determine the first terminal based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, for example, with reference to the description in S102. Optionally, the first network element may subsequently send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF and / or send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, for implementation methods of which reference may be made to the description in this application; and / or the first network element may allocate a third identifier for the first terminal, for details, reference may be made to the description of the relevant embodiment of the first network element allocating the third identifier in this application.

[0354] In Figure 9, the storage network element determines the first terminal and the AF corresponding to the vertical federal alliance includes the first AF and the second AF as an example. In Figure 9, the storage network element can obtain the information of the vertical federal alliance, and determine the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF based on the information of the vertical federal alliance, and determine the second identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the second AF. Among them, the storage network element can store the contract information of the terminal, so it can know the vertical federal alliance supported by the terminal. In addition, the storage network element can also know the AF where the terminal is located. Therefore, when the storage network element obtains the information of the vertical federal alliance provided by the first AF, it can query the terminals in the first AF that support the vertical federal alliance based on the information of the vertical federal alliance and the identifier of the first AF, that is, obtain the first terminal set; when the storage network element obtains the information of the vertical federal alliance provided by the second AF, it can query the terminals in the second AF that support the vertical federal alliance based on the information of the vertical federal alliance and the identifier of the second AF, that is, obtain the second terminal set.

[0355] Optionally, the storage network element may also determine the first terminal based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set. The first terminal may be a terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set. For example, the storage network element may determine, based on the unique identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the unique identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set, intersection terminals with the same unique identifier, namely the first terminal. For another example, the storage network element may determine, based on the third identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the third identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set, intersection terminals with the same third identifier, namely the first terminal.

[0356] In addition, in this embodiment, the storage network element may allocate a third identifier to the first terminal. It is not excluded that, when the third identifier is allocated by the NWDAF or NEF, the storage network element may receive the third identifier of the first terminal. For example, when the third identifier is allocated by the NWDAF or NEF, the storage network element may send the unique identifier of the first terminal to the NWDAF or NEF and receive the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal from the NWDAF or NEF.

[0357] Based on the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the storage network element can send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF through the NEF, and / or send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF. For example, the storage network element sends the identifier of the first AF and the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal to the NEF, and the NEF can send the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal to the first AF based on the identifier of the first AF. In addition, the storage network element sends the identifier of the second AF (or the second identifier and the third identifier) ​​and the second identifier of the first terminal to the NEF, and the NEF can send the second identifier (or the second identifier and the third identifier) ​​of the first terminal to the second AF based on the identifier of the second AF.

[0358] In various embodiments of the present application, there may be multiple AFs corresponding to the same vertical federation alliance, not limited to the first AF and the second AF in the present application. In the case where the AFs corresponding to the vertical federation alliance include more AFs (such as a third AF, etc.) in addition to the first AF and the second AF, the first terminal in the present application may be a terminal that is an intersection of the terminal sets of all AFs corresponding to the vertical federation alliance. In this case, the method for determining the first terminal can refer to the method for determining the intersection of the terminals in the first terminal set and the terminals in the second terminal set, and no further details will be given.

[0359] It is understandable that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the first network element, the first AF, the second AF, or the storage network element may respectively include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of the above functions. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that, in combination with the units and method steps of the various examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a manner driven by computer software depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0360] Figures 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams of possible communication devices provided in embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the first network element, first AF, second AF, or storage network element in the above-described method embodiments, thereby also achieving the beneficial effects of the above-described method embodiments. The first network element is, for example, an NEF or NWDAF, and the storage network element is, for example, a UDM, UDR, or ADRF.

[0361] As shown in Figure 10, the communication device 1000 includes a processing unit 1010 and a transceiver unit 1020. The communication device 1000 is used to implement the functions of the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element in any of the method embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 9 above.

[0362] When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the first network element in the method embodiment shown in FIG4 , the transceiver unit 1020 is configured to obtain the first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first AF and obtain the second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second AF. The processing unit 1010 is configured to determine the first terminal based on the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set.

[0363] When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the first AF in the method embodiment shown in Figure 4: the transceiver unit 1020 can be used to send the first identification of the terminal in the first terminal set, and further, can be used to receive the first identification of the first terminal. Optionally, the processing unit 1010 can be used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set, for example, based on the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance. When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the second AF in the method embodiment shown in Figure 4: the transceiver unit 1020 can be used to send the second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set, and further, can be used to receive the second identification of the first terminal. Optionally, the processing unit 1010 can be used to determine the terminals in the second terminal set, for example, based on the information of the vertical federation alliance and / or the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

[0364] When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of storing a network element in the method embodiment shown in FIG9 , the transceiver unit 1020 is configured to obtain information about a vertical federation alliance. The processing unit 1010 is configured to determine, based on the information about the vertical federation alliance, first identifiers of terminals in a first terminal set of a first AF and obtain second identifiers of terminals in a second terminal set of a second AF. The processing unit 1010 is configured to determine a first terminal based on the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set.

[0365] When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the first AF in the method embodiment shown in FIG9 , the transceiver unit 1020 may be used to send information about the vertical federation alliance and, in addition, may be used to receive the first identifier of the first terminal. When the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the second AF in the method embodiment shown in FIG9 , the transceiver unit 1020 may be used to send information about the vertical federation alliance and, in addition, may be used to receive the second identifier of the first terminal.

[0366] For a more detailed description of the processing unit 1010 and the transceiver unit 1020, reference may be made to the relevant descriptions in any of the method embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 9. For example, the technical terms involved in the above actions of the processing unit 1010 and the transceiver unit 1020 may be referred to the descriptions in the above method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0367] As shown in Figure 11, communication device 1100 includes a processor 1110 and an interface circuit 1120. Processor 1110 and interface circuit 1120 are coupled to each other. It will be appreciated that interface circuit 1120 may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, communication device 1100 may further include a memory 1130 for storing instructions executed by processor 1110, input data required by processor 1110 to execute instructions, or data generated by processor 1110 after executing instructions.

[0368] When the communication device 1100 is used to implement any one of the methods shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 9 , the processor 1110 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 1010 , and the interface circuit 1120 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1020 .

[0369] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element, the chip implements the functions of the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The chip can receive information sent by other network elements or devices to the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element through other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas or communication interfaces) in the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element, or the chip sends information to other modules (such as radio frequency modules or antennas or interfaces) in the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element. The information is sent by the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element to other network elements or devices.

[0370] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0371] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (compact disc read-only memory, CD-ROM) or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. The storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element. The processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element.

[0372] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, including one or more network elements or devices selected from the first network element, the first AF, the second AF, or the storage network element for implementing the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0373] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store computer programs or instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed, the method shown in the above method embodiment is implemented.

[0374] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method shown in the method embodiment to be implemented.

[0375] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disk; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0376] In the description of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are used solely for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or order. It should be noted that this application does not limit the order of appearance of "first," "second," etc. For example, "second" may appear before "first," and this is not a limitation in this application.

[0377] In the description of this application, "at least one (kind)" refers to one (kind) or more (kinds), and more (kinds) refers to two (kinds) or more than two (kinds). "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, or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple. In the description of this application, " / " means "or", for example, a / b means a or b.

[0378] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0379] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A method for sample determination, characterized in that, Including: Obtain the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set of the first application function AF of the vertical federation, where the terminals in the first terminal set are the terminals supported by the first AF for the tasks of the vertical federation; Obtain the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set of the second AF of the vertical federation, where the terminals in the second terminal set are the terminals supported by the second AF for the tasks of the vertical federation; Determine the first terminals included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set, and the data of the first terminals is used for the tasks of the vertical federation.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tasks include training and / or inference.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first identifier of the first terminal is used by the first AF to screen samples, and the second identifier of the first terminal is used by the second AF to screen samples.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The determining the first terminals according to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set includes: Determine the subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI) of the terminals in the first terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set; Determine the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set according to the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set; Determine the first terminals according to the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The determining the first terminals according to the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set includes: Determine the first terminals according to the intersection of the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the first identifier of the first terminals to the first AF; Send the second identifier of the first terminals to the second AF.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the third identifier assigned to the first terminals to the first AF and the second AF.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The method further includes: Send the third identifier of the first terminals and at least one of the following information to the storage network element: The identifier of the vertical federation; or, The identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation; or, The information of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation; or, The information of the public land mobile network (PLMN) corresponding to the vertical federation; or, The information of the equipment manufacturer corresponding to the vertical federation; or, The first identifier of the first terminals; or, The second identifier of the first terminals.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the information of the vertical federation to the first AF, where the information of the vertical federation is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set; and / or, Send the information of the vertical federation to the second AF, where the information of the vertical federation is used to determine the terminals in the second terminal set.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send the information of the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element, where the information of the vertical federation alliance is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set and / or the terminals in the second terminal set; The obtaining of the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set of the first AF of the vertical federation alliance includes: Receiving the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set from the storage network element; And / or The obtaining of the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set of the second AF of the vertical federation alliance includes: Receiving the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receiving the information of the vertical federation alliance from the network data analysis function.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that, The information of the vertical federation alliance includes at least one of the following information: The identifier of the vertical federation alliance; or, The identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or, The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or, The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or, The information of the equipment manufacturer corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or, The information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The information of the vertical federation alliance includes the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance, and the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance includes the SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance. The method further includes: Determining the first identifier and / or the second identifier of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance according to the SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The determining of the first identifier and / or the second identifier of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance according to the SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance includes: Sending the SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance to the storage network element; Receiving the first identifier and / or the second identifier of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance from the storage network element.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein The determining of the first identifier and / or the second identifier of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance according to the SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance includes: Determining the first identifier of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance and the first identifier; and / or, Determining the second identifier of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance and the second identifier.

16. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The determining of the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set according to the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set includes: Send the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set to the storage network element; Receive the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set from the storage network element; And / or The determining the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set according to the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set includes: Send the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set to the storage network element; Receive the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

17. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The determining the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set according to the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set includes: Determine the SUPI corresponding to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set according to the correspondence between the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI; And / or The determining the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set according to the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set includes: Determine the SUPI corresponding to the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set according to the correspondence between the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set and the SUPI.

18. A method for sample determination, characterized in that, Applied to the first AF of the vertical federated alliance, including: Send the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal device, and the terminals in the first terminal set are the terminals supported by the first AF for the tasks of the vertical federated alliance; Receive the first identifier of the first terminal from the network exposure function, and the first terminal is the terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set determined according to the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set of the second AF of the vertical federated alliance, and the data of the first terminal is used for the tasks of the vertical federated alliance.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The tasks include training and / or inference.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that, The first identifier of the first terminal is used by the first AF to screen samples, and the second identifier of the first terminal is used by the second AF to screen samples.

21. The method according to any one of claims 18 - 20, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive the information of the vertical federated alliance, and the information of the vertical federated alliance is used to determine the terminals in the first terminal set.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein The information of the vertical federated alliance includes at least one of the following information: The identifier of the vertical federated alliance; or The identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federated alliance; or The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federated alliance; or The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federated alliance; or The information of the equipment manufacturer corresponding to the vertical federated alliance.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18-22, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive the third identifier assigned to the first terminal.

24. A method for determining a sample, characterized in that, Including: Obtain the information of the vertical federated alliance; Determine the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set of the first AF according to the information of the vertical federated alliance, and the terminals in the first terminal set are the terminals supported by the first AF for the tasks of the vertical federated alliance; Determine the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set of the second AF according to the information of the vertical federated alliance, and the terminals in the second terminal set are the terminals supported by the second AF for the tasks of the vertical federated alliance; Determine a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set, where the data of the first terminal is used for the tasks of the vertical federated alliance.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein The tasks include training and / or inference.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The first identifier of the first terminal is used for the first AF to screen samples, and the second identifier of the first terminal is used for the second AF to screen samples.

27. The method according to any one of claims 24-26, characterized in that, The determining, according to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set, the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set includes: Determine the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set; Determine the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set according to the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set; Determine the first terminal according to the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein The determining the first terminal according to the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set includes: Determine the first terminal according to the intersection of the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set.

29. The method according to any one of claims 24-28, characterized in that, The obtaining the information of the vertical federated alliance includes: Receiving the information of the vertical federated alliance from the network data analysis function; or, Receiving the information of the vertical federated alliance from the network exposure function; or, Receiving the information of the vertical federated alliance from the first AF; or, Receiving the information of the vertical federated alliance from the second AF.

30. The method according to any one of claims 24-29, characterized in that, The information of the vertical federated alliance includes at least one of the following information: The identifier of the vertical federated alliance; or, The identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federated alliance; or, The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federated alliance; or, The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federated alliance; or, The information of the equipment manufacturer corresponding to the vertical federated alliance; or, The information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the vertical federated alliance.

31. The method according to any one of claims 24-30, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending the first identifier of the first terminal and the identifier of the first AF to the network exposure function; and / or, Sending the second identifier of the first terminal and the identifier of the second AF to the network exposure function.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein Applied to the network exposure function, the method further includes: Receiving the first identifier of the first terminal and the identifier of the first AF from the storage network element; Sending the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF according to the identifier of the first AF; Receiving the second identifier of the first terminal and the identifier of the second AF from the storage network element; Sending the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF according to the identifier of the second AF.

33. A method for determining a sample, characterized in that, Includes: Send information of the vertical federation alliance, where the information of the vertical federation alliance is used to determine the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF, and the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance includes the first AF; Receive the first identifier of the first terminal from the network exposure function, where the first terminal is the terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set determined according to the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF of the vertical federation alliance, and the data of the first terminal is used for the tasks of the vertical federation alliance.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein The tasks include training and / or inference.

35. The method according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that, The first identifier of the first terminal is used by the first AF to screen samples, and the second identifier of the first terminal is used by the second AF to screen samples.

36. The method according to any one of claims 33-35, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive the third identifier assigned to the first terminal.

37. The method according to any one of claims 33-36, characterized in that, The information of the vertical federation alliance includes at least one of the following information: The identifier of the vertical federation alliance; or, The identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or, The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or, The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or, The information of the equipment manufacturer corresponding to the vertical federation alliance.

38. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes units or modules for executing the method according to any one of claims 1-17, or includes units or modules for executing the method according to any one of claims 18-23, or includes units or modules for executing the method according to any one of claims 24-32, or includes units or modules for executing the method according to any one of claims 33-37.

39. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor, where the processor is used to execute computer programs or instructions to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-17, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 18-23, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 24-32, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 33-37.

40. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer program or instructions are stored in the storage medium. When the computer program or instructions are executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1-17 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 18-23 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 24-32 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 33-37 is implemented.

41. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer program product is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method according to any one of claims 1-17, or executes the method according to any one of claims 18-23, or executes the method according to any one of claims 24-32, or executes the method according to any one of claims 33-37.

42. A communication system, characterized in that, Includes: A first network element for executing the method according to any one of claims 1-17; A first AF for executing the method according to any one of claims 18-23.

43. A communication system, characterized in that, Includes: A storage network element for executing the method according to any one of claims 24-32; The first AF is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 33-37.

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