Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and a communication apparatus. The communication method comprises: receiving a first request, wherein the first request is used for requesting energy consumption information, the energy consumption information is used for determining energy consumption of a network for transmitting data, and the data comprises first data of a session; on the basis of the first request, sending a second request to a first user plane network element, wherein the second request is used for requesting information related to energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data; and in response to that a user plane network element for transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to a second user plane network element, or in response to that the second user plane network element is inserted for transmitting the first data, sending a third request to the second user plane network element, wherein the third request is used for requesting information related to energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data. The technical solution can improve the accuracy of energy consumption of a determined network for transmitting data.

Description

Communication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on February 8, 2024, with application number 202410177161.1 and application name “A communication method, device and system”, and claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on March 22, 2024, with application number 202410350570.7 and application name “Communication method and communication device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0003] Mobile network operators (MNOs) deploy networks to provide mobile communication services to end devices. This network consumes energy when serving these devices. Energy costs are a significant component of MNO operating expenses, and excessive energy consumption can also have adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, determining the energy consumption of network services for end devices has become a pressing technical challenge.

[0004] Currently, one method for determining energy consumption generated when a network serves a terminal device is as follows: upon receiving a request for energy consumption information for a network serving a terminal device, network element 1 identifies each network element in the network serving the terminal device, and then requests each network element to provide energy consumption information. Based on the energy consumption information provided by each network element, the energy consumption generated when the network serves the terminal device is determined. However, the energy consumption determined by this method may not be accurate enough. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method to more accurately determine the energy consumption generated by a network service terminal device.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The communication method is applied to a session management network element in a network. Alternatively, the method may be implemented by a component (such as a chip or chip system) configured in the session management network element, or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the session management network element, which is not limited in the present application. In the present application, the session management network element is used as an example for description.

[0007] Exemplarily, the communication method includes: receiving a first request, the first request is used to request energy consumption information, the energy consumption information is used to determine the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data, the data including the first data of the session; sending a second request to the first user plane network element based on the first request, the second request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data; in response to the user plane network element transmitting the first data being updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or, in response to the second user plane network element being inserted for transmitting the first data, sending a third request to the second user plane network element, the third request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data.

[0008] For example, after receiving a first request for energy consumption information, the session management network element determines, based on the first request, that the network elements requiring energy consumption information include the first user plane network element. The session management network element then sends a second request to the first user plane network element, requesting the first user plane network element to provide information related to energy consumption used by the first user plane network element to transmit first data. In this embodiment of the present application, the information related to energy consumption used by the first user plane network element to transmit the first data is also referred to as first energy consumption information. The first data is included in the above-mentioned data.

[0009] The second request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data, and can also be interpreted as any one of the following: 1) The second request is used to request information that affects the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data; 2) The second request is used to request the first energy consumption information, and the first energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data; 3) The second request is used to request the first energy consumption information, and the first energy consumption information indicates / characterizes / describes the characteristics of the first user plane network element transmitting the first data.

[0010] For example, the first energy consumption information includes at least one of the following: a rate at which the first user-plane network element transmits the first data, or a data volume of the first data transmitted by the first user-plane network element.

[0011] In this technical solution, in response to the user plane network element transmitting the first data being updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or in response to the second user plane network element being inserted for transmitting the first data, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element, requesting information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data. This step can also be interpreted as: the session management network element selecting the second user plane network element to transmit the first data; and sending the third request to the second user plane network element. The session management network element selecting the second user plane network element to transmit the first data includes: selecting the second user plane network element as the anchor user plane network element for transmitting the first data, or inserting the second user plane network element as an intermediate user plane network element for transmitting the first data.

[0012] Optionally, the user plane network element transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or it can be replaced by: the user plane network element transmitting the first data is switched from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or the user plane network element transmitting the first data is modified from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element.

[0013] Optionally, the second user plane network element is inserted to transmit the first data, and may also be replaced by: the second user plane network element is added to transmit the first data, or the second user plane network element is added to transmit the first data.

[0014] In the present application, the information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data is also referred to as the second energy consumption information. The third request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data, and can also be interpreted as any of the following: 1) The third request is used to request information that affects the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data; 2) The third request is used to request the second energy consumption information, and the second energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data; 3) The third request is used to request the second energy consumption information, and the second energy consumption information indicates / characterizes / describes the characteristics of the second user plane network element transmitting the first data,

[0015] For example, the second energy consumption information includes at least one of the following: a rate at which the second user-plane network element transmits the first data, or a data volume of the first data transmitted by the second user-plane network element.

[0016] Optionally, the requests in the above-mentioned first request, second request and third request may also be replaced by queries, that is, the first request may be replaced by a first query, the second request may be replaced by a second query, and the third request may be replaced by a third query.

[0017] It can be seen that in this technical solution, after the user plane network element transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or after the second user plane network element is inserted for transmitting the first data, the session management network element also requests the second user plane network element to provide second energy consumption information, so as to determine the energy consumption of the network used to transmit data in combination with the second energy consumption information. The energy consumption determined in this way includes the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element due to the transmission of the first data, and is more accurate.

[0018] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending first information to the second user-plane network element, where the first information is used to indicate a time when the second user-plane network element sends information related to energy consumption used by the second user-plane network element to transmit the first data. That is, the first information is used to indicate a time when the second user-plane network element sends the second energy consumption information.

[0019] In this technical solution, the session management network element further indicates to the second user plane network element the time at which the second energy consumption information is to be sent. This indicated time is also referred to as the first time. It is understood that when the first time is indicated, upon receiving the first information, the second user plane network element will send the second energy consumption information based on the first time.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the session management network element sends the first information to the second user plane network element, including: sending the first information to the second user plane network element when the first request indicates periodic sending of energy consumption information.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the session management network element sending the third request to the second user plane network element includes: sending the third request to the second user plane network element based on the first request. Alternatively, this may be interpreted as: if the session management network element determines that the first request exists, sending the third request to the second user plane network element.

[0022] Exemplarily, in one implementation, sending a third request to the second user plane network element based on the first request includes: sending the third request to the second user plane network element when the first request satisfies a first condition, and the first condition includes: the energy consumption information requested by the first request is related to the first data.

[0023] That is, in this implementation, the session management network element determines whether to request the second energy consumption information from the second user plane network element based on whether the energy consumption information requested in the first request is related to the first data.

[0024] Exemplarily, in another implementation, sending a third request to the second user plane network element based on the first request includes: sending the third request to the second user plane network element when the second condition is met; the second condition includes: when the user plane network element transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, the timer has not timed out, or when the second user plane network element is inserted for transmitting the first data, the timer has not timed out; wherein the timer starts when the session management network element receives the first request.

[0025] In combination with the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the first request received by the session management network element includes session information. Before sending the second request to the first user plane network element based on the first request, the method also includes: determining the first user plane network element to transmit the first data based on the session information.

[0026] Optionally, the receiving the first request includes: receiving the first request from the first network element; the method further includes: sending information for identifying the second user plane network element to the first network element.

[0027] In this implementation, after the session management network element sends information used to identify the second user plane network element to the first network element, the first network element can obtain the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element based on the information, and obtain the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data based on the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element and the second energy consumption information, thereby improving the accuracy of the energy consumption used for transmitting data on the determined network side.

[0028] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a second network element in a network, or may be implemented by a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the second network element, or may be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the second network element, which is not limited in the present application. In this application, the second network element is used as an example for description.

[0029] Exemplarily, the communication method includes: receiving a fourth request, the fourth request being used to request information related to energy consumption of the second network element used to serve the terminal device; in response to the network element serving the terminal device being switched from the second network element to the third network element, sending a fifth request to the third network element, the fifth request being used to request information related to energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device.

[0030] The second network element can be considered as the network element that served the terminal device before the handover. Therefore, the second network element is also called the source network element, and the third network element is also called the target network element.

[0031] Information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device is referred to as third energy consumption information, and information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device is referred to as fourth energy consumption information. It is understood that the energy consumption of the second network element due to serving the terminal device can be determined based on the third energy consumption information, and the energy consumption of the third network element due to serving the terminal device can be determined based on the fourth energy consumption information.

[0032] In this technical solution, after the network element serving the terminal device is switched, the source network element also requests the target network element to provide the first network element with fourth energy consumption information so as to determine the energy consumption generated by the network due to the service terminal device in combination with the fourth energy consumption information. The energy consumption determined in this way can include the energy consumption generated by the third network element due to the service terminal device, which is more accurate.

[0033] In combination with the second aspect, in one possible implementation, the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving terminal devices includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the second network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the second network element, or the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the second network element; the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, or the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the third network element.

[0034] In combination with the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: sending information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device to the third network element.

[0035] In this technical solution, when the second network element requests the third network element to provide the fourth energy consumption information to the first network element, it also sends the third energy consumption information determined by the second network element before switching to the third network element. In this way, the third energy consumption information can be sent to the first network element through the third network element.

[0036] In combination with the second aspect, in a possible implementation, the method further includes: sending second information to a third network element, where the second information is used to indicate a time when the third network element sends information related to energy consumption used by the third network element to serve the terminal device.

[0037] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a third network element in a network, or may be implemented by a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the third network element, or may be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the third network element, which is not limited in the present application. In this application, the third network element is used as an example for description.

[0038] Exemplarily, the communication method includes: receiving a fifth request from the second network element, the fifth request being used to request information related to energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device, the second network element being the source network element serving the terminal device, and the third network element being the target network element serving the terminal device; and sending information related to energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device according to the fifth request.

[0039] As described in the second aspect, the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device is referred to as fourth energy consumption information.

[0040] In this technical solution, after the network element serving the terminal device switches from the second network element to the third network element, the third network element receives a fifth request from the second network element for fourth energy consumption information and sends the fourth energy consumption information based on the fifth request. This allows the energy consumption generated by the network due to serving the terminal device to be determined in combination with the fourth energy consumption information. This determined energy consumption can include the energy consumption generated by the third network element due to serving the terminal device, resulting in higher accuracy. In conjunction with the third aspect, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving information from the second network element related to the energy consumption of the second network element used to serve the terminal device; and sending information related to the energy consumption of the second network element used to serve the terminal device.

[0041] In combination with the third aspect, in a possible implementation method, the third network element serving the terminal device includes: signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element; information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device, including: the ratio of the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, or the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element.

[0042] In combination with the third aspect, in a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving second information from the second network element, the second information being used to indicate a time when the third network element sends information related to energy consumption used by the third network element to serve the terminal device.

[0043] In conjunction with the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device is determined based on the second information.

[0044] Fourthly, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first network element in a network, or may be implemented by a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the first network element, or may be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first network element, which is not limited in the present application. In this application, the first network element is used as an example for description.

[0045] Exemplarily, the communication method includes: receiving information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices from a third network element, the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices including at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, or the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the third network element; based on the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices, determining the energy consumption of the network serving terminal devices.

[0046] As in the second and third aspects, the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element in serving the terminal device is referred to as fourth energy consumption information.

[0047] In this technical solution, after the network element serving the terminal device switches from the second network element to the third network element, the first network element will also receive the fourth energy consumption information from the third network element. In this way, the first network element can also determine the energy consumption generated by the network due to the service terminal device in combination with the fourth energy consumption information. The energy consumption determined in this way can include the energy consumption generated by the third network element due to the service terminal device, which is more accurate.

[0048] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation method, the energy consumption of the network service terminal device is determined, including: determining the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device based on the total energy consumed by the third network element, the ratio of the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signaling transmitted by the third network element, and the basic power consumption of the third network element; determining the energy consumption of the network service terminal device based on the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device.

[0049] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation, the method also includes: receiving information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device, the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the second network element to the total number of signaling transmitted by the second network element, or the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the second network element; based on the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device, determining the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device.

[0050] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first network element in a network, or may be implemented by a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the first network element, or may be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first network element, which is not limited in the present application. In this application, the first network element is used as an example for description.

[0051] Exemplarily, the communication method includes: obtaining indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that a network element serving a terminal device is switched; and sending a sixth request to a fifth network element serving the terminal device after the switch, the sixth request being used to request information related to energy consumption of the fifth network element used to serve the terminal device.

[0052] The information related to the energy consumption of the fifth network element serving the terminal device is also referred to as fifth energy consumption information. The network element serving the terminal device before switching is also referred to as the source network element, and the fifth network element serving the terminal device after switching is also referred to as the target network element.

[0053] In this technical solution, the first network element can be informed that the network element serving the terminal device has been switched, and request the fifth energy consumption information from the switched fifth network element, so as to determine the energy consumption generated by the network due to the service terminal device in combination with the fifth energy consumption information. The energy consumption determined in this way can include the energy consumption generated by the fifth network element due to the service terminal device, which is more accurate.

[0054] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the indication information includes information used to identify the fifth network element.

[0055] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation, the method also includes: receiving a seventh request, the seventh request being used to request the network to use energy consumption for the service terminal device; sending a sixth request to the fifth network element of the switched service terminal device, including: sending the sixth request to the fifth network element according to the seventh request.

[0056] In combination with the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation, sending a sixth request to the fifth network element according to the seventh request includes: sending the sixth request to the fifth network element when the seventh request indicates periodic sending of energy consumption.

[0057] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a module for executing the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0058] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a module for executing the method described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0059] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a module for executing the method described in the third aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0060] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a module for executing the method described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0061] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a module for executing the method described in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0062] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system, comprising a session management network element, a first user plane network element, and a second user plane network element; wherein the session management network element is used to implement the method described in the first aspect or any possible implementation method thereof; the first user plane network element is used to receive a second request from the session management network element; and the second user plane network element is used to receive a third request from the session management network element.

[0063] In the twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, the system including a first network element, a second network element and a third network element; wherein the second network element is used to implement the method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation method thereof; the third network element is used to implement the method as described in the third aspect or any possible implementation method thereof; the first network element is used to implement the method as described in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof.

[0064] In the thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, the system including a first network element and a fifth network element; wherein, the first network element is used to implement the method described in the fifth aspect or any possible implementation method thereof; and the fifth network element is used to implement the reception of a sixth request from the first network element.

[0065] In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the communication method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, or any possible implementation thereof. The communication device may be, for example, a chip or chip system used in a terminal device.

[0066] The apparatus may further include a memory for storing instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, and when the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, or any possible implementation thereof may be implemented. The apparatus may further include a communication interface for communicating between the apparatus and other devices. Exemplarily, the communication interface may be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or other types of communication interfaces.

[0067] In the fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a program code for execution by a communication device, and the program code includes instructions for implementing the method in the first aspect or the second aspect or the third aspect or the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0068] In the sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when the computer program product is run on a communication device, enables the communication device to implement the method in the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect, or any possible implementation thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG2 is a flow chart of a method for determining energy consumption generated when a network-side service terminal device is used in the prior art;

[0071] 3 to 5 are schematic flow charts of the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application;

[0072] 6 and 7 are schematic block diagrams of communication devices provided in embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0074] Before introducing the communication method and related devices provided in the embodiments of the present application, the following points are explained.

[0075] First, the first, second and various numerical numbers in the embodiments shown below are only used for the convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0076] Second, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b and c can mean: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or a, b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0077] Third, the terms "send" and "receive" in this application refer to the direction of signal transmission. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can be performed between devices, for example, between a terminal device and a (wireless) access network device; or they can be performed within a device, for example, between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device through a bus, trace, or interface.

[0078] Fourth, a network element in a communication system can send a signal to another network element or receive a signal from another network element. The signal may include information, signaling, or data, etc. The network element can also be replaced by an entity, a network entity, a device, a communication device, a communication module, a node, a communication node, etc. The embodiment of the present application is described by taking the network element as an example. For example, the communication system may include at least one terminal device and at least one (wireless) access network device. The (wireless) access network device can send a downlink signal to the terminal device, and / or the terminal device can send an uplink signal to the (wireless) access network device. In addition, it can be understood that if the communication system includes multiple terminal devices, multiple terminal devices can also send signals to each other, that is, the signal sending network element and the signal receiving network element can both be terminal devices.

[0079] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: fifth generation (5G) or new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, wireless local area networks (WLAN) systems, satellite communication systems, future communication systems, such as sixth generation (6G) mobile communication systems, or a fusion system of multiple systems. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to device to device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine to machine (M2M) communication, machine type communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems or other communication systems.

[0080] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture applicable to embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the network architecture may include a terminal device, a (radio) access network ((R)AN), a core network, and a data network (DN). The terminal device accesses the DN through the access network and the core network.

[0081] The terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. The terminal device may be a device that provides voice / data, such as a handheld device or vehicle-mounted device with wireless connectivity. At present, some examples of terminals are: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, wearable devices, terminal devices in 5G networks or future evolved public land mobile communication networks (PLMNs). The terminal equipment in the network (PLMN), etc., is not limited to this in the embodiments of the present application.

[0082] As an example and not a limitation, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable devices may also be called wearable smart devices, which are a general term for wearable devices that are intelligently designed and developed using wearable technology for daily wear, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothes or accessories. Wearable devices are not only hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include those that are fully functional, large in size, and can achieve complete or partial functions without relying on smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, as well as those that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0083] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal device can be a terminal device, or a device capable of supporting the terminal device to realize the function, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the terminal device or used in combination with the terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices. In the embodiments of the present application, only the terminal device is used as an example for description, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0084] The (R)AN is used to implement access-related functions. Its primary function is to control terminal devices' wireless access to the mobile communication network. The (R)AN forwards control signals and user data between the terminal devices and the core network. The (R)AN is part of the mobile communication system and implements a wireless access technology. For example, the (R)AN can be any device with wireless transceiver capabilities. The device includes but is not limited to: a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB), a radio network controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP) or a transmission and reception point (TRP), etc. It can also be a gNB in ​​a 5G, such as NR, system, or a transmission point (TRP or TP), one or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) of a base station in a 5G system, or it can also be a network node constituting a gNB or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit (BBU) or a distributed unit (DPU). unit (DU), etc.; or, it can also be 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 WiFi system, etc.; it can also be a module or unit that completes part of the functions of a base station, for example, it can be a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU).

[0085] In some deployments, a gNB may include a centralized unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB may also include a radio unit (RU). The CU implements some gNB functions, while the DU implements some gNB functions. For example, the CU implements the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers, while the DU implements the functions of the radio link control (RLC), media access control (MAC), and physical (PHY) layers. Because RRC layer information ultimately becomes physical layer information, or is converted from physical layer information, in this architecture, higher-layer signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, can also be considered to be sent by the DU, or by the DU+CU. It is understood that a network device can be a CU node, a DU node, or a device that includes both a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU can be classified as a network device in the RAN or a network device in the core network (CN), which is not limited in this application.

[0086] The terminal device and (R)AN can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water; and can also be deployed in the air on aircraft, balloons, and artificial satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the terminal device and (R)AN.

[0087] The terminal device and the (R)AN can communicate through the licensed spectrum, the unlicensed spectrum, or both; they can communicate through the spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), the spectrum above 6 GHz, or both. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communication.

[0088] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the base station may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the base station, or by a control subsystem that includes the base station function. The control subsystem that includes the base station function here can be a control center in the application scenarios of the above-mentioned terminals such as smart grid, industrial control, intelligent transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or a modem) in the terminal, or by a device that includes the terminal function.

[0089] Among them, the core network is responsible for maintaining the subscription data in the wireless mobile network and providing terminal devices with functions such as session management, mobility management, policy management and security authentication. The core network includes but is not limited to one or more of the following network elements: user plane function (UPF) network element, access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, session management function (SMF) network element, unified data management (UDM) network element, network exposure function (NEF) network element, policy control function (PCF) network element, network repository function (NRF) network element, network slice selection function (NSSF) network element, authentication server function (AUSF) network element. Optionally, the network architecture also includes a network data analytics function (NWDAF) network element and an application function (AF) network element.

[0090] The user plane network element is the gateway for communication between the wireless mobile network and the data network (DN). It is mainly responsible for forwarding and receiving data from terminal devices. For example, it can receive data from terminal devices from the data network and then transmit it to the terminal device through the access network device; it can also receive data from the terminal device through the access network device and forward it to the data network. In addition, the user plane network element also includes user-plane related functions such as data packet detection, service usage reporting, quality of service (QoS) processing, legal monitoring, uplink data packet detection, downlink data packet storage, etc. In 5G, the user plane network element can be a UPF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the user plane network element can still be a UPF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0091] The access and mobility management function network element is mainly responsible for mobility management in wireless mobile networks, such as location update of terminal devices, registration of terminal devices with the network, handover of terminal devices, allocation of temporary user identities, authentication and authorization of terminal devices, etc. In 5G, the access and mobility management function network element can be an AMF network element. In future communications such as the 6th generation (6G), the mobility management network element can still be an AMF network element or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0092] The session management network element is responsible for managing the protocol data unit (PDU) session of the terminal device. The PDU session is a channel for transmitting PDUs, and the terminal device needs to transmit PDUs to each other with the DN through the PDU session. The SMF network element is responsible for establishing, maintaining and deleting PDU sessions. The session management network element includes session management (such as session establishment, modification and release, including tunnel maintenance between user plane network elements and access network equipment), selection and control of user plane network elements, service and session continuity (SSC) mode selection, roaming and other session-related functions. In 5G, the session management network element can be an SMF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the session management network element can still be an SMF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0093] The unified data management network element is responsible for storing the subscriber permanent identifier (SUPI), credentials, security context, contract information and other information of the subscriber. The information stored in the unified data management network element can be used for authentication and authorization of terminal devices to access wireless mobile networks. In 5G, the unified data management network element can be a UDM network element. In future communications such as 6G, the unified data management network element can still be a UDM network element, or have other names, which is not limited in this application.

[0094] The unified database network element is responsible for accessing data such as contract data, policy data, and application data. In 5G, the unified database network element can be a UDR network element. In future communications such as 6G, the unified database network element can still be a UDR network element or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0095] The network open network element opens the external interface of the wireless mobile network to a third party in a secure manner. When the session management network element needs to communicate with the network element of a third party, the network open network element can serve as a relay for the communication between the session management network element and the network element of the third party. When the network open network element acts as a relay, it can translate the identification information of the subscriber, as well as the identification information of the third-party network element. For example, when the network open network element sends the SUPI of the subscriber from the wireless mobile network to the third party, it can translate the SUPI into its corresponding external identity (identity or identifier, ID). Conversely, when the network open network element sends the external ID (third-party network element ID) to the wireless mobile network, it can translate it into SUPI. In 5G, the network open network element can be a NEF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the network open network element can still be a NEF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0096] The policy control network element is used to provide PDU session policies to the session management network element. Policies may include billing-related policies, QoS-related policies, and authorization-related policies. In 5G, the policy control network element may be a PCF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the policy control network element may still be a PCF network element or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0097] The network storage function network element can be used to provide network element discovery function, and provide network element information corresponding to the network element type based on the request of other network elements. The network storage function network element also provides network element management services, such as network element registration, update, deregistration, and network element status subscription and push. In 5G, the network storage function network element can be an NRF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the network storage function network element can still be an NRF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0098] The network data analysis function network element provides functions such as network data collection and analysis based on technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence. In 5G, the network data analysis function network element can be an NWDAF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the network data analysis function network element can still be an NWDAF network element or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0099] The application function network element is used to convey the requirements of the application side to the network side, such as QoS requirements or user status event subscriptions. The application function network element can be a third-party functional entity or an application server deployed by the operator, such as the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) voice call service. In 5G, the application function network element can be an AF network element. In future communications such as 6G, the application function network element can still be an AF network element or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0100] A DN can be deployed with a variety of services, 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 is also home to a sensor control server, which can provide services to the sensors. The 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. Employees' mobile phones or computers can be terminal devices, allowing them to access information and data resources on the company's internal office network.

[0101] The above-mentioned AF network element, UDM network element, UDR network element, PCF network element, SMF network element, AMF network element, NRF network element, AUSF network element, NEF network element, UPF network element, and NWDAF network element can also be referred to as AF, UDM, UDR, PCF, SMF, AMF, NRF, AUSF, NEF, UPF, and NWDAF, respectively, as shown in Figure 1.

[0102] In Figure 1, Nausf, Nnef, Nnrf, Namf, Npcf, Nsmf, Nudm, Nudr, Naf, and Nnwdaf are service-oriented interfaces provided by the aforementioned AUSF, NEF, NRF, AMF, PCF, SMF, UDM, UDR, 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:

[0103] 1) N1: The interface between AMF and terminal devices, which can be used to deliver non-access stratum (NAS) signaling (such as QoS rules from AMF) to terminal devices.

[0104] 2) N2: The interface between AMF and access network equipment, which can be used to transmit radio bearer control information from the core network side to the access network equipment.

[0105] 3) N3: The interface between the access network equipment and UPF, mainly used to transmit uplink and downlink user plane data between the access network equipment and UPF.

[0106] 4) N4: The interface between SMF and UPF 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.

[0107] 5) N6: Interface between UPF and DN, used to transmit uplink and downlink user data flows between UPF and DN.

[0108] Mobile network operators (MNOs) deploy networks to provide mobile communication services to end devices. This network consumes energy when serving these devices. Energy costs are a significant component of MNO operating expenses, and excessive energy consumption can also negatively impact the environment. Therefore, determining the energy consumption of network services for end devices has become a pressing technical challenge.

[0109] At present, a method for determining the energy consumption generated by a network service terminal device is as follows: a network element 1 in the network receives a request 1, and the request 1 is used to request the energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device. The network element 1 determines the various network elements of the service terminal device in the network in response to the request 1, and then requests the various network elements to provide energy consumption related information to determine the energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device based on the energy consumption information provided by the various network elements.

[0110] For example, FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an existing method for determining energy consumption generated by a network service terminal device. As shown in FIG2 , the method includes:

[0111] S210 , the AF network element sends a request 1 to the network element 1 ; the network element 1 receives the request 1 from the AF network element.

[0112] Request 1 is used to request network element 1 to feedback the energy consumption generated when the network serves the terminal device.

[0113] For example, the AF network element directly sends the request 1 to the network element 1, or the AF network element sends the request 1 to the network element 1 through the NEF network element.

[0114] Optionally, the method 200 further includes: the network element 1 sends a response message to the AF network element, the response message indicating acceptance of the request of the AF network element, that is, the response message can be understood as a confirmation message. S220, in response to receiving the request 1, the network element 1 requests the UDM network element to provide energy consumption information.

[0115] Among them, the energy consumption information is used by network element 1 to determine the energy consumption. Network element 1 can be considered as an energy consumption information collection network element, which is used to process the energy consumption information to obtain the energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device, that is, network element 1 can also be understood as a network element that calculates / determines energy consumption. Network element 1 can also be called an NWDAF network element, a management data analytics function (MDAF) network element, etc., and this application does not impose any restrictions on this. Optionally, network element 1 can also be a separate network element, or it can be an energy-related function in a certain network element.

[0116] In one implementation, the network element 1 invokes the Nudm_UECM service to request the UDM network element to provide energy consumption related information.

[0117] S230 , the UDM network element feeds back to network element 1 the ID of the network element providing energy consumption information in response to the request of network element 1 .

[0118] For example, the network elements that provide energy consumption information fed back by the UDM network element to network element 1 include SMF1 network element, UPF1 network element, and AMF1 network element. The UPF1 network element is managed by the SMF1 network element.

[0119] S240 , network element 1 requests SMF1 network element to provide energy consumption information 1 ; accordingly, SMF1 network element sends energy consumption information 1 to network element 1 in response to the request.

[0120] The energy consumption information 1 is related to the data of the terminal device transmitted by the SMF1 network element. It can be understood that the energy consumption information 1 is also the information related to the energy consumption of the SMF1 network element for transmitting the data of the terminal device.

[0121] S250 , network element 1 requests UPF1 network element to provide energy consumption information 2 through SMF1 network element; accordingly, UPF1 network element sends energy consumption information 2 to network element 1 in response to the request.

[0122] The energy consumption information 2 is related to the data of the terminal device transmitted by the UPF1 network element. It can be understood that the energy consumption information 2 is also information related to the energy consumption of the UPF1 network element for transmitting the data of the terminal device.

[0123] Exemplarily, the energy consumption information 2 provided by the UPF1 network element includes the data volume and bit rate when serving the terminal device.

[0124] S260, network element 1 requests AMF1 network element to provide energy consumption information 3; accordingly, AMF1 network element sends energy consumption information 3 to network element 1 in response to the request.

[0125] The energy consumption information 3 is related to the signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the AMF1 network element. It can be understood that the energy consumption information 3 is information related to the energy consumption of the AMF1 network element for transmitting the signaling of the terminal device.

[0126] S270 , the network element 1 determines the energy consumption generated by the service terminal device based on the collected energy consumption information.

[0127] Optionally, after determining the energy consumption generated by the service terminal device, network element 1 sends the energy consumption to the AMF network element. For example, network element 1 sends the energy consumption directly to the AF network element, or network element 1 sends the energy consumption to the AF network element through the NEF network element.

[0128] However, during the process of collecting energy consumption information by network element 1, the network element serving the terminal device may change, causing the energy consumption determined by network element 1 to be inaccurate. For example, taking Figure 2 as an example, the AMF network element serving the terminal device may switch from AMF1 network element to AMF2 network element. However, according to the method shown in Figure 2, network element 1 cannot collect energy consumption information of AMF2, resulting in inaccurate energy consumption determined by network element 1.

[0129] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method to more accurately determine the energy consumption generated by a network service terminal device.

[0130] FIG3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method 300 can be applied to the system architecture shown in FIG1 , but the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0131] The communication method 300 can be executed by the first network element, the session management network element, the first user plane network element, and the second user plane network element, or can be executed by modules and / or devices (e.g., chips or integrated circuits, etc.) with corresponding functions installed in the first network element, the session management network element, the first user plane network element, and the second user plane network element, and this application does not limit this. For ease of description, the following description is based on the first network element, the session management network element, the first user plane network element, and the second user plane network element as the execution entities. As shown in Figure 3, the method includes the following steps.

[0132] S310, the first network element sends a first request to the session management network element, and correspondingly, the session management network element receives the first request from the first network element; the first request is used to request energy consumption information, and the energy consumption information is used to determine the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data, and the data includes the first data of the session.

[0133] In this embodiment, the first network element is a network element that collects energy consumption information and obtains the energy consumption generated by network transmission data based on the collected energy consumption information. Therefore, the first network element can also be called an energy consumption network element. The first network element can be, for example, a network element in the core network of Figure 1, such as a management data analytics function (MDAF) network element or a network data analytics function (NWDAF) network element. The first network element can also be a newly added network element, such as the newly added network element can be called an energy consumption network element or an energy consumption information collection network element. The first network element can be set up separately or in combination with other network elements, such as in combination with a PCF network element or an SMF network element. This embodiment of the present application does not impose any restrictions on this. For the convenience of description, the above data will be recorded as data #1 below.

[0134] It will be appreciated that the energy consumption information in this embodiment is merely an example name, and the specific name does not constitute a limitation of this embodiment. The function of this information is primarily to allow the first network element to determine the energy consumption generated when the network transmits data #1. For example, energy consumption information may also be referred to as energy information, energy consumption-related information, energy-related information, etc.

[0135] In this embodiment, when the first network element determines the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data #1, the data #1 includes the first data of the session. Hereinafter, the session is referred to as session #1. It can be understood that the data of session #1 is the first data.

[0136] This embodiment does not limit how to trigger the first network element to determine the network energy consumption used for data transmission. For example, the first network element triggers the determination of the network energy consumption used for data transmission in response to receiving request #31. For example, before step S310, the communication method 300 further includes S301: the sixth network element sends request #31 to the first network element, and the first network element receives request #31 from the sixth network element.

[0137] The sixth network element may be, for example, an application function (AF) network element or a policy control function (PCF) network element, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0138] Request #31 is used to request the network to transmit data #1 and the energy consumption generated by the transmission. Specifically, request #31 requests the first network element to provide feedback on the network energy consumption generated by transmitting data #1. Request #31 is, for example, referred to as an energy consumption disclosure request, and the sixth network element is, for example, referred to as an energy consumption requester. It will be appreciated that the energy consumption requested by the sixth network element is different from the energy consumption information requested by the first network element in S310. The first network element obtains this energy consumption information and then determines the energy consumption based on it.

[0139] Exemplarily, when request #31 is used to request the energy consumption generated by network transmission of data #1, request #31 includes the identifier of the terminal device and / or the identifier of session #1. Accordingly, upon receiving request #31, the first network element determines the granularity of the requested energy consumption based on whether request #31 includes the identifier of the terminal device or the identifier of the session. The granularity can be the terminal device or the terminal device's session.

[0140] For example, when request #31 includes the identifier of a terminal device, it indicates that the granularity of the energy consumption requested by request #31 is the terminal device. In this case, the energy consumption requested by request #31 is considered to indicate the energy consumption used by the network to transmit the data of the terminal device, that is, data #1 can be considered to be the data of the terminal device. It can be understood that in this case, session #1 is the session of the terminal device. For another example, when request #31 includes the identifier of session #1, it indicates that the granularity of the energy consumption requested by request #31 is the session. In this case, the energy consumption requested by request #31 is considered to indicate the energy consumption used by the network to transmit the data of session #1. The granularity of data #1 can also be other granularities, such as quality of service flow, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0141] Optionally, request #31 includes information 1, which is used to indicate the granularity of the requested energy consumption. Information 1 can be a bit or a string. For example, when the value of information 1 is 0, information 1 indicates that the granularity of energy consumption is the terminal device. When the value of information 1 is 1, information 1 indicates that the granularity of energy consumption is the session of the terminal device.

[0142] Optionally, request #31 also includes information 2, which is used to indicate the mode in which the first network element feeds back energy consumption to the sixth network element. This mode may be periodic. In this case, request #31 may also include information indicating the period in which the first network element feeds back energy consumption, such as hourly, daily, or monthly. If the mode is periodic, upon receiving request #31, the first network element may determine, based on information 2, that request #31 is a subscription-type request. That is, the first network element determines, based on information 2, that the sixth network element's energy consumption feedback request is a subscription-type request.

[0143] The “feedback” in this embodiment can be replaced by reporting or sending.

[0144] After the first network element receives request #31, the first network element determines based on request #31 that it is necessary to calculate the energy consumption generated by the network due to the transmission of data #1. Since data #1 includes the data of session #1, it is determined that the user plane network element that needs to transmit the data of session #1 provides energy consumption information. Therefore, the first network element sends a first request to the session management network element to request the user plane network element that transmits the data of session #1 to provide energy consumption information. That is, it can be understood that although the first request here is sent to the session management network element, the first request requests the energy consumption information of the user plane network element when transmitting the data of session #1. The energy consumption information can be used by the first network element to determine the energy consumption (or energy consumption value) generated when the user plane network element transmits the data of session #1. In this embodiment, the user plane network element transmitting the data of session #1 is also referred to as the data transmission of session #1 by the user plane network element serving the user plane network element and the data transmission of session #1 by the user plane.

[0145] Exemplarily, the session management network element is, for example, the SMF network element in the 5G network, and the user plane network element is the UPF network element in the 5G network.

[0146] For example, when information 1 in request #31 indicates that the granularity of energy consumption is terminal equipment, the session management network element determined by the first network element is the session management network element that transmits the data of one or more sessions of the terminal equipment. For another example, when information 1 in request #31 indicates that the granularity of energy consumption is session, the session management network element determined by the first network element is the session management network element that transmits the data of session #1. The specific implementation of the first network element determining the session management network element can refer to the existing technology. For example, the first network element obtains the identification information or address information of the session management network element for the data of session #1 from the UDM network element. The first network element can also be determined in other ways, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0147] Optionally, when the first network element sends the first request to the session management network element, the first request may include identification information of the terminal device to indicate to the session management network element which terminal device the requested energy consumption information corresponds to. For example, the first network element includes the identification of the terminal device in request #31 in the first request.

[0148] Optionally, the first request sent by the first network element to the session management network element is a subscription-type request, that is, the first request is used to request subscription to energy consumption information. For example, when the first network element's request #31 is a subscription-type request, the first request sent by the first network element to the session management network element is a subscription-type request.

[0149] S320, the session management network element sends a second request to the first user plane network element based on the first request. Accordingly, the first user plane network element receives the second request from the session management network element, where the second request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data.

[0150] In this embodiment, after receiving the first request, the session management network element sends a second request based on the first request to the first user-plane network element transmitting the first data, requesting information related to the energy consumption of the first user-plane network element used to transmit the first data. The first user-plane network element transmitting the first data may also be referred to as the first user-plane network element serving session #1. Hereinafter, information related to the energy consumption of the first user-plane network element used to transmit data for session #1 will also be referred to as first energy consumption information. That is, the first energy consumption information relates to the energy consumption of the first user-plane network element due to transmitting data for session #1.

[0151] In this embodiment, the second request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data, and can also be interpreted as any one of the following: 1) The second request is used to request information affecting the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the data of session #1; 2) The second request is used to request the first energy consumption information, and the first energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the data of session #1; 3) The second request is used to request the first energy consumption information, and the first energy consumption information indicates / characterizes / describes the characteristics of the data of session #1 transmitted by the first user plane network element.

[0152] For example, the first energy consumption information includes at least one of the following: a rate at which the first user-plane network element transmits data of session #1, or a data volume of data of session #1 transmitted by the first user-plane network element.

[0153] In one implementation, the first request includes information for identifying the first user plane network element. In this case, the session management network element sends the second request to the first user plane network element based on the information for identifying the first user plane network element.

[0154] For example, the first network element determines, based on request #31, that the user plane network element that transmits the data of session #1 is the first network element. For example, the first network element obtains the first user plane network element that transmits the data of session #1 from the UDM network element, and then includes information for identifying the first user plane network element in the first request. Exemplarily, the information for identifying the first user plane network element is an instance ID of the first user plane network element or address information of the first user plane network element. The address information of the first user plane network element is, for example, a uniform resource locator (URL) address of the first user plane network element or internet protocol (IP) address information of the first user plane network element.

[0155] In another implementation manner, the session management network element determines the first user plane network element according to the first request, and then sends the second request to the first user plane network element.

[0156] For example, the first request includes information about session #1, and the session management network element obtains the identification or address information of the first user plane network element based on the information about session #1. The information about session #1 is, for example, the domain network name (DNN) information or the quality of service flow identifier (QFI) of session #1. For another example, the first request includes identification information of a terminal device, and the session management network element obtains session #1 related to the terminal device based on the identification information of the terminal device, and then determines the user plane network element serving session #1 as the first user plane network element. In addition, the session management network element can also determine the first user plane network element based on other information in the first request.

[0157] In this embodiment, when the session management network element sends a second request to the first user plane network element, the second request includes information about session #1. Correspondingly, the first user plane network element associates the data packet of session #1 based on the information about session #1 to collect statistics on energy consumption information when transmitting data for session #1.

[0158] Optionally, the second request includes information for identifying the first network element, which is used by the first user plane network element to determine an address for feeding back the first energy consumption information. Exemplarily, the information for identifying the first network element may be a uniform resource locator (URL) address of the first network element.

[0159] Optionally, the session management network element may send information for identifying the first user plane network element to the first network element, so that the first network element knows that when determining the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data, it is also necessary to count the energy consumption generated by the first user plane network element.

[0160] Optionally, the second request sent by the session management network element to the first user plane network element is a subscription-type request, that is, the second request is used to request subscription to the first energy consumption information. For example, when the first request sent by the session management network element is a subscription-type request, the second request sent by the first network element to the first user plane network element is a subscription-type request.

[0161] S330, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element in response to the user plane network element transmitting the first data being updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element in response to the second user plane network element being inserted for transmitting the first data, the third request being used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data.

[0162] In which, in response to the network element transmitting the data of session #1 being updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or the second user plane network element being inserted for transmitting the data of session #1, the session management network element will send a third request to the second user plane network element. It can also be interpreted as: when the user plane network element transmitting the data of session #1 is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or when the session management network element is inserted into the second user plane network element to transmit the data of session #1, the session management network element will send a third request to the second user plane network element.

[0163] Among them, the session management network element is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element in response to the user plane network element transmitting the first data (i.e., the data of session #1), which can also be interpreted as: the session management network element is modified from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element in response to the user plane network element transmitting the first data; or, it can also be interpreted as: the session management network element is switched from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element in response to the user plane network element transmitting the first data.

[0164] Among them, the session management network element responds to the second user plane network element being inserted for transmitting the first data, which can also be interpreted as: the session management network element responds to adding the second user plane network element in the user plane network element transmitting the first data, or, it can also be interpreted as: the session management network element responds to the second user plane network element being allocated for transmitting the first data.

[0165] It can be understood that whether the network element transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or the second user plane network element is inserted to transmit the first data, it can be considered that a new user plane network element has appeared to transmit the first data or a new user plane network element service session #1 has appeared. Therefore, the above two situations can be interpreted as the data of the newly added second user plane network element transmission session #1.

[0166] For example, due to the movement of the terminal device, the service range of the first user plane network element cannot cover the location of the terminal device after it moves, while the service range of the second user plane network element includes the location of the terminal device after it moves. Therefore, the session management network element selects the second user plane network element as an intermediate user plane network element (for example, an intermediate user plane function (intermediate UPF, I-UPF)) network element for transmitting the data of session #1 between the terminal device and the first user plane network element, that is, the session management network element determines to transmit the data of session #1 through the second user plane network element.

[0167] For another example, due to network optimization, the data transmission route of session #1 is modified, and a second user plane network element is added as an intermediate user plane network element to transmit the data of session #1.

[0168] In another example, the session management network element determines that the second user plane network element replaces the first user plane network element as the anchor user plane network element for transmitting data for session #1. For example, in a mobile edge computing (MEC) scenario, to reduce the end-to-end latency of data transmission, the session management network element determines a second user plane network element (which can be called a local user plane network element) that is closer to the terminal device as the anchor user plane network element.

[0169] This embodiment does not limit the implementation of how the session management network element determines the second user plane network element. For example, in one implementation, the addition or removal of user plane network elements transmitting data for session #1 may trigger a modification process for session #1. During the modification process for session #1, the session management network element receives a notification of the user plane network element update, and thus can determine the second user plane network element.

[0170] In this embodiment, when a second user-plane network element is added to transmit data for session #1, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user-plane network element. The third request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second user-plane network element for transmitting the data for session #1. In this embodiment, the information related to the energy consumption of the second user-plane network element for transmitting the data for session #1 (i.e., the first data) is also referred to as second energy consumption information. In other words, the second energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption of the second user-plane network element for transmitting the data for session #1.

[0171] In this embodiment, the third request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data, and can also be interpreted as any one of the following: 1) The third request is used to request information that affects the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the data of session #1; 2) The third request is used to request second energy consumption information, and the second energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the data of session #1; 3) The third request is used to request second energy consumption information, and the second energy consumption information indicates / characterizes / describes the characteristics of the second user plane network element transmitting the first data.

[0172] For example, the second energy consumption information includes at least one of the following: a rate at which the second user-plane network element transmits the first data, or a data volume of the first data.

[0173] Exemplarily, the session management network element determines whether there is a historical first request (whether the first request has been received). If there is a historical first request, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element, that is, the session management network element sends the third request to the second user plane network element based on the received first request.

[0174] In one implementation, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element based on the received first request, including: when the energy consumption information requested in the first request is related to the first data (i.e., the data of session #1), sending the third request to the second user plane network element.

[0175] For example, after receiving the first request, the session management network element stores the relationship between the first request and session #1. When a second user plane network element is added to the user plane network element that transmits the data of session #1, the relationship between the first request and session #1 is used to determine that the first request is related to the data of session #1. The session management network element then sends a third request to the second user plane network element.

[0176] For example, session #1 corresponds to flag #1, and the initial value of flag #1 is 0. When the session management network element receives the first request, it updates the value of flag #1 to 1, indicating that the corresponding first request has been received. When the user plane network element that transmits the data of session #1 is updated, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element based on the value of flag #1 being 1.

[0177] In another implementation, after receiving the first request, the session management network element starts a corresponding timer. Then, when a second user plane network element is added to transmit data for session #1, if the timer has not expired, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element. For example, when the user plane network element transmitting data for session #1 is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element and the timer has not expired, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element; or, when the second user plane network element is inserted to transmit data for session #1 and the timer has not expired, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element. For example, after receiving the first request, the session association network element starts a timer with a timing length of 10ms. If, within 10ms, the user plane network element transmitting data for session #1 is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or a second user plane network element is inserted to transmit data for session #1, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element. The duration of the timer may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured in the session management network element, or carried in the first request. This embodiment of the present application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0178] Alternatively, after receiving the first request, the session management network element starts a timer with an initial value of 0. If the timer value does not exceed the first threshold when the user plane network element is updated or the second user plane network element is inserted, the session management network element sends a third request to the second user plane network element. The first threshold can be defined by a protocol, preconfigured, or received by the session management network element from another network element, for example, the first request includes the first threshold. The initial value of the timer can also be other values, which are not limited in this embodiment. For example, the initial value can be defined by a protocol, preconfigured, or received by the session management network element from another network element, for example, the first request includes the initial value.

[0179] Optionally, the session management network element may also determine to send the third request to the second user plane network element according to local configuration or other policies, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0180] Optionally, when a second user plane network element is added, the session management network element may send information used to identify the second user plane network element to the first network element. In this way, the first network element determines, based on the information, that it is also necessary to calculate the energy consumption generated when the second user plane network element transmits the first data. Exemplarily, the information used to identify the second user plane network element may be an instance ID of the second user plane network element or address information of the second user plane network element. The address information of the second user plane network element may be a uniform resource locator (URL) address of the second user plane network element. It is noted that, when the session management network element sends information used to identify the second user plane network element to the second user plane network element, this embodiment does not limit the order in which the session management network element sends the information used to identify the second user plane network element to the first network element and sends the third request to the second user plane network element. Alternatively, when the second user plane network element sends the second energy consumption information to the first network element through the session management network element, the session management network element may send the second energy consumption information and the information used to identify the second user plane network element to the first network element after receiving the second energy consumption information from the second user plane network element.

[0181] Optionally, when the session management network element sends the third request to the second user plane network element requesting the second energy consumption information, the session management network element sends first information to the second user plane network element, where the first information indicates the time at which the second user plane network element sends the second energy consumption information. Optionally, the first information is included in the third request. Optionally, the first information indicating the time at which the second user plane network element sends the second energy consumption information can also be interpreted as indicating the time at which the second user plane network element sends the second energy consumption information.

[0182] For example, the first information is used to indicate the remaining time of the current reporting cycle. For example, when the reporting mode of the energy consumption information is periodic, when the reporting cycle is 2 hours, the first information indicates that 1 hour is remaining.

[0183] For another example, if the first information indicates the start time of the current reporting cycle, the first user-plane network element may determine the time to report the second energy consumption information based on the reporting cycle and the start time of the current reporting cycle. If the first information indicates that the current reporting cycle starts at 9:35 and the reporting cycle is 2 hours, the first user-plane network element reports the second energy consumption information at 11:35.

[0184] For another example, the first information is used to indicate the time for reporting the second energy consumption information, that is, the first user-plane network element reports the second energy consumption information at the time indicated by the first information.

[0185] S340: The second user-plane network element sends second energy consumption information to the first network element in response to the third request.

[0186] In this embodiment, after receiving the third request, the second user-plane network element determines a time period for collecting the second energy consumption information. That is, the second energy consumption information determined by the second user-plane network element is related to the energy consumption generated by the data of session #1 transmitted by the second user-plane network element during the time period. Exemplarily, the second energy consumption information includes one or more of the following information: the amount of data for session #1 transmitted by the second user-plane network element during the time period, and the rate at which the second user-plane network element transmits data for session #1 during the time period. Optionally, the second energy consumption information also includes the total amount of data for all sessions transmitted by the second user-plane network element during the time period.

[0187] Exemplarily, the second user-plane network element can determine the time period based on the first information. For example, the reporting cycle is 2 hours, and the first information indicates that there is 1 hour left. Then, after receiving the third request and the first information, the second user-plane network element counts the second energy consumption information for the remaining 1 hour. For another example, if the reporting cycle is 2 hours, and the first information indicates that the current reporting cycle starts at 8 o'clock, the second user-plane network element determines that the time for reporting the second energy consumption information is 10 o'clock. Since the second user-plane network element starts transmitting the data of session #1 at 9 o'clock, the second user-plane network element counts the second energy consumption information in the time period from 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock. For another example, if the first information indicates reporting at 10 o'clock, and the second user-plane network element starts transmitting the data of session #1 at 9 o'clock, the second user-plane network element counts the second energy consumption information in the time period from 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock, such as the amount of data of session #1 transmitted in the time period from 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock.

[0188] It should be noted that the above-mentioned reporting period of two hours and the various numbers are merely examples and do not constitute a limitation of this embodiment.

[0189] Optionally, after the second user plane receives the third request sent by the session management network element, the communication method 300 further includes: the second user plane network element determining a time or a reporting period for sending the second energy consumption information.

[0190] For example, the time or reporting period for sending the second energy consumption information determined by the second user plane network element is the reporting time and / or reporting period indicated by the third request.

[0191] For another example, the second user plane network element re-determines the reporting period of the second energy consumption information based on the reporting period indicated by the third request and the reporting period of other tasks that need to be reported periodically. Exemplarily, the third request is used to request the energy consumption information of session #1, and the third request indicates that the reporting period is every M hours. In addition, the second user plane network element also receives request #A, and request #A requests the energy consumption information of session #2, and request #A indicates that the reporting period is every N hours. The second user plane network element can determine the period for sending the second energy consumption information as the greatest common divisor of M and N. Optionally, when the greatest common divisor of M and N is different from M or N, the second user plane network element can send indication information 1 to the first network element, and indication information 1 is used to indicate that the reporting period is updated. For example, when the greatest common divisor of M and N is different from M, indication information 1 is used to indicate that the reporting period corresponding to the request for session #1 is updated to the greatest common divisor of M and N. When the second user-plane network element sends indication information 1 to the first network element, it may also send identification information for session #1 or event identification information (event ID) to the first network element. This event identification information is used to trigger the event in which the first network element requests energy consumption information corresponding to session #1. In this way, the first network element can determine, based on the identification information or event identification information for session #1, that the energy consumption information reporting period corresponding to the energy consumption information request for session #1 has been updated. The session identification information or event identification information may or may not be included in indication information 1. The second user-plane network element may also send information to the first network element indicating the reason for updating the reporting period. For example, this information may indicate that the second user-plane network element needs to report energy consumption at a node granularity, or other reasons. Accordingly, after receiving the information indicating the reason for updating the reporting period from the first network element, the first network element may modify subsequent request information based on this indication. For example, the first network element may modify the information indicating the time period in request #32 in S350 based on this indication.

[0192] In this embodiment, when the second user plane network element sends the second energy consumption information to the first network element in response to the third request, the second user plane network element may first send the second energy consumption information to the session management network element. Accordingly, after receiving the second energy consumption information, the session management network element indicates the energy consumption information of the second user plane network element to the first network element. In other words, the second user plane network element sends the second energy consumption information to the first network element via the session management network element. Optionally, if the session management network element sends the second user plane identifier to the first network element, after receiving the second energy consumption information, the session management network element sends the second energy consumption information together with the identifier of the second user plane network element to the first network element.

[0193] Alternatively, the second user-plane network element may directly send the second energy consumption information to the first network element. For example, the third request sent by the session management network element includes identification information or address information of the first network element. When the second user-plane network element feeds back the second energy consumption information in response to the third request, the second user-plane network element directly feeds back the second energy consumption information to the first network element based on the identification information or address information of the first network element. Exemplarily, the address information of the first network element may be a URL address, and the second user-plane network element feeds back the second energy consumption information to the URL address.

[0194] Optionally, when the second user plane network element sends the second energy consumption information to the first network element, it may also send an identifier or address information of the second user plane network element to the first network element.

[0195] S350: The first network element determines the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data based on the second energy consumption information.

[0196] Exemplarily, in one implementation, the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element transmitting data of session #1 based on the second energy consumption information, and then determines the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data based on the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element transmitting data of session #1.

[0197] For example, the first network element requests the energy consumption of the second user plane network element from the management network element. The energy consumption of the second user plane network element indicates the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element or indicates the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element serving one or more slices; correspondingly, the management network element sends a first response message to the first network element in response to the request, and the first network element receives the first response message, which includes the energy consumption of the second user plane network element; then, the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element transmitting the data of session #1 based on the energy consumption of the second user plane network element and the second energy consumption information sent by the second user plane network element.

[0198] For example, when requesting the energy consumption of a second user plane network element from a management network element, the first network element sends a request #32 to the management network element. Request #32 includes identification information of the second user plane network element, and request #32 is used to request the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element. Optionally, request #32 includes information indicating a time period to indicate that request #32 is requesting the energy consumption of the second user plane network element during that time period. For example, the information indicating the time period indicates the time period from 9:00 to 10:00 to indicate that the request is for the energy consumption of the second user plane network element during that time period.

[0199] Optionally, the first response message may also include the total data volume of data transmitted by the second user plane network element. For example, when request #32 includes information for indicating a time period, the first response message includes the total data volume of data transmitted by the second user plane network element during the time period.

[0200] For example, the energy consumption in this embodiment can be energy value or energy efficiency. For example, when the energy consumption is energy value, the energy consumption can be joules or electrical quantity information such as wh; when the energy consumption is energy efficiency, the energy consumption can be joules / bit (bit).

[0201] Optionally, energy consumption may also be replaced by carbon emissions (e.g., 500 grams of carbon dioxide), the amount of renewable energy, the proportion of renewable energy, etc.

[0202] Exemplarily, when the first network element determines the energy consumed by the second user plane network element to transmit data of session #1 based on the energy consumption of the second user plane network element and the second energy consumption information sent by the second user plane network element, the determination is based on the following formula:

[0203] Energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting data of session #1 = energy consumption of the second user plane network element × (data volume in the second energy consumption information / total data volume of the second user plane network element); or

[0204] Energy consumption of the second user plane network element transmitting data of session #1 = energy consumption of the second user plane network element × (data volume in the second energy consumption information ÷ total data volume of the second user plane network element) × coefficient; or,

[0205] Energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element transmitting data of session #1 = energy consumption of the second user plane network element × (data volume in the second energy consumption information ÷ total data volume of the second user plane network element) × coefficient + power consumption constant;

[0206] The coefficient can be determined, for example, based on the associated information of the data rate in the second energy consumption information. For example, the network can configure the following associated information: when the data rate is greater than or equal to 0 Mbps and less than 100 Mbps, the coefficient is 0.8; when the data rate is greater than or equal to 100 Mbps and less than 500 Mbps, the coefficient is 1.0; when the data rate is greater than or equal to 500 Mbps and less than 800 Mbps, the coefficient is 1.2; when the data rate is greater than or equal to 800 Mbps and less than 800 Mbps, the coefficient is 1.5. The associated information of the data rate can be configured locally in the first network element, or configured in other network elements. In one implementation, the first network element can obtain the associated information of the data rate and pre-configuration from the management network element. In addition, the first network element can also obtain the information from other places, and this application does not impose the sole limitation.

[0207] Among them, the power consumption constant can represent the power consumption value of the basic power consumption of the user-plane network element shared by the terminal device. For example, between 8 and 10 o'clock, the basic power consumption of the second user-plane network element is 100w.h. There are 100 users, so each user is shared by 1w.h, that is, the power consumption constant = 1w.h. The power consumption constant can be determined by the first network element itself. For example, the first network element determines the corresponding power consumption constant through the corresponding information of the locally pre-configured network element type and basic power consumption. In another implementation method, the first network element determines the power consumption constant by querying the management network element to obtain the corresponding information of the basic power consumption. For example, the management network element informs that the basic power consumption of the current second user-plane network element is 100w.h, and the total number of users served is 100. Then the second network element calculates the power consumption constant = 100w.h ÷ 100 = 1w.h.

[0208] It can be seen that in this technical solution, after the user plane network element transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or after the second user plane network element is inserted to transmit the first data, the session management network element also requests the second user plane network element to provide the second energy consumption information to the first network element, so that the first network element determines the energy consumption of the network used to transmit data in combination with the second energy consumption information. The energy consumption determined in this way includes the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element due to the transmission of the first data, and is more accurate.

[0209] Optionally, in the communication method 300, after the first user plane network element receives the second request from the session management network element, the communication method 300 may further include:

[0210] S321, the first user plane network element sends first energy consumption information in response to the second request; correspondingly, the first user plane network element receives the first energy consumption information from the first user plane network element.

[0211] Exemplarily, the first energy consumption information determined by the first user plane network element includes one or more of the following information: the amount of data of session #1 transmitted by the first user plane network element, and the data rate corresponding to the data of session #1 transmitted by the first user plane network element.

[0212] In one implementation, when the first user-plane network element sends the first energy consumption information, the first energy consumption information is first sent to the session management network element. Accordingly, after receiving the first energy consumption information, the session management network element indicates the first energy consumption information of the first user-plane network element to the first network element. In other words, the first user-plane network element sends the first energy consumption information to the first network element via the session management network element. For example, after receiving the first energy consumption information, the session management network element sends the first energy consumption information and an identifier of the first user-plane network element to the first network element to indicate to the first network element that the first energy consumption information being fed back is from the first user-plane network element.

[0213] In another implementation, when the first user-plane network element sends the first energy consumption information, the first user-plane network element directly sends the first energy consumption information to the first network element. For example, when the second request sent by the session management network element includes identification information or address information of the first network element, when the first user-plane network element feeds back the first energy consumption information in response to the second request, the first energy consumption information may be directly fed back to the first network element based on the identification information or address information of the first network element.

[0214] Optionally, when the first user plane network element directly sends the first energy consumption information to the first network element, it may also send the identifier or address information of the first user plane network element to the first network element.

[0215] Optionally, after the first network element receives the first energy consumption information, the first network element requests the energy consumption of the first user plane network element from the management network element; then, the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the first user plane network element transmitting the data of session #1 based on the energy consumption of the first user plane network element and the first energy consumption information sent by the first user plane network element.

[0216] Exemplarily, when the first network element determines the energy consumed by data transmission of the first user plane network element transmission session #1 based on the energy consumption of the first user plane network element and the first energy consumption information sent by the first user plane network element, the determination is based on the following formula:

[0217] Energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting data of session #1 = energy consumption of the first user plane network element × (data volume in the first energy consumption information ÷ total data volume of the first user plane network element); or,

[0218] Energy consumption generated by the first user plane network element transmitting data of session #1 = energy consumption of the first user plane network element × (data volume in the first energy consumption information ÷ total data volume of the first user plane network element) × coefficient; or,

[0219] Energy consumption generated by the first user plane network element transmitting data of session #1 = energy consumption of the first user plane network element × (data volume in the first energy consumption information / total data volume of the first user plane network element) × coefficient + power consumption constant;

[0220] The description of the coefficients can refer to the description in the aforementioned step S350 and will not be repeated here.

[0221] Optionally, the first network element determines the energy consumption of transmitting the data of session #1 based on the energy consumption generated by the first user plane network element transmitting the data of session #1 and the energy consumption generated by the second user plane network element transmitting the data of session #1.

[0222] For example, the period for the first network element to report energy consumption is from 8 o'clock to 10 o'clock, and the user plane network element that transmits the data of session #1 is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element at 9 o'clock, then the first energy consumption information includes the data volume X1 when the first user plane network element transmits the data of session #1 between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock, the energy consumption of the first user plane network element includes the energy consumption Y1 of the first user plane network element between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock, and the first network element obtains the total data volume K1 transmitted by the first user plane network element between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock; the second energy consumption information includes the data volume X1 when the first user plane network element transmits the data of session #1 between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock, and the energy consumption of the first user plane network element includes the energy consumption Y1 of the first user plane network element between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock. The energy consumption information includes the data volume X2 when the second user-plane network element transmits data for session #1 between 9:00 and 10:00. The energy consumption of the second user-plane network element includes the energy consumption Y2 of the second user-plane network element between 9:00 and 10:00. The second network element obtains the total data volume K2 transmitted by the second user-plane network element between 9:00 and 10:00. The energy consumption when transmitting the data for session #1 can be calculated according to the following formula: Energy consumption generated when transmitting data for session #1 = Y1×X1÷K1×Coefficient 1+Y2×X2÷K2×Coefficient 2. In addition, another calculation formula is: Energy consumption generated when transmitting data for session #1 = Y1×X1÷K1×Coefficient 1+Power consumption constant 1+Y2×X2÷K2×Coefficient 2+Power consumption constant 2.

[0223] For example, the first user plane network element is the anchor user plane network element of the session, and the second user plane network element is the intermediate user plane network element of the session, that is, the first user plane network element and the second user plane network element simultaneously transmit data of session #1. For example, the current period for the first network element to report energy consumption information is from 8:00 to 10:00, and step S310 occurs at 9:00. The first energy consumption information includes the data volume X1 when the first user-plane network element transmits data of session #1 between 8:00 and 10:00, the energy consumption of the first user-plane network element includes the energy consumption Y1 of the first user-plane network element between 8:00 and 10:00, and the first network element obtains the total data volume K1 transmitted by the first user-plane network element between 8:00 and 9:00. The second energy consumption information includes the data volume X2 when the second user-plane network element transmits data of session #1 between 9:00 and 10:00, the energy consumption of the second user-plane network element includes the energy consumption Y2 of the second user-plane network element between 9:00 and 10:00, and the second network element obtains the total data volume K2 transmitted by the second user-plane network element between 9:00 and 10:00. The energy consumption consumed in transmitting the data of session #1 can be calculated according to the following formula: Energy consumption consumed in transmitting data of session #1 = Y1×X1÷K1×Coefficient 1+Y2×X2÷K2×Coefficient 2.

[0224] Optionally, in the communication method 300 described above, after the first network element determines the network energy consumption used for data transmission, the communication method 300 may further include S360: transmitting the determined network energy consumption used for data transmission to a sixth network element. It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit how the first network element transmits the energy consumption to the sixth network element. For example, the first network element may transmit the energy consumption directly to the sixth network element; or the first network element may transmit the energy consumption to the sixth network element via another network element.

[0225] The above describes a solution for improving the accuracy of the first network element in determining the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data after a second user-plane network element is added.

[0226] Below, in conjunction with Figure 4, a schematic flow chart of another communication method 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application is described. Method 400 can be applied to the system architecture shown in Figure 1, but this embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. The communication method 400 can be executed by the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element, or it can be executed by modules and / or devices (for example, chips or integrated circuits, etc.) with corresponding functions installed in the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element, which is not limited by this application. For ease of description, the following description is based on the first network element, the second network element, and the third network element as the execution entities. As shown in Figure 4, the method includes the following steps.

[0227] S410, the first network element sends a fourth request to the second network element, and correspondingly, the second network element receives the fourth request from the first network element; the fourth request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device.

[0228] In this embodiment, the concept of the first network element can refer to the introduction of the first network element in the embodiment of Figure 3, and will not be repeated here.

[0229] In this embodiment, when the first network element determines that the second network element needs to provide information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device, it will send a fourth request to the second network element to request information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device.

[0230] Hereinafter, information related to the energy consumption of the second network element in serving the terminal device will be referred to as third energy consumption information. That is, the third energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption incurred by the second network element in serving the terminal device. Alternatively, the amount of energy consumed by the second network element in serving the terminal device is related to the third energy consumption information. Alternatively, the third energy consumption information can be used to determine the energy consumption incurred by the second network element in serving the terminal device.

[0231] It can be understood that the fourth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device, and can also be interpreted as any one of the following: 1) The fourth request is used to request information that affects the energy consumption of the terminal device served by the second network element; 2) The fourth request is used to request third energy consumption information, and the third energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption of the terminal device served by the second network element; 3) The fourth request is used to request third energy consumption information, and the third energy consumption information indicates / characterizes / describes the characteristics of the terminal device served by the second network element.

[0232] Exemplarily, the second network element serving the terminal device includes: the second network element transmitting signaling of the terminal device, that is, the second network element includes an AMF-type network element. Correspondingly, when the second network element is an AMF-type network element, the third energy consumption information provided by the second network element includes at least one of the following: a ratio of the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the second network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the second network element, or the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the second network element.

[0233] Optionally, the first network element sends a fourth request to the second network element based on request #41. For example, before step S410, the communication method 400 further includes S401: S401, the sixth network element sends request #41 to the first network element, and accordingly, the first network element receives request #41 from the sixth network element.

[0234] Request #41 is used to request the network to serve the energy consumption generated by the terminal device. Based on request #41, the first network element determines a second network element that serves the terminal device, such as a second network element that serves the terminal device or transmits signaling for the terminal device. For example, request #41 includes an identifier of the terminal device. The concept of the sixth network element can be found in the description of S301 in the embodiment of Figure 3 and will not be repeated here.

[0235] Optionally, request #41 also includes information 2, which indicates the pattern of energy consumption generated by the network due to serving the terminal device, as reported by the first network element. This pattern can be, for example, periodic. If the pattern is periodic, upon receiving information 2, the first network element can determine, based on information 2, that request #41 is a subscription-type request. A detailed description of information 2 can be found in the description of information 2 in S301 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 , and is not further elaborated here.

[0236] After receiving request #41, the first network element determines the second network element serving the terminal device based on request #41 and then sends a fourth request to the second network element. For example, the first network element obtains identification information or address information of the second network element serving the terminal device from the UDM network element.

[0237] Optionally, when the first network element sends the fourth request to the second network element, the fourth request includes identification information of the terminal device. For example, the first network element carries the identification information of the terminal device in request #41 in the fourth request.

[0238] S420, the second network element sends a fifth request to the third network element in response to the network element serving the terminal device switching from the second network element to the third network element; correspondingly, the third network element receives the fifth request from the second network element; the fifth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device.

[0239] The second network element is also referred to as the source network element, and the third network element is also referred to as the target network element. Switching the network element of the service terminal device from the second network element to the third network element can also be interpreted as: updating the network element of the service terminal device from the second network element to the third network element; or, alternatively, it can be interpreted as: modifying the network element of the service terminal device from the second network element to the third network element.

[0240] It is understandable that the second network element and the third network element are network elements of the same type. For example, the second network element and the third network element are both AMF network elements that transmit signaling of the terminal device. For example, the terminal device performs AMF relocation switching, resulting in the network element that transmits the signaling of the terminal device changing from the source AMF to the target AMF.

[0241] In this embodiment, when the network element serving the terminal device is switched from the second network element to the third network element, the second network element will send a fifth request to the third network element in response to the switching operation. The fifth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device.

[0242] Hereinafter, information related to energy consumption by the third network element in serving a terminal device will be referred to as fourth energy consumption information. That is, the fourth energy consumption information is related to energy consumption incurred by the third network element in serving the terminal device. Alternatively, the amount of energy consumed by the third network element in serving the terminal device is related to the fourth energy consumption information. Alternatively, the fourth energy consumption information can be used to determine energy consumption incurred by the third network element in serving the terminal device.

[0243] It can be understood that the fifth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device, and can also be interpreted as any one of the following: 1) The fifth request is used to request information that affects the energy consumption of the terminal device served by the third network element; 2) The fifth request is used to request fourth energy consumption information, and the fourth energy consumption information is related to the energy consumption of the terminal device served by the third network element; 3) The fifth request is used to request fourth energy consumption information, and the fourth energy consumption information indicates / characterizes / describes the characteristics of the terminal device served by the third network element.

[0244] Exemplarily, the third network element and the second network element are both AMF type network elements, and the third network element serving the terminal device includes: the third network element transmitting the signaling of the terminal device. Among them, the signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element is interpreted as the signaling related to the terminal device transmitted by the third network element. For example, when the third network element is AMF, AMF sends a contract information query request to UDM. Although AMF and UDM interact, AMF sends the contract information query request to UDM for the terminal device. Therefore, the signaling related to the terminal device sent by AMF to UDM also belongs to the signaling related to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the fourth energy consumption information provided by the third network element includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signaling transmitted by the third network element, or the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the third network element. Optionally, the fourth energy consumption information may also include the total number of signaling transmitted by the third network element.

[0245] Optionally, the fifth request is a request for requesting a terminal device context transfer, and the fifth request includes information for identifying the first network element, so as to instruct the third network element to feed back the fourth energy consumption information to the first network element. The specific implementation of the information for identifying the first network element may refer to the above-mentioned communication method 300.

[0246] Optionally, the second network element may further send second information to the first network element, where the second information is used to indicate a time when the third network element sends the fourth energy consumption information. Exemplarily, the second information is carried in the fifth request.

[0247] For example, the second information is used to indicate the remaining time of the current reporting cycle. For example, if the reporting cycle is 2 hours and the second information indicates that 1 hour is remaining, then after receiving the fifth request and the second information, the third network element reports the fourth energy consumption information after 1 hour.

[0248] For another example, the second information indicates the start time of the current reporting cycle, and the third network element determines the time to report the fourth energy consumption information based on the reporting cycle. For example, if the reporting cycle is one hour and the second information indicates that the current reporting cycle starts at 9:35, the third network element determines to report the fourth energy consumption information at 10:35.

[0249] For another example, the second information is used to indicate the time for reporting the fourth energy consumption information, that is, the third network element reports the fourth energy consumption information at this time.

[0250] Optionally, the fifth request may further include a tracking area update (TAU) timer.

[0251] S430 , the third network element sends fourth energy consumption information to the first network element according to the fifth request; correspondingly, the first network element receives the fourth energy consumption information.

[0252] In this embodiment, after receiving the fifth request, the third network element determines a time period for collecting the fourth energy consumption information, obtains the fourth energy consumption information within the time period, and then reports the fourth energy consumption information to the first network element at the reporting time. In other words, the fourth energy consumption information determined by the fourth network element is related to the energy consumption generated by the terminal device served by the third network element during the time period.

[0253] Among them, the third network element can determine the time period for counting the fourth energy consumption information based on the second information. For example, the reporting cycle is 2 hours, and the second information indicates that there is 1 hour left. Then, after the third network element receives the fifth request and the second information, it counts the fourth energy consumption information for the remaining 1 hour. For another example, if the reporting cycle is 2 hours, and the second information indicates that the current reporting cycle starts at 8 o'clock, then the third network element determines that the time for reporting the fourth energy consumption information is 10 o'clock. Since the third network element starts serving the terminal device at 9 o'clock, the third network element counts the fourth energy consumption information in the time period from 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock. For another example, if the first information indicates reporting at 10 o'clock, and the third network element starts serving the terminal device at 9 o'clock, the third network element counts the fourth energy consumption information in the time period from 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock.

[0254] Optionally, the third network element may determine the time or reporting period for sending the fourth energy consumption information. Specific implementation may refer to the manner in which the second user plane network element determines the time or period in the communication method 300, which will not be described in detail here.

[0255] S440: The first network element determines the energy consumption of the network service terminal device based on the fourth energy consumption information.

[0256] Exemplarily, the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the third network element serving the terminal device based on the fourth energy consumption information; and then determines the energy consumption generated by the network serving the terminal device based on the energy consumption generated by the third network element serving the terminal device.

[0257] For example, the first network element sends a request #51 to the management network element, requesting the energy consumption of the third network element. In response to request #51, the management network element indicates the energy consumption of the third network element to the first network element. The first network element then determines the energy consumption of the terminal device served by the third network element based on the energy consumption of the third network element and the fourth energy consumption information sent by the third network element. Alternatively, energy consumption can be replaced by carbon emissions, the amount of renewable energy, the proportion of renewable energy, etc.

[0258] For example, request #51 includes information indicating a time period, indicating that request #51 is requesting the energy consumption of the third network element within the time period. For example, the information indicating the time period indicates the time period from 9:00 to 10:00, indicating that the request is for the energy consumption of the third network element between 9:00 and 10:00.

[0259] For example, taking the second network element and the third network element as an example, when the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the target network element serving the terminal device based on the energy consumption of the target network element and the fourth energy consumption information sent by the target network element, it is determined based on the following formula:

[0260] Energy consumption generated by the target network element transmitting the signaling data of the terminal device = energy consumption of the target network element × (the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the target network element in the fourth energy consumption information / the total number of signalings transmitted by the target network element); or,

[0261] Energy consumption generated by the target network element transmitting the signaling data of the terminal device = energy consumption of the target network element × (the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the target network element in the fourth energy consumption information / the total number of signalings transmitted by the target network element) × coefficient 1; or,

[0262] The energy consumption generated by the target network element transmitting the signaling data of the terminal device = the energy consumption of the target network element × (the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the target network element in the fourth energy consumption information ÷ the total number of signalings transmitted by the target network element) × coefficient 1 + power consumption constant 1.

[0263] The power consumption constant 1 corresponding to the target network element can be obtained from the OAM network element, and the coefficient 1 corresponding to the target network element can be determined according to preconfigured rules, for example, according to the TAU timer. In one implementation, the network preconfigures the TAU timer and corresponding coefficient information, such as a coefficient of 1.0 for a TAU timer greater than 80ms and less than or equal to 100ms; a coefficient of 0.9 for a TAU timer greater than 100ms and less than or equal to 200ms; and a coefficient of 0.8 for a TAU timer greater than 200ms. The first network element can obtain the TAU timer through the fifth request in S420, and can obtain the network-preconfigured TAU timer and corresponding coefficient information through local preconfigured information.

[0264] Based on the method of Figure 4, after the network element serving the terminal device sends a switch, the source network element also requests the target network element to provide the first network element with fourth energy consumption information, so that the first network element can determine the energy consumption generated by the network due to the service terminal device in combination with the fourth energy consumption information. The energy consumption determined in this way can include the energy consumption generated by the third network element due to the service terminal device, which is more accurate.

[0265] Optionally, the communication method 400 may further include: the second network element sending third energy consumption information to the third network element. Optionally, the third energy consumption information is carried in the fifth request.

[0266] Exemplarily, when the second network element and the third network element are both AMF type network elements, the third energy consumption information is at least one of the following: the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the second network element counted by the second network element in the current reporting period, and the ratio of the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the second network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the second network element. For example, the current reporting period is from 8 o'clock to 10 o'clock, and at 9 o'clock the network element serving the terminal device changes from the second network element to the third network element, then the fifth request includes at least one of the following: the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the source network element from 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock, and the ratio of the number of signalings of terminal devices transmitted by the source network element from 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock to the total number of signalings transmitted by the source network element from 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock. Optionally, the fifth request may also include the total number of signalings transmitted by the source network element from 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock.

[0267] Optionally, when the second network element sends the third energy consumption information to the third network element, the third network element also sends the third energy consumption information to the first network element; correspondingly, the first network element receives the third energy consumption information. For example, in one implementation, the third network element sends the third energy consumption information in step S430. That is, the third network element sends the third energy consumption information and the fourth energy consumption information together to the first network element.

[0268] Optionally, the communication method 400 may further include S402: the second network element sends third energy consumption information to the first network element. For example, the second network element sends the third energy consumption information to the first network element before sending the fifth request to the third network element, or the second network element sends the fifth request to the first network element after sending the fifth request to the third network element. This embodiment does not limit the order.

[0269] It is understandable that if the second network element sends the third energy consumption information to the first network element, then the second network element may not send the third energy consumption information to the third network element. Alternatively, if the second network element sends the third energy consumption information to the third network element, then the second network element may not send the third energy consumption information to the first network element.

[0270] Optionally, after the first network element receives the third energy consumption information, the communication method 400 further includes: the first network element determining the energy consumption generated by the second network element serving the terminal device based on the third energy consumption information.

[0271] For example, the first network element obtains the energy consumption generated by the second network element serving the terminal device based on the third energy consumption information, including: the first network element requests the energy consumption of the second network element from the management network element; correspondingly, the management network element sends the energy consumption of the second network element to the first network element in response to the request; the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the second network element serving the terminal device based on the energy consumption of the second network element and the third energy consumption information sent by the second network element.

[0272] For example, taking the second network element and the third network element as an example, when the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the source network element serving the terminal device based on the energy consumption of the source network element and the third energy consumption information sent by the source network element, it is determined based on the following formula:

[0273] Energy consumption generated by the source network element transmitting the signaling data of the terminal device = energy consumption of the source network element × (number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the source network element in the third energy consumption information / total number of signalings transmitted by the source network element); or,

[0274] Energy consumption generated by the source network element transmitting the signaling data of the terminal device = energy consumption of the source network element × (number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the source network element in the third energy consumption information / total number of signalings transmitted by the source network element) × coefficient 2; or,

[0275] Energy consumption generated by the source network element transmitting the signaling data of the terminal device = energy consumption of the source network element × (number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the source network element in the third energy consumption information ÷ total number of signalings transmitted by the source network element) × coefficient 2 + power consumption constant 2. The concepts of coefficient and power consumption are similar to those in the previous embodiment and are not repeated here.

[0276] Optionally, after obtaining the energy consumption generated by the second network element serving the terminal device and the energy consumption generated by the third network element serving the terminal device, the first network element can determine the total energy consumption generated by the same type of network element serving the terminal device. For example, the third energy consumption information includes the number X1 of terminal device signaling transmitted by the second network element between 8:00 and 9:00, and the total number Y1 of signaling transmitted by the second network element between 8:00 and 9:00, and the energy consumption value of the second network element between 8:00 and 9:00 is Z1. The fourth energy consumption information includes the number X2 of terminal device signaling transmitted by the third network element between 9:00 and 10:00, and the total number Y2 of signaling transmitted by the third network element between 9:00 and 10:00, and the energy consumption value of the third network element between 9:00 and 10:00 is Z2. Then the energy consumption corresponding to the terminal device is equal to Z1×X1÷Y1×Coefficient 1+Power Consumption Constant 1+Z2×X2÷Y2×Coefficient 2+Power Consumption Constant 2.

[0277] Optionally, in the communication method 400 described above, after the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device, the communication method 400 may further include S450: transmitting the determined energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device to a sixth network element. It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit how the first network element transmits the energy consumption to the sixth network element. For example, the first network element may transmit the energy consumption directly to the sixth network element; or the first network element may transmit the energy consumption to the sixth network element via another network element.

[0278] Figure 5 is a flow chart of another communication method 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication method 500 can be executed by the first network element, the fourth network element, and the fifth network element, or by modules and / or devices (e.g., chips or integrated circuits, etc.) with corresponding functions installed in the first network element, the fourth network element, and the fifth network element, which is not limited by the present application. For ease of description, the following description is based on the first network element, the fourth network element, and the fifth network element as the execution entities. As shown in Figure 5, the method includes the following steps.

[0279] S510. The first network element sends an eighth request to the fourth network element. Correspondingly, the fourth network element receives the eighth request from the first network element. The eighth request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the fourth network element for serving terminal devices.

[0280] The fourth network element may be considered as the second network element in the embodiment of Figure 4, and the eighth request may be considered as the fourth request in the embodiment of Figure 4. The specific implementation of step S510 may refer to step S410 and will not be repeated here.

[0281] In this embodiment, the information related to the energy consumption of the fourth network element in serving the terminal device is also referred to as sixth energy consumption information.

[0282] Optionally, the first network element determines to send an eighth request to the second network element based on request #41. For example, before step S510, the communication method 500 further includes S501: the sixth network element sends request #41 to the first network element, and accordingly, the first network element receives request #41 from the sixth network element.

[0283] Request #41 is used to request the energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device. A detailed description of request #41 can be found in S401 in the embodiment of FIG. 4 and will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, request #41 is also referred to as the seventh request. In this embodiment, the first network element determines a fourth network element serving the terminal device based on the seventh request, for example, a fourth network element that serves the terminal device or is used to transmit signaling for the terminal device, and then sends the eighth request to the fourth network element. For example, the first network element obtains identification information or address information of the fourth network element serving the terminal device from the UDM network element.

[0284] S520. When the network element serving the terminal device is switched from the fourth network element (which may be called the source network element) to the fifth network element (which may be called the target network element), the fourth network element sends an indication message to the first network element. Correspondingly, the first network element receives the indication message. The indication message is used to indicate that the network element serving the terminal device is switched.

[0285] It is understandable that the fourth network element and the fifth network element are network elements of the same type. For example, the fourth network element and the fifth network element are both AMF type network elements. That is, in this scenario, the fourth network element is the source AMF network element and the fifth network element is the target AMF network element.

[0286] For example, when the fourth network element of the first network determines that the eighth request has been received, it sends indication information to the first network element, that is, the fourth network element sends indication information to the first network element based on the received eighth request.

[0287] For example, after receiving the eighth request, the fourth network element stores the relationship between the eighth request and the terminal device. When the network element serving the terminal device changes from the fourth network element to the fifth network element, the fourth network element sends an indication message to the first network element. For another example, the terminal device corresponds to flag#2, and the initial value of flag#2 is 0. After receiving the eighth request, the fourth network element updates the value of flag#2 to 1, indicating that a request for requesting information related to the energy consumption of the terminal device has been received. When the network element serving the terminal device changes from the fourth network element to the fifth network element, the fourth network element sends an indication message to the first network element based on the value of flag#2 being 1. Optionally, when the sixth network element requests the first network element to periodically send energy consumption, the eighth request sent by the first network element to the fourth network element is a subscription request message, that is, the eighth request is a subscription-type request. The fourth network element sends an indication message to the first network element when a network element switch occurs based on the eighth request being a subscription request message.

[0288] For another example, after receiving the eighth request, the fourth network element sets a corresponding timer. When the network element serving the terminal device changes from the fourth network element to the fifth network element, if the timer has not timed out, the fourth network element sends an indication message to the first network element. The timer duration may be specified by the protocol, pre-configured in the fourth network element, or carried in the eighth request, and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any limitation on this.

[0289] The fourth network element may also determine to send indication information to the first network element based on local configuration or other policies, and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0290] Optionally, the fourth network element sends information related to energy consumption of the fourth network element in serving the terminal device to the first network element, so that the first network element calculates energy consumption generated by the fourth network element in serving the terminal device.

[0291] Optionally, the fourth network element sending the indication information to the first network element may be replaced by the UDM network element sending the indication information to the first network element, and correspondingly, the first network element receiving the indication information from the UDM network element. That is, under this implementation, when the network element serving the terminal device changes from the fourth network element to the fifth network element, the UDM sends the indication information to the first network element to indicate that the network element serving the terminal device has switched.

[0292] S530. The first network element sends a sixth request to the switched fifth network element. Correspondingly, the fifth network element receives the sixth request, where the sixth request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the fifth network element for serving the terminal device.

[0293] In this embodiment, the information related to the energy consumption of the fifth network element in serving the terminal device is also referred to as fifth energy consumption information. That is, the energy consumption generated by the fifth network element in serving the terminal device is related to the fifth energy consumption information.

[0294] It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit how the first network element determines the fifth network element. For example, the indication information in S520 includes identification information or address information of the fifth network element, and the first network element determines the fifth network element based on the identification information or address information of the fifth network element in the indication information. For another example, after receiving the indication information, the first network element queries the UDM network element for information about the network element currently serving the terminal device, and the UDM sends the identification information or address information of the fifth network element to the second network element.

[0295] Optionally, the communication method 500 further includes: after the first network element receives the indication information from the fourth network element, determining whether it is necessary to send the sixth request to the fifth network element. If it is determined that the sixth request needs to be sent to the fifth network element, executing S530. For example, when the reporting mode indicated by the seventh request is periodic, the first network element determines that it is necessary to send the sixth request to the fifth network element.

[0296] S540. The fifth network element sends fifth energy consumption information to the first network element; correspondingly, the first network element receives the fifth energy consumption information.

[0297] S550: The first network element determines the power consumption of the network service terminal device based on the fifth energy consumption information.

[0298] For example, the first network element determines the power consumption of the fifth network element service terminal device, and then determines the total energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device based on the energy consumption generated by the fifth network element service terminal device and the energy consumption generated by other network element service terminal devices.

[0299] For example, when the fourth network element and the fifth network element are both AMF type network elements, the implementation method of the first network element determining the energy consumption generated by the fifth network element serving the terminal device can refer to the description in the embodiment of Figure 4 and will not be repeated here.

[0300] Optionally, in the communication method 500 described above, after the first network element determines the energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device, the communication method 500 may further include S560: transmitting the determined energy consumption generated by the network service terminal device to the sixth network element. It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the specific manner in which the first network element transmits the energy consumption to the sixth network element. For implementation details, refer to the description of S450 in the embodiment of FIG. 4 , and will not be further elaborated here.

[0301] Based on the method shown in Figure 5, the first network element can be informed that the network element serving the terminal device has been switched, and request the fifth energy consumption information from the switched fifth network element, so as to determine the energy consumption generated by the network due to the service terminal device in combination with the fifth energy consumption information. The energy consumption determined in this way can include the energy consumption generated by the fifth network element due to the service terminal device, which is more accurate.

[0302] Based on the same concept, referring to FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 600 , which includes a receiving module 601 , a sending module 602 , and a processing module 603 .

[0303] In the first embodiment, the communication device 600 can be applied to a session management network element in a network.

[0304] Among them, the receiving module 601 is used to: receive a first request, the first request is used to request energy consumption information, the energy consumption information is used to determine the energy consumption of the network for transmitting data, and the data includes the first data of the session; the sending module 602 is used to: send a second request to the first user plane network element based on the first request, and the second request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data; the sending module 602 is also used to: in response to the user plane network element transmitting the first data being updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or, in response to the second user plane network element being inserted for transmitting the first data, send a third request to the second user plane network element, and the third request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data.

[0305] For example, the receiving module 601 is used to instruct S310 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 to receive the first request.

[0306] For example, the sending module 602 is configured to execute the sending of the second request in S320 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 .

[0307] In one possible implementation, the information related to the energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data includes at least one of the following: the rate at which the first user plane network element transmits the first data, or the amount of first data transmitted by the first user plane network element; the information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data includes at least one of the following: the rate at which the second user plane network element transmits the first data, or the amount of first data transmitted by the second user plane network element.

[0308] In a possible implementation, the sending module 602 is further used to: send first information to the second user plane network element, where the first information is used to indicate the time when the second user plane network element sends information related to energy consumption used by the second user plane network element to transmit the first data.

[0309] In a possible implementation, the sending module 602 is further configured to: when the first request indicates periodic sending of energy consumption information, send the first information to the second user plane network element.

[0310] In a possible implementation, the sending module 602 is further configured to: send a third request to the second user plane network element, including: sending the third request to the second user plane network element based on the first request.

[0311] In a possible implementation, the sending module 602 is further used to send a third request to the second user plane network element when the first request satisfies a first condition, wherein the first condition includes that the energy consumption information requested by the first request is related to the first data.

[0312] In one possible implementation, the sending module 602 is also used to: send a third request to the second user plane network element when the second condition is met; the second condition includes: when the user plane network element transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, the timer has not timed out, or when the second user plane network element is inserted for transmitting the first data, the timer has not timed out; wherein the timer is started when the session management network element receives the first request.

[0313] In a possible implementation, the first request includes session information. Before sending the second request to the first user plane network element based on the first request, the processing module 603 is configured to: determine the first user plane network element based on the session information.

[0314] In a possible implementation, the receiving module 601 is configured to receive a first request from a first network element; and the sending module 602 is further configured to send information identifying the second user plane network element to the first network element.

[0315] In the second embodiment, the communication device 600 may be applied to a second network element in a network.

[0316] Among them, the receiving module 601 is used to: receive a fourth request, the fourth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the second network element used to serve the terminal device; the sending module 602 is used to: in response to the network element serving the terminal device switching from the second network element to the third network element, send a fifth request to the third network element, the fifth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device.

[0317] In one possible implementation, the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving terminal devices includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of terminal device signalings transmitted by the second network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the second network element, or the number of terminal device signalings transmitted by the second network element; the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of terminal device signalings transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, or the number of terminal device signalings transmitted by the third network element.

[0318] In a possible implementation, the sending module 602 is further configured to send information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device to the third network element.

[0319] In a possible implementation, the sending module 602 is further configured to send second information to the third network element, where the second information is configured to indicate a time when the third network element sends information related to energy consumption used by the third network element to serve the terminal device.

[0320] In a third embodiment, the communication device 600 may be applied to a third network element in a network.

[0321] Among them, the receiving module 601 is used to: receive the fifth request from the second network element, the fifth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device, the second network element is the source network element serving the terminal device, and the third network element is the target network element serving the terminal device; the sending module 602 is used to: send information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device according to the fifth request.

[0322] In one possible implementation, the receiving module 601 is further used to: receive information related to the energy consumption of the second network element used to serve the terminal device from the second network element; the sending module 602 is further used to: send information related to the energy consumption of the second network element used to serve the terminal device.

[0323] In one possible implementation, the third network element serving the terminal device includes: the third network element transmitting signaling of the terminal device; information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device, including: the ratio of the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, or the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element.

[0324] In a possible implementation, the receiving module 601 is configured to receive second information from a second network element, where the second information is used to indicate a time when a third network element sends information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving a terminal device.

[0325] In a possible implementation, the processing module 603 is configured to determine, based on the second information, information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device.

[0326] In a fourth embodiment, the communication device 600 may be applied to a first network element in a network.

[0327] Among them, the receiving module 601 is used to: receive information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices from the third network element, and the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signaling transmitted by the third network element, or the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the third network element; the processing module 603 is used to: determine the energy consumption of the network service terminal device based on the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving terminal devices.

[0328] In one possible implementation, the processing module 603 is specifically used to: determine the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device based on the total energy consumed by the third network element, the ratio of the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signaling transmitted by the third network element, and the basic power consumption of the third network element; determine the energy consumption of the network service terminal device based on the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device.

[0329] In one possible implementation, the receiving module 601 is also used to: receive information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device, and the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the second network element to the total number of signaling transmitted by the second network element, or the number of terminal device signaling transmitted by the second network element; the processing module 603 is specifically used to: determine the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device based on the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device.

[0330] In the fifth embodiment, the communication device 600 may be applied to a first network element in a network.

[0331] Among them, the receiving module 601 is used to: obtain indication information, the indication information is used to indicate that the network element of the service terminal device is switched; the sending module 602 is used to: send a sixth request to the fifth network element of the service terminal device after switching, and the sixth request is used to request information related to the energy consumption of the fifth network element used to serve the terminal device.

[0332] In a possible implementation manner, the indication information includes information used to identify the fifth network element.

[0333] In a possible implementation, the receiving module 601 is further used to: receive a seventh request, the seventh request being used to request the network to use energy consumption for serving the terminal device; and the sending module 602 is further used to: send a sixth request to the fifth network element according to the seventh request.

[0334] In a possible implementation, the sending module 602 is specifically configured to: when the seventh request indicates periodic transmission of energy consumption, send a sixth request to the fifth network element.

[0335] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 700. For example, the communication device 700 can be a chip or a chip system. Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0336] The communication device 700 may be used to implement the functions of any network element in the communication system described in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0337] As shown in Figure 7, the apparatus 700 of this embodiment includes a memory 701 and a processor 702. In one implementation, the apparatus 700 further includes a communication interface 703 and a bus 704. The memory 701, the processor 702, and the communication interface 703 are communicatively connected to each other via the bus 704.

[0338] The memory 701 may be a read-only memory (ROM), a static storage device, a dynamic storage device, or a random access memory (RAM). The memory 701 may store a program. When the program stored in the memory 701 is executed by the processor 702, the processor 702 is configured to perform the steps of the method shown in Figures 3 to 5.

[0339] The processor 702 can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits to execute relevant programs to implement the methods shown in Figures 3 to 5 of the embodiments of the present application.

[0340] The processor 702 may also be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the method of FIG3 to FIG5 of the embodiment of the present application may be completed by the hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor 702 or the software instruction.

[0341] The processor 702 may also be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The processor 702 may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or a conventional processor.

[0342] The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware decoding processor, or can be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can be located in a storage medium mature in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory 701, and the processor 702 reads the information in the memory 701 and, in combination with its hardware, completes the functions required to be performed by the units included in the device of the present application. For example, the various steps / functions of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 5 can be executed.

[0343] The communication interface 703 may use, but is not limited to, a transceiver or other transceiver device to implement communication between the apparatus 700 and other devices or a communication network.

[0344] The bus 704 may include a path for transmitting information between various components of the device 700 (eg, the memory 701 , the processor 702 , and the communication interface 703 ).

[0345] It should be understood that the apparatus 700 shown in the embodiment of the present application can be an electronic device, or a chip configured in an electronic device. The apparatus 700 can be deployed in a terminal device, or can also be deployed in a network device.

[0346] The above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any other combination. When implemented using software, the above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer program are loaded or executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be an available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that contains one or more available media sets. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium can be a solid-state drive.

[0347] It should be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein simply describes a relationship between associated objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A alone, A and B together, or B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, the character " / " as used herein generally indicates an "or" relationship between the associated objects, but it may also indicate an "and / or" relationship. For specific understanding, please refer to the context.

[0348] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "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 mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0349] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute a limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0350] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0351] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0352] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0353] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0354] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0355] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a session management network element in a network, the method comprises: receiving a first request for energy consumption information, the energy consumption information being used to determine energy consumption of the network for transmitting data, the data including first data of a session; Sending a second request to a first user plane network element based on the first request, where the second request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data; In response to the user plane network element for transmitting the first data being updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, or in response to the second user plane network element being inserted for transmitting the first data, a third request is sent to the second user plane network element, wherein the third request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The information related to energy consumption of the first user plane network element for transmitting the first data includes at least one of the following: a rate at which the first user plane network element transmits the first data, or a data volume of the first data transmitted by the first user plane network element; The information related to the energy consumption of the second user plane network element for transmitting the first data includes at least one of the following: the rate at which the second user plane network element transmits the first data, or the data volume of the first data transmitted by the second user plane network element.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The method further comprises: First information is sent to the second user plane network element, where the first information is used to indicate a time when the second user plane network element sends the information related to energy consumption used by the second user plane network element to transmit the first data.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The sending the first information to the second user plane network element includes: When the first request indicates periodic sending of the energy consumption information, the first information is sent to the second user plane network element.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The sending a third request to the second user plane network element includes: Send a third request to the second user plane network element based on the first request.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The sending of a third request to the second user plane network element based on the first request includes When the first request satisfies a first condition, sending the third request to the second user plane network element, the first condition including: The energy consumption information requested by the first request is related to the first data.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The sending a third request to the second user plane network element based on the first request includes: If the second condition is met, send a third request to the second user plane network element; The second condition includes: when the user plane network element transmitting the first data is updated from the first user plane network element to the second user plane network element, the timer has not timed out, or, When the second user plane network element is inserted for transmitting the first data, the timer does not time out; The timer is started when the session management network element receives the first request.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first request includes information about the session. Before sending the second request to the first user plane network element based on the first request, the method further includes: Based on the information about the session, determine the first user plane network element.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The receiving the first request includes: receiving the first request from the first network element; The method further comprises: Send information for identifying the second user plane network element to the first network element.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: The second network element used in the network includes: receiving a fourth request, the fourth request being used to request information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving a terminal device; In response to the network element serving the terminal device switching from the second network element to the third network element, a fifth request is sent to the third network element, where the fifth request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the third network element in serving the terminal device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device includes at least one of the following: a ratio of the amount of signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the second network element to the total amount of signaling transmitted by the second network element, or the amount of signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the second network element; The information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device includes at least one of the following: the ratio of the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, or the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that The method further comprises: Sending the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device to the third network element.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send second information to the third network element, where the second information is used to indicate the moment when the third network element sends the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device.

14. A communication method, characterized in that: The third network element used in the network includes: receiving a fifth request from a second network element, the fifth request being for requesting information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving a terminal device, the second network element being a source network element serving the terminal device, and the third network element being a target network element serving the terminal device; According to the fifth request, the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device is sent.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving, from the second network element, information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving a terminal device; Send the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The third network element serving the terminal device includes: the third network element transmitting signaling of the terminal device; The information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device includes: The ratio of the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, or the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: Receive second information from the second network element, where the second information is used to indicate the time when the third network element sends the information related to energy consumption used by the third network element to serve the terminal device.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine information related to energy consumption of the third network element used to serve the terminal device based on the second information.

19. A communication method, characterized in that: The first network element used in the network includes: receiving, from a third network element, information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving a terminal device, the information related to energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device comprising at least one of the following: a ratio of a quantity of signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element to a total quantity of signaling transmitted by the third network element, or a quantity of signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element; Based on the information related to the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device, the energy consumption of the network serving the terminal device is determined.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The determining the energy consumption of the terminal device served by the network includes: Determining the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device based on the total energy consumed by the third network element, the ratio of the number of signalings of the terminal device transmitted by the third network element to the total number of signalings transmitted by the third network element, and the basic power consumption of the third network element; Based on the energy consumption of the third network element for serving the terminal device, the energy consumption of the network serving the terminal device is determined.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device, where the information related to energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device includes at least one of the following: a ratio of a quantity of signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the second network element to a total quantity of signaling transmitted by the second network element, or a quantity of signaling of the terminal device transmitted by the second network element; Based on the information related to the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device, the energy consumption of the second network element for serving the terminal device is determined.

22. A communication method, characterized in that: The first network element used in the network includes: Obtaining instruction information, where the instruction information is used to instruct a network element serving a terminal device to switch; A sixth request is sent to the fifth network element serving the terminal device after switching, where the sixth request is used to request information related to energy consumption of the fifth network element in serving the terminal device.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The indication information includes information used to identify the fifth network element.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a seventh request, the seventh request being used to request the network to consume energy for serving the terminal device; The sending a sixth request to the fifth network element serving the terminal device after the handover includes: According to the seventh request, the sixth request is sent to the fifth network element.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The sending the sixth request to the fifth network element according to the seventh request includes: In case that the seventh request indicates to periodically send the energy consumption, the sixth request is sent to the fifth network element.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising means for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 25.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: include: processor, The processor is configured to cause the communication device to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25 by executing a computer program and / or a logic circuit.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a program or an instruction, and when the program or the instruction is executed on a computer, the computer is caused to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes a computer program code, and when the computer program code is run on a computer, the computer is caused to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

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