Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application discloses a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method relates to the technical field of communications, and comprises: a network repository function sends a first request message to a network data analytics function, wherein the first request message is used for requesting to acquire recommendation configuration information; upon reception of the first request message, the network data analytics function analyzes first configuration information of a first network function to obtain recommendation configuration information of the first network function, and sends a first response message to the network repository function, wherein the first response message comprises the recommendation configuration information of the first network function; and further, the network repository function determines second configuration information of the first network function on the basis of the recommendation configuration information of the first network function, and sends the second configuration information of the first network function to a second network function, wherein the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function. According to the method, signaling storms can be prevented or mitigated.

Description

Communication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on April 3, 2024, with application number 202410407945.9 and application name “Communication Method and Communication Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0003] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defines a service-based architecture (SBA) network, in which a network function service consumer (NFc) can initiate service requests to a NF service producer (NFp).

[0004] When a signaling storm occurs, the number of signaling requests received by the NFp exceeds the processing capacity of its signaling resources, which may cause network service problems. How to prevent or mitigate signaling storms is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and a communication device, which are conducive to preventing or alleviating signaling storms.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: sending a first request message to a network data analysis function (e.g., a network data analytics function, NWDAF), wherein the first request message is used to request recommended configuration information; then receiving a first response message from the network data analysis function, wherein the first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first network function; further, based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function, determining second configuration information of the first network function, and sending the second configuration information of the first network function to a second network function, wherein the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0007] The execution subject of the method described in the first aspect may be a network storage function (e.g., a network repository function, NRF), or a network management function (e.g., operations, administration and maintenance, OAM), or other network function (NF). As described herein, the network storage function or network management function may refer to the network storage function or network management function itself, or may refer to a processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method in the network storage function or network management function.

[0008] Based on the method described in the first aspect, since the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function, after receiving the second configuration information from the first network function, the second network function may send a service request message to the first network function based on the second configuration information of the first network function. The frequency and / or priority of the service request messages sent by the second network function to the first network function are related to the second configuration information. It is understood that the second configuration information of the first network function is obtained based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function. The recommended configuration information of the first network function is obtained by analyzing a network data analysis function, which has the function of analyzing network signaling storms. Therefore, when a signaling storm is imminent or has already occurred on the first network function, the second configuration information is determined based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function provided by the network data analysis function. The frequency and / or priority of the service request messages sent by the second network function to the first network function are adjusted based on the second configuration information, which helps prevent or mitigate signaling storms.

[0009] In one possible implementation, determining the second configuration information of the first network function based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function can also be understood as updating or overwriting the first configuration information of the first network function to the second configuration information based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the first request message is an analytics subscription request (eg, Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo_Request or Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe), and the first response message is an analytics subscription notification (eg, Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo_Request Response or Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe_Notify).

[0011] In a possible implementation, the first request message is a recommendation subscription request (eg, Nnwdaf_RecommendationInfo_Request or a Nnwdaf_RecommendationSubscription_Subscribe), and the first response message is a recommendation subscription notification (eg, Nnwdaf_RecommendationInfo_Request Response or Nnwdaf_RecommendationSubscription_Subscribe_Notify).

[0012] In one possible implementation, the second network function is a network service consumer of the first network function, which can be understood as the second network function being a consumer of one or more parameters in the network function configuration file (NF profile) of the first network function, or it can also be understood as the second network function having the authority to obtain one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function, or it can also be understood as the second network function having the ability to obtain one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function.

[0013] In one possible implementation, when the method is applied to a network management function, the second configuration information of the first network function may be sent to the second network function by the network management function directly sending the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function. Alternatively, the network management function may first send the second configuration information of the first network function to a network storage function, which then stores the second configuration information of the first network function and then sends the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters of the first network function. Optionally, the one or more parameters are used by the network function service consumer to select or request the first network function to provide services. Further optionally, the one or more parameters are parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of the network function service consumer sending service request messages to the first network function. Based on this implementation, when a signaling storm is about to occur or has already occurred in the first network function, the signaling storm can be prevented or alleviated by adjusting the parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of the network function service consumer sending service request messages to the first network function included in the second configuration information.

[0015] Optionally, the recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function. Further optionally, the recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: the priority of the first network function, the weight of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, the recommended network element selection algorithm, or the effective time window of the policy corresponding to the recommended configuration information. Based on this implementation method, when a signaling storm may be about to occur or a signaling storm has occurred in the first network function, the network data analysis function can prevent or alleviate the signaling storm by recommending parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of the network function service consumer sending service request messages to the first network function. Further optionally, the network function service consumer described in this implementation method refers to the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the recommended configuration information of the first network function may refer to the recommended configuration information of the first network function corresponding to one or more network function service consumers respectively. Optionally, the first response message also includes the identifiers of one or more network function service consumers. Alternatively, the recommended configuration information of the first network function may refer to the recommended configuration information applicable to all network function service consumptions of the first network function. Based on this implementation, different network function service consumers can have their corresponding recommended configuration information, thereby determining the recommended configuration information of each network function service consumer in a more flexible manner, thereby preventing or alleviating signaling storms. Optionally, the network function service consumer described in this implementation refers to the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function. Optionally, the first configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: the priority of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, or the weight of the first network function. Based on this implementation, the network data analysis function can refer to the first network function's existing parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of service request messages sent by network function service consumers to the first network function, thereby determining more reasonable recommended configuration information, thereby preventing or mitigating signaling storms.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information of the first network function may refer to the first configuration information of the first network function corresponding to one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, or may also refer to the first configuration information of the first network function applicable to all network function service consumers of the first network function.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the second configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function. Optionally, the first parameter included in the second configuration information of the first network function has the same value as the first parameter included in the recommended configuration information of the first network function. The first parameter may be one or more parameters in the NF profile. Further optionally, the first parameter is one or more of the following parameters: priority of the first network function, capacity of the first network function, and weight of the first network function.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the second configuration information of the first network function determined based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function refers to the second configuration information of the first network function corresponding to one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, or, alternatively, may refer to the second configuration information of the first network function applicable to all network function service consumers of the first network function.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the second configuration information of the first network function sent to the second network function refers to the second configuration information of the first network function for the second network function, or the second configuration information of the first network function applicable to all network function service consumers of the first network function.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the first request message carries the identifier of the first network function and / or the identifier of one or more network function service consumers. Based on this implementation, it is helpful for the network data analysis function to determine the target object to be analyzed and / or the network function service consumer of the target object. At the same time, the network data analysis function can also use the identifier of the first network function and / or the identifier of one or more network function service consumers to request to obtain one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function. Optionally, the first request message may also carry one or more parameters in the NF profile of the network function service consumer. Further optionally, the network function service consumer described in this implementation is the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0023] One or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function may be provided to the network data analysis function in the following two ways:

[0024] Optional method 1: The first request message carries one or more items of first configuration information of the first network function, and the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine recommended configuration information.

[0025] In Option 2, before receiving the first response message from the network data analysis function, the method further includes: receiving a first data acquisition request from the network data analysis function; and then sending a first data acquisition response to the network data analysis function. The first data acquisition request is used to request first configuration information of the first network function, the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine recommended configuration information, and the first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0026] Further optionally, the first data acquisition request also includes one or more of the following: identifiers of one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, the identifier of the first network function, or one or more parameters included in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0027] It can be understood that when the first data acquisition request includes the identifier of the first network function, the first data acquisition request instructs the network data analysis function to request to obtain the network function configuration file of the network function corresponding to the identifier of the first network function. When the first data acquisition request includes one or more items of the first configuration information, the first data acquisition request is used to instruct the network data analysis function to request to obtain one or more items of information in the network function configuration file of the network function corresponding to the identifier of the first network function. When the first data acquisition request includes the identifiers of one or more network function service consumers, the first data acquisition request is used to instruct the network data analysis function to request to obtain the network function configuration file information of the first network function corresponding to the network function service consumer. Optionally, the network function service consumer described here refers to the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0028] It should also be noted that the one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function that may be included in the first data acquisition request can be understood as the first data request may include a part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function, through a part of the parameters in the first configuration information, to indicate a request to obtain the complete first configuration information of the first network function, or a request to obtain another part of the parameters in the first configuration information except this part of the parameters.

[0029] In one possible implementation, before sending the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function, the method further includes: receiving a network element registration request from the second network function, the network element registration request including the address of the second network function. In this implementation, sending the second configuration information to the second network function can be implemented by sending the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function based on the address of the second network function. Based on this implementation, after determining the second configuration information, the network storage function can more promptly feedback the corresponding second configuration information of the first network function using the address of the second network function, thereby more promptly preventing or mitigating signaling storms.

[0030] In one possible implementation, before sending the second configuration information to the second network function, the method further includes: receiving a network status subscription request for the first network function from the second network function. The network status subscription request is used to request subscription or acquisition of one or more parameters in the NF profile updated by the first network function. When one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function are updated or changed, it is necessary to feed back the updated one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function to the second network function based on the network status subscription request. The update or change of one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function may be actively updated by the first network function itself, or may be updated by other network elements, such as a network storage function or a network management function.

[0031] In one possible implementation, before sending the first request message to the network data analysis function, the method further includes: receiving a network element discovery request from the second network function, the network element discovery request being used to request discovery of a functional network element that can provide the first service. Based on this implementation, when the second network function is in the network element discovery request phase, the network data analysis function is requested to analyze network elements that can provide the first service for the second network function, thereby facilitating the prevention and avoidance of signaling storms caused by the second network function to its network function service producer.

[0032] In a possible implementation, the first request message may further include one or more parameters included in the network element discovery request message. It is understood that the first request message may also include all or part of the network element discovery request message of the first network function received by the network storage function.

[0033] Optionally, the first request message may further include one or more of the following parameters: an identifier of the second network function, identifiers of one or more network functions in the first network function list, an identifier of a network function discovery suggestion, an estimated service request frequency per unit time of the second network function, and one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more network functions in the first network function list. The one or more parameters included in the first request message described above are used to assist the network data analysis function in determining recommended configuration information for one or more network functions in the first network function list.

[0034] In a possible implementation manner, the first response message includes recommended configuration information of one or more network functions in the first network function list.

[0035] In one possible implementation, sending the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function may be implemented by sending the second configuration information of one or more network functions in a second network function list to the second network function. Optionally, the second network function list and the first network function list include the same network functions. Alternatively, the first network function list is updated based on the second network function list.

[0036] It is understandable that the second configuration information of one or more network functions in the second network function list is for all network function service consumers corresponding to all second network function lists or for the second NF. The network function service consumer corresponding to the second network function list refers to a network function service consumer that has service permission to access at least one network function in the second network function list.

[0037] In a possible implementation, before sending the first request message to the network data analysis function, the method further includes: receiving a network element registration request from the first network function.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the first request message indicates one or more network functions, and the services provided by the one or more network functions are related to the first network function. The services provided by the one or more network functions are related to the first network function, which can be understood as meaning that the services provided by the one or more network functions are the same or similar to the services provided by the first network function. For example, the one or more network functions and the first network function have the same NF set ID, or the one or more network functions and the first network function have the same service name (server name) identifier for the services that can be provided.

[0039] Among them, one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function and / or one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more network functions may be provided to the network data analysis function in the following two ways:

[0040] Optional method 1: The first request message includes one or more pieces of first configuration information of the first network function and / or one or more pieces of first configuration information of one or more network functions. The one or more pieces of first configuration information of the first network function and / or one or more pieces of first configuration information of one or more network functions are used by the network data analysis function to determine the recommended configuration information of the first network function.

[0041] Optional method 2: Before receiving the first response message from the network data analysis function, the method also includes: receiving a first data acquisition request from the network data analysis function, the first data acquisition request is used to request to obtain one or more pieces of first configuration information of the first network function and / or one or more pieces of first configuration information of one or more network functions, the one or more pieces of first configuration information of the first network function and / or one or more pieces of first configuration information of one or more network functions are used by the network data analysis function to determine the recommended configuration information of the first network function; sending a first data acquisition response to the network data analysis function, the first data acquisition response including one or more pieces of first configuration information of the first network function and / or one or more pieces of first configuration information of one or more network functions.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the network element registration request described above carries the third configuration information of the first network function, wherein the first configuration information of the first network function is the same as the third configuration information of the first network function, or the first configuration information of the first network function is determined based on the third configuration information of the first network function.

[0043] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method that can be executed by a network data analysis function. The network data analysis function here can refer to the network data analysis function itself or to a processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method within the network data analysis function. The method includes: receiving a first request message, then obtaining first configuration information of a first network function; further analyzing the first configuration information of the first network function to obtain recommended configuration information of the first network function; and sending a first response message. The first request message described above is used to request the recommended configuration information, and the first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first network function.

[0044] Among them, the beneficial effects of the second aspect and its possible implementation methods can be found in the description of the first aspect above, and will not be repeated here.

[0045] In one possible implementation, the first request message is sent by a network element among a network storage function, a network management function, or a second network function, where the second network function is a network service consumer of the first network function. The first response message is sent to a network element among the network storage function, the network management function, or the second network function.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the first request message is an analytics subscription request (eg, Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo_Request or Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe), and the first response message is an analytics subscription notification (eg, Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo_Request Response or Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe_Notify).

[0047] In a possible implementation, the first request message is a recommendation subscription request (eg, Nnwdaf_RecommendationInfo_Request or a Nnwdaf_RecommendationSubscription_Subscribe), and the first response message is a recommendation subscription notification (eg, Nnwdaf_RecommendationInfo_Request Response or Nnwdaf_RecommendationSubscription_Subscribe_Notify).

[0048] In one possible implementation, the second network function is a network service consumer of the first network function, which can be understood as the second network function being a consumer of one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function, or the second network function having the authority to obtain one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function, or the second network function having the ability to obtain one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the recommended configuration information for the first network function of the network data analysis function includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function. Optionally, the one or more parameters are used by a network function service consumer to select or request the first network function to provide a service. Further, optionally, the one or more parameters are parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of service request messages sent by the network function service consumer to the first network function.

[0050] Optionally, the recommended configuration information for the first network function includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function. Further optionally, the recommended configuration information for the first network function includes one or more of the following: the priority of the first network function, the weight of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, a recommended network element selection algorithm, or an effective time window of a policy corresponding to the recommended configuration information. Further optionally, the network function service consumer described in this implementation refers to the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the recommended configuration information of the first network function may refer to the recommended configuration information of the first network function corresponding to one or more network function service consumers respectively. Optionally, the first response message also includes the identifiers of one or more network function service consumers. Alternatively, the recommended configuration information of the first network function may refer to the recommended configuration information applicable to all network function service consumptions of the first network function. Based on this implementation, different network function service consumers can have their corresponding recommended configuration information, thereby determining the recommended configuration information of each network function service consumer in a more flexible manner, thereby preventing or alleviating signaling storms. Optionally, the network function service consumer described in this implementation refers to the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0052] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in an NF profile of the first network function. Optionally, the first configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: a priority of the first network function, a capacity of the first network function, or a weight of the first network function.

[0053] In one possible implementation, the first configuration information of the first network function may refer to the first configuration information of the first network function corresponding to one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, or may also refer to the first configuration information of the first network function applicable to all network function service consumers of the first network function.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the second configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function. Optionally, the first parameter included in the second configuration information of the first network function has the same value as the first parameter included in the recommended configuration information of the first network function. The first parameter may be one or more parameters in the NF profile. Further optionally, the first parameter is one or more of the following parameters: priority of the first network function, capacity of the first network function, and weight of the first network function.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the second configuration information of the first network function may refer to the second configuration information of the first network function corresponding to one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, or may also refer to the second configuration information of the first network function applicable to all network function service consumers of the first network function.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the first request message carries the identifier of the first network function and / or the identifier of one or more network function service consumers. Based on this implementation, it is helpful for the network data analysis function to determine the target object to be analyzed and / or the network function service consumer of the target object. At the same time, the network data analysis function can also use the identifier of the first network function and / or the identifier of one or more network function service consumers to request to obtain one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function. Optionally, the first request message may also carry one or more parameters in the NF profile of the network function service consumer. Further optionally, the network function service consumer described in this implementation is the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0057] The network data analysis function can obtain the configuration information of the first network function in the following three ways:

[0058] Optional method 1: The first request message includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0059] Option 2, obtaining the first configuration information of the first network function, can be implemented by sending a first data acquisition request to the network storage function, and then receiving a first data acquisition response from the network storage function. The first data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of the first network function, and the first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function. Furthermore, optionally, the first data acquisition request also includes one or more of the following: identifiers of one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, an identifier of the first network function, or one or more information included in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0060] Option 3, obtaining the first configuration information of the first network function, can be implemented by sending a second data acquisition request to the second network function, and then receiving a second data acquisition response from the second network function. The second data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of the first network function, the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function, and the second data acquisition response includes the first configuration information of the first network function. Furthermore, optionally, the second data acquisition request also includes one or more of the following: an identifier of the first network function, or one or more parameters included in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0061] In one possible implementation, the first response message includes recommended configuration information of the first network function, which is implemented as follows: the first response message includes recommended configuration information of one or more network functions in the first network function list; wherein, the one or more network functions in the first network function list can provide the first service, and the one or more network functions in the first network function list include the first network function.

[0062] In a possible implementation manner, the first request message indicates one or more network functions, and services provided by the one or more network functions are related to the first network function.

[0063] In one possible implementation, the first data acquisition request is also used to request first configuration information of one or more network functions; the first data acquisition response also includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more network functions, and the first configuration information of one or more network functions is used by the network data analysis function to determine one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the first request message also includes first configuration information of one or more network functions, and the first configuration information of one or more network functions is used by the network data analysis function to determine recommended configuration information of the first network function.

[0065] On the third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second network function. The second network function here can refer to the second network function itself, or it can refer to the processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method in the second network function. The method includes: sending a first request message to a first network data analysis function, and the first request message is used to request recommended configuration information; then receiving a first response message from the first network data analysis function, and the first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first network function; based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function, sending a network service request to the first network function.

[0066] Based on the method described in the third aspect, since the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function, after receiving the recommended configuration information of the first network function from the first network data analysis function, the second network function can send a service request message to the first network function based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function. The frequency and / or priority with which the second network function sends service request messages to the first network function is related to the recommended configuration information. It is understandable that the recommended configuration information of the first network function is obtained by the second network function sending the first request message to the network data analysis function to avoid or mitigate a signaling storm, so that the network data analysis function performs analysis. Therefore, when the network data analysis function determines that a signaling storm may be about to occur or has already occurred on the first network function, the recommended configuration information can be used to reduce the frequency and / or priority of the service request messages sent by the second network function to the first network function, thereby preventing or mitigating the signaling storm.

[0067] In one possible implementation, the recommended configuration information for the first network function includes one or more parameters of the first network function. Optionally, the one or more parameters are used by a network function service consumer to select or request the first network function to provide a service. Further, optionally, the one or more parameters are parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of service request messages sent by the network function service consumer to the first network function.

[0068] Optionally, the recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function. Further optionally, the recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: the priority of the first network function, the weight of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, the recommended network element selection algorithm, or the effective time window of the policy corresponding to the recommended configuration information. Based on this implementation, when a signaling storm may be about to occur or has already occurred in the first network function, further optionally, the network function service consumer described in this implementation refers to the network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0069] In one possible implementation, the first request message carries an identifier of the first network function and / or an identifier of the second network function. Based on this implementation, the network data analysis function is facilitated to determine the target object to be analyzed and / or the network function service consumer of the target object.

[0070] In one possible implementation, before receiving the first response message from the first network data analysis function, the method further includes: receiving a second data acquisition request from the first network data analysis function, and then sending a second data acquisition response to the first network data analysis function. The second data acquisition request is used to request first configuration information of the first network function, the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine recommended configuration information, and the second data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0071] In a possible implementation, the first request message carries first configuration information of the first network function, and the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine recommended configuration information.

[0072] In one possible implementation, before sending a first request message to the first network data analysis function, the method also includes: sending a network element discovery request to the network storage function; receiving a network element discovery response from the network storage function; wherein the network element discovery request is used to request the discovery of network elements that can provide analysis services, the network element discovery response indicates one or more network data analysis functions, and the first network data analysis function belongs to one or more network data analysis functions; when the number of network data analysis functions indicated in the network element discovery response is multiple, different network data analysis functions among the multiple network data analysis functions can provide different analysis service types and / or analysis target objects.

[0073] In one possible implementation, when the network element discovery response indicates multiple network data analysis functions, the method further includes: sending a network element status update message to the network storage function, where the network element status update message indicates selection of a first network data analysis function from one or more network data analysis functions. Based on this implementation, it is possible to avoid a situation where the second network function requests multiple network data analysis functions to analyze the same NF, where the recommended policies provided by the multiple network data analysis functions conflict with each other, and thus affect network stability.

[0074] In a possible implementation manner, the network element discovery request includes one or more of the following: an identifier of the signaling storm analysis and / or an identifier of the target object.

[0075] Fourthly, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a network data analysis function. The network data analysis function here can refer to the network data analysis unit itself, or it can refer to the processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method in the network data analysis function. The method includes: receiving a first request message, which is used to request signaling storm analysis; then obtaining first configuration information of the first network function; further performing signaling storm analysis based on the first configuration information of the first network function to generate analysis results; and then sending a first response message to the network storage function, which includes the analysis results.

[0076] Based on the method described in the fourth aspect, after receiving the first response message, the network storage function sends the analysis result to the second network function, which is the network function service consumer of the first network function. Based on the analysis result, the second network function sends a service request message to the first network function. It will be understood that the analysis result is obtained by the network data analysis function through signaling storm analysis. Therefore, this method is conducive to preventing or mitigating signaling storms.

[0077] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a network storage function or a network management function, or a device in a network storage function or a network management function, or a device that can be used in combination with a network storage function or a network management function. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication device may execute the method described in the first aspect and its possible implementation. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions. The units or modules may be software and / or hardware.

[0078] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a network data analysis function, a device in the network data analysis function, or a device that can be used in combination with the network data analysis function. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication device may execute the method described in the second aspect or the fourth aspect and its possible implementation. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions. The unit or module may be software and / or hardware.

[0079] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a second network function, a device within the second network function, or a device capable of being used in conjunction with the second network function. The communication device may also be a chip system. The communication device may execute the method described in the third aspect and its possible implementations. The functions of the communication device may be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software implementations. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. The units or modules may be software and / or hardware.

[0080] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor. When the processor calls a computer program in a memory, the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects is executed.

[0081] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor and the memory are coupled; the processor is used to implement a method as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0082] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor, a memory and a transceiver, and the processor and the memory are coupled; the transceiver is used to send and receive data, and the processor is used to implement a method as described in any one of the first to fifth aspects.

[0083] In the eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface, and the processor and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to receive or output signals, and the processor is used to execute code instructions so that the method of any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect is executed.

[0084] In the twelfth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or instruction is executed by a communication device, the method described in any one of the first to fourth aspects is implemented.

[0085] In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when a communication device reads and executes the instructions, enables the communication device to execute the method described in any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0086] In the fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system comprising a communication device for executing the method described in the first aspect and a communication device for executing the method described in the second aspect, or comprising a communication device for executing the method described in the second aspect and a communication device for executing the method described in the third aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a network system architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a core network provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication network architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] 4 to 10 are flowcharts of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] The specific embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095] The terms "first" and "second" and the like in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish between different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "including" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus comprising a series of steps or elements is not limited to the listed steps or elements, but may optionally include steps or elements not listed, or may optionally include other steps or elements inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0096] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0097] In this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three and more than three, and "and / or" is used to describe the corresponding relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, 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 or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0098] To better understand the embodiments of the present application, the following first introduces the system architecture involved in the embodiments of the present application:

[0099] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), new radio (NR), the 3rd generation partner project (3GPP) service-based network architecture (SBA), the fifth generation (5G), or communication systems evolved after 5G.

[0100] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a network system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, a terminal device can access a wireless network to obtain services of an external network (such as a data network (DN)) through the wireless network, or communicate with other devices through the wireless network, such as communicating with other terminal devices. The wireless network includes a (radio) access network ((R)AN) and a core network (CN), wherein the (R)AN (hereinafter described as RAN) is used to access the terminal device to the wireless network, and the CN is used to manage the terminal device and provide a gateway for communicating with the DN. The terminal device, RAN, CN and DN involved in the system architecture in Figure 1 are described in detail below.

[0101] 1. Terminal Equipment

[0102] Terminal devices include devices that provide voice and / or data connectivity to users. For example, a terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities that can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable, or vehicle-mounted; it can also be deployed on the water (such as ships, etc.); it can also be deployed in the air (such as airplanes, balloons, and satellites, etc.). The terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal, an augmented reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a vehicle-mounted terminal, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical care, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a wearable terminal, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios. Terminal devices may also sometimes be referred to as terminals, user equipment (UE), access terminals, vehicle-mounted terminals, industrial control terminals, UE units, UE stations, mobile stations, mobile stations, remote stations, remote terminals, mobile devices, UE terminals, wireless communication devices, UE agents, or UE devices. Terminals may also be fixed or mobile. It is understood that all or part of the functions of the terminals in this application may also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0103] 2. RAN

[0104] The RAN may include one or more RAN devices (or access network devices). The interface between the access network device and the terminal device may be a Uu interface (or air interface). Of course, in communications evolved after 5G, the names of these interfaces may remain unchanged or may be replaced by other names, and this application does not limit this.

[0105] Access network equipment is a node or device that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. Examples of access network equipment include, but are not limited to, next generation node B (gNB), evolved node B (eNB), next generation eNB (ng-eNB), wireless backhaul equipment, radio network controller (RNC), node B (NB), home evolved node B (HeNB) or home node B (HNB), baseband unit (BBU), transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), mobile switching center, and equipment that performs base station functions in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications in 5G communication systems. It may also include centralized units (C-RAN) in cloud radio access network (C-RAN) systems. The RAN in this application may be a RAN for 5G or a future RAN, and this application does not limit this.

[0106] 3. CN

[0107] The CN may include one or more network functions (NFs) (also referred to as CN devices or functional network elements).

[0108] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a structural diagram of a core network provided by this application. The CN in Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the CN in the 5G network architecture. The CN shown in Figure 2 includes multiple NFs: user plane function (UPF), network exposure function (NEF), network function repository function (NRF), policy control function (PCF), unified data management function (UDM), unified data repository function (UDR), authentication server function (AUSF), access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), and network data analytics function (NWDAF). Among them:

[0109] The UPF is a gateway provided by the operator, serving as the gateway for communication between the operator's network and the DN. The UPF includes user-plane-related functions such as packet routing and transmission, packet inspection, quality of service (QoS) processing, uplink packet inspection, and downlink packet storage.

[0110] NEF is a control plane function provided by operators, which can open the core network capabilities and allow external network elements to interact with the core network through this network element.

[0111] NRF is a control plane function provided by the operator. It is used to maintain real-time information about network functions and services in the network. For example, it supports network service discovery, maintains the services supported by the NF profile of the NF instance, supports service discovery of the service communication proxy (SCP), maintains the SCP profile of the SCP instance, sends notifications about newly registered, deregistered, and updated NFs and SCPs, and maintains the health status of NF and SCP operations.

[0112] The PCF is a control plane function provided by the operator, including user subscription data management, policy control, charging policy control, and Quality of Service (QoS) control. It is mainly used to provide PDU session policies to the SMF. Among them, the policies may include charging-related policies, QoS-related policies, and authorization-related policies.

[0113] The UDM is a control plane function provided by the operator, primarily used to manage user subscription data and authentication data, as well as perform authentication credit processing, user identity processing, access authorization, registration / mobility management, subscription management, and short message management. In some embodiments, the UDM may also include a unified data repository (UDR).

[0114] UDR is a control plane function provided by the operator, which provides the UDM with the functions of storing and retrieving subscription data, the PCF with the functions of storing and retrieving policy data, and the user's NF group ID information.

[0115] AUSF is a control plane function provided by operators and is usually used for level 1 authentication, that is, authentication between terminal devices and operator networks.

[0116] The AMF is a control plane function provided by the operator network, responsible for access control and mobility management of terminal devices accessing the operator network, such as mobility status management, allocating temporary user identities, and authenticating and authorizing users.

[0117] SMF is a control plane function provided by the operator network, responsible for managing the protocol data unit (PDU) sessions of terminal devices. A PDU session is a channel for transmitting PDUs. Terminal devices need to transmit PDUs to and from the DN through PDU sessions. The SMF is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and deleting PDU sessions. SMF includes session management (such as session establishment, modification, and release, including tunnel maintenance between the UPF and RAN), UPF selection and control, service and session continuity (SSC) mode selection, roaming, and other session-related functions.

[0118] NWDAF is a control plane function provided by operators. Its main function is to collect data from NFs, external application functions (AFs), and operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) systems, and provide NWDAF service registration, data openness, and data analysis to NFs and AFs.

[0119] NWDAF can include the following logical functions:

[0120] Analytics logical function (AnLF): used to perform inference, export analytical information (i.e., export statistics and / or predictions based on analytics consumer requests) and expose analytical services.

[0121] Model Training logical function (MTLF): used to train machine learning (ML) models and expose new training services, such as providing trained ML models.

[0122] Recommendation Logic Function (ReLF): This function is used to perform reasoning and derive recommendation information, specifically, to derive recommended parameters based on requests from NF service consumers (NFcs). For example, based on the signaling storm analysis and prediction provided by the NWDAF (including the AnLF) and user requests, the ReLF can generate recommended parameters or policies to help NF users prevent or mitigate signaling storms.

[0123] It should be noted that the above-mentioned NF may also be referred to as a core network device, a network element, or a functional network element. In a 5G communication system, each functional network element may be the name of each functional network element shown in FIG2. In a communication system evolved after 5G, each functional network element may still be the name of each functional network element shown in FIG2, or may have other names. For example, in a 5G communication system, a user plane function may be a UPF. In a communication system evolved after 5G, the user plane function may still be a UPF, or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

[0124] It should also be noted that in the 5G communication system, the functions implemented by each functional network element can be independent as shown in Figure 2. In the communication system evolved after 5G, each functional network element can still be in an independent state as shown in Figure 2, or the functions of multiple functional network elements in Figure 2 can be implemented by an integrated functional network element. For example, in the 5G communication system, the user plane related functions are implemented by the UPF, and the access and mobility management related functions are implemented by the AMF. In the communication system evolved after 5G, the user plane related functions can still be implemented by the UPF, and the access and mobility management related functions can still be implemented by the AMF, or the user plane related functions and the access and mobility management related functions can be implemented by an integrated functional network element at the same time, which is not limited in this application.

[0125] In Figure 2, Nnef, Nausf, Nnrf, Namf, Npcf, Nsmf, Nudm, Nudr, Naf, Nnwadf, N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, and N9 are interface serial numbers. The meanings of these interface serial numbers are defined in relevant standard protocols and are not limited here.

[0126] 4. DN

[0127] DN, also known as packet data network (PDN), is a network located outside the operator network. The operator network can access multiple DNs. Application servers corresponding to various services can be deployed in the DN to provide a variety of possible services for terminal devices.

[0128] The method described in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the communication network architecture shown in Figure 3, wherein the communication network architecture includes at least one first network function, at least one second network function, at least one network storage function and at least one network data analysis function. In Figure 3, a first network function, a second network function, a network storage function and a network data analysis function are taken as an example. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of each network element. Among them, the second network function is the NF service consumer (NF service consumer, NFc) of the first network function, and correspondingly, the first network function is the NF service producer (NF service producer, NFp) of the second network function. The first network function, the second network function and the network data analysis function are network elements registered on the network storage function, and the network data analysis function can provide data analysis services for each network element of the communication network architecture.

[0129] The network elements described in the embodiments of the present application, such as the first network function, the second network function, the network storage function, and the network data analysis function, may also have other names, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For ease of description, the first network function will be referred to as the first NF, the second network function will be referred to as the second NF, the network storage function will be referred to as the NRF, and the network data analysis function will be referred to as the NWDAF.

[0130] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defines a service-based architecture (SBA) network. In an SBA service, a NF can initiate a service request to another NF or provide a service to another NF. The NF that initiates the service request is called NFc, and the NF that provides the service is called NFp.

[0131] With the continuous development of the world, data services have significantly increased, and service demands are becoming increasingly diverse, bringing with them features such as short latency, fast speeds, and high traffic volumes. When the number of service requests received by an NFp exceeds its processing capacity, network congestion can occur, leading to an avalanche effect and resulting in network unavailability. This situation is called a signaling storm. Preventing or mitigating signaling storms is a pressing technical issue.

[0132] In order to prevent or alleviate signaling storms, in combination with the network architecture shown in FIG3 , an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method. The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is further described in detail below.

[0133] Figure 4 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, the communication method includes the following steps S401 to S405. The execution subjects of the method shown in Figure 4 are the second NF, NRF and NWDAF. Alternatively, the execution subject of the method shown in Figure 4 can be a device or chip with a second NF function, a device or chip with an NRF function and a device or chip with an NWDAF function, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 takes the second NF, NRF and NWDAF as the execution subjects of the method as an example for explanation.

[0134] S401: NRF sends a first request message to NWDAF. Correspondingly, NWDAF receives the first request message from NRF. The first request message is used to request recommended configuration information.

[0135] In an embodiment of the present application, the first request message is used to request the NWDAF to perform data analysis to obtain recommended configuration information, which is the result obtained after the NWDAF performs the analysis. Optionally, the first request message is an analysis subscription request (for example, Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo_Request or Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe), or the first request message is a recommendation subscription request (for example, Nnwdaf_RecommendationInfo_Request or aNnwdaf_RecommendationSubscription_Subscribe), or it can also be other messages, which are not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0136] Optionally, the first request message may carry an analysis identification (Analytics identification, ID) and / or an identifier of the target object. Further optionally, the analysis ID may be an ID corresponding to a signaling storm analysis, that is, a request for signaling storm analysis. The identifier of the target object may include one or more of the following: NF ID, NF type, or NF set ID. When the identifier of the target object is an NF ID, it indicates a request to analyze the NF corresponding to the NF ID; when the identifier of the target object is an NF type, it indicates a request to analyze the NF of the type of the NF type; when the identifier of the target object is an NF set ID, it indicates a request to analyze one or more NFs in the NF set corresponding to the NF set ID.

[0137] For example, when the first request message carries the ID of the signaling storm analysis and the ID of the first NF, it means that the first request message is used to request the NWDAF to perform signaling storm analysis on the first NF.

[0138] S402: The NWDAF analyzes the first configuration information of the first NF to obtain recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0139] In an embodiment of the present application, after the NWDAF receives the first request message, the NWDAF needs to determine the corresponding subscribed target object based on the first request message. Optionally, the NWDAF can determine the target object subscribed by the NRF based on the analysis ID and / or information indicating the subscribed target object carried in the first request message. The embodiment of the present application is described as an example in which the subscribed target object includes the first NF. Of course, the target object can also include other objects, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0140] The NWDAF analyzes the first NF and needs to obtain one or more parameters from the first configuration information of the first NF. The first configuration information may be the NF profile of the first NF, or the first configuration information of the first NF may include one or more parameters from the profile of the first NF. It is understood that when the NWDAF analyzes the first NF, it needs to analyze the input data to obtain corresponding analysis results, i.e., output data. The input data includes the first configuration information, and the output data includes recommended configuration information.

[0141] The input data may also include other parameters, such as the source of the potential signaling storm of the first NF, the timestamp of obtaining the relevant data of the first NF, the instance ID of the first NF, the service request signal statistics received by the first NF, the type of the service request signal received by the first NF, and other parameters. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this. The meanings of other parameters included in the input data can be found in the meanings defined in the relevant standard protocols and will not be repeated here.

[0142] It should also be noted that the parameters described in the embodiments of the present application can also be understood as information. For example, the first configuration information of the first NF includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first NF. It can also be understood that the first configuration information of the first NF may include one or more information in the NF profile of the first NF.

[0143] Optionally, the first configuration information of the first NF includes one or more of the following parameters: a priority of the first NF, a capacity of the first NF, or a weight of the first NF.

[0144] Priority is used to select the priority of NF (relative to other NFs of the same type). A lower value indicates a higher priority. It can be understood that NFc prioritizes the NF in initiating a service request among multiple NFs of the same type. A higher priority value indicates a lower priority, while a lower priority value indicates a higher priority. NFc prioritizes NFs with higher priorities to initiate service requests. For example, if the priority value of NF1 is greater than the priority value of NF2, then the priority of NF1 is lower than that of NF2. Correspondingly, between NF1 and NF2, NFc will prioritize NF2 to initiate a service request. Optionally, priority can be located in the NF service list (nfServiceList) parameter, the xxxInfo parameter, or this attribute parameter, or the profile may not include priority.

[0145] Capacity is static capacity information, indicating the weight relative to other NF instances of the same type. If capacity is also present in the nfServiceList parameter, those parameters will take precedence over this value.

[0146] Weight represents the weight relative to other NF instances of the same type.

[0147] Among them, one or more parameters in the first configuration information can be used for network element selection. One implementation method is that one or more parameters in the first configuration information are used to determine network element selection, or to determine the network element selection algorithm of NFC. Taking priority and weight as an example, priority and weight can be used to determine the following network element selection algorithm:

[0148] Network element selection algorithm 1: NFc first sends a service request to the NFp with the lowest reachable priority value; for NFp with the same priority value, the service request message should be sent in the order of weight value. For example: NFp1 and NFp2 have the same priority value, NFp1's weight value is n, NFp2's weight value is m, and both m and n are greater than 0. NFc sends service request messages to NFp1 and NFp2 in the ratio of n:m. It can be understood that the ratio of the number of service requests sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 is close to n:m. Or it can be understood that the probability of NFc sending a service request to NFp1 is The probability of sending a service request to NFp2 is The name or purpose of the service request sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 is not limited here. The services corresponding to the service requests sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 may be the same service or different services.

[0149] Network Element Selection Algorithm 2: NFc first prioritizes sending service requests to the reachable NFp with the lowest priority value. NFp's with the same priority are attempted in the order defined by the weight field. For example, NFp1 and NFp2 have the same priority value, NFp1's weight value is n, and NFp2's weight value is m. Both m and n are greater than 0, and m is greater than n. NFc sends service requests based on the size of the weight field. NFc prioritizes sending service requests to the NFp with the higher weight value. If the service is rejected, it then sends service requests to the NFp with the higher weight value. NFc prioritizes sending service requests to NFp2. If the service is rejected, it then sends service requests to NFp1. The names and purposes of the service requests sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 are not limited here. The service requests sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 can be for the same or different services.

[0150] Network element selection algorithm three: NFc first sends a service request to the NFp with the lowest reachable priority value; NFp with the same priority should be tried in the order defined by the weight field. For example: NFp1 and NFp2 have the same priority value, NFp1's weight value is n, NFp2's weight value is m, and both m and n are greater than 0. NFc selects the NFp with the lowest reachable priority value first. 2 :m 2 It can be understood that the ratio of the number of service requests sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 is close to n 2 :m 2 In other words, the probability that NFc sends a service request to NFp1 is The probability of sending a service request to NFp2 is The name or purpose of the service request sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 is not limited here, and can be of the same service granularity or different service granularities. The name or purpose of the service request sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 is not limited here, and the services corresponding to the service requests sent by NFc to NFp1 and NFp2 can be the same service or different services.

[0151] The above-mentioned network element selection algorithm 1, network element selection algorithm 2 and network element selection algorithm 3 are only examples provided in the embodiments of the present application. Of course, there may also be other network element selection algorithms.

[0152] In some possible implementations, the first configuration information of the first NF may refer to the first configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs. It is understood that the NRF can configure different first configuration information of the first NF for different NFcs. The first configuration information of the first NF is related to the frequency and / or priority of the NFc sending service request messages to the first NF. If the first configuration information of the first NF corresponding to two different NFcs includes different values ​​for one or more parameters, the two different NFcs send different frequencies and / or priorities of service request messages to the first NF. Therefore, if the NRF can configure different first configuration information of the first NF for different NFcs, the NWDAF needs to obtain the first configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs.

[0153] Optionally, the first request message may carry the identifiers of one or more NFcs, indicating that the first configuration information of the first NF to be obtained by the NWDAF is the first configuration information of the first NF corresponding to the one or more NFcs. Accordingly, when the NWDAF obtains the first configuration information of the first NF, it needs to distinguish the first configuration information of the first NF corresponding to the one or more NFcs. Further, optionally, the NFc refers to the NFc of the first NF.

[0154] In some other possible implementations, the first configuration information is NFc applicable to all first NFs.

[0155] Furthermore, when the NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information for the first NF, the determined recommended configuration information includes the recommended configuration information for the first NFs corresponding to the one or more NFcs. Exemplarily, the first request message carries the identifiers of NFc1 and NFc2. Accordingly, the NWDAF needs to obtain the first configuration information for the first NF corresponding to NFc1 and the first configuration information for the first NF of NFc2, and determine the recommended configuration information for the first NF corresponding to NFc1 and the recommended configuration information for the first NF of NFc2, respectively, based on the first configuration information for the first NF corresponding to NFc1 and the first configuration information for the first NF of NFc2.

[0156] Alternatively, the recommended configuration information of the first NF determined by the NWDAF may not need to distinguish between NFcs. In this case, the recommended configuration information of the first NF is applicable to all NFcs.

[0157] It should be noted that the NWDAF may determine, based on the first configuration information of the first NFs corresponding to one or more NFcs, the recommended configuration information of the first NFs corresponding to one or more NFcs, or determine the recommended configuration information of the first NF applicable to all NFcs. Similarly, the NWDAF may determine, based on the first configuration information of the first NF applicable to all NFcs, the recommended configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs, or determine the recommended configuration information of the first NF applicable to all NFcs. This embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0158] In a possible implementation, the NWDAF may obtain the first configuration information through one or more of the following optional methods:

[0159] Option 1: The first request message sent by the NRF includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF. The NWDAF can obtain the one or more parameters in the first configuration information through the first request message. Optionally, the first request message also includes an NFcID, which indicates the one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF corresponding to the NFc. One implementation method is a list of tuples consisting of an NFc ID and the first configuration information of the first NF, for example, [(NFc1, first configuration information of the first NF), (NFc2, first configuration information of the first NF)]. Optionally, the first request message also includes NFcID(s), which indicates the NFcID(s) from which the one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF are to be obtained. NFcID(s) refers to the NF IDs of one or more NFcs of the first NF. Alternatively, NFcID(s) indicates the one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF provided by the NRF to the NF corresponding to the NFcID(s). It should be noted that the NFc refers to the NFc of the first NF.

[0160] When the first request message includes NFcID(s), the NWDAF may use the NFcID(s) to request the first configuration information of the first NF through other methods, such as Optional Method 2 or Optional Method 3 described later.

[0161] Option 2: The NWDAF initiates a data acquisition request to the NRF to request the first configuration information of the first NF. This can be implemented as follows: the NWDAF sends a first data acquisition request to the NRF, and the NRF receives the first data acquisition request from the NWDAF. The first data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of the first NF. The NRF then sends a first data acquisition response to the NWDAF, and the NWDAF receives the first data acquisition response from the NRF. The first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF. Optionally, the first data acquisition request may include one or more of the following: the ID of the first NF, the NFcID(s), or one or more parameters of the first configuration information. It is understood that when the first data acquisition request includes the ID of the first NF, the first data acquisition request instructs the NWDAF to request the NFprofile information of the NF corresponding to the ID of the first NF. When the first data acquisition request includes one or more parameters of the first configuration information, the first data acquisition request instructs the NWDAF to request the one or more parameters in the NFprofile information of the NF corresponding to the ID of the first NF. When the first data acquisition request includes NFcID(s), the first data acquisition request is used to instruct the NWDAF to request to obtain the NF profile information of the NFp of the one or more NFcs, that is, the NFprofile information corresponding to the ID of the first NF.

[0162] It should also be noted that the first data acquisition request may include one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF. It can be understood that the first data request may include a part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF, and through a part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF, it is indicated to request to obtain the complete first configuration information of the first NF, or to request to obtain another part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF except the part of the parameters.

[0163] Option 3: The NWDAF initiates a data acquisition request to a second NF, requesting the first configuration information of the first NF. The second NF is the NFc of the first NF. The NWDAF sends a second data acquisition request to the second NF, which in turn receives the second data acquisition request from the NWDAF. The second data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of the first NF. The second NF sends a second data acquisition response to the NWDAF, which in turn receives the second data acquisition response from the second NF. The second data acquisition response includes one or more parameters from the first configuration information of the first NF. Optionally, the second data acquisition request may include one or more of the following: the ID of the first NF, or one or more parameters from the first configuration information. It is understood that when the second data acquisition request includes the ID of the first NF, the second data acquisition request instructs the NWDAF to request the NFprofile information of the NF corresponding to the ID of the first NF. When the second data acquisition request includes one or more parameters from the first configuration information, the second data acquisition request instructs the NWDAF to request the NFprofile information of the one or more NFcs' NFp, i.e., the NFprofile information corresponding to the ID of the first NF. It should be further explained that the NFc refers to the NFc of the first NF.

[0164] It should also be noted that the second data acquisition request may include one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF. It can be understood that the first data request may include a part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF, and through a part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF, it is indicated to request to obtain the complete first configuration information of the first NF, or to request to obtain another part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF except the part of the parameters.

[0165] It should also be noted that the NWDAF can obtain the first configuration information of the first NF through one of the above-mentioned optional methods, and of course, it can also obtain the first configuration information of the first NF through multiple of the above-mentioned optional methods. For example, the NWDAF can obtain part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF through the above-mentioned optional method 1, and then obtain another part of the parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF through optional method 2 and / or optional method 3.

[0166] S403. The NWDAF sends a first response message to the NRF. Correspondingly, the NRF receives the first response message from the NWDAF. The first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0167] In an embodiment of the present application, after the NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information of the first NF based on the first configuration information of the first NF, it sends the recommended configuration information of the first NF to the first NRF through the first response message. Optionally, the first response message is an analysis subscription notification (for example, Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo_Request Response or Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe_Notify), or it can also be a recommendation subscription notification (for example, Nnwdaf_RecommendationInfo_Request Response or Nnwdaf_RecommendationSubscription_Subscribe_Notify). Of course, it can also be other messages, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. Among them, the recommended configuration information of the first NF includes one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first NF. Optionally, the one or more parameters are parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of the NFc sending service request messages to the first NF. Further optionally, the recommended configuration information of the first NFc includes one or more of the following: the priority of the first NF, the weight of the first NF, the capacity of the first NF, the recommended network element selection algorithm, or the effective time window of the policy corresponding to the recommended configuration information.

[0168] Optionally, the recommended configuration information for the first NF may be recommended configuration information applicable to all NFCs of the first NF. Alternatively, the recommended configuration information for the first NF may refer to recommended configuration information for the first NF corresponding to one or more NFCs. For example, the NWDAF determines that the recommended configuration information for the first NF corresponding to different NFCs is different, or the first request message requests the recommended configuration information for the first NF corresponding to one or more NFCs. Further, optionally, the first response message also carries identifiers of the one or more NFCs.

[0169] Optionally, the recommended configuration information of the first NF also includes one or more of the following parameters: first NF type, first NF ID, first NF central processing unit (CPU) usage, first NF received signaling analytics, first NF sent signaling analysis, first NF signaling storm probability, root cause of signaling storm, and signaling storm threshold. The meanings of the above parameters can be found in the definitions of relevant standard protocols and are not repeated here.

[0170] S404: The NRF determines second configuration information of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0171] In the embodiment of the present application, the NRF determines the second configuration information of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF. It can be understood that the NRF updates or overwrites the first configuration information of the first NF with the second configuration information based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0172] After receiving the recommended configuration information of the first NF, the NRF may update or overwrite the first configuration information of the first NF with the second configuration information based on one or more parameters in the recommended configuration information. The second configuration information of the first NF includes one or more parameters of the profile parameters of the first NF, such as the priority of the first NF, the weight of the first NF, or the capacity of the first NF.

[0173] It can be understood that the second configuration information of the first NF is determined according to the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0174] In some possible implementations, the NRF determines the value of the first parameter in the second configuration information of the first NF as the value of the first parameter in the recommended configuration information of the first NF, that is, the value of the first parameter included in the second configuration information of the first NF is the same as the value of the first parameter included in the recommended configuration information of the first NF. Optionally, the first parameter is one or more parameters in the first NF profile. For example, the first parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: the priority of the first NF, the weight of the first NF, or the capacity of the first NF.

[0175] In some other possible implementations, the NRF may adjust the values ​​of one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF to obtain second configuration information of the first NF. The value of the second parameter included in the second configuration information of the first NF may be equal to or different from the value of the second parameter included in the recommended configuration information of the first NF. The second parameter is one or more parameters in the first NF profile. For example, the second parameter includes one or more of the following parameters: the priority of the first NF, the weight of the first NF, or the capacity of the first NF.

[0176] Optionally, the second configuration information of the first NF may be second configuration information applicable to all NFcs of all first NFs. Alternatively, the second configuration information of the first NF refers to the second configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs, that is, the first request message carries the second configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs of the first NF.

[0177] It should be noted that the NRF may determine the second configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs of the first NF, or determine the second configuration information of the first NF applicable to all NFcs. Similarly, the NRF may determine the second configuration information of the first NF corresponding to one or more NFcs of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF applicable to all NFcs, or determine the second configuration information of the first NF applicable to all NFcs of the first NF, but this embodiment of the application is not limited to this.

[0178] S405: The NRF sends the second configuration information of the first NF to the second NF. Correspondingly, the second NF receives the second configuration information of the first NF from the NRF.

[0179] In the embodiment of the present application, since the second NF is the NFc of the first NF, after the second NF receives the second configuration information of the first NF from the NRF, the second NF can send a service request message to the first NF based on the second configuration information of the first NF. The frequency and / or priority of the service request message sent by the second NF to the first NF is related to the second configuration information. It can be understood that the second configuration information of the first NF is obtained based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF, and the recommended configuration information of the first NF is obtained by the NRF sending a first request message to the NWDAF to avoid a signaling storm or to alleviate a signaling storm, so that the NWDAF performs analysis. Therefore, when the NRF can determine that the first NF may be about to have a signaling storm or has already had a signaling storm based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF, the frequency and / or priority of the service request message sent by the second NF to the first NF is adjusted through the second configuration information, thereby preventing or alleviating the signaling storm.

[0180] Among them, the second network function is the NFc of the first network function, which can be understood as the second network function being a consumer of one or more parameters in the network function configuration file (NF profile) of the first network function, or it can also be understood as the second network function having the authority to obtain one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function, or it can also be understood as the second network function having the ability to obtain one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first network function.

[0181] Optionally, the second configuration information of the first NF sent by the NRF to the second NF may be second configuration information applicable to all NFcs, or may be the second configuration information of the first NF corresponding to the second NF, that is, second configuration information applicable to the second NF.

[0182] In one possible implementation, before step S404, the method further includes: the second NF sends a network element registration request to the NRF, and correspondingly, the NRF receives the network element registration request from the second NF, and the network element registration request includes the address of the second NF. The implementation of step S404 may be: the NRF sends the second configuration information of the first network function to the second NF based on the address of the second network function. It can be understood that in the case that a signaling storm is about to or has occurred in the first NF, the NRF may send the second configuration information of the first NF to the second NF based on the address of the second NF carried in the network element registration request of the second NF, and the frequency and / or priority of the second NF sending the service request message to the first NF is related to the second configuration information, thereby preventing interference or alleviating the signaling storm.

[0183] Optionally, the network element registration request may further include one or more network element selection algorithms supported by the second NF. The one or more network element selection algorithms may be service-specific or network element-specific. The NRF may determine the second configuration information of the first NF corresponding to the second NF in conjunction with the network element selection algorithms supported by the second NF. This method facilitates making the determined second configuration information of the first NF corresponding to the second NF more suitable for the NRF.

[0184] In some possible implementations, the methods or steps performed by the NRF described in the embodiments of the present application may also be performed by a network management function, wherein the signaling interaction between the OAM and the NWDAF may be performed through a network management function (or may also be referred to as a network management entity).

[0185] The network management function sends a first request message to the NWDAF. Correspondingly, after receiving the first request message, the NWDAF analyzes the first configuration information of the first NF to obtain recommended configuration information for the first NF, and then sends a first response message to the network management function. The first response message includes the first configuration information of the first NF. After receiving the first response message, the network management function determines the second configuration information of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF, and then sends the second configuration information of the first NF to the second NF, so that the second NF sends a service request message based on the second configuration information of the first NF. Alternatively, the network management function may send the second configuration information of the first NF to the NRF. The NRF stores the second configuration information of the first NF and then sends the second configuration information of the first NF to the second NF.

[0186] In some possible implementations, the method described in the embodiments of the present application may be applicable to the following scenarios:

[0187] Scenario 1: The NRF has authorized the second NF to access the services of the first NF. That is, the second NF has the permission to access the services of the first NF.

[0188] The flow chart of the communication method corresponding to Scenario 1 is shown in FIG5 , which includes steps S501 to S506 , wherein the implementation of steps S502 to S506 is the same as that of the above-mentioned steps S401 to S405 , and S501 is a newly added step.

[0189] S501: The second NF sends a network status subscription request for the first NF to the NRF. Correspondingly, the NRF receives the network status subscription request for the first NF from the second NF.

[0190] In an embodiment of the present application, the network status subscription request sent by the second NF is used to request subscription or acquisition of one or more parameters in the NF profile updated by the first NF. When one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first NF are updated or changed, the NRF will feedback the updated one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first NF to the second NF based on the network status subscription request. The update or change of one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first NF may be actively updated by the first NF itself, or may be updated by other network elements, such as the NRF.

[0191] Here, step S501 may be performed before step S502, that is, after the NRF receives the network status subscription request, the NRF may proactively send a first request message for the first NF to the NWDAF based on the network status subscription request. Alternatively, step S501 may be performed before step S505, that is, the NRF may proactively trigger the sending of the first request message to the NWDAF or be triggered by other conditions.

[0192] S502: The NRF sends a first request message to the NWDAF. Correspondingly, the NWDAF receives the first request message from the NRF. The first request message is used to request to obtain recommended configuration information.

[0193] S503: The NWDAF analyzes the first configuration information of the first NF to obtain recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0194] S504: NWDAF sends a first response message to NRF. Correspondingly, NRF receives the first response message from NWDAF. The first response message includes recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0195] S505: The NRF determines second configuration information of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0196] S506: The NRF sends the second configuration information of the first NF to the second NF. Correspondingly, the second NF receives the second configuration information of the first NF from the NRF.

[0197] In the embodiment of the present application, the NRF determines the second configuration information of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF, which can also be understood as the NRF updating or overwriting the first configuration information of the first NF to the second configuration information based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF. After the NRF updates or overwrites the first configuration information of the first NF to the second configuration information, one or more parameters in the NF profile included in the first configuration information and the second configuration information, that is, one or more parameters in the NF profile of the first NF, have changed. Therefore, based on the network status subscription request sent by the second NF, the NRF sends a network element status update notification to the second NF, and the network element status update notification includes the second configuration information of the first NF.

[0198] Among them, the implementation method of the above steps S502 to S505 can refer to the description of the above steps S401 to S404, and will not be repeated here in this embodiment of the present application.

[0199] Scenario 2: The second NF initiates a network element discovery request to the NRF.

[0200] The flow chart of the communication method corresponding to Scenario 2 is shown in FIG6 , which includes steps S601 to S606 , wherein steps S602 to S606 are an implementation of the above-mentioned steps S401 to S405 , and S601 is a newly added step.

[0201] S601. The second NF sends a network element discovery request to the NRF. Correspondingly, the NRF receives the network element discovery request from the second NF. The network element discovery request is used to request discovery of an NF that can provide a first service.

[0202] In an embodiment of the present application, when the second NF needs to obtain the first service, it will send a network element discovery request to the NRF. Optionally, the network element discovery request carries the estimated service request frequency per unit time of the second NF. It can be understood that the service request frequency per unit time refers to the number of service request messages that the second NF is expected to send to one or more NFp per unit time. The service request message can specifically be a service request message for a certain service, or a service request message for a certain service and a certain area, or a service request message for a certain service within a certain service area. The number of service request messages sent can also be one or more.

[0203] Furthermore, after the NRF receives the network element discovery request from the second NF, it determines a first NF list that meets the requirements based on the network element discovery request. It can be understood that one or more NFs included in the first NF list can provide the first service. Optionally, the NFs included in the first NF list are NFs that the NRF authorizes or allows the second NF to access, or the NFs included in the first NF list can also be candidate NFs pre-selected by the NRF.

[0204] S602: The NRF sends a first request message to the NWDAF. Correspondingly, the NWDAF receives the first request message from the NRF. The first request message is used to request to obtain recommended configuration information.

[0205] In an embodiment of the present application, after the NRF determines the first NF list, the NRF sends a first request message to the NWDAF for the first NF list. Optionally, the first request message may also include one or more of the following parameters: an identifier of the second NF, an identifier of one or more NFs in the first NF list, an identifier of the NF discovery recommendation (NF discovery recommend), an estimated service request frequency per unit time of the second NF, and first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list. The one or more parameters included in the first request message described above are used to assist the NWDAF in determining the recommended configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list. Optionally, the first request message may also include one or more parameters included in the network element discovery request message of the first NF received by the NRF. It can be understood that the first request message may also include the entire content of the network element discovery request message of the first NF received by the NRF.

[0206] Among them, the identifier of the NF discovery suggestion is the analysis ID in the first request message. It should also be noted that the analysis ID in the first request message can also be an identifier with the same or similar function as the NF discovery suggestion, or it can also be other identifiers, such as the identifier of signaling storm analysis. This application does not limit this.

[0207] S603: The NWDAF analyzes the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list to obtain recommended configuration information of the one or more NFs in the first NF list.

[0208] In an embodiment of the present application, NWDAF can determine one or more NFs in the first NF list based on one or more parameters included in the first request message. Before performing analysis, it is necessary to obtain the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list.

[0209] The first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list may refer to the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list applicable to all NFcs corresponding to the first NF list, or refer to the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list corresponding to each other.

[0210] The NWDAF may obtain the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list through the NRF in the following manner:

[0211] Optional method 1: The first request message sent by the NRF includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list, and the NWDAF can obtain one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list through the first request message.

[0212] Option 2: The NWDAF initiates a data acquisition request to the NRF to request the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list. It can be understood that the NWDAF sends the first data acquisition request to the NRF, and the NRF receives the first data acquisition request from the NWDAF accordingly. The first data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list; then, the NRF sends the first data acquisition response to the NWDAF, and the NWDAF receives the first data acquisition response from the NRF accordingly. The first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list.

[0213] It should also be noted that NWDAF can obtain the first configuration information through one of the above-mentioned optional methods, and of course, it can also obtain the first configuration information through multiple of the above-mentioned optional methods. For example, NWDAF can obtain part of the parameters in the first configuration information through the above-mentioned optional method 1, and then obtain another part of the parameters in the first configuration information through optional method 2.

[0214] The implementation manner in which the NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information for one or more NFs in the first NF list is the same as the implementation manner in which the NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information for the first NF in step S401, and is not further described here. The recommended configuration information for the one or more NFs in the first NF list may refer to the recommended configuration information for the one or more NFs in the first NF list that is applicable to all NFcs corresponding to the first NF list, or may refer to the recommended configuration information for one or more NFs in the first NF list that corresponds to each of the one or more NFcs in the first NF list.

[0215] S604: The NWDAF sends a first response message to the NRF. Correspondingly, the NRF receives the first response message from the NWDAF. The first response message includes recommended configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list.

[0216] S605: The NRF determines second configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list based on the recommended configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list.

[0217] S606: The NRF sends second configuration information of one or more NFs in the second NF list to the second NF. Correspondingly, the second NF receives the second configuration information of one or more NFs in the second NF list from the NRF.

[0218] In an embodiment of the present application, the NRF determines the second configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list based on the recommended configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list. It can also be understood that the NRF updates or overwrites the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list with the second configuration information based on the recommended configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list.

[0219] After the NRF updates or overwrites the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list with the second configuration information, the NRF provides the second NF with the second configuration information of the second NF list based on the network element discovery request previously sent by the second NF. The second NF list can be an NF list updated by the NRF based on the first NF list. Alternatively, the second NF and the first NF are the same list, that is, the second NF and the first NF include the same NFs. It can be understood that the NRF does not need to update the first NF list, and directly sends the second configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list to the second NF.

[0220] For example, assuming that the first NF list includes NF1, NF2, and NF3, after the NRF receives the first response message, the first response message includes one or more of the recommended configuration information of NF1, the recommended configuration information of NF2, and the recommended configuration information of NF3. The NRF then determines the second configuration information of NF1 based on the recommended configuration information of NF1, determines the second configuration information of NF2 based on the recommended configuration information of NF2, and determines the second configuration information of NF3 based on the recommended configuration information of NF3.

[0221] Then, the NRF may update the first NF list to obtain a second NF list, where the second NF list includes NF2 and NF3. Further, the NRF sends the second configuration information of NF2 and the second configuration information of NF3 to the second NF.

[0222] Alternatively, the NRF may not need to update the first NF list. That is, the second NF list and the first NF list described above are the same list. In this case, the NRF directly sends the second configuration information of NF1, the second configuration information of NF2, and the second configuration information of NF3 to the second NF.

[0223] The second configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list may refer to the second configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list applicable to all NFcs corresponding to the first NF list, or refer to the second configuration information of one or more NFs in the first NF list corresponding to each other.

[0224] In one possible implementation, the NRF may, after receiving the first response message, determine the NFs that the second NF is authorized to access. In this case, the NFs included in the first NF list may be candidate NFs pre-selected by the NRF. It will be appreciated that after receiving the first response message, the NRF updates the first NF list based on the information included in the first response message to obtain a second NF list, and then authorizes the second NF to access the NFs included in the second NF list. This implementation facilitates determining a NF list that is more suitable for the second NF to access.

[0225] In another possible implementation, the NRF may determine the NFs that the second NF is authorized to access before sending the first request message. That is, the NFs included in the first NF list are the NFs that the NRF authorizes or allows the second NF to access. In this case, the second NF list and the first NF list can be the same list, thereby reducing the number of NFs that the NWDAF needs to analyze and reducing the NF load.

[0226] Alternatively, in this case, the NRF may also update the first NF list. That is, the NFs included in the first NF list are candidate NFs that the NRF authorizes or allows the second NF to access. The NRF also needs to re-determine the second NF list based on the first NF list and feed back the second configuration information of one or more NFs in the second NF list to the second NF.

[0227] In conjunction with the embodiment corresponding to FIG4 , both the second NF list and the first NF list include the first NF. The first NF is NFp, which is authorized by the NRF to allow the second NF to access its services. The second NF is NFc, which is the first NF. The implementation of steps S602 through S605 can be found in the description of steps S401 through S404 above and is not further described here.

[0228] Scenario 3: The first NF is a newly registered NF.

[0229] The flow chart of the communication method corresponding to scenario 3 is shown in FIG7 , which includes steps S701 to S705 , wherein steps S702 to S705 are implemented in the same manner as steps S401 to S404 above, and S701 is a newly added step.

[0230] S701. The first NF sends a network element registration request to the NRF. Correspondingly, the NRF receives the network element registration request from the first NF.

[0231] In the embodiments of the present application, the first NF may be understood as an NF newly added to the network, or a newly generated NF, or an NF that becomes operational for the first time, or an NF that has the capability to provide (network) services for the first time. For example, the first NF may be a new NF created by a network management function or a network management entity.

[0232] The network element registration request includes the third configuration information of the first NF. Optionally, the third configuration information includes one or more parameters in the NF profile.

[0233] Furthermore, after the NRF receives the network element registration request of the first NF, the NRF needs to determine one or more NFs based on the network element registration request. The services provided by the one or more NFs are related to the first NF. It can be understood that the services provided by the one or more NFs are the same or similar to the services provided by the first NF. The NRF can determine the one or more NFs based on the third configuration information of the first NF and one or more parameters in the NF profiles of the multiple NFs stored locally. For example, the NF set ID of the one or more NFs is the same as that of the first NF, or the service name (server name) identifier of the service that can be provided by the one or more NFs and the first NF is the same.

[0234] S702: The NRF sends a first request message to the NWDAF. Correspondingly, the NWDAF receives the first request message from the NRF. The first request message is used to request to obtain recommended configuration information.

[0235] In this embodiment of the present application, the NRF requests the NWDAF to analyze the first NF through a first request message. Optionally, the first request message includes one or more of the following: an identifier of the first NF, identifiers of one or more NFs, an identifier of a recommended NF profile configuration, first configuration information of the first NF, and recommended configuration information of the one or more NFs.

[0236] The one or more NFs are the one or more NFs described above that can provide services related to the first NF.

[0237] The identifier of the NF profile configuration recommendation is the analysis ID in the first request message. It should be noted that the analysis ID in the first request message may also be an identifier having the same or similar function as the NF profile configuration recommendation, or may also be another identifier, such as a signaling storm analysis identifier, which is not limited in this application.

[0238] S703: Analyze the first configuration information of the first NF and / or the first configuration information of one or more NFs to obtain recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0239] In an embodiment of the present application, NWDAF needs to obtain the first configuration information of the first NF and / or the first configuration information of one or more NFs through NRF before performing analysis. The first configuration information of the first NF provided by NRF may be the third configuration information included in the network registration request sent by the first NF described above, that is, the values ​​of the parameters included in the first configuration information and the third configuration information are the same. It can be understood that NRF does not adjust the parameters included in the third configuration information of the first NF and directly provides it to NWDAF. Alternatively, the first configuration information of the first NF provided by NRF may be determined based on the third configuration information, that is, the value of one or more parameters included in the first configuration information and the third configuration information may be the same or different. It can be understood that NRF adjusts the parameters included in the third configuration information of the first NF to obtain the first configuration information and provides the first configuration information to NWDAF.

[0240] The NWDAF may obtain the first configuration information of the first NF and / or the first configuration information of one or more NFs through the NRF, and the specific implementation is as follows:

[0241] Optional method 1: The first request message sent by the NRF includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF and / or one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more NFs.

[0242] Option 2: NWDAF initiates a data acquisition request to NRF to request the first configuration information of the first NF and / or the first configuration information of one or more NFs. It can be understood that NWDAF sends a first data acquisition request to NRF, and correspondingly, NRF receives the first data acquisition request from NWDAF, and the first data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of the first NF and / or the first configuration information of one or more NFs; then, NRF sends a first data acquisition response to NWDAF, and correspondingly, NWDAF receives the first data acquisition response from NRF, and the first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first NF and / or one or more parameters in the first configuration information of one or more NFs.

[0243] It should also be noted that NWDAF can obtain the first configuration information through one of the above-mentioned optional methods, and of course can also obtain the first configuration information through multiple of the above-mentioned optional methods. For example, NWDAF can obtain part of the parameters in the first configuration information through the above-mentioned optional method 1, and then obtain another part of the parameters in the first configuration information through optional method 2.

[0244] Of course, the NWDAF can obtain the first configuration information of the first NF and the first configuration information of one or more NFs in the same or different manners. For example, in the case where the first configuration information of the first NF is obtained differently from the first configuration information of one or more NFs, the first configuration information of the first NF can be obtained using Option 1, and the first configuration information of one or more NFs can be obtained using Option 2.

[0245] The implementation manner in which the NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information of the first NF is the same as the implementation manner in which the NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information of the first NF in the aforementioned step S401, and is not described in detail here.

[0246] S704: NWDAF sends a first response message to NRF. Correspondingly, NRF receives the first response message from NWDAF. The first response message includes recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0247] S705: The NRF determines second configuration information of the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0248] After step S705, when the second NF initiates a network element discovery request, the network element discovery request is used to request discovery of a NF that can provide the first service. When the first NF can provide the first service, the NRF can provide the second NF with the second configuration information of the first NF.

[0249] The implementation of steps S702 to S705 may refer to the description of steps S401 to S405 above, and will not be described in detail here.

[0250] In order to prevent or alleviate the signaling storm, in combination with the network architecture shown in Figure 3 above, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method, and the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is further described in detail below. Figure 8 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 8, the communication method includes the following steps S801 to S804. The execution subjects of the method shown in Figure 8 are the second NF and the first NWDAF, and the first NWDAF can be the NWDAF shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, the execution subject of the method shown in Figure 8 can be a device or chip with a second NF function and a device or chip with a first NWDAF function, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 takes the second NF and the first NWDAF as the execution subjects of the method as an example for illustration.

[0251] S801: The second NF sends a first request message to the first NWDAF. Correspondingly, the first NWDAF receives the first request message from the second NF. The first request message is used to request recommended configuration information.

[0252] In the embodiment of the present application, the first request message is used to request the first NWDAF to perform data analysis to obtain recommended configuration information, where the recommended configuration information is a result obtained after the first NWDAF performs the analysis. Optionally, the first request message is an analysis subscription request.

[0253] Optionally, the first request message may carry one or more of the following parameters: a second NF ID, an analysis ID, an identifier of the target object, a service name, a candidate NF, and an estimated number of requests per unit time for the service corresponding to the service name. The definitions of the analysis ID and the identifier of the target object are the same as those described in the aforementioned embodiment and are not further described here. It is understood that the second NF will or expects to send the service corresponding to the service name to the entity (network element) corresponding to the identifier of the target object.

[0254] Furthermore, after the first NWDAF receives the first request message, the first NWDAF needs to determine the corresponding subscription target object based on the first request message. Optionally, the first NWDAF can determine the NRF subscription target object based on the analysis ID and / or information indicating the subscription target object carried by the first request message. The embodiment of the present application is described as an example in which the subscription target object includes the first NF. Of course, the target object can also include other objects, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0255] S802: The first NWDAF analyzes the first configuration information of the first NF to obtain recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0256] In this embodiment of the present application, the first NWDAF must obtain the first configuration information of the first NF before performing analysis. Based on the analysis of the first configuration information of the first NF, the first NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information for the first NF. The definitions of the first configuration information and the recommended configuration information are the same as those described in the previous embodiment and are not further elaborated here.

[0257] In a possible implementation, the first NWDAF may obtain the first configuration information through the second NF or NRF. The method for the first NWDAF to obtain the first configuration information may be the same as the method described in the aforementioned embodiment, which is not described here.

[0258] S803: The first NWDAF sends a first response message to the second NF. Correspondingly, the second NF receives the first response message from the first NWDAF. The first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0259] In an embodiment of the present application, after the first NWDAF determines the recommended configuration information of the first NF based on the first configuration information of the first NF, it can also send the recommended configuration information of the first NF to the first NRF through a first response message. Optionally, the first response message is an analysis subscription notification. The recommended configuration information of the first NF includes one or more parameters in the profile of the first NF. Optionally, the one or more parameters are parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of the NFc of the first NF sending a service request message to the first NF. Further optionally, the recommended configuration information of the first NFc includes one or more of the following: the priority of the first NF, the weight of the first NF, the capacity of the first NF, the recommended network element selection algorithm, or the effective time window of the policy corresponding to the recommended configuration information.

[0260] In a possible implementation, in addition to sending the recommended configuration information of the first NF to the second NF, the first NWDAF may also send the recommended configuration information of the first NF to the NRF, and the NRF may update the first configuration information of the first NF according to the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0261] S804: The second NF sends a network service request to the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF.

[0262] In an embodiment of the present application, the second NF is the NFc of the first NF. After the second NF receives the recommended configuration information of the first NF from the first NWDAF, the second NF can send a service request message to the first NF based on the recommended configuration information of the first NF. The frequency and / or priority of the second NF sending the service request message to the first NF is related to the recommended configuration information. It can be understood that the recommended configuration information of the first NF is obtained by the second NF sending the first request message to the NWDAF to avoid or alleviate the signaling storm, so that the NWDAF analyzes it. Therefore, when the NWDAF determines that the first NF may be about to have a signaling storm or has already had a signaling storm, the frequency and / or priority of the second NF sending the service request message to the first NF can be reduced through the recommended configuration information, thereby preventing or alleviating the signaling storm.

[0263] In a possible implementation, the first NWDAF is determined by the second NF through a network element discovery request NRF. Before executing step S801, steps S901 and S902 as shown in FIG9 may also be executed:

[0264] S901. The second NF sends a network element discovery request to the NRF. Correspondingly, the NRF receives the network element discovery request from the second NF. The network element discovery request is used to request discovery of network elements that can provide analysis services.

[0265] In an embodiment of the present application, after the NRF receives the network element discovery request, one or more NWDAFs that meet the requirements of the second NF are determined. The network element discovery request also carries an analysis ID and / or a target object identifier, wherein the analysis ID indicates the type of analysis that the second NF will request the NWDAF to provide, and the target object identifier indicates the target object that the second NF will request the NWDAF to analyze. Optionally, the analysis ID can be an ID corresponding to the signaling storm analysis, that is, it indicates a request for signaling storm analysis, and the identifier of the target object can include one or more of the following: NF ID, NF type, or NF set ID. When the identifier indicating the subscription target object is NF ID, it indicates a request to analyze the NF corresponding to the NF ID; when the identifier indicating the subscription target object is NF type, it indicates a request to analyze the NF of the type of the NF type; when the identifier indicating the subscription target object is NF set ID, it indicates a request to analyze one or more NFs in the NF set corresponding to the NF set ID.

[0266] Among the one or more NWDAFs determined by the NRF, different NWDAFs may provide different analysis types and / or analysis target objects. It is understandable that for one analysis type and / or one target object, only one NWDAF among the one or more NWDAFs may provide the corresponding service.

[0267] For example, assume that the second NF sends a network element discovery request to request the discovery of an NWDAF that can provide signaling storm analysis for NF1 and NF2. The NRF determines, based on the network element analysis request, that NWDAF1 and NWDAF2 meet the requirements. Of these, only one NWDAF can provide signaling storm analysis services for NF1, and only one NWDAF can provide signaling storm analysis services for NF2. For example, when NWDAF1 can provide signaling storm analysis services for NF1, NWDAF2 does not. Correspondingly, when NWDAF2 can provide signaling storm analysis services for NF2, NWDAF1 does not.

[0268] Optionally, the NRF can determine one or more NWDAFs that meet the needs of the second NF based on the data information of multiple NWDAFs stored. Further optionally, the data information of multiple NWDAFs stored by the NRF is obtained through a network element registration request sent by the NWDAF. Taking the first NWDAF as an example, the NWDAF sends a network element registration request to the NRF, and the network element registration request indicates the analysis service type supported by the NWDAF, the target object of the supported analysis service, the slice, the service area, etc. The analysis service type can be represented by the analysis ID described above, and the target object of the supported analysis service can be represented by the identifier of the target object described above.

[0269] S902. The NRF sends a network element discovery response to the second NF. The second NF receives the network element discovery response from the NRF. The network element discovery response indicates one or more NWDAFs.

[0270] In an embodiment of the present application, when the network element discovery response indicates multiple NWDAFs, different NWDAFs in the multiple NWDAFs may provide different analysis service types and / or analysis target objects. Based on this implementation, it is possible to avoid the situation where the second NF requests multiple NWDAFs to perform analysis on the same NF, and the recommended policies provided by the multiple NWDAFs conflict with each other, thereby affecting network stability.

[0271] In one possible implementation, after the second NF determines to select the first NWDAF from one or more NWDAFs, the second NF sends a network element status update message to the network storage function. The network element status update message instructs the second NF to select the first NWDAF from the one or more NWDAFs. Of course, the second NF may also select multiple NWDAFs, and this embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0272] In order to prevent or alleviate signaling storms, in combination with the network architecture shown in Figure 3 above, an embodiment of the present application proposes a communication method and a communication device. The communication method and the communication device provided by the embodiment of the present application are further described in detail below. Figure 10 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 10, the communication method includes the following steps S1001 to S1003. The execution subjects of the method shown in Figure 10 are NRF and NWDAF. Alternatively, the execution subject of the method shown in Figure 10 can be a device or chip with NRF function and a device or chip with NWDAF function, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 10 is illustrated by taking NRF and NWDAF as the execution subjects of the method as an example.

[0273] S1001: NRF sends a first request message to NWDAF. Correspondingly, NWDAF receives the first request message from NRF. The first request message is used to request signaling storm analysis.

[0274] In an embodiment of the present application, a first request message is used to request the NWDAF to perform a signaling storm analysis. Optionally, the first request message may carry an analysis identification (ID) and / or an identification of a target object. Further, optionally, the analysis ID may be an ID corresponding to a signaling storm analysis, indicating a request for a signaling storm analysis. The definitions of the analysis ID and the information indicating the subscription target object are the same as those described in the aforementioned embodiment and are not further described here. The information that may also be included in the first request message is the same as that described in the aforementioned embodiment and is not further described here.

[0275] Furthermore, after the NWDAF receives the first request message, the NWDAF needs to determine the corresponding subscription target object based on the first request message. Optionally, the NWDAF can determine the NRF subscription target object based on the analysis ID and / or information indicating the subscription target object carried by the first request message. The embodiment of the present application is described as an example in which the subscription target object includes the first NF. Of course, the target object can also include other objects, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0276] S1002. The NWDAF performs a signaling storm analysis based on the first configuration information of the first NF and generates an analysis result.

[0277] In this embodiment of the present application, before performing analysis, the NWDAF obtains the first configuration information of the first NF, performs analysis based on the first configuration information of the first NF, and determines an analysis result. Optionally, the analysis result includes recommended configuration information for the first NF. The definitions of the first configuration information and recommended configuration information are the same as those described in the previous embodiment and are not further elaborated here.

[0278] In a possible implementation, the NWDAF may obtain the first configuration information through the second NF or NRF. The method for the NWDAF to obtain the first configuration information may be the same as the method described in the aforementioned embodiment, which is not described here in detail.

[0279] S1003. The NWDAF sends a first response message to the NRF. Correspondingly, the NRF receives the first response message from the NWDAF. The first response message includes an analysis result.

[0280] In this embodiment of the present application, after receiving the first response message, the NRF sends the analysis result to the second NF, which is the NFc of the first NF. Based on the analysis result, the second NF sends a service request message to the first NF. It is understood that this analysis result is obtained by the NWDAF through signaling storm analysis. The purpose of the first response message, or the information included in the first response message, is the same as that in the aforementioned embodiment. Therefore, the method described in this embodiment of the present application is conducive to preventing or mitigating signaling storms.

[0281] Please refer to Figure 11, which shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device shown in Figure 11 can be used to perform part or all of the network storage function, network data analysis function, or second network function in the methods shown in Figures 4 to 10 above. The device can be a network storage function, a network data analysis function, or a second network function, or a device in the network storage function, a network data analysis function, or a second network function, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the network storage function, a network data analysis function, or a second network function. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device shown in Figure 11 may include a communication unit 1101 and a processing unit 1102. The processing unit 1102 is used for data processing. The communication unit 1101 is used for communicating with other devices. The communication unit 1101 integrates a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The communication unit 1101 can also be referred to as a transceiver unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 1101 can be split into a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The processing unit 1102 and the communication unit 1101 described below are similar and will not be described in detail below.

[0282] The communication device 1100 may be used to perform the network storage function or the network management function in the aforementioned method embodiments corresponding to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 .

[0283] When the communication device 1100 is applied to the network storage function in the method embodiment corresponding to Figure 4, the communication unit 1101 is used to send a first request message to the network data analysis function, and the first request message is used to request to obtain recommended configuration information; the communication unit 1101 is also used to receive a first response message from the network data analysis function, and the first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first network function; the processing unit 1102 is used to determine the second configuration information of the first network function based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function; the communication unit 1101 is also used to send the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function, wherein the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function.

[0284] In one possible implementation, before the communication unit 1101 sends the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function, the communication unit 1101 is further configured to receive a network element registration request from the second network function, where the network element registration request includes the address of the second network function. In this implementation, the communication unit 1101 sends the second configuration information to the second network function by specifically sending the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function based on the address of the second network function.

[0285] In one possible implementation, before communication unit 1101 receives the first response message from the network data analysis function, communication unit 1101 is further configured to receive a first data acquisition request from the network data analysis function, and then send a first data acquisition response to the network data analysis function. The first data acquisition request is used to request first configuration information of the first network function, the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine recommended configuration information, and the first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0286] In a possible implementation, before the communication unit 1101 sends the second configuration information to the second network function, the communication unit 1101 is further configured to receive a network status subscription request for the first network function from the second network function.

[0287] In one possible implementation, before the communication unit 1101 sends a first request message to the network data analysis function, the communication unit 1101 is also used to receive a network element discovery request from the second network function, and the network element discovery request is used to request the discovery of a functional network element that can provide a first service, and the first network function can provide the first service.

[0288] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 1101 sends the second configuration information of the first network function to the second network function. Specifically, the communication unit 1101 sends the second configuration information of one or more network functions in a second network function list to the second network function, where the one or more network functions included in the second network function list belong to the first network function list, and the second configuration information of the network functions in the second network function list is determined based on the corresponding recommended configuration information. The one or more network functions in the second network function list include the first network function.

[0289] In one possible implementation, before the communication unit 1101 receives the first response message from the network data analysis function, the communication unit 1101 is also used to receive a first data acquisition request from the network data analysis function, where the first data acquisition request is used to request to obtain the first configuration information of the first network function and / or the first configuration information of one or more network functions, and the first configuration information of the first network function and / or the first configuration information of one or more network functions are used by the network data analysis function to determine the recommended configuration information of the first network function; and send a first data acquisition response to the network data analysis function, where the first data acquisition response includes the first configuration information of the first network function and / or the first configuration information of one or more network functions.

[0290] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 1101 is also used to receive a network element registration request from the first network function, which carries third configuration information of the first network function, the first configuration information is the same as the third configuration information, or the first configuration information is determined based on the third configuration information.

[0291] A more detailed description of the communication unit 1101 and the processing unit 1102 can be found in the related description of the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0292] When the communication device 1100 is applied to the network data analysis function in the method embodiments corresponding to Figures 4 to 9, the communication unit 1101 is configured to receive a first request message from the network storage function; the communication unit 1101 is further configured to obtain first configuration information of the first network function; the processing unit 1102 is configured to perform analysis based on the first configuration information of the first network function to obtain recommended configuration information of the first network function; and the communication unit 1101 is further configured to send a first response message to the network storage function. The first request message is used to request the recommended configuration information, and the first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first network function.

[0293] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 1101 obtains the first configuration information of the first network function by sending a first data acquisition request to the network storage function and then receiving a first data acquisition response from the network storage function. The first data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of the first network function, and the first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0294] In one possible implementation, the communication unit 1101 obtains the first configuration information of the first network function by sending a second data acquisition request to the second network function and receiving a second data acquisition response from the second network function. The second data acquisition request is used to request the first configuration information of the first network function, the second network function being a network function service consumer of the first network function, and the second data acquisition response includes the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0295] When the communication device 1100 is applied to the second network function in the method embodiment corresponding to Figures 8 and 9, the communication unit 1101 is used to send a first request message to the first network data analysis function, and the first request message is used to request to obtain recommended configuration information; the communication unit 1101 is also used to receive a first response message from the first network data analysis function, and the first response message includes the recommended configuration information of the first network function; the processing unit 1102 is based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function; the communication unit 1101 is also used to send a network service request to the first network function.

[0296] In one possible implementation, before the communication unit 1101 receives the first response message from the first network data analysis function, the communication unit 1101 is further configured to receive a second data acquisition request from the first network data analysis function, and the communication unit 1101 is further configured to send a second data acquisition response to the first network data analysis function. The second data acquisition request is used to request first configuration information of the first network function, the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine recommended configuration information, and the second data acquisition response includes the first configuration information of the first network function.

[0297] In one possible implementation, before the communication unit 1101 sends the first request message to the first network data analysis function, the communication unit 1101 is also used to send a network element discovery request to the network storage function; and receive a network element discovery response from the network storage function; wherein the network element discovery request is used to request the discovery of network elements that can provide analysis services, and the network element discovery response indicates one or more network data analysis functions, and the first network data analysis function belongs to one or more network data analysis functions; when the number of network data analysis functions indicated in the network element discovery response is multiple, different network data analysis functions among the multiple network data analysis functions can provide different analysis service types and / or analysis target objects.

[0298] In one possible implementation, when the number of network data analysis functions indicated in the network element discovery response is multiple, the communication unit 1101 is also used to send a network element status update message to the network storage function, and the network element status update message indicates that the first network data analysis function is selected from one or more network data analysis functions.

[0299] A more detailed description of the communication unit 1101 and the processing unit 1102 can be found in the related description of the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0300] Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device. The communication device 1200 can be the network storage function, network data analysis function, or second network function in the above-mentioned method embodiments, or can also be a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network storage function, network data analysis function, or second network function to implement the above-mentioned method. This communication device can be used to implement the method described in the above-mentioned method embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0301] The communication device 1200 may include one or more processors 1201. The processor 1201 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU may be used to control the communication device (e.g., a base station, a baseband chip, a terminal, a terminal chip, a DU or a CU), execute software programs, and process software program data.

[0302] Optionally, the communication device 1200 may include one or more memories 1202, on which instructions 1204 may be stored. The instructions may be executed on the processor 1201, causing the communication device 1200 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment. Optionally, the memory 1202 may also store data. The processor 1201 and memory 1202 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0303] Optionally, the communication device 1200 may further include a transceiver 1205 and an antenna 1206. The transceiver 1205 may be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc., and is configured to implement transceiver functions. The transceiver 1205 may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc., and is configured to implement a receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmitting circuit, etc., and is configured to implement a transmitting function.

[0304] The communication device 1200 is a network storage function, a network data analysis function, or a second network function. The processor 1201 is configured to perform data processing operations for the network storage function, the network data analysis function, or the second network function in the above-described method embodiments. The transceiver 1205 is configured to perform data transceiver operations for the network storage function, the network data analysis function, or the second network function in the above-described method embodiments.

[0305] In another possible design, processor 1201 may include a transceiver for implementing receiving and transmitting functions. For example, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit, an interface, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit for implementing the receiving and transmitting functions may be separate or integrated. The transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code / data, or the transceiver circuit, interface, or interface circuit may be used for transmitting or delivering signals.

[0306] In another possible design, processor 1201 may optionally store instructions 1203. Instructions 1203, when executed on processor 1201, may cause communication device 1200 to perform the method described in the above method embodiment. Instructions 1203 may be fixed in processor 1201. In this case, processor 1201 may be implemented by hardware.

[0307] In another possible design, the communication device 1200 may include a circuit that can implement the functions of sending, receiving, or communicating in the aforementioned method embodiments. The processor and transceiver described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented on an integrated circuit (IC), an analog IC, a radio frequency integrated circuit RFIC, a mixed signal IC, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a printed circuit board (PCB), an electronic device, etc.

[0308] The communication device described in the above embodiments may be a network storage function, a network data analysis function, or a second network function, but the scope of the communication device described in the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device may not be limited to FIG12. The communication device may be an independent device or may be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be:

[0309] (1) An independent integrated circuit (IC), or chip, or chip system or subsystem;

[0310] (2) A set of one or more ICs, optionally including a storage component for storing data and instructions;

[0311] (3) ASIC, such as modem (MSM);

[0312] (4) Modules that can be embedded in other devices;

[0313] (5) Receivers, terminals, smart terminals, cellular phones, wireless devices, handheld devices, mobile units, vehicle-mounted devices, network devices, cloud devices, artificial intelligence devices, etc.;

[0314] (6)Others, etc.

[0315] In the case where the communication device can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the chip structure diagram shown in Figure 13. The chip shown in Figure 13 includes a processor 1301 and an interface 1302. Optionally, it may also include a memory 1303. The number of processors 1301 can be one or more, and the number of interfaces 1302 can be multiple.

[0316] In one design, the chip is used to implement the network storage function in the embodiment of the present application:

[0317] The interface 1302 is used to receive or output signals;

[0318] The processor 1301 is configured to execute the data processing operation of the network storage function in the above method embodiment.

[0319] In another design, the chip is used to implement the network data analysis function in the embodiment of the present application:

[0320] The interface 1302 is used to receive or output signals;

[0321] The processor 1301 is configured to execute the data processing operation of the network data analysis function in the above method embodiment.

[0322] In another design, for the chip used to implement the second network function in the embodiment of the present application:

[0323] The interface 1302 is used to receive or output signals;

[0324] The processor 1301 is configured to execute the data processing operation of the second network function in the above method embodiment.

[0325] It is understandable that some optional features in the embodiments of the present application may, in certain scenarios, be implemented independently of other features, such as the solution on which they are currently based, to solve corresponding technical problems and achieve corresponding effects. They may also be combined with other features in certain scenarios as needed. Accordingly, the communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application may also implement these features or functions accordingly, which will not be described in detail here.

[0326] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiment of the present application can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiment can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor or instructions in the form of software. The above processor can 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, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component.

[0327] It is understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct RAM bus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0328] The present application also provides a computer-readable medium for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implement the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0329] The present application also provides a computer program product for storing computer software instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments.

[0330] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may 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 may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0331] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product. When the computer program product is run on a processor, the method flow of the above method embodiment is implemented.

[0332] The descriptions of the various embodiments provided in this application can refer to each other. The descriptions of each embodiment have their own focus. For parts not described in detail in a particular embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. For the convenience and brevity of description, for example, the functions and operations performed by the various devices and equipment provided in the embodiments of this application can refer to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of this application. The various method embodiments and the various device embodiments can also refer to, be combined with, or quote each other.

[0333] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. Whether such functions are implemented by hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design requirements of the entire system. Those skilled in the art may use various methods to implement the functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be construed as exceeding the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

[0334] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed by a computer, the functions of any of the above method embodiments are realized.

[0335] The present application also provides a computer program product, which implements the functions of any of the above method embodiments when executed by a computer.

[0336] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may 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 may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated therein. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state drive (SSD)).

[0337] Those skilled in the art will understand that the various numerical numbers such as first and second involved in this application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope or sequence of the embodiments of this application.

[0338] The correspondences shown in the tables in this application can be configured or predefined. The values ​​of the information in each table are merely examples and can be configured to other values, which are not limited by this application. When configuring the correspondence between information and parameters, it is not necessary to configure all the correspondences shown in each table. For example, the correspondences shown in certain rows of the tables in this application may not be configured. For another example, appropriate modifications and adjustments can be made based on the above tables, such as splitting, merging, etc. The names of the parameters shown in the titles of the above tables can also use other names that are understandable to the communication device, and the values ​​or representations of the parameters can also use other values ​​or representations that are understandable to the communication device. When implementing the above tables, other data structures can also be used, such as arrays, queues, containers, stacks, linear lists, pointers, linked lists, trees, graphs, structures, classes, heaps, hash tables, or hash tables. Predefined in this application can be understood as definition, pre-definition, storage, pre-storage, pre-negotiation, pre-configuration, solidification, or pre-burning.

[0339] 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.

[0340] 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.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Sending a first request message to the network data analysis function, where the first request message is used to request recommended configuration information; receiving a first response message from the network data analysis function, wherein the first response message includes recommended configuration information of the first network function; determining second configuration information of the first network function based on the recommended configuration information of the first network function; Second configuration information of the first network function is sent to a second network function, where the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in a network function profile NF profile of the first network function; or The one or more parameters are used by a network function service consumer of the first network function to select or request the first network function to provide services; or The one or more parameters are parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of sending service request messages from the network function service consumer of the first network function to the first network function.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: The priority of the first network function, the weight of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, the recommended network element selection algorithm, or the effective time window of the policy corresponding to the recommended configuration information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The determining the second configuration information of the first network function includes: The first configuration information of the first network function is updated or overwritten with the second configuration information.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The first configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: priority of the first network function, capacity of the first network function, or weight of the first network function; The second configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: priority of the first network function, capacity of the first network function, or weight of the first network function.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The first parameter included in the second configuration information of the first network function is the same as the value of the first parameter included in the recommended configuration information of the first network function, and the first parameter is one or more of the following parameters: the priority of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, and the weight of the first network function.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The first request message carries the identifier of the first network function and / or identifiers of one or more network function service consumers of the first network function.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The first response message includes recommended configuration information of the first network function, including: the first response message includes recommended configuration information corresponding to one or more network function service consumers of the first network function.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving a network element registration request from the second network function, where the network element registration request includes an address of the second network function; The sending the second configuration information to the second network function includes: Based on the address of the second network function, second configuration information of the first network function is sent to the second network function.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that Before receiving the first response message from the network data analysis function, the method further includes: receiving a first data acquisition request from the network data analysis function, where the first data acquisition request is used to request first configuration information of the first network function, and the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine the recommended configuration information; A first data acquisition response is sent to the network data analysis function, where the first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The first data acquisition request also includes one or more of the following: an identifier of one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, an identifier of the first network function, or some parameters included in the first configuration information of the first network function.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The first request message carries first configuration information of the first network function, and the first configuration information is used by the network data analysis function to determine the recommended configuration information.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: A received first request message, where the first request message is used to request recommended configuration information; Obtaining first configuration information of a first network function; Analyze the first configuration information of the first network function to obtain recommended configuration information of the first network function; A first response message is sent, where the first response message includes recommended configuration information of the first network function.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more parameters in a network function profile NF profile of the first network function; or The one or more parameters are used by a network function service consumer of the first network function to select or request the first network function to provide services; or The one or more parameters are parameters related to the frequency and / or priority of sending service request messages from the network function service consumer of the first network function to the first network function.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The recommended configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: The priority of the first network function, the weight of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, the recommended network element selection algorithm, or the effective time window of the policy corresponding to the recommended configuration information.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The first configuration information of the first network function includes one or more of the following: the priority of the first network function, the capacity of the first network function, or the weight of the first network function.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that The first request message carries the identifier of the first network function and / or identifiers of one or more network function service consumers of the first network function.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The first response message includes recommended configuration information of the first network function, including: the first response message includes recommended configuration information corresponding to one or more network function service consumers of the first network function.

19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein: The obtaining first configuration information of the first network function includes: Sending a first data acquisition request to the network storage function, where the first data acquisition request is used to request first configuration information of the first network function; A first data acquisition response is received from the network storage function, where the first data acquisition response includes one or more parameters in the first configuration information of the first network function.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein The first data acquisition request also includes one or more of the following: an identifier of one or more network function service consumers of the first network function, an identifier of the first network function, or partial information included in the first configuration information of the first network function.

21. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein: The obtaining first configuration information of the first network function includes: Sending a second data acquisition request to a second network function, where the second data acquisition request is used to request first configuration information of the first network function, and the second network function is a network function service consumer of the first network function; A second data acquisition response is received from a second network function, where the second data acquisition response includes first configuration information of the first network function.

22. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that: The first request message includes first configuration information of the first network function.

23. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving a first request message, where the first request message is used to request signaling storm analysis; Obtaining first configuration information of a first network function; Performing a signaling storm analysis based on the first configuration information of the first network function, and generating an analysis result; A first response message is sent, where the first response message includes an analysis result.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a module or unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or the communication device includes a module or unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 13 to 22, or the communication device includes a module or unit for executing the method according to claim 23.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor coupled to a memory, the processor being configured to execute a computer program or instruction stored in the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or to implement the method according to any one of claims 13 to 22, or to implement the method according to claim 23.

26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that The device further includes the memory and / or a transceiver, and the transceiver is configured to transmit and receive data and / or signaling.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, wherein the processor causes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 to be executed through a logic circuit or an execution instruction, or the processor causes the method according to any one of claims 13 to 22 to be executed through a logic circuit or an execution instruction, or the processor causes the method according to claim 23 to be executed through a logic circuit or an execution instruction.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is executed, or the method according to any one of claims 13 to 22 is executed, or the method according to claim 23 is executed.

29. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device is used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, and the second communication device is used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 13 to 22.

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