Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of communications. Provided are a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: on the basis of service requirement ratios respectively corresponding to one or more groups of Qos parameters, and effective service periods respectively corresponding thereto, a first network element directly generating a policy and charging control (PCC) rule for a session, such that during a PCC rule generation process, corresponding transmission resources can be provided for a service of an application function network element in a timely manner without it being necessary to interact with the application function network element, thereby ensuring the timeliness of service processing and the service experience. A service requirement ratio corresponding to a first group of Qos parameters is used for indicating the proportion of the amount of data transmitted by the session using the first group of Qos parameters to the total amount of data transmitted in the life cycle of the session, or is used for indicating the proportion of an effective service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters to the total duration corresponding to the life cycle of the session; and the effective service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used for indicating information of a time period within which the session can use the first group of Qos parameters to transmit data.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202410822159.5, filed on June 24, 2024, and entitled "A communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0004] With the development of mobile communication technology, various new services and application scenarios are emerging, and the transmission requirements of these services in the wireless communication system are very different. Therefore, an application function (AF) network element can request the network to establish a protocol data unit (PDU) session containing a default quality of service (QoS) flow according to the transmission requirements of the initiated service. The default QoS flow refers to a QoS flow processed by a default QoS rule, which is used to transmit service data.

[0005] In the prior art, before initiating a service, the AF network element can initiate QoS parameter negotiation with the policy control function (PCF) network element, and request the PCF network element to establish a QoS rule matching the service of the AF network element. The PCF network element can send the QoS rule to the session management function (SMF) network element, and the SMF network element associates the QoS rule as a default QoS rule to an existing QoS flow or establishes a new QoS flow, thereby pre-establishing transmission resources for the subsequent service of the AF network element. However, when the AF network element finds that the default QoS rule in the current PDU session cannot meet the transmission requirements of its service, the AF network element needs to actively initiate QoS parameter modification to the PCF network element. Since the PCF network element needs to go through the interaction between the AF network element and the PCF network element before modifying the default QoS parameter of the PDU session according to the service transmission of the AF network element, the SMF network element cannot provide corresponding transmission resources for the service of the AF network element in time, which affects the timeliness of service processing and service experience. SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus to ensure the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be performed by a first network element. The first network element can be a policy control function (PCF) network element or a module (e.g., a chip) applied in the PCF network element. Taking the first network element as an example, the method includes: receiving, by the first network element, first information. The first information indicates one or more groups of Qos parameters that can be used by a session established between a first terminal device and a network, and service demand ratios and valid service periods corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters. The service demand ratio corresponding to a first group of Qos parameters indicates a proportion of a total amount of data transmitted in a life cycle of the session to an amount of data transmitted by the session using the first group of Qos parameters, or indicates a proportion of a total time period corresponding to the life cycle of the session to a valid service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters. The valid service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters indicates time period information during which the session can transmit data using the first group of Qos parameters. The first group of Qos parameters is any one of the one or more groups of Qos parameters. The first network element can generate, based on the received first information, policy control (PCC) rules corresponding to at least one group of target Qos parameters. The at least one group of target Qos parameters belongs to the one or more groups of Qos parameters.

[0008] In the method, taking the first network element as the PCF network element as an example, the PCF network element can obtain, in advance, the one or more groups of Qos parameters related to the current session, and the service demand ratios and the valid service periods corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters before generating the PCC rules. In this way, the PCF network element can generate, based on the one or more groups of Qos parameters, the PCC rules matched to the session as soon as possible according to historical service demand of the session, and send the PCC rules to a session management function (SMF) network element, so that the SMF network element configures the PCC rules generated by the PCF network element to the session. Further, in the process of generating the PCC rules, the PCF network element can generate the PCC rules as soon as possible according to the one or more groups of Qos parameters related to the session obtained in advance, so that the time required for the interaction process between an application function (AF) network element and the PCF network element is saved, and the PCF network element can provide corresponding transmission resources for the AF network element in time without interacting with the AF network element, so as to guarantee the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0009] In a possible design, the first network element can further generate, based on the first information, a first PCC rule for the session at the first time. The first PCC rule is a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, the first PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to a first target Qos parameter included in the at least one group of target Qos parameters, a traffic demand ratio corresponding to the first target Qos parameter is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and an effective traffic period corresponding to the first target Qos parameter contains the first time. The first threshold is used to indicate a reference value of a traffic demand ratio required for a Qos parameter used to generate the first PCC rule for the session.

[0010] With this design, taking the first network element as a PCF network element for example, the PCF network element can directly select, from one or more groups of Qos parameters, a first target Qos parameter with a traffic demand ratio greater than or equal to a first threshold and an effective traffic period containing a first time, as a parameter used to generate a default PCC rule for the session, so that the default PCC rule can be directly generated for the session according to historical traffic information of the UE in the PCC rule generation process, thereby saving the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, and further ensuring that the default PCC rule can meet most of the traffic demands of the AF of the UE when establishing the PDU session, so that the default PCC rule can be generated in time to provide corresponding transmission resources for the traffic of the AF network element without interaction between the AF network element and the PCF network element in the PCC rule generation process, and further ensuring the timeliness of traffic processing and the traffic experience.

[0011] In a possible design, the first information further indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of Qos parameters, the first indication information is used to indicate the second information and the third information, and the at least one second group of Qos parameters belongs to one or more groups of Qos parameters. The second information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the one second group of Qos parameters can be used as a parameter used to generate a default PCC rule for the session. The third information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a first use time period of the one second group of Qos parameters as the parameter used to generate the default PCC rule for the session, and the first use time period is contained in an effective traffic period corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters. The first network element can further generate, based on the second information and the third information, the first PCC rule for the session at the first time. The first PCC rule is a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, the first PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to a second target Qos parameter included in the at least one second group of Qos parameters, and the first use time period indicated by the third information corresponding to the second target Qos parameter contains the first time.

[0012] Through the design, taking the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the PCF network element can select the parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session from the at least one second group of Qos parameters indicated by the second information that can generate the default PCC rule for the session according to the first use time period indicated by the third information, so that the default PCC rule for the session can be generated according to the historical service information of the UE in the PCC rule generation process, the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element is saved, and then it can be guaranteed that the rule meets the service demand of most of the AFs of the UE when establishing the PDU session, so that the corresponding transmission resource can be provided for the service of the AF network element in time without interacting with the AF network element in the PCC rule generation process.

[0013] In a possible design, the first PCC rule includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the first PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

[0014] Through the design, the first network element can provide the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session to the session management network element, so as to configure the first PCC rule for the default flow of the session by the session management network element.

[0015] In a possible design, the first network element can also generate a second PCC rule for the session at a second time based on the first information. The second PCC rule is the PCC rule used by the specific flow of the session, and the second PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the third target Qos parameter included in the at least one group of target Qos parameters. The effective service period corresponding to the third target Qos parameter contains a second use time period corresponding to the second PCC rule. The second use time period is used to indicate time period information in which the session can transmit data using the second PCC rule, and the starting time of the second use time period is later than or equal to the second time.

[0016] Through the design, taking the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the PCF network element can also generate a second PCC rule for the specific flow of the session according to the effective service period before the session transmits data using the specific flow, so as to provide corresponding transmission resource for the service of the AF network element in time, thereby guaranteeing the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0017] In a possible design, the first information can also indicate one or more groups of Qos parameters corresponding to the allowed time length of no data packet transmission. In the method, the first network element can also send the second PCC rule and the allowed time length of no data packet transmission corresponding to the third target Qos parameter to the second network element. The second network element can be an SMF network element.

[0018] Through the design, the first network element can also provide the second PCC rule and the data packet transmission permission duration to the second network element, so that the second network element detects the Qos parameter used by the dedicated service flow in the session according to the data packet transmission permission duration, and releases the Qos parameter in the dedicated service flow.

[0019] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a third network element. The third network element can be a network data analysis function (NWDAF) network element or a module (such as a chip) applied in the NWDAF network element. Taking the third network element as an example, the method comprises:

[0020] The third network element generates first information, wherein the first information indicates a group or groups of Qos parameters that can be used by a session established between a first terminal device and a network, and a service demand ratio and an effective service period corresponding to each of the group or groups of Qos parameters; the service demand ratio corresponding to a first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a proportion of a data amount transmitted by the session using the first group of Qos parameters in a total data amount transmitted in a life cycle of the session, or to indicate a proportion of the effective service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters in a total time corresponding to the life cycle of the session; the effective service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate time period information in which the session can transmit data using the first group of Qos parameters; and the first group of Qos parameters is any one of the group or groups of Qos parameters. The third network element sends the first information to a first network element.

[0021] In the method, taking the third network element as an NWDAF network element and the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the NWDAF network element can analyze the Qos parameter used by the session, generate an analysis result containing a group or groups of Qos parameters and a service demand ratio and an effective service period corresponding to each of the group or groups of Qos parameters, and send the analysis result to the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element can generate a PCC rule for the session in advance according to the service demand ratio and the effective service period corresponding to each of the group or groups of Qos parameters in the analysis result, thereby saving the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, and ensuring the timeliness of service processing and the service experience.

[0022] In a possible design, the first information further indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second set of Qos parameters respectively, the first indication information being used to indicate the second information and the third information, the at least one second set of Qos parameters belonging to one or more sets of Qos parameters; the second information corresponding to one second set of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the one second set of Qos parameters can serve as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session; and the third information corresponding to one second set of Qos parameters is used to indicate a first use time period of the one second set of Qos parameters as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session, the first use time period being included in a valid service time period corresponding to the one second set of Qos parameters.

[0023] By this design, taking the third network element as a NWDAF network element and the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the NWDAF network element can further provide the PCF network element with a second set of Qos parameters recommended / predicted by the NWDAF network element as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session and a first use time period of the second set of Qos parameters as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session, so that the PCF network element can select, according to the first use time period, the second set of Qos parameters recommended / predicted by the NWDAF network element as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and generate the default PCC rule, thereby saving time required by an interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, and ensuring that a corresponding transmission resource can be provided for the service of the AF network element in time in the PCC rule generation process without interacting with the AF network element, and ensuring timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0024] In a possible design, the first information further indicates a data packet non-transmission allowed time length corresponding to one or more sets of Qos parameters respectively.

[0025] By this design, taking the third network element as a NWDAF network element and the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the NWDAF network element can further provide the PCF network element with a data packet non-transmission allowed time length corresponding to a Qos parameter, so that the PCF network element can send the data packet non-transmission allowed time length corresponding to the Qos parameter included in a generated PCC rule to an SMF network element, to enable the SMF network element to release the Qos parameter used by the session according to the data packet non-transmission allowed time length.

[0026] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a fourth network element. The fourth network element can be a unified data repository (UDR) network element or a module (such as a chip) applied in the UDR network element. Taking the fourth network element as an example, the method includes the following steps.

[0027] The fourth network element receives the first information; wherein the first information indicates one or more groups of Qos parameters that can be used by the session established by the first terminal device and the network, and service demand ratios and valid service time periods corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters respectively; the service demand ratio corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate the proportion of the data amount transmitted by the session using the first group of Qos parameters in the total data amount transmitted in the life cycle of the session, or is used to indicate the proportion of the valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters in the total time period corresponding to the life cycle of the session; the valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate time period information in which the session can transmit data using the first group of Qos parameters; the first group of Qos parameters is any one of the one or more groups of Qos parameters. The fourth network element stores the first information; and the fourth network element sends the stored first information to the first network element.

[0028] In the method, taking the fourth network element as a UDR network element and the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the UDR network element can receive and store the analysis result of the Qos parameters used by the session of the first terminal device by the NWDAF network element, so as to provide the one or more groups of Qos parameters stored by the UDR network element to the PCF network element when the PCF network element needs to generate a PCC rule for the session of the first terminal device, so that the PCF network element can generate the PCC rule in advance according to the one or more groups of Qos parameters provided by the UDR network element, thereby saving the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, and further enabling the PCF network element to provide corresponding transmission resources for the service of the AF network element in time without interacting with the AF network element in the PCC rule generation process, thereby guaranteeing the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0029] In a possible design, the first information further indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of Qos parameters respectively, the first indication information is used to indicate the second information and the third information, and the at least one second group of Qos parameters belongs to the one or more groups of Qos parameters; the second information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the one second group of Qos parameters can be used as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session; and the third information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a first use time period of the one second group of Qos parameters as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and the first use time period is included in the valid service time period corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters.

[0030] By the design, taking the fourth network element as a UDR network element and the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the UDR network element can further provide the PCF network element with the second set of Qos parameters recommended / predicted by the NWDAF network element and capable of serving as the second set of Qos parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session and the first use time period of the second set of Qos parameters as the parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session, so that the PCF network element selects the parameters capable of serving as the parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session from the second set of Qos parameters provided by the UDR network element according to the first use time period, and generates the default PCC rule in advance, thereby saving the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, and ensuring that the corresponding transmission resource is provided for the service of the AF network element in time in the PCC rule generation process without interacting with the AF network element, and ensuring the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0031] In a possible design, the first information further indicates one or more sets of Qos parameters respectively corresponding to the allowed time length of no data packet transmission.

[0032] By the design, taking the fourth network element as a UDR network element and the first network element as a PCF network element as an example, the UDR network element can further provide the PCF network element with the allowed time length of no data packet transmission corresponding to the Qos parameter, so that the PCF network element sends the allowed time length of no data packet transmission corresponding to the parameter included in the generated PCC rule to the SMF network element, so that the SMF network element releases the Qos parameter used by the session according to the allowed time length of no data packet transmission.

[0033] In a possible design, the fourth network element receives a first request from the first network element, and the first request is used to acquire the first information; and the fourth network element sends a first response to the first network element, and the first response contains the stored first information.

[0034] In a possible design, the fourth network element sends first notification information to the first network element, and the first notification information is used to notify the first network element that the first information has been stored in the fourth network element.

[0035] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be the first network element, a device, a module or a chip in the first network element, or an apparatus capable of matching the first network element. In a design, the communication apparatus can include a module corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first aspect, which can be a hardware circuit, software or a combination of hardware circuit and software. In a design, the communication apparatus can include a processing module and a communication module. Optionally, the processing module can be replaced by a processing unit, and the communication module can be replaced by a communication unit, a transceiver unit or a communication interface, etc. The communication module can include a sending unit and a receiving unit.

[0036] In one possible design, the processing module and the communication module can perform the corresponding functions of the first network element in the various possible design examples in the first aspect above, as detailed in the method examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0037] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which may be a third network element, a device, module, or chip within the third network element, or a device compatible with the third network element. In one design, the communication device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the second aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In another design, the communication device may include a processing module and a communication module. Optionally, the processing module may be alternatively described as a processing unit, and the communication module may be alternatively described as a communication unit, transceiver unit, or communication interface, etc. The communication module may include a sending unit and a receiving unit.

[0038] In one possible design, the processing module and the communication module can perform the corresponding functions of the third network element in the various possible design examples in the second aspect above, as detailed in the method examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0039] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which may be a fourth network element, a device, module, or chip within the fourth network element, or a device compatible with the fourth network element. In one design, the communication device may include modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the second aspect. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In another design, the communication device may include a processing module and a communication module. Optionally, the processing module may be alternatively described as a processing unit, and the communication module may be alternatively described as a communication unit, transceiver unit, or communication interface, etc. The communication module may include a sending unit and a receiving unit.

[0040] In one possible design, the processing module and the communication module can perform the corresponding functions of the fourth network element in the various possible design examples in the third aspect above, as detailed in the method examples, which will not be repeated here.

[0041] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which comprises a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface is configured to receive a signal from another device outside the communication device and transmit the signal to the processor or send a signal from the processor to another device outside the communication device, the processor executes code instructions through a logic circuit to implement the method in the first aspect and any possible design of the first aspect, or implement the method in the second aspect and any possible design of the second aspect, or implement the method in the third aspect and any possible design of the third aspect. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a memory coupled with the processor, which stores necessary program instructions and data of the device.

[0042] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which comprises the communication device in the fourth aspect and the communication device in the fifth aspect; or the communication system comprises the communication device in the fourth aspect, the communication device in the fifth aspect and the communication device in the sixth aspect.

[0043] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, which comprises a processor coupled with a memory, the memory is configured to store a program or instructions, when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the chip system implements the method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or implements the method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or implements the method in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0044] Optionally, the chip system further comprises an interface circuit configured to interact code instructions with the processor.

[0045] Optionally, the processor in the chip system can be one or more processors, which can be implemented by hardware or software. When implemented by hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, etc. When implemented by software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, which reads software code stored in the memory to implement the method.

[0046] Optionally, the memory in the chip system can also be one or more memories. The memory can be integrated with the processor or arranged separately from the processor, which is not limited in the present application. For example, the memory can be a non-transient processor, such as a read-only memory (ROM), which can be integrated on the same chip as the processor or arranged on different chips, and the type of the memory and the arrangement of the memory and the processor are not limited in the present application.

[0047] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program or instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or perform the method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or perform the method in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0048] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or perform the method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or perform the method in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect.

[0049] The beneficial effects of the fourth aspect to the eleventh aspect are specifically refer to the technical effects that can be achieved by the corresponding designs in the first aspect, the second aspect and the third aspect, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture;

[0051] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] FIG. 4 is another flow diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the present application clearer, the following will combine the drawings to further describe the present application in detail. The specific operation method in the method embodiment can also be applied to the apparatus embodiment or the system embodiment.

[0060] The following explanations of some terms used in the embodiments of this application are provided to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0061] The network elements referred to in the terminology of this application can be physical concepts, such as a single physical device, or at least two network elements integrated on the same physical device. Alternatively, the network elements referred to herein can also be logical concepts, such as software modules or network functions corresponding to the services provided by each network element. A network function can be understood as a virtualized function under virtualization implementation, or as a network function providing services under a service-oriented architecture.

[0062] The terms "system" and "network" in this application embodiment can be used interchangeably. The term "multiple" in this application embodiment refers to two or more; therefore, "multiple" can also be understood as "at least two" in this application embodiment. "At least one" can be understood as one or more, such as one, two, or more. For example, including at least one means including one, two, or more, and is not limited to which ones are included. For example, including at least one of A, B, and C means including A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Similarly, the understanding of descriptions such as "at least one" is similar. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. In addition, the character " / ", unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0063] Unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, sequence, priority or importance of multiple objects, and the description of "first" and "second" does not limit the objects to necessarily being different.

[0064] It should be understood that any number of devices, components, modules, etc. can be used to implement the systems described in the embodiments of the present application. Furthermore, any one or combination of these devices, components, modules, etc. can be eliminated in various embodiments. Still further, the systems described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented using a combination of hardware and software. In addition, the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the examples described in this paragraph.

[0065] In addition, the terms "comprise", "comprising", "include", "including", "have", "has", "contain", "containing", "characterized by", "characterized into", "characterized in" and the like used in the embodiments of the present application and the claims and the drawings are not exclusive. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or modules is not limited to the listed steps or modules, and can also include steps or modules that are not listed.

[0066] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: long term evolution (LTE) communication system, universal mobile communication system (UMTS) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wireless local area network (WLAN), next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) system, new radio (NR) communication technology, 5th generation (5G) communication system, future communication system. The following introduces part of the network architecture applicable to the present application, in the following introduction, the terminal device is taken as an example of user equipment (UE).

[0067] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture based on a service-based architecture. The communication system includes terminal devices, access network devices (ANs), and core network devices (CNs). The terminal devices access a data network (DN) through the access network devices and the core network devices. The core network devices include some or all of the following network elements: a unified data management (UDM) network element, a unified data repository (UDR) network element, a network exposure function (NEF) network element, an application function (AF) network element, a policy control function (PCF) network element, an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a session management function (SMF) network element, a user plane function (UPF) network element, a network data analytics function (NWDAF) network element, a network repository function (NRF) network element, a location management function (LMF) network element (not shown in the figure), a binding support function (BSF) network element, and an operations administration management (OAM) network element.

[0068] The access network device can be a radio access network (RAN) device. For example, a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a future mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, etc. The access network device can also be a module or unit that performs part of the functions of a base station, for example, a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The wireless access network device can be a macro base station, a micro base station, or an indoor station, and can also be a relay node or a donor node, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form of the wireless access network device.

[0069] The terminal device can be a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal device can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal device can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, an urban air vehicle (such as a pilotless plane, a helicopter, etc.), a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, a smart home device, etc.

[0070] The access network device and the terminal device can be fixed in position or movable. The access network device and the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface; can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and artificial satellites in the air. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the application scenarios of the access network device and the terminal device.

[0071] The AMF network element contains functions such as performing mobility management, access authentication / authorization, etc. In addition, it is also responsible for transferring user policies between the terminal device and the PCF.

[0072] SMF network element, containing functions of performing session management, execution of control policy issued by PCF, selection of UPF, allocation of internet protocol (IP) address of terminal device, etc.

[0073] UPF network element, as an interface with data network, containing functions of completing user plane data forwarding, session / stream level based charging statistics, bandwidth limitation, etc.

[0074] UDM network element, containing functions of performing management of subscription data, user access authorization, etc.

[0075] UDR network element, containing functions of accessing data of types of subscription data, policy data, application data, etc.

[0076] NEF network element, used for supporting opening of capabilities and events.

[0077] AF network element, delivering requirements of application side to network side, for example, quality of service (QoS) requirement or user state event subscription, etc. AF can be a third party functional entity or an application server deployed by an operator.

[0078] PCF network element, containing policy control functions of being responsible for charging at session, service flow level, QoS bandwidth guarantee and mobility management, policy decision of terminal device, etc.

[0079] NRF network element, which can be used to provide network element discovery function, based on request of other network elements, provide network element information corresponding to network element type. NRF network element also provides network element management services, such as network element registration, update, deregistration, and network element state subscription and push, etc.

[0080] NWDAF network element, mainly used for collecting data (including one or more of terminal device data, access network device data, core network element data, and third-party application device data), wherein the data can be terminal device, access network device, core network element, or third-party application device itself data, or terminal device data on the access network device, the core network element, or the third-party application device, then performing data analysis according to the collected data, and outputting data analysis results for network, network management device, and application to execute policy decision. The NWDAF can use a machine learning model to perform data analysis. In the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) Release 17, the training function and inference function of the NWDAF are split, and a NWDAF can support only the model training function, or only the data inference function, or both the model training function and the data inference function. The NWDAF supporting the model training function can also be referred to as a training NWDAF, or a NWDAF supporting a model training logical function (MTLF) (referred to as NWDAF (MTLF)). The training NWDAF can perform model training according to the obtained data to obtain a trained model. The NWDAF supporting the data inference function can also be referred to as an inference NWDAF, or a NWDAF supporting an analytics logical function (AnLF) (referred to as NWDAF (AnLF)). The inference NWDAF can input input data into the trained model to obtain analysis results or inference data. In the embodiments of the present application, the training NWDAF refers to a NWDAF supporting at least the model training function. As a possible implementation method, the training NWDAF can also support the data inference function. The inference NWDAF refers to a NWDAF supporting at least the data inference function. As a possible implementation method, the inference NWDAF can also support the model training function. If a NWDAF supports both the model training function and the data inference function, the NWDAF can be referred to as a training NWDAF, an inference NWDAF, or a training and inference NWDAF, or a NWDAF. In the embodiments of the present application, a NWDAF can be a separate network element, or can be combined with other network elements, for example, the NWDAF is set in a PCF network element or an AMF network element.

[0081] OAM network element, responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of network elements in the 5GC, can collect measurement data of network elements in the 5GC, including signaling measurement, data measurement, and general network element measurement.

[0082] The LMF network element is used for managing the location information of the terminal device, can calculate or verify the location of the terminal device and / or estimate the speed of the terminal device, and provide the accuracy of the estimation. The LMF network element can receive a location request for the terminal device from the AMF network element through the Nlmf interface. The granularity of the location of the terminal calculated by the LMF network element can be one or more of longitude, latitude, altitude, tracking area (TA), cell, Global Positioning System (GPS).

[0083] The DN is a network located outside the operator network, and the operator network can access multiple DNs. The DN can deploy various services and provide data and / or voice services for terminal devices. For example, the DN is a private network of a smart factory, and the sensors installed in the workshop of the smart factory can be terminal devices. A control server of the sensors is deployed in the DN, and the control server can provide services for the sensors. The sensors can communicate with the control server, obtain instructions from the control server, and transmit collected sensor data to the control server according to the instructions. For another example, the DN is an internal office network of a company, and the mobile phones or computers of employees of the company can be terminal devices. The mobile phones or computers of the employees can access information and data resources on the internal office network of the company.

[0084] In FIG. 1, Nudr, Npcf, Namf, Nudm, Nsmf, Naf, and Nnwdaf are service interfaces provided by the above-mentioned UDR, PCF, AMF, UDM, SMF, AF, and NWDAF, respectively, and are used to invoke corresponding service operations. N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6 are interface serial numbers, and the meanings of these interface serial numbers are as follows:

[0085] 1) N1: an interface between the AMF network element and the terminal device, which can be used to deliver non-access stratum (NAS) signaling (such as QoS rules from the AMF network element) to the terminal device, etc.

[0086] 2) N2: an interface between the AMF network element and the access network device, which can be used to deliver radio bearer control information from the core network side to the access network device, etc.

[0087] 3) N3: an interface between the access network device and the UPF network element, which is mainly used to deliver uplink and downlink user plane data between the access network device and the UPF network element.

[0088] 4) N4: an interface between the SMF network element and the UPF network element, which can be used to deliver information between the control plane and the user plane, including the delivery of forwarding rules, QoS rules, and traffic statistics rules from the control plane to the user plane, and the information reporting of the user plane.

[0089] 5) N6: interface between UPF network element and DN, used to transmit uplink and downlink user data flow between UPF network element and DN.

[0090] It can be understood that the above network element or function can be a network element in a hardware device, or a software function running on a dedicated hardware, or a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (for example, a cloud platform). Optionally, the above network element or function can be implemented by one device, or can be implemented by multiple devices together, or can be a functional module in a device, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations thereto.

[0091] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "network element" can be replaced by "entity" or "device" and the like. For example, "AMF network element" can also be written as "AMF entity" or "AMF device", "SMF network element" can also be written as "SMF entity" or "SMF device", and the like. In the following, "XXX network element" is uniformly abbreviated as "XXX", for example, "AUSF network element" can also be abbreviated as "AUSF", "SMF network element" can also be abbreviated as "SMF", and NWDAF can be abbreviated as NWDAF.

[0092] As an implementation method, the network data analysis function network element in the embodiments of the present application can be the above-mentioned NWDAF network element, or a network element having the function of the above-mentioned NWDAF network element in the future communication network. For convenience of description, the network data analysis network element is taken as an example of the NWDAF network element in the following. The policy control function network element in the embodiments of the present application can be the above-mentioned PCF network element, or a network element having the function of the above-mentioned PCF network element in the future communication network. For convenience of description, the policy control function network element is taken as an example of the PCF network element in the following. In the embodiments of the present application, the UE is taken as an example of the terminal device, and "UE" appearing later can be replaced by "terminal device".

[0093] When initiating a service, the AF network element can request the network to establish a PDU session containing a default Qos flow according to the transmission requirements of the initiated service. The default Qos flow refers to a Qos flow processed by a default QoS rule, used to transmit service data.

[0094] In the prior art, before initiating a service, an AF network element can initiate Qos parameter negotiation with a PCF network element, and request the PCF network element to establish a Qos rule matching the service of the AF network element. The PCF network element can send the Qos rule to an SMF network element, and the SMF network element associates the Qos rule as a default Qos rule to an existing Qos flow or establishes a new Qos flow, to pre-establish transmission resources for subsequent services of the AF network element. However, when the AF network element finds that the default Qos rule in the current PDU session cannot meet the transmission requirements of its service, the AF network element needs to actively initiate Qos parameter modification to the PCF network element. The PCF network element can generate a new Qos rule according to the Qos parameters provided by the AF network element when initiating the Qos parameter modification. The PCF network element can send the new Qos rule to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element modifies the PDU session according to the new Qos rule, to establish transmission resources for the current service of the AF network element. Since the PCF network element needs to go through the interaction between the AF network element and the PCF network element before modifying the default Qos parameter of the PDU session according to the service transmission of the AF network element, the SMF network element cannot provide corresponding transmission resources for the service of the AF network element in time, which affects the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0095] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method to guarantee the timeliness of service processing and service experience. Next, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be introduced in combination with the drawings. In the drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of the present application, optional steps are indicated by dashed lines. In the embodiments of the present application, the first network element can be a PCF network element or a module (such as a chip) applied in the PCF network element, the second network element can be an SMF network element or a module (such as a chip) applied in the SMF network element, the third network element can be an NWDAF network element or a module (such as a chip) applied in the NWDAF network element, and the fourth network element can be a UDR network element or a module (such as a chip) applied in the UDR network element. For ease of illustration, the following will be described by taking the first network element as the PCF network element, the second network element as the SMF network element, the third network element as the NWDAF network element, and the fourth network element as the UDR network element. Of course, the first network element, the second network element, the third network element, and the fourth network element mentioned in the claims of the present application can also be other entities or nodes, which are not limited by the present application.

[0096] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first information generated by the NWDAF network element can be saved by the PCF network element. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes the following contents:

[0097] S201: The NWDAF network element generates first information.

[0098] The first information indicates one or more sets of Qos parameters that can be used by the first terminal device and the network element for the session, and a service demand ratio and an effective service period corresponding to each of the one or more sets of Qos parameters. Further, the one or more sets of Qos parameters can be 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier, 5QI) or a set of Qos parameters, the service demand ratio can be service ratio, and the effective service period can be service time. The service demand ratio corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters is used to indicate a proportion of a total amount of data transmitted in a life cycle of the session to an amount of data transmitted by the session using the first set of Qos parameters, or to indicate a proportion of a total time corresponding to the life cycle of the session to an effective service period corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters. The effective service period corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters is used to indicate time period information in which the session can transmit data using the first set of Qos parameters. Further, the effective service period corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters can include a start time of data transmission between the UE and the AF network element using the first set of Qos parameters, and an end time of data transmission. The first set of Qos parameters is any one of the one or more sets of Qos parameters.

[0099] The NWDAF network element can receive an analysis subscription request from the PCF network element. The analysis subscription request is used to subscribe to the NWDAF network element for analysis results of Qos parameters used by a session established between the UE and the network. Optionally, the PCF network element can send the analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element to subscribe to the analysis results of the Qos parameters of the UE interested by the PCF network element. Optionally, the PCF network element can also send the analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element when receiving a policy control and charging (PCC) rule request sent by the SMF network element. The PCC rule request is used to indicate that the PCF network element generates a PCC rule for the session of the UE, and the analysis subscription request is used to request the NWDAF network element for the analysis results of the Qos parameters of the UE.

[0100] The analytics subscription request can be Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Suscription or Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Subscribe. The analytics subscription request can include, but is not limited to, the following parameters: analytics ID / recommendation ID, any UE / UE list / UE ID, area of interest (AOI). The UE in the analytics subscription request can be any UE in the AOI, a group of UEs in the AOI, or a specific UE.

[0101] After receiving the analytics subscription request, the NWDAF network element can collect data from other network elements based on the analytics subscription request, and comprehensively analyze the collected data to obtain at least one analysis result. For example, the NWDAF network element can analyze the collected data according to historical analysis information or a trained session Qos analysis information model to obtain at least one analysis result. The other network elements can be PCF network elements, SMF network elements, UPF network elements, UDR network elements, and AF network elements. Each analysis result includes a UE ID and first information. The UE ID in the analysis result is the identification of the UE in the analytics subscription request. For example, the process in which the NWDAF network element collects data from other network elements is as follows:

[0102] 1) The NWDAF network element collects information of AF session with Qos info sent by the AF network element received by the PCF network element from the PCF network element.

[0103] The information of the AF session with Qos info collected by the NWDAF network element includes but is not limited to: service requirement of the AF and alternative service requirements. The service requirement of the AF includes but is not limited to: associated Qos reference parameter, predefined Qos parameter information associated with the Qos parameter, Qos parameter information provided by the AF, flow description information, Qos duration, and Qos inactivity interval. The alternative service requirements include but are not limited to: one or more Qos reference parameters and priority information thereof or one or more candidate Qos parameters and priority information thereof. Any one of the one or more candidate Qos parameters includes but is not limited to: requested 5GC delay, requested guaranteed flow bitrate, requested packet error rate, and maximum burst size parameter.

[0104] 2) The NWDAF network element can also collect, through Qos flow identifier (QFI) allocation, Qos parameters used by each Qos flow in the session corresponding to each UE in the analysis subscription request from the SMF network element.

[0105] The data corresponding to each UE collected by the NWDAF network element includes but is not limited to the following parameters: 5QI information of the Qos flow associated with QFI, DNN, slice information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-NSSAI), application ID, IP packet filter set or Ethernet packet filter set, and the total number of session management transactions. The session management transactions include but are not limited to: PDU session establishment, PDU session modification, PDU session authentication, and PDU session release. Optionally, the NWDAF network element can also subscribe to user plane status information from the SMF network element. The user plane status information includes but is not limited to: the ID of the PDU session, the user plane inactivity timer, and the PDU session state.

[0106] 3) The NWDAF network element can also collect and analyze the PDU session ID corresponding to each UE in the analysis subscription request from the UPF network element, the Qos flow contained in the PDU session, and the time of data start, data end, data volume or bit rate of each Qos flow, and the application ID corresponding to the service in the PDU session.

[0107] 4) The NWDAF network element can also collect and analyze the application-specific UE behavior information (application ID) of each UE in the analysis subscription request from the UDR network element.

[0108] 5) The NWDAF network element can also determine all application IDs associated with the data transmitted by the PDU session of the UE according to the application ID obtained from the PCF network element, the SMF network element, the UPF network element, and the UDR network element. The NWDAF network element can respectively obtain the service requirement corresponding to the service of the application ID from the AF network element corresponding to the application ID, and the data volume, the transmission rate, the start time and the end time of the data transmitted by the AF network element on the application ID, and the service ratio (the ratio of the data volume to the total data volume of all services initiated by the AF network element or the ratio of the time length to the total time length of all services initiated by the AF network element).

[0109] S202: The NWDAF network element sends the first information to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the first information from the NWDAF network element.

[0110] After generating the at least one analysis result, the NWDAF network element can send the at least one analysis result to the PCF network element. Each analysis result includes the UE ID and the first information. The PCF network element can store the received at least one analysis result. For example, when the at least one analysis result is generated by the NWDAF network element after receiving the analysis subscription request, the NWDAF network element can send an analysis notification response to the PCF network element. The analysis notification response includes the at least one analysis result. Further, the first information in each analysis result received by the PCF network element can indicate one or more groups of Qos parameters, and the valid service period and the service demand ratio corresponding to each group of Qos parameters.

[0111] Optionally, the first information further indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of Qos parameters, the first indication information is used to indicate the second information and the third information, and the at least one second group of Qos parameters belongs to the one or more groups of Qos parameters. The second information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the one second group of Qos parameters can be used as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session. The third information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a first use time period of the one second group of Qos parameters as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and the first use time period is included in the valid service period corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters.

[0112] Optionally, the first information can further carry recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to one or more groups of Qos parameters. The recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate whether the first group of Qos parameters is used as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session. As an example, when the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is set to a first value, it indicates that the first group of Qos parameters is used as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session. For example, the first value can be true or 1. Optionally, when the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is set to the first value, the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter can further carry a default active time. The default active time is used to indicate the time period for which the first group of Qos parameters is used as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and the default active time is included in the valid service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters. For example, the default active time can be represented by [start time, end time] or [start time, duration time]. As another example, when the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is set to a second value, it indicates that the first group of Qos parameters is not used as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session. For example, the second value can be false or 0.

[0113] Optionally, the one or more groups of Qos parameters in the first information can further carry a recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter. The recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the first group of Qos parameters is used as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session. The recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter can further carry a default active time. The default active time is used to indicate a time period for using the first group of Qos parameters as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session, and the default active time is included in a valid service period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters. As an example, when the first group of Qos parameters includes the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter, it is indicated that the first group of Qos parameters is used as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session. As another example, when the first group of Qos parameters does not include the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter, it is indicated that the first group of Qos parameters is not used as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session.

[0114] Optionally, the first information further indicates a data packet transmission allowed time length corresponding to each of the one or more groups of Qos parameters. As an example, the data packet transmission allowed time length can be a recommended / predicted inactivity detection time. Optionally, the first information can further carry a DNN and an S-NSSAI corresponding to each of the one or more groups of Qos parameters. The DNN corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate data network name information of a data network used by the first group of Qos parameters, and the S-NSSAI corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate slice information corresponding to the UE when the UE uses the first group of Qos parameters.

[0115] Optionally, the first information can also carry one or more sets of application IDs corresponding to the one or more sets of Qos parameters. The application IDs corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters are used to indicate the identification of the application IDs using the first set of Qos parameters to transmit data. The application IDs include a plurality of application IDs. For example, one application ID corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters can also indicate a service volume, a service start time, and a service stop time. The service volume is used to indicate the data volume of the one application ID using the first set of Qos parameters to transmit data. The service start time is used to indicate the start time of the one application ID using the first set of Qos parameters to transmit data. The service stop time is used to indicate the end time of the one application ID using the first set of Qos parameters to transmit data.

[0116] Optionally, the first information can also indicate one or more sets of periodic indications corresponding to the one or more sets of Qos parameters. The periodic indication corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters is used to indicate whether the use of the first set of Qos parameters is periodic. When the periodic indication corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters indicates the first value, it indicates that the use of the first set of Qos parameters has periodicity. The periodic indication corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters also includes a periodic interval and a periodic duration. The periodic interval indicates the periodic interval of the use of the first set of Qos parameters. The periodic duration indicates the transmission duration of each use of the first set of Qos parameters to transmit data. It can also be understood that the duration indicated by the periodic duration is the duration corresponding to the valid service period corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters.

[0117] S203: The PCF network element generates, based on the received first information, PCC rules corresponding to at least one set of target Qos parameters for the session.

[0118] The at least one set of target Qos parameters belongs to one or more sets of Qos parameters. The PCC rule corresponding to the at least one set of target Qos parameters can be a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, or a PCC rule used by a specific flow of the session. For example, the PCF network element can generate a default PCC rule for the session when the SMF network element creates the session, or generate a default PCC rule or a PCC rule used by a specific flow of the session that is adapted to the service in the session during use of the session.

[0119] The PCF network element can generate a first PCC rule for the session based on the first information. The first PCC rule is a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, that is, the first PCC rule is a default PCC rule of the session. Optionally, the PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule for the session at the first time, or generate the first PCC rule for the session at a time earlier than the first time. The first time can be a session establishment time, or an end time of a time period during which the session can use the default PCC rule to transmit data. Further, the end time of the session is later than the end time of the time period during which the session can use the default PCC rule to transmit data. For example, the life cycle of the session created by the SMF network element is 8:00am-19:00pm, and the first time can be the session establishment time 8:00am. For another example, the life cycle of the session is 8:00am-19:00pm, the time period during which the session can use the default PCC rule to transmit data is 8:00am-13:00pm, and the first time can be the end time 13:00pm of the time period during which the session can use the default PCC rule to transmit data. In one embodiment, when the first time is the end time of the time period during which the session can use the default PCC rule to transmit data, the first PCC rule generated by the PCF network element can include second indication information. The second indication information is used to indicate that the first PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to a default flow of the session. Further, the second indication information can be two parameters PCC rule with QoS flow associated with the default QoS rule, bind to QoS flow associated with the default QoS rule and apply PCC rule parameters carried by the first PCC rule. In another embodiment, when the first time is the session establishment time, the first PCC rule generated by the PCF network element can include the second indication information, or can not include the second indication information.

[0120] In the embodiments of the present application, the PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule according to the effective service period and the service demand ratio indicated by the first information, and can also generate the first PCC rule according to the first indication information indicated by the first information, or generate the first PCC rule according to the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter carried by the first information. The process of generating the first PCC rule is described below according to the above three possible cases.

[0121] Case 1: The PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule according to the effective service period and the service demand ratio indicated by the first information.

[0122] The PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule for the session at the first time or at a time earlier than the first time based on the effective service period and the service demand ratio corresponding to each of one or more groups of Qos parameters. The first PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the first target Qos parameter included in at least one group of target Qos parameters, the service demand ratio corresponding to the first target Qos parameter is greater than or equal to the first threshold, and the effective service period corresponding to the first target Qos parameter contains the first time. The first threshold is used to indicate the reference value of the service demand ratio required for the Qos parameter used to generate the first PCC rule for the session. For example, the first threshold can be 90%. Further, the PCF network element can select the Qos parameter from one or more groups of Qos parameters, which has a service demand ratio greater than or equal to the first threshold and an effective service period containing the first time. The PCF network element can select the Qos parameter with the largest service demand ratio from the selected Qos parameters as the first target Qos parameter.

[0123] Case 2: The PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule according to the first indication information indicated by the first information.

[0124] The PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule for the session at the first time or at a time earlier than the first time based on the second information and the third information indicated by the first indication information. The first PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to the second target Qos parameter included in the at least one second group of Qos parameters, and the first use time period indicated by the third information corresponding to the second target Qos parameter contains the first time. For example, the PCF network element can select the second group of Qos parameters recommended / predicted by the NWDAF network element as the default PCC rule for the session from one or more groups of Qos parameters based on the second information and the third information. The PCF network element selects the second target Qos parameter from the at least one second group of Qos parameters according to the first use time period indicated by the third information corresponding to the second group of Qos parameters. For example, the PCF network element determines that Qos parameter 1 and Qos parameter 2 can be used as the default PCC rule for the session from the multiple groups of Qos parameters according to the second information. The first use time period indicated by the third information corresponding to the Qos parameter 1 is 9:00am-13:00pm, the first use time period indicated by the third information corresponding to the Qos parameter 2 is 9:00-10:am, and the life cycle of the session is 9:00am-14:00pm. The PCF network element can select the Qos parameter 1 with a larger proportion of the use time period in the life cycle of the session as the second target Qos parameter.

[0125] Case 3: The PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule according to the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter carried by the first information.

[0126] The PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule for the session at the first time or at a time earlier than the first time based on the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter carried by the first information. The first PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to the default Qos parameter, and the use time period indicated by the default active time carried by the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter corresponding to the default Qos parameter contains the first time.

[0127] In an embodiment, when the first information carries recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameters corresponding to one or more groups of Qos parameters respectively, the PCF network element can select at least one Qos parameter recommended / predicted by the NWDAF network element as a default PCC rule for the session from the one or more groups of Qos parameters according to the set value of the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter. The PCF network element selects a default Qos parameter from the selected at least one Qos parameter according to the default active time carried by the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter corresponding to the at least one Qos parameter. The PCF network element generates the first PCC rule based on the default Qos parameter. For example, the PCF network element can determine whether the first group of Qos parameters is a parameter that can be used to generate a default PCC rule for the session by judging whether the set value of the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is a first value. For example, the set values of the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameters corresponding to Qos parameter 1, Qos parameter 2, and Qos parameter 3 are a first value, a first value, and a second value in turn. The PCF network element can determine that Qos parameter 1 and Qos parameter 2 can be used to generate a default PCC rule for the session according to the set values of the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameters. The use period indicated by the default active time corresponding to Qos parameter 1 is 9:00 am-13:00 pm, the use period indicated by the default active time corresponding to Qos parameter 2 is 9:00-10:am, and the life cycle of the session is 9:00 am-14:00 pm. The PCF network element selects a default Qos parameter from Qos parameter 1 and Qos parameter 2 by determining whether the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 1 and the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 2 contain a first time. When the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 1 contains the first time and the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 2 does not contain the first time, the PCF network element selects Qos parameter 1 as the default Qos parameter. When the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 1 contains the first time and the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 2 contains the first time, the PCF network element can select Qos parameter 1 with a larger proportion of use period in the life cycle of the session as the default Qos parameter.

[0128] In another embodiment, when one or more of the Qos parameters in the first information can also carry the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter, the PCF network element can select at least one Qos parameter carrying the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter from the one or more Qos parameters. The Qos parameter carrying the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter is the parameter recommended / predicted by the NWDAF network element that can be used as the default PCC rule for the session. The PCF network element then selects a default Qos parameter from the at least one selected Qos parameter according to the default active time carried by the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter corresponding to the at least one selected Qos parameter. The PCF network element generates the first PCC rule based on the default Qos parameter. For example, Qos parameter 1 and Qos parameter 2 carry the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter parameter, the use period indicated by the default active time corresponding to Qos parameter 1 is 9:00am-13:00pm, and the use period indicated by the default active time corresponding to Qos parameter 2 is 9:00-10:am. When the first time is within the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 1, the PCF network element selects Qos parameter 1 as the default Qos parameter. When the first time is within the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 1 and the first time is within the use period corresponding to Qos parameter 2, the PCF network element can select the Qos parameter with a larger proportion of the use period within the life cycle of the session as the default Qos parameter.

[0129] The PCF network element can send the generated first PCC rule to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the first PCC rule from the PCF network element. The SMF network element can configure the received first PCC rule to the session. For example, when the first time is the end time of the period during which the session can use the default PCC rule to transmit data, the SMF network element can update the default PCC rule in the session to the first PCC rule according to the second indication information in the first PCC rule. For another example, when the first time is the establishment time of the session, the SMF network element can directly configure the received first PCC rule as the default PCC rule of the session.

[0130] Optionally, the PCF network element can further generate a second PCC rule for the session at a second time based on the first information. The second PCC rule is a PCC rule used by a dedicated flow of the session, and the second PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to a third target Qos parameter included in the at least one group of target Qos parameters. An effective service period corresponding to the third target Qos parameter includes a second use time period corresponding to the second PCC rule. The second use time period is used to indicate time period information during which the session can use the second PCC rule to transmit data, and a start time of the second use time period is later than or equal to the second time. Further, the second PCC rule is generated by the PCF network element for the session after the session is created. For example, the second group of target Qos parameters can be Qos parameter 1 and Qos parameter 2, the effective service period 1 corresponding to Qos parameter 1 is 9:00am-13:00pm, and the effective service period 2 corresponding to Qos parameter 2 is 11:00am-15:00pm. When the life cycle of the session is 10:00am-15:00pm, the PCF network element can determine that the session uses Qos parameter 1 to transmit data during 10:00am-13:00pm and uses Qos parameter 2 to transmit data during 11:00am-15:00pm. The PCF network element can generate the second PCC rule 1 corresponding to Qos parameter 1 at 10:00am. The PCF network element can further generate the second PCC rule 2 corresponding to Qos parameter 2 at 11:00am, or the PCF network element can further generate the second PCC rule 2 before 11:00am.

[0131] In an embodiment, after generating the second PCC rule, the PCF network element can send the second PCC rule to the SMF network element. After receiving the second PCC rule, the SMF network element can configure the second PCC rule for the dedicated flow of the session. For example, the PCF network element can send a rule update message to the SMF network element. The rule update message includes the second PCC rule. The rule update message is used to instruct the SMF network element to configure the second PCC rule for the dedicated flow of the session. After receiving the rule update message, the SMF network element can configure the second PCC rule for the session at the start time of the second use time period corresponding to the second PCC rule. For example, the SMF network element establishes a new dedicated flow in the session according to the received second PCC rule, and the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow is the second PCC rule.

[0132] In another embodiment, after generating the second PCC rule, the PCF network element can also send the second PCC rule and the data packet transmission allowed duration corresponding to the third target Qos parameter to the SMF network element. After receiving the second PCC rule and the data packet transmission allowed duration, the SMF network element can configure the second PCC rule for the session. After the SMF network element configures the second PCC rule for the session, the SMF network element can detect the duration that the session does not use the second PCC rule to transmit data. When the duration is greater than the data packet transmission allowed duration, the SMF network element can release the dedicated flow of the session to which the second PCC rule is configured.

[0133] In the content provided by the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the PCF network element can request the NWDAF network element to analyze the Qos parameter used by the session before generating the PCC rule, and obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the session by the NWDAF network element. In this way, the PCF network element can generate the PCC rule for the current session according to one or more sets of Qos parameters in the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the session obtained in advance, saving the time required for the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element can provide corresponding transmission resources for the service of the AF network element in time without interacting with the AF network element in the PCC rule generation process, thereby ensuring the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0134] Based on the method provided by the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the application also provides a communication instance, which is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0135] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the application. Taking the PCF network element generating the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session as an example. As shown in FIG. 3, the method includes the following steps:

[0136] S301: The PCF network element sends an analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the analysis subscription request sent by the PCF network element. The analysis subscription request can be Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe or Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Subscribe. The analysis subscription message can include the analysis subscription request described in the above embodiments.

[0137] The analysis subscription request carries analytics ID / recommendation ID, any UE / UE list / UE ID, and AOI.

[0138] S302: The NWDAF network element collects data from other network elements PCF, SMF, UPF, UDR, AF, and the process is as follows:

[0139] S302a1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. Wherein, the collection request can be Npcf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Npcf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries event ID, which is used to obtain AF session with Qos info.

[0140] S302a2: The PCF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the PCF network element. Wherein, the notification message can be Npcf_EventExposure_Notify, which carries the data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0141] S302b1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. Wherein, the collection request can be Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries event ID, which is used to obtain QFI allocation.

[0142] S302b2: The SMF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the SMF network element. Wherein, the notification message can be Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify, which carries the data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0143] S302c1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the UPF network element. The UPF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. Wherein, the collection request can be Nupf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Nupf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries event ID, which is used to obtain Qos flow, data volume, service duration (service duration).

[0144] S302c2: The UPF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the UPF network element. The notification message can be Nupf_EventExposure_Notify, and carries data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0145] S302d1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the UDR network element. The UDR network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. The collection request can be Nudr_EventExposure_Subscribe. Nudr_EventExposure_Subscribe carries an event ID, which is used to obtain application specific UE behavior.

[0146] S302d2: The UDR network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the UDR network element. The notification message can be Nudr_EventExposure_Notify, and carries data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0147] S302e1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the AF network element. The AF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. The collection request can be Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries an event ID, which is used to obtain service requirements and service ratios corresponding to the service of the application ID.

[0148] S302e2: The AF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the AF network element. The notification message can be Naf_EventExposure_Notify, and carries data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0149] S303: The NWDAF network element generates at least one analysis result according to the collected data.

[0150] Each analysis result includes a UE ID, first information, a DNN, and an S-NSSAI. The PCF network element can save at least one analysis result in the received analysis notification response.

[0151] Optionally, the first information can carry part or all of the following parameters:

[0152] 1) 5QI or a set of Qos parameters, used to indicate a set or sets of Qos parameters that the session established between UE and network element can use.

[0153] 2) service time corresponding to each set of Qos parameters, used to indicate the time period information that the session can use the Qos parameter to transmit data.

[0154] Wherein, service time can contain start time and end time. Start time is used to indicate the start time of data transmission between UE and AF network element using the Qos parameter, and end time is used to indicate the end time of data transmission between UE and AF network element using the Qos parameter.

[0155] 3) Periodic indication corresponding to each set of Qos parameters, used to indicate whether the use of the Qos parameter is periodic use.

[0156] Wherein, when periodic indication indicates true, periodic indication can contain periodic interval and periodic duration.

[0157] 4) Service ratio corresponding to each set of Qos parameters, used to indicate the proportion of the data volume transmitted using the Qos parameter in the total data volume transmitted in the life cycle of the session, or used to indicate the proportion of the effective service time corresponding to the Qos parameter in the total time corresponding to the life cycle of the session.

[0158] 5) Application IDs corresponding to each set of Qos parameters, used to indicate the identification of application ID using the Qos parameter to transmit data.

[0159] Wherein, application IDs can contain service volume, service start time and service stop time corresponding to each application ID. Service volume corresponding to each application ID is used to indicate the data volume of the application ID using the Qos parameter to transmit data. Service start time corresponding to each application ID is used to indicate the start time of the application ID using the Qos parameter to transmit data. Service stop time corresponding to each application ID is used to indicate the end time of the application ID using the Qos parameter to transmit data.

[0160] 6) recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to each group of Qos parameters, used to indicate whether the Qos parameter is as the Qos parameter of the default flow of the PDU session.

[0161] Optionally, the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter indicates that the Qos parameter is as the Qos parameter of the default flow of the session, and the recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter can include a default active time. The default active time is used to indicate the use period of the parameter used as the default flow of the session. Optionally, the default active time can carry [start time, end time] to represent the use period, or can carry [start time, duration time] to represent the use period.

[0162] 7) recommended / predicted inactivity detection time corresponding to each group of Qos parameters, used to indicate the length of the allowed data packet transmission of the Qos parameter.

[0163] S304: The NWDAF network element sends an analysis notification response to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the analysis notification response from the NWDAF network element.

[0164] The analysis notification response Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify / Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Notify includes at least one analysis result.

[0165] S305: The UE sends a session establishment request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the session establishment request from the UE.

[0166] The session establishment request can carry the DNN and S-NSSAI requested by the UE.

[0167] S306: The SMF network element sends a PCC rule request to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the PCC rule request from the SMF network element.

[0168] The PCC rule request is used to request the PCF network element to generate a default PCC rule for a session of the UE. Optionally, the PCC rule request can be a PCC rule request.

[0169] S307: The PCF network element can send an analytics subscription request for the UE to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the analytics subscription request for the UE from the PCF network element.

[0170] When the PCF network element determines that there is no analytics result of the UE in the analytics result stored by the PCF network element, the PCF network element can request the analytics result of the UE from the NWDAF network element. For example, the PCF network element sends an analytics request for the UE to the NWDAF network element to obtain the analytics result of the UE.

[0171] The analytics subscription request can be Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe or Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Subscribe. The analytics subscription request carries the analytics ID / recommendation ID and the UE ID. The analytics subscription message can include the analytics subscription request described in the above embodiments.

[0172] After receiving the analytics subscription request for the UE, the NWDAF network element collects data from other network elements and generates the analytics result of the UE according to the collected data. The analytics result of the UE includes the UE ID and the first information corresponding to the UE. The generation of the analytics result of the UE is the same as the process of generating the analytics result in steps S302-S303, and will not be described here.

[0173] S308: The NWDAF network element sends an analytics notification response for the UE to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the analytics notification response for the UE from the NWDAF network element.

[0174] The analytics notification response Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify / Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Notify includes the analytics result of the UE.

[0175] S309: The PCF network element generates a default PCC rule for the session according to the first information corresponding to the UE.

[0176] The process of generating the default PCC rule by the PCF network element can refer to the process of generating the default PCC rule by the PCF network element in the session establishment in embodiment 1. The first time is the session establishment time.

[0177] Optionally, the default PCC rule can indicate information of a PCC rule corresponding to a default flow of the session.

[0178] S310: The PCF network element sends a PCC rule response to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the PCC rule response from the PCF network element.

[0179] The PCC rule response can be a PCC rule response. The PCC rule response carries the default PCC rule.

[0180] S311: The SMF network element completes establishment of the session based on the default PCC rule.

[0181] The SMF network element can complete establishment of the PDU session by interacting with the UE and the UPF network element based on the default PCC rule.

[0182] S312: The SMF network element sends a session establishment success message to the UE. The UE receives the session establishment success message from the SMF network element.

[0183] S313: The PCF network element generates a PCC rule used by a dedicated flow of the session based on the first information.

[0184] The generation process of the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session is the same as the generation process of the second PCC rule in the above embodiment, and will not be described here.

[0185] S314: The PCF network element sends a rule update request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the rule update request from the PCF network element.

[0186] The rule update request includes the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session, and the rule update request is used to request the SMF network element to modify the session according to the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow. Optionally, the rule update request can also include a data packet transmission allowed time length corresponding to a Qos parameter in the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow.

[0187] Optionally, the rule update request can be an Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request. The Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request carries the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session.

[0188] S315: The SMF network element modifies the session based on the PCC rule in the rule update request.

[0189] For example, the SMF network element can establish a Qos flow corresponding to the PCC rule used by the received special flow in the session according to the PCC rule. For another example, the SMF network element can also bind the PCC rule to an existing Qos flow in the session.

[0190] Optionally, when the SMF network element determines that the duration of no data packet transmission of the special flow is greater than the duration of no data transmission allowed by the Qos parameter used by the special flow, the SMF network element can release the special flow.

[0191] Based on the content shown in FIG. 3, the PCF network element can obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter used by the session of the UE by the NWDAF network element in advance before generating the PCC rule, so that the PCF network element can generate the default PCC rule and the PCC rule used by the special flow according to the analysis result in advance, and the SMF network element configures the PCC rule for the session of the current UE, which saves the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element does not need to interact with the AF network element when performing the generation process of the PCC rule, and can provide the corresponding service flow for the service of the AF network element in time, thereby guaranteeing the timeliness of the service processing of the SMF network element and the service experience of the AF network element.

[0192] FIG. 4 shows another flowchart of a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. For example, the PCF network element updates the default PCC rule of the session. As shown in FIG. 4, the method comprises the following steps:

[0193] S401: The PCF network element sends an analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the analysis subscription request sent by the PCF network element.

[0194] S402: The NWDAF network element collects data from other network elements PCF, SMF, UPF, UDR and AF.

[0195] S403: The NWDAF network element generates at least one analysis result according to the collected data.

[0196] S404: The NWDAF network element sends an analysis notification response to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the analysis notification response from the NWDAF network element.

[0197] S405: The UE sends a session establishment request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the session establishment request from the UE.

[0198] S406: The SMF network element sends a PCC rule request to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the PCC rule request from the SMF network element.

[0199] The PCC rule request is used to request the PCF network element to generate the PCC rule for the session of the UE. Optionally, the PCC rule request can be a PCC rule request.

[0200] S407: The PCF network element can send an analysis subscription request for the UE to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the analysis subscription request for the UE from the PCF network element.

[0201] S408: The NWDAF network element sends an analysis notification response for the UE to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the analysis notification response for the UE from the NWDAF network element.

[0202] S409: The PCF network element generates a default PCC rule for the session according to the first information corresponding to the UE.

[0203] Optionally, the process of the PCF network element generating the default PCC rule can refer to the process of the PCF network element generating the default PCC rule at the session establishment time in Embodiment 1. The first time is the session establishment time.

[0204] Optionally, the default PCC rule can indicate information of the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

[0205] S410: The PCF network element sends a PCC rule response to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the PCC rule response from the PCF network element.

[0206] The PCC rule response can be a PCC rule response. The PCC rule response carries the default PCC rule.

[0207] S411: The SMF network element completes the establishment of the session based on the default PCC rule.

[0208] S412: The SMF network element sends a session establishment success message to the UE. The UE receives the session establishment success message from the SMF network element.

[0209] S401-S412 are the same as S301-S312 in FIG. 3. For specific execution process of S401-S412, please refer to the specific execution process of S301-S312 in FIG. 3, which will not be repeated here.

[0210] S413: The PCF network element generates a new default PCC rule for the session based on the first information.

[0211] The generation process of the new default PCC rule is the same as the generation process of the default PCC rule in the above embodiment, and will not be described here again. The new default PCC rule includes information indicating that the new default PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

[0212] S414: The PCF network element sends a rule update request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the rule update request from the PCF network element.

[0213] The rule update request includes the new default PCC rule generated for the session, and the rule update request is used to request the SMF network element to modify the session according to the new default PCC rule.

[0214] Optionally, the rule update request can be an Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request. The Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request carries the new default PCC rule of the session.

[0215] S415: The SMF network element modifies the session based on the new default PCC rule in the rule update request.

[0216] For example, the SMF network element can modify the PCC rule used by the default flow in the PDU session to the new default PCC rule based on the rule update request.

[0217] Based on the content shown in FIG. 4, the PCF network element can obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter used by the session of the UE by the NWDAF network element in advance before generating the PCC rule. In this way, the PCF network element can generate the default PCC rule adapted to the service of the session of the current UE in advance according to the analysis result, saving the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element can provide the corresponding service flow for the service of the AF network element in time without interacting with the AF network element when performing the generation process of the PCC rule, thereby guaranteeing the timeliness of service processing and ensuring the service experience of the AF network element.

[0218] Based on the content shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the PCF network element in the embodiment generates the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session according to the first information after the session is established, and / or updates the default PCC rule used by the default flow of the session according to the first information. For example, the PCF network element can generate the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session based on the content shown in FIG. 3, or generate the new default PCC rule based on the content shown in FIG. 4, or generate the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session and the new default PCC rule based on the content shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0219] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the first information generated by the NWDAF network element can be stored by the UDR network element. As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the following contents:

[0220] S501: The NWDAF network element generates the first information.

[0221] The first information indicates one or more sets of Qos parameters that can be used by the session established between the first terminal device and the network element, and the service demand ratio and the effective service period corresponding to each of the one or more sets of Qos parameters. Further, the one or more sets of Qos parameters can be 5QI or a set of Qos parameters, the service demand ratio can be service ratio, and the effective service period can be service time. The service demand ratio corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters is used to indicate the proportion of the data amount transmitted by the session using the first set of Qos parameters in the total data amount transmitted in the life cycle of the session, or to indicate the proportion of the effective service period corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters in the total time corresponding to the life cycle of the session. The effective service period corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters is used to indicate the time period information in which the session can use the first set of Qos parameters to transmit data. Further, the effective service period corresponding to the first set of Qos parameters can include the start time of using the first set of Qos parameters to transmit data between the UE and the AF network element, and the end time of data transmission. The first set of Qos parameters is any one of the one or more sets of Qos parameters.

[0222] The NWDAF network element can receive an analysis subscription request from the PCF network element or the UDR network element. The analysis subscription request is used to subscribe to the analysis result of the Qos parameter used by the session established between the UE and the network by the NWDAF network element. Optionally, the PCF network element can send an analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element to subscribe to the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE interested by the PCF network element. Optionally, the UDR network element can send an analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element to subscribe to the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE interested by the UDR network element. The analysis subscription request is the same as the analysis subscription request in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and will not be described here.

[0223] After receiving the analysis subscription request, the NWDAF network element can collect data from other network elements based on the analysis subscription request, and comprehensively analyze the collected data to obtain at least one analysis result. Among them, the process of the NWDAF network element collecting data from other network elements is the same as the process of the NWDAF network element collecting data from other network elements in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and will not be repeated here. For example, the NWDAF network element can analyze the collected data according to historical analysis information or trained session Qos analysis information model to obtain at least one analysis result. Among them, the other network elements can be PCF network element, SMF network element, UPF network element, UDR network element, AF network element. Each analysis result includes UE ID and first information. Among them, the first information in each analysis result is the same as the first information in each analysis result in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and will not be repeated here.

[0224] S502: The NWDAF network element sends the first information to the UDR network element. The UDR network element receives the first information from the NWDAF network element.

[0225] In an embodiment, when the analysis subscription request is sent by the UDR network element to the NWDAF network element, the NWDAF network element can send the analysis notification response to the UDR network element. Among them, the analysis notification response includes at least one analysis result. Each analysis result includes UE ID and first information.

[0226] In another embodiment, when the analysis subscription request is sent by the PCF network element to the NWDAF network element, the NWDAF network element sends the analysis notification response to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the analysis notification response from the NWDAF network element, and sends at least one analysis result included in the analysis notification response to the UDR network element. Among them, each analysis result includes UE ID and first information.

[0227] S503: The UDR network element stores the first information.

[0228] Exemplarily, the UDR network element can store the received at least one analysis result in PDU session policy control data of the UDR network element. Further, the UDR network element can store the first information in the at least one analysis result in policy parameter for future service under the PDU session policy control data corresponding to the UE. For example, when the UE ID in the analysis result 1 indicates UE1, the UDR network element can store the first information of the analysis result 1 in the policy parameter for future service under the PDU session policy control data of UE1.

[0229] Optionally, after storing the first information in the at least one analysis result, the UDR network element can further send first notification information to the PCF network element. The first notification information is used to notify the PCF network element that the UDR network element has stored the first information. Exemplarily, when the UDR network element stores the received at least one analysis result, the UDR network element can send the first notification information to the PCF network element, so as to inform the PCF network element that the UDR network element has stored the at least one analysis result. In this way, when the PCF network element needs to generate PCC rules for the session of the UE according to the first information, the PCF network element can obtain the analysis result of the UE from the UDR network element.

[0230] S504: The UDR network element sends the stored first information to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the stored first information from the UDR network element.

[0231] After storing the first information, the UDR network element can send the first information to the PCF network element, or can send the first information to the PCF network element after receiving a request from the PCF network element. The process of the UDR network element sending the first information is described below according to the above two possible ways.

[0232] Method 1: After storing the first information, the UDR network element sends the first information to the PCF network element.

[0233] The UDR network element can send the at least one analysis result stored in the UDR network element to the PCF network element. Exemplarily, the UDR network element can send Nudr_DM_Notify to the PCF network element. The Nudr_DM_Notify contains the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the PDU session of the UE stored in the UDR network element. In this way, the PCF network element can obtain the first information corresponding to the UE stored in the UDR network element.

[0234] Manner 2: After receiving the request of the PCF network element, the UDR network element sends the first information to the PCF network element.

[0235] The PCF network element sends a first request to the UDR network element when receiving the PCC rule request sent by the SMF network element. The first request is used to obtain the first information. The PCC rule request is used to request the PCF network element to generate a default PCC rule for the session of the UE. For example, the SMF network element can send the PCC rule request to the PCF network element when receiving the session establishment request from the UE. After receiving the PCC rule request, the PCF network element can send the first request to the UDR network element. Optionally, the first request can be Nudr_DM_Query, which is used to obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the PDU session of the UE stored in the UDR network element. For example, the Nudr_DM_Query can carry the following parameters:

[0236] Subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), which is used to indicate the ID of the UE;

[0237] DNN, which is used to indicate the data network name information carried by the UE when establishing the PDU session;

[0238] S-NSSAI, which is used to indicate the slice information carried by the UE when establishing the PDU session;

[0239] Policy data, which is used to indicate the policy information of the UE stored in the UDR network element and requested by the PCF network element;

[0240] PDU Session policy control data, which is used to indicate the policy information of the PDU session of the UE stored in the UDR network element and requested by the PCF network element.

[0241] After receiving the first request, the UDR network element sends a first response to the PCF network element. The first response includes the stored first information. Optionally, the first response can be Nudr_DM_Query. The Nudr_DM_Query can include the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the PDU session of the UE stored in the UDR network element.

[0242] S505: The PCF network element generates at least one set of PCC rules corresponding to the target Qos parameter based on the received first information.

[0243] The at least one set of target Qos parameters belongs to one or more sets of Qos parameters. The at least one set of target Qos parameters respectively corresponds to one of the PCC rules. The one of the PCC rules can be a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, or a PCC rule used by a dedicated flow of the session. For example, the PCF network element can generate a default PCC rule for the session when the SMF network element creates the session, or generate a default PCC rule or a PCC rule used by a dedicated flow of the session that is adapted to the service in the session during use of the session.

[0244] The PCF network element can generate a first PCC rule for the session based on the first information. The first PCC rule is a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, i.e., the first PCC rule is a default PCC rule of the session. Optionally, the PCF network element can generate the first PCC rule for the session at the first time, or generate the first PCC rule for the session at a time earlier than the first time. The first time can be a time when the session is established, or a time when a period during which the session can transmit data using the default PCC rule ends. In an embodiment, when the first time is the time when the period during which the session can transmit data using the default PCC rule ends, the first PCC rule generated by the PCF network element can include second indication information. The second indication information is used to indicate that the first PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to a default flow of the session. Further, the second indication information can be two parameters PCC rule with QoS flow associated with the default QoS rule, bind to QoS flow associated with the default QoS rule and apply PCC rule parameters carried by the first PCC rule. In another embodiment, when the first time is the time when the session is established, the first PCC rule generated by the PCF network element can include the second indication information or not include the second indication information. In the embodiment of the present application, the process of generating the first PCC rule by the PCF network element is the same as the process of generating the first PCC rule by the PCF network element in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and will not be described here.

[0245] The PCF network element can send the generated first PCC rule to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the first PCC rule from the PCF network element. The SMF network element can configure the received first PCC rule to the session.

[0246] Optionally, the PCF network element can also generate a second PCC rule for the session at a second time based on the first information. The second PCC rule is a PCC rule used by a dedicated flow of the session, and the second PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to a third target Qos parameter included in the at least one group of target Qos parameters. An effective service period corresponding to the third target Qos parameter includes a second use time period corresponding to the second PCC rule, the second use time period is used to indicate time period information during which the session can use the second PCC rule to transmit data, and a starting time of the second use time period is later than or equal to the second time. In the embodiment of the application, the generation process of the second PCC rule is the same as the generation process of the second PCC rule in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and will not be described here.

[0247] In an embodiment, after generating the second PCC rule, the PCF network element can send the second PCC rule to the SMF network element. After receiving the second PCC rule, the SMF network element can configure the second PCC rule for the dedicated flow of the session.

[0248] In another embodiment, after generating the second PCC rule, the PCF network element can also send the second PCC rule and a data packet transmission allowed duration corresponding to the third target Qos parameter to the SMF network element. After receiving the second PCC rule and the data packet transmission allowed duration, the SMF network element can configure the second PCC rule for the session. After the SMF network element completes the configuration of the second PCC rule for the session, the SMF network element can detect a continuous duration during which the session does not use the second PCC rule to transmit data. When the continuous duration is greater than the data packet transmission allowed duration, the SMF network element can release the dedicated flow of the session to which the second PCC rule is configured.

[0249] Based on the content provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the PCF network element or the UDR network element can request the NWDAF network element for an analysis result of a Qos parameter of a PDU session of a UE, so as to make the UDR network element store the analysis result. In this way, when the PCF network element needs to generate a PCC rule for a session of the UE, the PCF network element can directly generate the PCC rule for the current session according to the analysis result corresponding to the UE obtained from the UDR network element, thereby saving the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element can timely provide corresponding transmission resources for the service of the AF network element in the PCC rule generation process without interacting with the AF network element, thereby guaranteeing the timeliness of service processing and service experience.

[0250] Based on the method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the application further provides a communication instance, which is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

[0251] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. For example, the UDR network element sends an analysis subscription request, and the PCF network element generates PCC rules used by the session for a dedicated flow. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes the following steps:

[0252] S601: The UDR network element sends an analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the analysis subscription request sent by the UDR network element.

[0253] The analysis subscription request can be Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe or Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Subscribe. The analysis subscription request can include the analysis subscription request described in the above embodiments. The analysis subscription request carries analytics ID / recommendation ID, any UE / UE list / UE ID, and AOI.

[0254] S602: The NWDAF network element collects data from other network elements PCF, SMF, UPF, UDR, and AF, and the process is as follows:

[0255] S602a1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. The collection request can be Npcf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Npcf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries event ID, which is used to obtain AF session with Qos info.

[0256] S602a2: The PCF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the PCF network element. The notification message can be Npcf_EventExposure_Notify, which carries the data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0257] S602b1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. The collection request can be Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Nsmf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries event ID, which is used to obtain QFI allocation.

[0258] S602b2: The SMF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the SMF network element. Wherein, the notification message can be Nsmf_EventExposure_Notify, carrying the data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0259] S602c1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the UPF network element. The UPF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. Wherein, the collection request can be Nupf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Nupf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries an event ID, which is used to obtain Qos flow, data volume, service duration.

[0260] S602c2: The UPF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the UPF network element. Wherein, the notification message can be Nupf_EventExposure_Notify, carrying the data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0261] S602d1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the UDR network element. The UDR network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. Wherein, the collection request can be Nudr_EventExposure_Subscribe. Nudr_EventExposure_Subscribe carries an event ID, which is used to obtain application specific UE behavio.

[0262] S602d2: The UDR network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the UDR network element. Wherein, the notification message can be Nudr_EventExposure_Notify, carrying the data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0263] S602e1: The NWDAF network element sends a collection request to the AF network element. The AF network element receives the collection request from the NWDAF network element. Wherein, the collection request can be Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe. Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe carries an event ID, which is used to obtain service requirement, service ratio corresponding to the service of the application ID.

[0264] S602e2: The AF network element sends a notification message to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the notification message from the AF network element. The notification message can be Naf_EventExposure_Notify, carrying the data required by the NWDAF network element.

[0265] S603: The NWDAF network element generates at least one analysis result according to the collected data.

[0266] Each analysis result includes UE ID, first information, DNN, and S-NSSAI. The PCF network element can save at least one analysis result in the received analysis notification response.

[0267] Optionally, the first information can carry part or all of the following parameters:

[0268] 1) 5QI or a set of Qos parameters, used to indicate a set or multiple sets of Qos parameters that can be used by the session established between the UE and the network element.

[0269] 2) service time corresponding to each set of Qos parameters, used to indicate time period information of the session using the Qos parameter to transmit data.

[0270] The service time can include start time and end time. The start time is used to indicate the start time of using the Qos parameter to transmit data between the UE and the AF network element, and the end time is used to indicate the end time of using the Qos parameter to transmit data between the UE and the AF network element.

[0271] 3) periodic indication corresponding to each set of Qos parameters, used to indicate whether the use of the Qos parameter is periodic.

[0272] When the periodic indication is true, the periodic indication can include periodic interval and periodic duration.

[0273] 4) service ratio corresponding to each set of Qos parameters, used to indicate the proportion of the data amount transmitted using the Qos parameter in the total data amount transmitted in the life cycle of the session, or used to indicate the proportion of the valid service time corresponding to the Qos parameter in the total time corresponding to the life cycle of the session.

[0274] 5) application IDs corresponding to each group of Qos parameters, used to indicate the identification of application IDs using the Qos parameter to transmit data.

[0275] application IDs can contain service volume, service start time, and service stop time corresponding to each application ID. Service volume corresponding to each application ID is used to indicate the data volume of the application ID using the Qos parameter to transmit data. Service start time corresponding to each application ID is used to indicate the start time of the application ID using the Qos parameter to transmit data. Service stop time corresponding to each application ID is used to indicate the end time of the application ID using the Qos parameter to transmit data.

[0276] 6) recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter corresponding to each group of Qos parameters, used to indicate whether the Qos parameter is used as the Qos parameter of the default flow of the PDU session.

[0277] Optionally, recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter indicates that the Qos parameter is used as the Qos parameter of the default flow of the session, and recommended / predicted as default Qos parameter can contain default active time. Wherein, default active time is used to indicate the use period of the Qos parameter used as the parameter of the default flow of the session. Optionally, default active time can carry [start time, end time] to represent the use period, or can carry [start time, duration time] to represent the use period.

[0278] 7) recommended / predicted inactivity detection time corresponding to each group of Qos parameters, used to indicate the length of time allowed for no data packet transmission of the Qos parameter.

[0279] S604: The NWDAF network element sends an analysis notification response to the UDR network element. The UDR network element receives the analysis notification response from the NWDAF network element.

[0280] The analysis notification response Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify / Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Notify includes at least one analysis result.

[0281] S605: The UDR network element stores the at least one analysis result.

[0282] For example, the UDR network element can store the at least one analysis result into PDU session policy control data. After the UDR network element stores the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE sent by the NWDAF network element, the UDR network element can also send first notification information to the PCF network element. The first notification information is used to indicate that the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE has been stored in the UDR network element.

[0283] The PCF network element can obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE by performing step S606 or S609-S610. The following describes the step of obtaining the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE by the PCF network element.

[0284] S606: The UDR network element sends the stored analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the stored analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE from the UDR network element.

[0285] Optionally, the UDR network element can send Nudr_DM_Notity to the PCF network element. The Nudr_DM_Notity carries the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE.

[0286] S607: The UE sends a session establishment request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the session establishment request from the UE.

[0287] The session establishment request can carry the DNN and the S-NSSAI requested by the UE.

[0288] S608: The SMF network element sends a PCC rule request to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the PCC rule request from the SMF network element.

[0289] The PCC rule request is used to request the PCF network element to generate a default PCC rule for the session of the UE. Optionally, the PCC rule request can be PCC rule request.

[0290] S609: The PCF network element sends a first request to the UDR network element. The UDR network element receives the first request from the PCF network element.

[0291] The first request is used to obtain the analysis result of the UE stored in the UDR network element. Optionally, the first request can be Nudr_DM_Query. The Nudr_DM_Query can carry the following parameters: SUPI, DNN, S-NSSAI, policy data, PDU session policy control data, and indication. The indication is used to indicate the request for the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE stored in the UDR network element and obtained from the NWDAF network element.

[0292] S610: The UDR network element sends a first response to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the first response from the UDR network element.

[0293] The first response contains the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE stored in the UDR network element.

[0294] S611: The PCF network element generates a default PCC rule for the session according to the first information in the received analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE.

[0295] The process of generating the default PCC rule by the PCF network element can refer to the same process of generating the default PCC rule by the PCF network element at the session establishment time in Embodiment 1. The first time is the session establishment time.

[0296] Optionally, the default PCC rule can indicate the information of the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

[0297] S612: The PCF network element sends a PCC rule response to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the PCC rule response from the PCF network element.

[0298] The PCC rule response can be PCC rule response. The PCC rule response carries the default PCC rule.

[0299] S613: The SMF network element completes the establishment of the session based on the default PCC rule.

[0300] The SMF network element can complete the establishment of the PDU session by interacting with the UE and the UPF network element based on the default PCC rule.

[0301] S614: The SMF network element sends a session establishment success message to the UE. The UE receives the session establishment success message from the SMF network element.

[0302] S615: The PCF network element generates a PCC rule used by a specific flow for the session based on the first information in the received analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE.

[0303] The generation process of the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session is the same as the generation process of the second PCC rule in the above embodiment, and will not be described here.

[0304] S616: The PCF network element sends a rule update request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the rule update request from the PCF network element.

[0305] The rule update request includes the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow generated for the session, and the rule update request is used to request the SMF network element to modify the session according to the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow. Optionally, the rule update request can also include the no data packet transmission allowed duration corresponding to the Qos parameter in the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow.

[0306] Optionally, the rule update request can be Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request. The Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request carries the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow of the session.

[0307] S617: The SMF network element modifies the session based on the PCC rule in the rule update request.

[0308] For example, the SMF network element can establish a Qos flow corresponding to the PCC rule in the session according to the received PCC rule used by the dedicated flow. For another example, the SMF network element can also bind the PCC rule to an existing Qos flow in the session.

[0309] Optionally, when the SMF network element determines that the duration of no data packet transmission of the dedicated flow is greater than the no data packet transmission allowed duration corresponding to the Qos parameter used by the dedicated flow, the SMF network element can release the dedicated flow.

[0310] Based on the content shown in Figure 6, when storing the analysis results of the UE's QoS parameters sent by the NWDAF network element, the UDR network element can directly send the analysis results to the PCF network element. Alternatively, when generating PCC rules for a session, the PCF network element can directly obtain the analysis results of the UE's QoS parameters stored in the UDR network element. In this way, the PCF network element can obtain the analysis results of the UE's QoS parameters before generating PCC rules, and generate default PCC rules and dedicated flow PCC rules adapted to the current UE's session based on the first information in the analysis results. This eliminates the time required for the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element. In other words, the PCF network element can provide the corresponding service flow for the AF network element's services in a timely manner without interacting with the AF network element when executing the PCC rule generation process, thereby ensuring the timeliness of service processing and guaranteeing the service experience of the AF network element.

[0311] Figure 7 illustrates another flowchart of the communication method provided in this application embodiment. It takes, for example, a UDR network element sending an analysis subscription request and a PCF network element updating the default PCC rules of the session. As shown in Figure 7, the method includes the following steps:

[0312] S701: The UDR network element sends an analysis subscription request to the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element receives the analysis subscription request sent from the UDR network element.

[0313] S702: The NWDAF network element collects data from other network elements such as PCF, SMF, UPF, UDR, and AF.

[0314] S703: The NWDAF network element generates at least one analysis result based on the collected data.

[0315] S704: The NWDAF network element sends an analysis notification response to the UDR network element. The UDR network element receives the analysis notification response from the NWDAF network element.

[0316] The analysis notification response Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify / Nnwdaf_Recommendations_Notify includes at least one analysis result.

[0317] S705: The UDR network element stores at least one analysis result.

[0318] Exemplarily, the UDR network element can store the at least one analysis result into the PDU session policy control data. After the UDR network element stores the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE sent by the NWDAF network element, the UDR network element can further send first notification information to the PCF network element. The first notification information is used to indicate that the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE has been stored in the UDR network element.

[0319] The embodiment of the present application can make the PCF network element obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE by performing steps S706 or S709-S710. The steps of the PCF network element obtaining the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE are described as follows.

[0320] S706: The UDR network element sends the stored analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the stored analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE from the UDR network element.

[0321] Optionally, the UDR network element can send Nudr_DM_Notity to the PCF network element. The Nudr_DM_Notity carries the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE.

[0322] S707: The UE sends a session establishment request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the session establishment request from the UE.

[0323] The session establishment request can carry the DNN and the S-NSSAI requested by the UE.

[0324] S708: The SMF network element sends a PCC rule request to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the PCC rule request from the SMF network element.

[0325] The PCC rule request is used to request the PCF network element to generate a default PCC rule for the session of the UE. Optionally, the PCC rule request can be PCC rule request.

[0326] S709: The PCF network element sends a first request to the UDR network element. The UDR network element receives the first request from the PCF network element.

[0327] The first request is used to obtain the analysis result of the UE stored in the UDR network element. Optionally, the first request can be Npcf_DM_Query. The Npcf_DM_Query can carry the following parameters: SUPI, DNN, S-NSSAI, policy data, PDU session policy control data, and indication. The indication is used to indicate the request for the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE saved in the UDR network element from the NWDAF network element.

[0328] S710: The UDR network element sends a first response to the PCF network element. The PCF network element receives the first response from the UDR network element.

[0329] The first response contains the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE stored in the UDR network element.

[0330] S711: The PCF network element generates a default PCC rule for the session according to the first information in the received analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE.

[0331] The process of generating the default PCC rule by the PCF network element can refer to the same process of generating the default PCC rule by the PCF network element at the session establishment time in Embodiment 1. The first time is the session establishment time.

[0332] Optionally, the default PCC rule can indicate the information of the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

[0333] S712: The PCF network element sends a PCC rule response to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the PCC rule response from the PCF network element.

[0334] The PCC rule response can be PCC rule response. The PCC rule response carries the default PCC rule.

[0335] S713: The SMF network element completes the establishment of the session based on the default PCC rule.

[0336] The SMF network element can complete the establishment of the PDU session by interacting with the UE and the UPF network element based on the default PCC rule.

[0337] S714: The SMF network element sends a session establishment success message to the UE. The UE receives the session establishment success message from the SMF network element.

[0338] S701-S714 are the same as S601-S614 in FIG. 6, and the specific execution process of S701-S714 can refer to the specific execution process of S601-S614 in FIG. 6, which will not be repeated here.

[0339] S715: The PCF network element generates a new default PCC rule for the session based on the first information in the analysis result of the received Qos parameter of the UE.

[0340] The generation process of the new default PCC rule is the same as the generation process of the default PCC rule in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here. The new default PCC rule includes information indicating that the new default PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

[0341] S716: The PCF network element sends a rule update request to the SMF network element. The SMF network element receives the rule update request from the PCF network element.

[0342] The rule update request includes the new default PCC rule generated for the session, and the rule update request is used to request the SMF network element to modify the session according to the new default PCC rule.

[0343] Optionally, the rule update request can be Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request. The Npcf_SMPolicyControl_UpdateNotify request carries the new default PCC rule of the session.

[0344] S717: The SMF network element modifies the session based on the new default PCC rule in the rule update request.

[0345] For example, the SMF network element can modify the PCC rule used by the default flow in the PDU session to the new default PCC rule based on the rule update request.

[0346] Based on the content shown in FIG. 7, the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the session of the UE by the NWDAF network element can be pre-stored in the UDR, and the UDR network element can directly send the analysis result to the PCF network element when storing the analysis result, or the PCF network element can directly obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE stored by the UDR network element from the UDR network element. In this way, the PCF network element can obtain the analysis result of the Qos parameter of the session of the UE in advance before generating the PCC rule, and can also generate the default PCC rule adapted to the service of the session for the current session of the UE according to the obtained analysis result of the Qos parameter of the UE, thereby saving the time required by the interaction process between the AF network element and the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element can provide the corresponding service flow for the service of the AF network element in time without interacting with the AF network element when performing the generation process of the PCC rule, thereby guaranteeing the timeliness of service processing and ensuring the service experience of the AF network element.

[0347] In combination with the content shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the PCF network element in the embodiment of the present application generates the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow for the session according to the first information after the session is established, and / or updates the default PCC rule used by the default flow for the session according to the first information. Exemplarily, the PCF network element can generate the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow for the session based on the content shown in FIG. 6, can generate a new default PCC rule for the session based on the content shown in FIG. 7, or can generate the PCC rule used by the dedicated flow and the new default PCC rule for the session based on the content of FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0348] It is worth noting that the execution order of each step in the above method embodiment is only an example, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this. The above mainly introduces the scheme provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of device interaction. It can be understood that, in order to realize the above functions, each device can include a corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in the present text, the embodiments of the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and implementation manner constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0349] The embodiments of the present application can divide the functional units of the device according to the above method examples, for example, each functional unit can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or software functional unit.

[0350] The above describes the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application mainly from the perspective of the interaction between network elements. It can be understood that the execution sequence of each step in the above method embodiments is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard. In order to realize the above functions, each device can include a hardware structure and / or a software module for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the embodiments of the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is realized in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and implementation manner constraints of the technical scheme. Professional technicians can use different methods to realize the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0351] The embodiments of the present application can divide the functional units of the network element according to the above method examples, for example, each functional unit can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or software functional unit.

[0352] In the case of using an integrated unit, FIG. 8 shows a possible exemplary block diagram of a communication apparatus involved in the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication apparatus 800 can include a sending unit 801, a processing unit 802 and a receiving unit 803. The processing unit 802 is configured to control and manage the actions of the communication apparatus 800. The receiving unit 803 is configured to support the communication between the communication apparatus 800 and other devices. Optionally, the receiving unit 803 and the sending unit 801 can also be a unit (such as a transceiving unit or a communication unit) that can be used to perform receiving and sending operations. Optionally, the communication apparatus 800 can further include a storage unit 804 configured to store the program code and / or data of the communication apparatus 800.

[0353] The processing unit 802 can support the communication apparatus 800 to perform the actions of the first network element, the third network element or the fourth network element in each method example. Alternatively, the processing unit 802 mainly performs the internal actions of the first network element, the third network element or the fourth network element in the method examples. The receiving unit 803 and the sending unit 801 can support the communication between the communication apparatus 1800 and other devices.

[0354] For example, the communication apparatus 800 can be a first network element in the above-mentioned various embodiments, or can also be a component (such as a chip) of the first network element in the above-mentioned various embodiments.

[0355] The processing unit 802 is configured to receive, by the receiving unit 803, first information indicating one or more groups of Qos parameters that can be used by a session established between a first terminal device and a network, and service demand ratios and valid service time periods corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters respectively; the service demand ratio corresponding to a first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a proportion of a total amount of data transmitted in a life cycle of the session to an amount of data transmitted by the session using the first group of Qos parameters, or is used to indicate a proportion of a total time period corresponding to the life cycle of the session to a valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters; the valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate time period information during which the session can transmit data using the first group of Qos parameters; the first group of Qos parameters is any one of the one or more groups of Qos parameters; the processing unit 802 is configured to generate, based on the first information, policy and control (PCC) rules corresponding to at least one group of target Qos parameters respectively; the at least one group of target Qos parameters belongs to the one or more groups of Qos parameters.

[0356] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to:

[0357] generate, based on the first information, a first PCC rule for the session at a first time, the first PCC rule being a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, the first PCC rule being a PCC rule corresponding to a first target Qos parameter included in the at least one group of target Qos parameters, a service demand ratio corresponding to the first target Qos parameter being greater than or equal to a first threshold value, and a valid service time period corresponding to the first target Qos parameter containing the first time, the first threshold value being used to indicate a reference value of a service demand ratio required for generating the first PCC rule using Qos parameters for the session.

[0358] In a possible implementation, the first information further indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of Qos parameters respectively, the first indication information being used to indicate second information and third information, the at least one second group of Qos parameters belonging to the one or more groups of Qos parameters.

[0359] The second information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the one second group of Qos parameters can be used as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session.

[0360] The third information corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a first time period for using the one second group of Qos parameters as parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and the first time period is included in a valid service time period corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters.

[0361] The processing unit 802 is specifically configured to:

[0362] generate, based on the second information and the third information, a first PCC rule for the session at a first time, the first PCC rule being a PCC rule used by a default flow of the session, the first PCC rule being a PCC rule corresponding to a second target Qos parameter included in the at least one second group of Qos parameters, and a first time period indicated by third information corresponding to the second target Qos parameter including the first time.

[0363] In a possible implementation, the first PCC rule includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the first PCC rule is a PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

[0364] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 802 is specifically configured to:

[0365] generate, based on the first information, a second PCC rule for the session at a second time, the second PCC rule being a PCC rule used by a specific flow of the session, the second PCC rule being a PCC rule corresponding to a third target Qos parameter included in the at least one group of target Qos parameters, a second time period corresponding to the second PCC rule being included in a valid service time period corresponding to the third target Qos parameter, the second time period being used to indicate time period information in which the session can use the second PCC rule to transmit data, and a starting time of the second time period being later than or equal to the second time.

[0366] In a possible implementation, the first information further indicates a data packet non-transmission allowed time length corresponding to each of the one or more groups of Qos parameters; and the processing unit 802 is further configured to send, by the sending unit 801, the second PCC rule and the data packet non-transmission allowed time length corresponding to the third target Qos parameter to a second network element.

[0367] For another example, the communication apparatus 800 can be a third network element in each of the above-described embodiments, or can also be a component (such as a chip) of the third network element in each of the above-described embodiments.

[0368] The processing unit 802 is configured to generate first information, the first information indicating one or more groups of Qos parameters that can be used by a session established between a first terminal device and a network, and service demand ratios and valid service time periods corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters respectively; the service demand ratio corresponding to a first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a proportion of a total amount of data transmitted in a life cycle of the session to an amount of data transmitted by using the first group of Qos parameters, or is used to indicate a proportion of a total time period corresponding to the life cycle of the session to a valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters; the valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate time period information during which the session can transmit data by using the first group of Qos parameters; the first group of Qos parameters is any one of the one or more groups of Qos parameters.

[0369] The processing unit 802 is configured to send the first information to a first network element through the sending unit 801.

[0370] In a possible implementation, the first information further indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of Qos parameters respectively, the first indication information being used to indicate second information and third information, the at least one second group of Qos parameters belonging to the one or more groups of Qos parameters; the second information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the one second group of Qos parameters can be used as a parameter for generating a default PCC rule for the session; and the third information corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a first use time period of the one second group of Qos parameters as the parameter for generating the default PCC rule for the session, the first use time period being included in a valid service time period corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters.

[0371] In a possible implementation, the first information further indicates a data packet transmission allowed time period corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters respectively.

[0372] For another example, the communication apparatus 800 can be a fourth network element in each of the above-described embodiments, or can also be a component (such as a chip) of the fourth network element in each of the above-described embodiments.

[0373] The processing unit 802 is configured to receive, by the receiving unit 803, first information, the first information indicating one or more groups of Qos parameters that can be used by a session established between a first terminal device and a network, and service demand ratios and valid service time periods corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters respectively; the service demand ratio corresponding to a first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a proportion of a total amount of data transmitted in a life cycle of the session to an amount of data transmitted by the session using the first group of Qos parameters, or is used to indicate a proportion of a total time period corresponding to the life cycle of the session to a valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters; the valid service time period corresponding to the first group of Qos parameters is used to indicate time period information during which the session can transmit data using the first group of Qos parameters; the first group of Qos parameters is any one of the one or more groups of Qos parameters.

[0374] The processing unit 802 is configured to store the first information.

[0375] The processing unit 802 is configured to send, by the sending unit 801, the stored first information to a first network element.

[0376] In a possible implementation, the first information further indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of Qos parameters respectively, the first indication information being used to indicate second information and third information, the at least one second group of Qos parameters belonging to the one or more groups of Qos parameters.

[0377] The second information corresponding to one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate that the one second group of Qos parameters can be used as parameters for generating a default PCC rule for the session.

[0378] The third information corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters is used to indicate a first use time period of the one second group of Qos parameters as the parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session, the first use time period being included in a valid service time period corresponding to the one second group of Qos parameters.

[0379] In a possible implementation, the first information further indicates a data packet non-transmission allowed time period corresponding to the one or more groups of Qos parameters respectively.

[0380] In a possible implementation, the processor is specifically configured to:

[0381] receive, by the receiving unit 803, a first request from the first network element, the first request being used to acquire the first information;

[0382] send, by the sending unit 801, a first response to the first network element, the first response including the stored first information.

[0383] In a possible implementation, the processor is further configured to:

[0384] The sending unit 801 sends first notification information to the first network element, where the first notification information is used to notify the first network element that the first information has been stored in the fourth network element.

[0385] It should be understood that the division of units in the above apparatus is only a logical functional division, and all or part of the units can be integrated into one physical entity, or can be physically separated. The units in the apparatus can all be implemented in the form of software invoked by a processing element; or all be implemented in the form of hardware; or some units are implemented in the form of software invoked by a processing element, and some units are implemented in the form of hardware. For example, each unit can be a separately established processing element, or can be integrated into a chip of the apparatus, in addition, the unit can also be stored in the form of a program in a memory, and the function of the unit is invoked and executed by a processing element of the apparatus. In addition, all or part of the units can be integrated together, or can be independently implemented. The processing element herein can be a processor, which can be an integrated circuit with a signal processing capability. In the implementation process, the operations of the above method or the above units can be implemented by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processing element, or in the form of software invoked by the processing element.

[0386] In one example, the units in any of the above apparatuses can be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, for example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of the integrated circuit forms. For another example, when the units in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of a program invoked by a processing element, the processing element can be a processor, such as a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), or other processors that can invoke programs. For another example, the units can be integrated together, and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[0387] The above receiving unit is an interface circuit of the apparatus for receiving signals from other apparatuses. For example, when the apparatus is implemented in the form of a chip, the receiving unit is an interface circuit of the chip for receiving signals from other chips or apparatuses. The above sending unit is an interface circuit of the apparatus for sending signals to other apparatuses. For example, when the apparatus is implemented in the form of a chip, the sending unit is an interface circuit of the chip for sending signals to other chips or apparatuses.

[0388] Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a schematic diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application, used to implement the operations of the NFc or NWDAF network element in the above embodiments. The communication apparatus 900 includes a processor 910 and an interface 930. Optionally, the communication apparatus 900 further includes a memory 920. The interface 930 is configured to implement communication with other devices.

[0389] In the above embodiments, the method performed by the first network element, the third network element or the fourth network element can be implemented by the processor 910 invoking a program stored in the memory (which can be the memory 920 in the first network element, the third network element or the fourth network element, or an external memory). That is, the communication apparatus 900 used to implement the functions of the first network element, the third network element or the fourth network element can include the processor 910, which performs the method performed by the first network element, the third network element or the fourth network element in the above method embodiments by invoking the program in the memory. The processor here can be an integrated circuit with signal processing capability, such as a CPU. The access network device can be implemented by one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method. For example: one or more ASICs, or one or more microprocessors DSPs, or one or more FPGAs, etc., or a combination of at least two of these integrated circuit forms. Alternatively, the above implementation manners can be combined.

[0390] When the communication apparatus 900 is used for the above method, the processor 910 is configured to implement the functions of the above processing unit 802, and the interface 930 is configured to implement the functions of the above sending unit 801 and receiving unit 803.

[0391] In the embodiments described above, all or some of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or some of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product storing computer program instructions. The computer program instructions are executed in a computer to implement all or some of the embodiments described above. The computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatuses. The computer program instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer program instructions can be transmitted from a website, a computer, a server or a data center to another website, computer, server or data center through a wired (for example, coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (for example, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. integrated with one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (for example, floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, DVD), or a semiconductor medium (for example, solid state disk (SSD)) and the like.

[0392] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed by a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The general purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or alternatively, the general purpose processor can be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration.

[0393] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software unit can reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC.

[0394] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0395] In one or more exemplary implementations, the functions described can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions can be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or data signals adapted for

[0396] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in one or more examples described above, the functions described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the functions can be stored in a computer readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or codes on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium includes computer storage medium and communication medium, wherein the communication medium includes any medium that facilitates transfer of computer programs from one place to another. The storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a general or special purpose computer.

[0397] The above detailed description of the specific implementation of the present application has further detailed the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific implementation of the embodiments of the present application and is not used to limit the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. The above description of the present application specification can enable any person skilled in the art to utilize or implement the embodiments of the present application. Any modification based on the disclosed content should be considered as obvious in the art and the basic principles described in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to other variations without deviating from the essence and scope of the present application. Therefore, the content disclosed in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to the described embodiments and implementation, but can be extended to the maximum scope consistent with the principles of the present application and the disclosed new features.

[0398] Although the present application is described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments thereof, it is obvious that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present application. Accordingly, the present specification and drawings are merely illustrative of the exemplary embodiments of the present application and are to be regarded as covering any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present application. Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalent technologies, the embodiments of the present application also intend to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the first network element, the method includes: The system receives first information, which indicates one or more sets of QoS parameters that can be used in a session established between the first terminal device and the network, as well as the service demand ratio and effective service period corresponding to each of the one or more sets of QoS parameters. The service demand ratio corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the proportion of the amount of data transmitted by the session using the first set of QoS parameters in the total amount of data transmitted during the session's lifetime, or to indicate the proportion of the effective service period corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters in the total duration corresponding to the session's lifetime. The effective service period corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the time period information during which the session can use the first set of QoS parameters to transmit data. The first set of QoS parameters is any one of the one or more sets of QoS parameters. Based on the first information, at least one set of policy control (PCC) rules corresponding to each of the target QoS parameters are generated for the session; the at least one set of target QoS parameters belongs to the set or more sets of QoS parameters.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Based on the first information, generating at least one set of policy control (PCC) rules corresponding to the target QoS parameters for the session includes: Based on the first information, a first PCC rule is generated for the session at a first moment. The first PCC rule is the PCC rule used by the default flow of the session. The first PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the first target QoS parameter included in the at least one set of target QoS parameters. The service demand ratio corresponding to the first target QoS parameter is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the effective service time period corresponding to the first target QoS parameter includes the first moment. The first threshold is used to indicate a reference value of the service demand ratio required for the QoS parameter used to generate the first PCC rule for the session.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first information also indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of QoS parameters, the first indication information being used to indicate the second information and the third information, and the at least one second group of QoS parameters belonging to the one or more groups of QoS parameters; The second information corresponding to a second set of QoS parameters is used to indicate that the second set of QoS parameters can be used as parameters for generating default PCC rules for the session; The third information corresponding to the second set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the first usage time period of the second set of QoS parameters as parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and the first usage time period is included in the effective business period corresponding to the second set of QoS parameters. Based on the first information, generating at least one set of policy control (PCC) rules corresponding to the target QoS parameters for the session includes: Based on the second information and the third information, a first PCC rule is generated for the session at a first moment. The first PCC rule is the PCC rule used by the default flow of the session. The first PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the second target QoS parameter included in the at least one second set of QoS parameters. The first usage time period indicated by the third information corresponding to the second target QoS parameter includes the first moment.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The first PCC rule includes second indication information, which indicates that the first PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the default flow of the session.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Based on the first information, generating at least one set of policy control (PCC) rules corresponding to the target QoS parameters for the session includes: Based on the first information, a second PCC rule is generated for the session at a second time. The second PCC rule is the PCC rule used by the private flow of the session. The second PCC rule is the PCC rule corresponding to the third target QoS parameter included in the at least one set of target QoS parameters. The effective service time period corresponding to the third target QoS parameter includes the second usage time period corresponding to the second PCC rule. The second usage time period is used to indicate the time period information during which the session can use the second PCC rule to transmit data. The start time of the second usage time period is later than or equal to the second time.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first information also indicates the allowable duration of no data packet transmission corresponding to the one or more sets of QoS parameters; The method further includes: The second PCC rule and the third target QoS parameter corresponding to the allowed duration of no data packet transmission are sent to the second network element.

7. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a third network element, the method includes: First information is generated, indicating one or more sets of QoS parameters that can be used in a session established between a first terminal device and the network, as well as the service demand ratio and effective service period corresponding to each of the one or more sets of QoS parameters; the service demand ratio corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the proportion of the amount of data transmitted by the session using the first set of QoS parameters in the total amount of data transmitted during the session's lifetime, or to indicate the proportion of the effective service period corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters in the total duration corresponding to the session's lifetime; the effective service period corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the time period information during which the session can use the first set of QoS parameters to transmit data; the first set of QoS parameters is any one of the one or more sets of QoS parameters. Send the first information to the first network element.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first information also indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of QoS parameters, the first indication information being used to indicate the second information and the third information, and the at least one second group of QoS parameters belonging to the one or more groups of QoS parameters; The second information corresponding to a second set of QoS parameters is used to indicate that the second set of QoS parameters can be used as parameters for generating default PCC rules for the session; The third information corresponding to the second set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the first usage time period of the second set of QoS parameters as parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and the first usage time period is included in the effective business period corresponding to the second set of QoS parameters.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The first information also indicates the allowable duration for no-data packet transmission corresponding to the one or more sets of QoS parameters.

10. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to the fourth network element, the method includes: The system receives first information, which indicates one or more sets of QoS parameters that can be used in a session established between the first terminal device and the network, as well as the service demand ratio and effective service period corresponding to each of the one or more sets of QoS parameters. The service demand ratio corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the proportion of the amount of data transmitted by the session using the first set of QoS parameters in the total amount of data transmitted during the session's lifetime, or to indicate the proportion of the effective service period corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters in the total duration corresponding to the session's lifetime. The effective service period corresponding to the first set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the time period information during which the session can use the first set of QoS parameters to transmit data. The first set of QoS parameters is any one of the one or more sets of QoS parameters. Store the first information; Send the stored first information to the first network element.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first information also indicates first indication information corresponding to at least one second group of QoS parameters, the first indication information being used to indicate the second information and the third information, and the at least one second group of QoS parameters belonging to the one or more groups of QoS parameters; The second information corresponding to a second set of QoS parameters is used to indicate that the second set of QoS parameters can be used as parameters for generating default PCC rules for the session; The third information corresponding to the second set of QoS parameters is used to indicate the first usage time period of the second set of QoS parameters as parameters for generating the default PCC rule for the session, and the first usage time period is included in the effective business period corresponding to the second set of QoS parameters.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The first information also indicates the allowable duration for no-data packet transmission corresponding to the one or more sets of QoS parameters.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, Sending the stored first information to the first network element includes: Receive a first request from the first network element, the first request being used to obtain the first information; Send a first response to the first network element, the first response containing the stored first information.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, Also includes: Send a first notification message to the first network element, the first notification message being used to notify the first network element that the first information has been stored in the fourth network element.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a memory and one or more processors, the memory being coupled to the one or more processors; The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-6, 7-9, and 10-14.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit; The transceiver unit is used to receive and send data; The processing unit is configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-6, 7-9, and 10-14 based on the transceiver unit.

17. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes a processor coupled to a memory for executing a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, such that the chip performs the method as described in any one of claims 1-6, 7-9, and 10-14.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, Includes computer program instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1-14 to be implemented.

19. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer program product is run on a computer, it causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-14.

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