Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a signaling distribution network element acquires information of a first non-access stratum (NAS) service network element, the information of the first NAS service network element being used for indicating that the first NAS service network element provides a first NAS service; the signaling distribution network element receives a first request message from a terminal apparatus, the first request message being used for requesting to call the first NAS service; and the signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used for requesting the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal apparatus. By means of the described method, the signaling distribution network element can acquire the information of the first NAS service network element, and send, to the first NAS service network element, the request message that is from the terminal apparatus and that is used for requesting to call the first NAS service, thereby achieving flexible calling of a NAS service by the terminal apparatus as required, and improving the efficiency of calling the NAS service.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411259167.X, filed on September 9, 2024, and entitled "A communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0004] In a mobile communication network, a non-access stratum (NAS) protocol defines an interface and a communication protocol between a terminal device and a core network element. The core network element can interact with the terminal device according to the NAS protocol to implement management of the terminal device in terms of access, mobility, session, and the like. In a 5G system, the NAS protocol is anchored on an access and mobility management function (AMF) element. NAS signaling transmitted between the terminal device and other core network elements must be forwarded through the AMF element. In addition, the AMF element also needs to manage the access and mobility of the terminal device and process NAS signaling related to the access and mobility of the terminal device. This results in a heavy burden on the AMF element and low transmission efficiency of the NAS signaling. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus to improve the efficiency of invoking a NAS service.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The execution subject of the method is a signaling distribution network element or a module or chip in the signaling distribution network element. Here, the signaling distribution network element is taken as an example for description. The method includes: a signaling distribution network element obtaining information of a first non-access stratum (NAS) service network element; the information of the first NAS service network element being used to indicate that the first NAS service network element provides a first NAS service; the signaling distribution network element receiving a first request message from a terminal device, the first request message being used to request invocation of the first NAS service; and the signaling distribution network element sending a second request message to the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0007] By the method provided in the application, the signaling distribution network element can acquire information of the first NAS service network element, and send a request message for requesting invoking the first NAS service from a terminal device to the first NAS service network element, so that the terminal device can flexibly invoke the NAS service on demand, and the efficiency of invoking the NAS service is improved. In addition, the signaling distribution network element does not provide the NAS service, so that the load of the signaling distribution network element is light, and the signaling distribution network element can efficiently forward the NAS service related message between the terminal device and the NAS service network element.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is an initial registration service, and the first NAS service network element is a mobility management network element.

[0009] In the method, the mobility management network element provides an access and / or mobility related management service, and is not responsible for forwarding the NAS signaling between the terminal device and other core network elements, so that the load of the mobility management network element is reduced.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the signaling distribution network element acquires the information of the first NAS service network element by sending a first message to a NAS service management network element, the first message being used for requesting information of the NAS service network element capable of providing the first NAS service, and receiving the information of the first NAS service network element from the NAS service management network element.

[0011] By the method, the signaling distribution network element can acquire the information of the first NAS service network element through the NAS service management network element on demand, and does not need to store information of all NAS service network elements, which helps to reduce the storage cost of the signaling distribution network element.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the first request message includes identification information of the first NAS service.

[0013] By the method, the signaling distribution network element can accurately determine the first NAS service network element providing the first NAS service according to the identification information of the first NAS service, so that the success rate of invoking the NAS service is improved.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the information of the first NAS service network element includes a correspondence between identification information of the first NAS service network element and identification information of the first NAS service, and the method further includes: the signaling distribution network element determines the identification information of the first NAS service network element according to the correspondence and the identification information of the first NAS service; and the signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element, including: the signaling distribution network element sends the second request message to the first NAS service network element according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element.

[0015] Through the method, the signaling distribution network element can quickly and accurately determine the first NAS service network element providing the first NAS service through the correspondence, and reduce the processing complexity of the signaling distribution network element.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the second request message includes identification information of the first NAS service.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is any one of the following: an initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service; and a digital identity service.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, and an execution subject of the method is a terminal device or a module or chip in the terminal device. Here, the terminal device is taken as an example for description. The method includes: the terminal device sends a first request message; the first request message is used to request to invoke a first non-access stratum (NAS) service, and the first request message includes identification information of the first NAS service.

[0019] Through the method provided in the present application, the terminal device can implement on-demand flexible invocation of the first NAS service by carrying the identification information of the first NAS service in the first request message, and improve the efficiency of invoking the first NAS service.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is an initial registration service, and the first NAS service network element is a mobility management network element.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the first request message includes identification information of the first NAS service.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is any one of the following:

[0023] an initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service; and a digital identity service.

[0024] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, and an execution subject of the method is a first NAS service network element or a module or chip in the first NAS service network element. Here, the first NAS service network element is taken as an example for description. The method comprises: receiving, by the first NAS service network element, a second request message from a signaling distribution network element, the second request message being used for requesting the first NAS service network element to provide a first NAS service for a terminal device; and providing, by the first NAS service network element, the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message.

[0025] By the method provided in the present application, the first NAS service network element can provide the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message of the signaling distribution network element, thereby realizing on-demand flexible invocation of the NAS service by the terminal device and improving the efficiency of invoking the NAS service.

[0026] In a possible implementation manner, the second request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

[0027] In a possible implementation manner, the method further comprises: sending, by the first NAS service network element, a registration request message to a NAS service management network element, the registration request message comprising identification information of the first NAS service.

[0028] In a possible implementation manner, the first NAS service is any one of the following: an initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service; and a digital identity service.

[0029] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method comprises: obtaining, by a signaling distribution network element, information of a first non-access stratum (NAS) service network element; the information of the first NAS service network element is used for indicating that the first NAS service network element provides a first NAS service; sending, by a terminal device, a first request message; the first request message is used for requesting invocation of a first non-access stratum (NAS) service, and the first request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service; receiving, by the signaling distribution network element, the first request message from the terminal device; sending, by the signaling distribution network element, a second request message to the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used for requesting the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device; and receiving, by the first NAS service network element, the second request message from the signaling distribution network element, and providing, by the first NAS service network element, the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message.

[0030] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, the execution subject of the method is a terminal device or a module or a chip in the terminal device, and the terminal device is taken as an example for description. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal device acquires information of at least one NAS service network element; the information of the at least one NAS service network element is used for indicating NAS services provided by each NAS service network element in the at least one NAS service network element; the terminal device determines a first NAS service network element providing a first NAS service from the at least one NAS service network element according to the information of the at least one NAS service network element; and the terminal device sends a first request message to a signaling distribution network element; the first request message is used for requesting to invoke the first NAS service, and the first request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service network element, the identification information of the first NAS service network element being used for instructing the signaling distribution network element to send a second request message to the first NAS service network element, and the second request message being used for requesting the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0031] Through the method provided by the present application, the terminal device acquires information of at least one NAS service network element, and the terminal device can invoke a first NAS service provided by a first NAS service network element through a signaling distribution network element according to the information of the at least one NAS service network element, so as to realize on-demand flexible invocation of NAS services and improve the efficiency of invoking NAS services.

[0032] In a possible implementation manner, the first request message further comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

[0033] In a possible implementation manner, the terminal device acquires information of at least one NAS service network element, and the method further comprises the following steps: the terminal device sends a first message, the first message being used for requesting information of a NAS service network element capable of providing any NAS service in at least one NAS service; the terminal device receives the information of the at least one NAS service network element from the NAS service management network element; and each NAS service network element in the at least one NAS service network element provides one or more NAS services in the at least one NAS service.

[0034] In the method, the terminal device acquires information of at least one NAS service network element through a NAS service management network element, so that the terminal device can directly determine a first NAS service network element providing a first NAS service when requesting to invoke the first NAS service, thereby improving the system efficiency.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is any one of the following: an initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a sensing service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service; and a digital identity service.

[0036] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, and an execution subject of the method is a signaling distribution network element or a module or chip in the signaling distribution network element. Here, the signaling distribution network element is taken as an example for description. The method comprises the following steps: the signaling distribution network element receives a first request message from a terminal device, the first request message being used to request to invoke a first NAS service; the first request message comprises identification information of a first NAS service network element; and the signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0037] Through the method provided in the present application, the signaling distribution network element can request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the first request message of the terminal device, thereby realizing on-demand flexible invocation of the NAS service by the terminal device and improving the efficiency of invoking the NAS service. In addition, the signaling distribution network element does not provide the NAS service, so that the load of the signaling distribution network element is lighter, and the signaling distribution network element can efficiently forward the messages related to the NAS service between the terminal device and the NAS service network element.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the first request message further comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is any one of the following: an initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a sensing service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service; and a digital identity service.

[0040] In a seventh aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a terminal device obtaining information of at least one NAS service network element; the information of the at least one NAS service network element being used to indicate NAS services provided by each of the at least one NAS service network element; the terminal device determining, according to the information of the at least one NAS service network element, a first NAS service network element providing a first NAS service from the at least one NAS service network element; the terminal device sending a first request message to a signaling distribution network element; the first request message being used to request invoking the first NAS service, and the first request message including identification information of the first NAS service network element, the identification information of the first NAS service network element being used to instruct the signaling distribution network element to send a second request message to the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device; the signaling distribution network element receiving the first request message from the terminal device; the signaling distribution network element sending, according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element, the second request message to the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device; and the first NAS service network element receiving the second request message from the signaling distribution network element, and providing the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message.

[0041] In an eighth aspect, a communication method is provided, an execution subject of the method being a first network element or a module or chip in the first network element, and the first network element is taken as an example for description. The method includes: the first network element obtaining first information, the first information being used to indicate that a terminal device can provide a first NAS service; and the first network element sending a first request message to a signaling distribution network element, the first request message being used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service.

[0042] By the method provided in the application, the first network element can invoke the terminal device to provide the first NAS service for the first network element, and the on-demand flexible invocation of the NAS service is realized. In addition, if the terminal device provides the first NAS service for the first network element, the load of the first network element can be reduced, and the system efficiency is improved.

[0043] In a possible implementation manner, the first request message includes at least one of identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the first NAS service, and identification information of the first network element.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the first network element acquires the first information, including: the first network element sends a first message to a NAS service management network element, the first message including identification information of the terminal device; the first message is used to request information of a NAS service provided by the terminal device; and the first network element receives the first information from the NAS service management network element.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the first network element sends a first request message to a signaling distribution network element, including: in a case where the terminal device is in a registered state, the first network element sends the first request message to the signaling distribution network element.

[0046] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the first network element sends identification information of the terminal device to a mobility management database network element; and the first network element receives mobility management information of the terminal device from the mobility management database network element, the mobility management information indicating that the terminal device is in a registered state.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is any one of: a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; and an artificial intelligence agent communication service.

[0048] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, an execution subject of the method being a signaling distribution network element or a module or chip in the signaling distribution network element, and the signaling distribution network element is taken as an execution subject for example. The method includes: the signaling distribution network element receives a first request message from a first network element; the first request message is used to request a terminal device to provide a first NAS service; and the signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the terminal device, the second request message being used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service for the first network element.

[0049] Through the method provided in the present application, the signaling distribution network element can request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service for the first network element according to the first request message of the first NAS service, so as to realize on-demand and flexible calling of the NAS service provided by the terminal device for the first NAS service network element, and improve the efficiency of calling the NAS service. In addition, the signaling distribution network element does not provide the NAS service, so that the load of the signaling distribution network element is lighter, and the signaling distribution network element can efficiently forward the messages related to the NAS service between the terminal device and the NAS service network element.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the signaling distribution network element sends the second request message to the terminal device, including:

[0051] In a case where the terminal device is in a connected state, the signaling distribution network element sends the second request message to the terminal device.

[0052] In a possible implementation, before the signaling distribution network element sends the second request message to the terminal device, the method further includes:

[0053] The signaling distribution network element triggers paging for the terminal device, so that the terminal device is switched from an idle state to a connected state.

[0054] In a possible implementation, the first request message includes at least one of the following: identification information of the terminal device, or identification information of the first NAS service.

[0055] In a possible implementation, the second request message includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network element, or identification information of the first NAS service.

[0056] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is any one of the following: a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; and an artificial intelligence agent communication service.

[0057] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving, by the signaling distribution network element, a first registration request message from the terminal device, the first registration request message including identification information of the first NAS service; and sending, by the signaling distribution network element, a second registration request message to a NAS service management network element, the second registration request message including the identification information of the first NAS service and identification information of the terminal device.

[0058] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, an execution subject of the method being a terminal device or a module or chip in the terminal device, and here the terminal device is taken as an example for description. The method includes: receiving, by the terminal device, a second request message from a signaling distribution network element, the second request message being used to request a first network element to provide a first NAS service; and in response to the second request message, the terminal device provides the first NAS service for the first NAS service network element.

[0059] Through the method provided in the present application, the terminal device can provide the first NAS service for the first network element according to the second request message, so as to realize on-demand and flexible calling of the NAS service of the terminal device by the first network element, and improve the efficiency of calling the NAS service.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the first NAS service is any one of the following:

[0061] a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; and an artificial intelligence agent communication service.

[0062] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the terminal device sending a first registration request message, wherein the first registration request message includes identification information of the first NAS service.

[0063] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can implement any method provided in any of the first aspect to the tenth aspect. The communication device can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units or modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the communication device includes a processor configured to support the communication device to perform the corresponding functions of the network device or the terminal device or the core network device in the above method. The communication device can further include a memory coupled to the processor, which stores the necessary program instructions and data of the communication device. Optionally, the communication device further includes an interface circuit for supporting the communication between the communication device and other devices such as terminal devices.

[0065] In a possible implementation, the communication device includes corresponding functional modules for implementing the steps in the above method. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0066] In a possible implementation, the structure of the communication device includes processing units and communication units, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above method examples, and the details are described in the method provided in any of the first aspect to the tenth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0067] In a twelfth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a processor and an interface circuit for receiving signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmitting the signals to the processor or sending signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device. The processor implements the functional modules of the method in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the tenth aspect by logic circuit or executing computer programs or instructions. Optionally, the communication device further includes a memory for storing computer programs or instructions.

[0068] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided, which stores computer programs or instructions, when the computer programs or instructions are executed by a processor, the method in any possible implementation of any of the first aspect to the tenth aspect is implemented.

[0069] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer program product storing instructions is provided, which, when executed by a computer, implements the method in any possible implementation of any of the preceding first aspect to the tenth aspect.

[0070] In a fifteenth aspect, a circuit is provided, which is configured to perform the method in any possible implementation of any of the preceding first aspect to the tenth aspect. The circuit can include a chip circuit. Optionally, the circuit can further be coupled with a memory.

[0071] In a sixteenth aspect, a chip is provided, which includes a processor configured to implement the method in any possible implementation of any of the preceding first aspect to the tenth aspect when the processor executes a computer program or instructions. Optionally, the chip can further include a memory. The chip can be constituted by a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0072] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a processor configured to implement the method in any possible implementation of any of the preceding first aspect to the tenth aspect by means of a logic circuit or by executing computer programs or instructions.

[0073] In an eighteenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which includes a unit or module configured to implement the method in any possible implementation of any of the preceding first aspect to the tenth aspect.

[0074] In a nineteenth aspect, a communication system is further provided. The communication system includes: a signaling distribution network element configured to implement the method in the preceding first aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect; and a first NAS service network element configured to implement the method in the preceding third aspect and any possible implementation of the third aspect. Optionally, the communication system further includes a terminal device configured to implement the method in the preceding second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0075] In a twentieth aspect, a communication system is further provided. The communication system includes: a signaling distribution network element configured to implement the method in the preceding sixth aspect and any possible implementation of the sixth aspect; and a first NAS service network element configured to implement the method in the preceding third aspect and any possible implementation of the third aspect. Optionally, the communication system further includes a terminal device configured to implement the method in the preceding fifth aspect and any possible implementation of the fifth aspect.

[0076] In a twentieth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a communication system. The communication system includes: a first network element for implementing the methods of the eighth aspect and any possible implementations thereof; and a signaling distribution network element for implementing the methods of the ninth aspect and any possible implementations thereof. Optionally, the communication system further includes a terminal device for implementing the methods of the tenth aspect and any possible implementations thereof. Attached Figure Description

[0077] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile communication network architecture provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0078] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0079] Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0080] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a process for obtaining information of NAS service network elements according to an embodiment of this application;

[0081] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a process for obtaining information of NAS service network elements according to an embodiment of this application;

[0082] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a NAS service registration process provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0083] Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0084] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a process for obtaining information of NAS service network elements according to an embodiment of this application;

[0085] Figure 9 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0086] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a NAS service registration process provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0087] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a NAS service discovery process provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0088] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a communication device structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0089] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a communication device structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0090] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of a communication device structure provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0091] With reference to the drawings and the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application. The terms "first", "second", and corresponding terms of reference labels in the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not have to be used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, which is only a distinguishing way used in the description of the embodiments of the present application to describe the objects with the same attribute. In addition, the terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that the processes, methods, systems, products or devices containing a series of units do not have to be limited to those units, but can include other units not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices. The methods and devices provided by the embodiments of the present application are based on the same or similar technical concepts, and since the principles of the devices and methods for solving problems are similar, the implementation of the devices and methods can be mutually referred to, and the repeated parts will not be described.

[0092] The method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various mobile communication systems, for example, can be an internet of things (IoT), a narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT), can be a 4th generation (4G) communication system (for example, long term evolution (LTE)), can also be a 5th generation (5G) communication system (for example, 5G new radio (NR)), can also be a hybrid architecture of LTE and NR, and can also be a new communication system in future communication development, etc.

[0093] Hereinafter, first, some terms in the embodiments of the present application will be explained and described, so as to facilitate the understanding of the skilled in the art.

[0094] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile communication network architecture, which includes terminal devices, access network devices, signaling distribution function (SDF) network elements, NAS service management network elements, mobility management network elements, session management network elements, computing management network elements, perception management network elements, AI management network elements, and data management network elements, etc. The signaling distribution function network elements, the NAS service management network elements, the mobility management network elements, the session management network elements, the computing management network elements, the perception management network elements, the AI management network elements, the data management network elements, and the mobility management database network elements, etc. can communicate through service interfaces. Optionally, the terminal devices and the network elements can also communicate through service interfaces.

[0095] The mobile management network element, the session management network element, the computing management network element, the perception management network element, the AI management network element, and the data management network element, etc. can be collectively referred to as a NAS service network element, which can provide a NAS service. The NAS service can be called by a terminal device on demand. The NAS service can also be referred to as a NAS service or a NAS function, etc. The NAS service network element can also be referred to as a NAS service network function or a NAS service device, etc. Hereinafter, the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element is referred to as a network-side NAS service.

[0096] The NAS service management network element is used to manage NAS service information. The NAS service information of a terminal device is used to indicate one or more NAS services that can be provided by the terminal device. The NAS service information of a NAS service network element is used to indicate one or more NAS services that can be provided by the NAS service network element. The NAS service information corresponding to a NAS service is used to indicate at least one terminal device and / or at least one NAS service network element that can provide the NAS service. For example, the NAS service management network element can be used for registration, update, or deregistration of NAS service information. The process in which a NAS service network element and a terminal device register their own NAS service information with the NAS service management network element can refer to the description of FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 below. The NAS service management network element can also be used for NAS service discovery, that is, providing NAS service information of other devices or network elements to an initiator of NAS service discovery. The initiator of NAS service discovery can be a terminal device, a NAS service network element, or a signaling distribution network element. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below take the initiator of NAS service discovery as the signaling distribution network element as an example to describe the process in which the NAS service management network element provides the NAS service information of the NAS service network element to the signaling distribution network element.

[0097] The session management network element can be an SMF network element in a 5G communication system, or a network element having the function of an SMF network element in a next-generation communication system. The session management network element can be used to provide a session management service, for example, to provide a session management service in a mobile network, such as session establishment, modification, release, etc. The session management network element can also be used to allocate an Internet Protocol address for a terminal, select a user plane network element for transmitting data in a session, etc.

[0098] The mobile management network element can be an AMF network element in a 5G communication system, or a network element having the function of an AMF network element in a next-generation communication system. The mobile management network element can be used to provide a mobile management service, for example, to manage the attachment or registration of a terminal device, mobility, update the tracking area of a terminal device, etc.

[0099] The computing management network element is a control plane network element for processing computing tasks, which can be used to provide computing services, such as performing establishment and maintenance of a computing session based on a service call of a terminal device, establishment and maintenance of a computing task, and offloading of a computing task of network configuration. The computing services provided by the terminal device are called on demand.

[0100] The perception management network element is a control plane network element for processing perception tasks, which can be used to provide perception services. For example, in the process of calling a perception service by a terminal device, the perception management network element performs establishment and maintenance of a perception session corresponding to the perception service, and offloads a perception task of network configuration to the terminal device. The perception management network element can also call the perception services provided by the terminal device on demand. The perception management network element can also register, update, and deregister the perception services provided by itself to the NAS service management network element, so as to realize discovery of the perception services.

[0101] The AI management network element can be used to provide AI training and AI model computing, and the like.

[0102] The data management network element can be used to provide data storage and data processing, and the like.

[0103] The signaling distribution function network element, which can also be referred to as a signaling distribution network element or a signaling distribution device, and the like, is hereinafter referred to as a signaling distribution network element. The signaling distribution network element mainly serves as a link anchor point between a terminal device and a network, and realizes distribution of NAS messages between the terminal device and NAS service network elements, wherein the NAS messages can also be referred to as NAS signaling or signaling. The signaling distribution network element can proxy the terminal device to discover the NAS service network elements, construct and maintain a NAS service network element network topology, and establish a binding relationship between the terminal device and the NAS service network elements. The NAS service network element network topology can indicate NAS services provided by the NAS service network elements and address information of the NAS service network elements. The signaling distribution function network element is different from an AMF network element in the existing network. For NAS service registration initiated by the terminal device, the signaling distribution function network element can forward NAS messages related to the NAS service registration from the terminal device to the NAS service management network element. For NAS service discovery initiated by the terminal device, the signaling distribution function network element can forward NAS messages related to the NAS service discovery to the NAS service management network element. For NAS service calling initiated by the terminal device, the signaling distribution function network element selects a corresponding NAS service network element based on NAS service type information, and forwards NAS messages of the terminal device to the NAS service network element. For NAS messages of NAS service calling initiated by the network, the signaling distribution function network element forwards the NAS messages to the terminal device. Optionally, if the terminal device is in an idle state, the signaling distribution function network element can also page the terminal device before forwarding the NAS messages.

[0104] The mobile management database network element is configured to manage mobile management information of a terminal device. The mobile management information of the terminal device can be mobile management context information generated by a mobile management network element in a mobile management operation, and includes one or more of the following information: permanent identity information of the terminal device, temporary identity information allocated to the terminal device by the mobile management network element, a registration state of the terminal device, network capability of the terminal device, location information of the terminal device, a mobile management security key, security capability of the terminal device, or information of a signaling distribution function network element serving the terminal device. The mobile management database network element can provide a mobile management data service for a NAS service network element. The NAS service network element can invoke the mobile management data service of the mobile management database network element to obtain the mobile management information of the terminal device, thereby achieving stateless mobile management.

[0105] It should be noted that the network element in the embodiments of the present application can also be referred to as a network function (NF) or a functional entity, a device, etc. For example, the NAS service management network element can also be referred to as a NAS service management network function, etc. The names of various functions are not limited in the present application. Those skilled in the art can replace the names of the above functions with other names while performing the same functions, which all fall within the scope of the present application.

[0106] In the embodiments of the present application, the access network device can be a device in a wireless network, and can also be referred to as a network device or a wireless access network device. For example, the access network device can be a radio access network (RAN) node that accesses a terminal device to a wireless network, and can also be referred to as an access network device. The access network device includes but is not limited to: a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system, an access network device in an open radio access network (O-RAN), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, etc.; or can be a module or unit that completes part of the function of the base station, for example, can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a central unit control plane (CU-CP) module, or a central unit user plane (CU-UP) module. The access network device can be a macro base station, or a micro base station or an indoor station, or a relay node or a donor node, etc. The specific technology and specific device form of the access network device used in the present application are not limited.

[0107] In some implementations, an access network device can include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). A RAN device including a CU node and a DU node splits the protocol layers of a gNB in an NR system, with some of the protocol layers' functions being centrally controlled at the CU and the rest or remaining protocol layers' functions being distributed in the DU, with the CU centrally controlling the DU. Further, the CU can be further divided into a control plane (CU-CP) and a user plane (CU-UP). The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, including mainly radio resource control (RRC) and a control plane corresponding packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) (i.e., PDCP-C). The PDCP-C is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption of control plane data, integrity protection, data transmission, etc. The CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, including mainly service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and a user plane corresponding PDCP (i.e., PDCP-U). The SDAP is mainly responsible for processing data of a core network and mapping a flow to a bearer. The PDCP-U is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption of data plane, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, data transmission, etc. The CU-CP and the CU-UP are connected through an El interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB to connect with the core network through an NG interface, and to connect with the DU through a control plane (i.e., Fl-C) of an Fl interface. The CU-UP connects with the DU through a user plane (i.e., Fl-U) of the Fl interface. Of course, there is also a possible implementation that the PDCP-C is also in the CU-UP.

[0108] It can be understood that in different systems, the CU (including CU-CP or CU-UP) or DU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand its meaning. For example, in an open radio access network (O-RAN) system, the CU can also be referred to as an O-CU (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as an O-DU, the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, and the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP. For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP and DU are taken as examples for description in this application. The access network device can also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements part of the functions of the gNB, and the DU implements part of the functions of the gNB. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, and implements the functions of the RRC layer. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, and implements the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer and the physical (PHY) layer. In some deployments, the CU can also be divided into a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) node and a centralized unit user plane (CU-UP) node. Among them, the CU-CP is responsible for the control plane function, and the CU-UP is responsible for the user plane function.

[0109] The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a wireless terminal device capable of receiving network device scheduling and indication information. The terminal device can invoke basic NAS services provided by the network side, including: access management services, mobile management services, NAS security services, etc. The terminal device can also invoke new NAS services provided by the network side, including: session management services, policy control services, computing services, sensing services, artificial intelligence (AI) services, data services, artificial intelligence agent communication services, digital identity services, etc. The terminal device can also provide NAS services, and the network side can invoke the NAS services provided by the terminal device as needed. For example, the NAS services provided by the terminal device can include computing services, sensing services, or artificial intelligence services, etc.

[0110] The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal apparatus, and can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), a terminal, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), or the like. The terminal apparatus can be a device that includes a wireless communication function (providing voice / data connectivity to a user). For example, a handheld device having a wireless connection function, or a vehicle-mounted device, a vehicle-mounted module, or the like. Currently, some examples of terminal apparatuses are: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palmtop computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in vehicle networking, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home, a device-to-device (D2D) terminal apparatus, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication terminal apparatus, a smart vehicle, a telematics box (T-box), a machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) terminal apparatus, an internet of things (IoT) terminal apparatus, or the like. For example, the terminal apparatus can be a vehicle-mounted device, a whole-vehicle device, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle, an on board unit (OBU), a roadside unit (RSU), a T-box, a chip, or a system on chip (SOC), and the like, and the chip or the SOC can be installed in a vehicle, an OBU, an RSU, or a T-box. The wireless terminal in industrial control can be a camera, a robot, or the like. The wireless terminal in a smart home can be a television, an air conditioner, a sweeper, a sound box, a set-top box, or the like.The terminal device can also be a V2X device, for example, a smart car or an intelligent car, a digital car, an unmanned car or a driverless car or a pilotless car or an automobile, a self-driving car or an autonomous car, a pure EV or a Battery EV, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a range extended EV (REEV), a plug-in HEV (PHEV), a new energy vehicle, a road site unit (RSU). The terminal device can also be a device in device to device (D2D) communication, for example, an electric meter, a water meter, and the like. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in an IoT system. IoT is an important part of future information technology development, and its main technical feature is to connect objects through communication technology and network, so as to realize the intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-object interconnection.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 2, it is a schematic diagram of an end-to-end protocol stack structure suitable for the present application. In the present application, the service-based NAS protocol is terminated between the terminal device and the NAS service network element, and the NAS service is carried on the service-based NAS protocol. The RAN and the signaling distribution network element both transparently transmit the service-based NAS message. The service-based NAS message can be encoded in the form of an open application programming interface (open API), which is more suitable for the interaction mechanism of the NAS service call.

[0112] On the terminal device side, the protocol stack structure can include a service-based NAS layer, hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) / 2 or HTTP / 3, transmission control protocol (TCP) / quick UDP internet connections (QUIC), an internet protocol (IP) layer, a layer 2 (L2), and a layer 1 (L1). The L1 can include a physical (PHY) layer, etc. The L2 can include a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a media access control (MAC) layer, etc. The service-based NAS layer is mainly to implement NAS services, for example, to implement basic NAS services (such as access management services and mobile management services) and new NAS services (such as computing services, sensing services, and artificial intelligence services).

[0113] The protocol layer between the terminal device and the RAN can be an access network (AN) protocol layer, for example, including L1 and L2 related protocol layers, which is not limited in the present application.

[0114] The protocol layer between the RAN and the signaling distribution network element can be a protocol layer between the RAN and the core network (RAN-CN protocol layer), which is not limited in the present application.

[0115] The protocol layer between the signaling distribution network element and the NAS service network element can be a service-based interface protocol, for example, including HTTP / 2 or HTTP / 3, transport layer security (TLS), TCP / QUIC, IP, L2, L1, etc.

[0116] The above protocol stack is only an example and should not be construed as a limitation. For example, the protocol stack can have fewer layers or more layers than the example.

[0117] In combination with the foregoing description, in the present application, the NAS function can be serviced, and the terminal device and the NAS service network element can register the NAS service provided by themselves as needed to achieve flexible mutual calling of the NAS service as needed, which will be described in detail below.

[0118] In the present application, the names of various messages and various information are only examples, and as the network architecture evolves and new business scenarios appear, the names of the messages or information can change accordingly, but the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0119] When the method provided by the present application is applied to the system shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device can be a terminal device in FIG. 1 or a chip or module in the terminal device; the signaling distribution network element can be a chip or module in the signaling distribution network function in FIG. 1; and the NAS service network element can be any one of the mobility management network element, the session management network element, the computing management network element, the perception management network element, the AI management network element, and the data management network element in FIG. 1.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 3, it is a communication method flow diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0121] Step 301: The signaling distribution network element obtains information of a first NAS service network element.

[0122] The information of the first NAS service network element is used to indicate that the first NAS service network element provides a first NAS service, which can also be referred to as NAS service information of the first NAS service network element. For example, the information of the first NAS service network element includes identification information of the first NAS service network element and identification information of the first NAS service, such as a correspondence relationship between the identification information of the first NAS service network element and the identification information of the first NAS service. The information of the first NAS service network element can also include address information (such as a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or an IP address) of the first NAS service network element. The identification information of the first NAS service network element is used to identify the first NAS service network element and / or the type of the first NAS service network element, which can also be referred to as type information of the first NAS service network element; and the identification information of the first NAS service can be replaced by service name information or index information of the first NAS service, etc., which is used to identify the first NAS service.

[0123] In the present application, the first NAS service network element can provide at least one NAS service, for example, the first NAS service network element can also provide a second NAS service, and the information of the first NAS service network element can also be used to indicate that the first NAS service network element provides the second NAS service.

[0124] Here, the signaling distribution network element obtaining the information of the NAS service network element is taken as an example for description, and the number of the information of the NAS service network element obtained by the signaling distribution network element is not limited in the application. For example, the signaling distribution network element obtains information of at least one NAS service network element, and the information of the at least one NAS service network element is used to indicate the NAS service provided by each NAS service network element in the at least one NAS service network element. For example, the at least one NAS service network element includes a first NAS service network element.

[0125] In the application, the first NAS service can be any one of the following: an initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service; and a digital identity service.

[0126] In the application, the initial registration service, the NAS security service, the access management service, the mobility management service, the session management service, and the policy control service can be basic NAS services; and the computing service, the perception service, the artificial intelligence service, the data service, the artificial intelligence agent communication service, and the digital identity service can be additional NAS services or new NAS services. Before invoking the new NAS service, the terminal device can first complete the invocation of the basic NAS service.

[0127] The above is only an example, and other forms of the first NAS service can exist, which are not limited in the application.

[0128] In an implementation manner, different NAS services can be provided by different types of NAS service network elements. For example, the first NAS service is an initial registration service or a mobility management service, and the first NAS service network element is a mobility management network element; the first NAS service is an access management service, and the first NAS service network element is an access management network element; the first NAS service is a session management service, and the first NAS service network element is a session management network element; the first NAS service is a policy control service, and the first NAS service network element is a policy control network element; the first NAS service is a NAS security service, and the first NAS service network element is a NAS security network element; the first NAS service is a computing service, and the first NAS service network element is a computing management network element; the first NAS service is a perception service, and the first NAS service network element is a perception management network element; the first NAS service is an artificial intelligence service, and the first NAS service network element is an AI management network element; the first NAS service is a data service, and the first NAS service network element is a data management network element; the first NAS service is an artificial intelligence agent communication service, and the first NAS service network element is an artificial intelligence agent management network element; and the first NAS service is a digital identity service, and the first NAS service network element is a digital identity management network element.

[0129] In the present application, the signaling distribution network element can obtain information of at least one NAS service network element through the NAS service management network element. The NAS service management network element can save information of each NAS service network element in multiple NAS service network elements, for example, the NAS service management network element can save profile information of each NAS service network element, and the profile information of one NAS service network element can include identification information of the NAS service network element, type information of the NAS service network element, and address information of the NAS service network element. Among them, the address information of the NAS service network element can be the FQDN or IP address of the NAS service network element. The information of each NAS service network element can also include identification information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element or type information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element, for example, the profile information of the NAS service network element includes the identification information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element or the type information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element.

[0130] For example, the signaling distribution network element can send a first message to the NAS service management network element, and the first message is used to request information of the NAS service network element capable of providing the first NAS service. The signaling distribution network element can receive the information of the first NAS service network element from the NAS service management network element.

[0131] The signaling distribution network element can actively request the information of the first NAS service network element from the NAS service management network element, or subscribe to the information of the first NAS service network element. The specific process of the signaling distribution network element obtaining the information of the first NAS service network element is not limited in the present application, for example, the processes shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below can be referred to.

[0132] Step 302: The terminal device sends a first request message.

[0133] Correspondingly, the signaling distribution network element receives the first request message from the terminal device. The first request message is used to request to invoke the first NAS service. The terminal device requests to invoke the first NAS service under what circumstances is not limited in the present application.

[0134] For example, the first NAS service is an initial registration service. For example, the terminal device determines to register to the network initially, thereby activating the NAS security and performing other basic NAS services (such as session management service, policy control service, etc.) as needed, and the terminal device can invoke the initial registration service provided by the network.

[0135] For example, the first NAS service is a computing service. For example, after the terminal device completes the initial registration and the activation of the NAS security and other basic NAS services, it is determined to offload the computing task, and the terminal device can invoke the computing service provided by the network, so as to realize the processing of the computing task through the network side.

[0136] In the present application, the terminal device can send the first request message to the signaling distribution network element through the access network device, i.e., after the access network device receives the first request message, the access network device forwards the first request message to the signaling distribution network element. The specific process is not limited in the present application and will not be described here.

[0137] In an implementation, the name of the first request message can be the same for different first NAS services. In this implementation, the first request message can include identification information of the first NAS service, so that the signaling distribution network element can determine the first NAS service requested by the terminal device through the identification information of the first NAS service.

[0138] In another implementation, the name of the first request message can be different for different first NAS services, i.e., there is a corresponding relationship between the NAS service and the name of the first request message, and the name of the first request message sent by the terminal device corresponds to the first NAS service. For example, the first NAS service is an initial registration service, and the name of the first request message is an initial registration request message; the first NAS service is a computing service, and the name of the first request message is a computing service invocation request message; the first NAS service is a NAS security service, and the name of the first request message is a NAS security service invocation request message, etc.

[0139] In this implementation, since there is a corresponding relationship between the NAS service and the name of the first request message, the signaling distribution network element can determine the first NAS service requested and invoked by the terminal device according to the name of the first request message.

[0140] In the present application, the first request message can also include identification information of the terminal device. For example, the first request message includes a first information element, and the first information element can include identification information of the first NAS service and identification information of the terminal device. For example, the first information element can be referred to as NAS service type information.

[0141] In the present application, the first request message can also include a second information element, and the second information element can include identification information of the terminal device. Optionally, the second information element can also include identification information of the first NAS service. For example, the second information element can be referred to as a NAS container. The signaling distribution network element does not analyze the second information element, but forwards the second information element to the first NAS service network element.

[0142] The first request message can also include other information, which is not limited in the present application and will not be described here.

[0143] Step 303: The signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element, and the second request message is used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0144] Correspondingly, the first NAS service network element receives the second request message from the signaling distribution network element.

[0145] The signaling distribution network element can determine the first NAS service network element according to the information of the first NAS service network element. For example, the signaling distribution network element can determine the correspondence between the identification information of the first NAS service network element and the identification information of the first NAS service according to the information of the first NAS service network element. The first request message received by the signaling distribution network element includes the identification information of the first NAS service, and then the signaling distribution network element can determine the identification information of the first NAS service network element according to the correspondence and the identification information of the first NAS service, and determine the first NAS service network element according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element.

[0146] Optionally, the signaling distribution network element can establish a binding relationship among the terminal device, the first NAS service and the first NAS service network element, and the signaling distribution network element can distribute the message related to the first NAS service according to the binding relationship, and distribute the message related to the first NAS service to the first NAS service network element or the terminal device, thereby improving the message transmission efficiency. For example, the message related to the first NAS service includes the identification information of the terminal device and the identification information of the first NAS service, and the signaling distribution network element determines the first NAS service network element bound to the identification information of the terminal device and the identification information of the first NAS service according to the binding relationship, and then sends the message related to the first NAS service to the first NAS service network element. For another example, the message related to the first NAS service includes the identification information of the first NAS service network element and the identification information of the first NAS service, and the signaling distribution network element determines the terminal device bound to the identification information of the first NAS service network element and the identification information of the first NAS service according to the binding relationship, and then sends the message related to the first NAS service to the terminal device.

[0147] In an implementation manner, the first request message includes the second request message, and the signaling distribution network element can obtain the second request message from the first request message, for example, the second request message is included in the NAS container of the first request message.

[0148] In another implementation manner, the signaling distribution network element generates the second request message according to the first request message.

[0149] Optionally, the second request message can include the identification information of the first NAS service, and the second request message can also include the identification information of the terminal device. For example, the first request message includes a second information element, and the signaling distribution network element can forward the second information element as a part of the second request message to the first NAS service network element.

[0150] The second request message can also include other information, which is not limited in the present application and will not be described here.

[0151] Step 304: The first NAS service network element provides the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message.

[0152] In an implementation, the second request message includes identification information of the first NAS service, and the first NAS service network element determines that the NAS service provided for the terminal device is the first NAS service according to the identification information of the first NAS service.

[0153] In another implementation, the first NAS service network element only provides the first NAS service, and after receiving the second request message, the first NAS service network element provides the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0154] The specific process in which the first NAS service network element provides the first NAS service for the terminal device is not limited by the present application.

[0155] For example, the first NAS service is an initial registration service, and the first NAS service network element is a mobility management network element. The specific process in which the first NAS service network element provides the first NAS service for the terminal device is as follows, and finally the initial registration of the terminal device in the network is realized:

[0156] (1) The mobility management network element learns the NAS security management network element currently serving the terminal device through a signaling distribution network element, and then learns the NAS security key and security capability of the terminal device from the NAS security management network element. Based on the NAS security key and security capability of the terminal device, the mobility management network element invokes the mobility management NAS security management service of itself, and establishes the mobility management NAS security context and NAS security association between the terminal device through the signaling distribution network element.

[0157] (2) The mobility management network element generates the mobility management context of the terminal device, which includes parameters such as the temporary identity information allocated for the terminal device, the registration location area information, and the registration state information.

[0158] (3) The mobility management network element invokes the initial registration service of itself, and sends a response message of the second request message to the terminal device through the signaling distribution network element. In an implementation, the mobility management network element sends an initial registration accept message to the terminal device, and carries all or part of the mobility management context in the initial registration accept message, including the temporary identity information, the registration location area information, and the like.

[0159] (4) The mobility management network element invokes the service of the mobility management data management network element, and sends the mobility management context of the terminal device to the mobility management data management network element for storage. The mobility management data management network element can also be referred to as a mobility management database network element.

[0160] Through the method provided in the present application, the terminal device can call the first NAS service provided by the first NAS service network element through the signaling distribution network element, and realize the on-demand flexible calling of the NAS service.

[0161] In combination with the foregoing description, an example of the signaling distribution network element obtaining the information of the first NAS service network element is given below. As shown in FIG. 4, the signaling distribution network element can obtain the information of the first NAS service network element by initiating the NAS service discovery process, that is, the signaling distribution network element can obtain the NAS service information from the NAS service management network element by initiating the NAS service discovery process, so as to determine which NAS services can be provided by each NAS service network element, wherein the NAS service information obtained by the signaling distribution network element from the NAS service management network element includes the information of the first NAS service network element.

[0162] Step 401: The signaling distribution network element sends a NAS service discovery request message to the NAS service management network element, and the NAS service discovery request message is used to request the NAS service information.

[0163] Correspondingly, the NAS service management network element receives the NAS service discovery request message. The NAS service discovery request message can be the first message in the foregoing description.

[0164] The NAS service discovery request message can include the service name information of at least one NAS service, and the NAS service discovery request message is used to request the information of the NAS service network element capable of providing the at least one NAS service, wherein the at least one NAS service includes the first NAS service. For example, the NAS service discovery request message can include the following service name information: access management service; mobile management service; session management service; computing service; perception service, etc.

[0165] Optionally, the NAS service discovery request message can further include at least one NAS service NF type information, and the NAS service discovery request message is used to request the information of the NAS service network element corresponding to the at least one NAS service NF type information; wherein the NAS service network element corresponding to one NAS service NF type information can provide one or more NAS services in the at least one NAS service, so that the signaling distribution network element can obtain the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element corresponding to the NAS service NF type information. For example, the NAS service discovery request message can include the following NAS service NF type information: access management network element, which can provide the access management service; mobile management network element, which can provide the mobile management service; session management network element, which can provide the session management service.

[0166] Optionally, the signaling distribution network element can periodically send the NAS service discovery request message. The period can be specified by a protocol, determined by the signaling distribution network element according to local configuration, or negotiated between the signaling distribution network element and the NAS service management network element, which is not limited in the present application.

[0167] Optionally, the signaling distribution network element sends the NAS service discovery request message upon receiving information indicating initiation of NAS service discovery.

[0168] Optionally, the signaling distribution network element sends the NAS service discovery request message upon satisfaction of a condition. For example, the condition can include expiration of a timer. The duration of the timer can be specified by a protocol, determined by the signaling distribution network element according to local configuration, or negotiated between the signaling distribution network element and the NAS service management network element, which is not limited in the present application. The signaling distribution network element can send the NAS service discovery request message upon expiration of the timer, and restart the timer upon receiving the NAS service discovery response message.

[0169] The above is only an example, and the signaling distribution network element can send the NAS service discovery request message in other manners, which is not limited in the present application.

[0170] Optionally, the NAS service management network element performs authorization verification on the signaling distribution network element. For example, if the NAS service management network element determines that the signaling distribution network element has the right to discover NAS services or has the right to request information of NAS service network elements, the NAS service management network element can respond to the NAS service discovery request message. If the NAS service management network element determines that the signaling distribution network element does not have the right to discover NAS services or does not have the right to request information of NAS service network elements, the NAS service management network element can reject the NAS service discovery request message, for example, the NAS service management network element can not respond to the NAS service discovery request message, or does not carry any information of NAS services in the response message to the NAS service discovery request message, or carries a rejection reason value in the response message to the NAS service discovery request message. How the NAS service management network element performs authorization verification on the signaling distribution network element is not limited in the present application, and will not be described herein.

[0171] Step 402: The NAS service management network element sends a NAS service discovery response message to the signaling distribution network element, and the NAS service discovery response message includes information of at least one NAS service network element.

[0172] The at least one NAS service network element includes a first NAS service network element. Each of the at least one NAS service network element can provide one or more NAS services of the at least one NAS service.

[0173] The information of each of the at least one NAS service network element can comprise identification information of the NAS service network element and service name information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element. Optionally, the information of each of the at least one NAS service network element can comprise address information (e.g. FQDN or IP address) of the NAS service network element.

[0174] For example, the information of the at least one NAS service network element can comprise: {access management network element 1, IP address 1}, {mobile management network element 1, IP address 2}, {session management network element 1, IP address 2}.

[0175] According to the information of the at least one NAS service network element, the signaling distribution network element can determine the network topology of the NAS service network element, i.e. determine which NAS service network element can provide which NAS service.

[0176] For another example, FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the signaling distribution network element subscribing to the information of the first NAS service network element.

[0177] Step 501: The signaling distribution network element sends a subscription request message to the NAS service management network element.

[0178] Correspondingly, the NAS service management network element receives the subscription request message. The subscription request message can be the first message mentioned above.

[0179] In an implementation manner, the subscription request message can comprise service name information of at least one NAS service, and the subscription request message is used to subscribe to information of a NAS service network element capable of providing any NAS service of the at least one NAS service, and the at least one NAS service comprises the first NAS service.

[0180] In an implementation manner, the subscription request message can comprise at least one NAS service NF type information; and the subscription request message is used to subscribe to a NAS service provided by at least one NAS service network element corresponding to the at least one NAS service NF type information, and the at least one NAS service network element comprises the first NAS service network element.

[0181] In any of the implementation manners, optionally, the subscription request message can further comprise a trigger condition used to indicate that the NAS service management network element sends a notification message to the signaling distribution network element, and the trigger condition can be at least one of the following conditions:

[0182] - new registration of the subscribed NAS service;

[0183] - modification of the subscribed NAS service; or

[0184] - deregistration of the subscribed NAS service.

[0185] Optionally, the NAS service management network element can send a subscription response message to the signaling distribution network element, the subscription response message indicating that the subscription is successful.

[0186] Optionally, the NAS service management network element performs authorization verification on the signaling distribution network element. For example, if the NAS service management network element determines that the signaling distribution network element has the right to subscribe to the NAS service or has the right to request the information of the NAS service network element, the subscription response message can be sent. If the NAS service management network element determines that the signaling distribution network element does not have the right to subscribe to the NAS service or does not have the right to request the information of the NAS service network element, the subscription request message can be rejected, for example, a subscription failure message is sent. How the NAS service management network element performs authorization verification on the signaling distribution network element is not limited in the present application, and will not be described here.

[0187] Step 502: The NAS service management network element sends a notification message to the signaling distribution network element, the notification message including the information of at least one NAS service network element.

[0188] In an implementation manner, if the subscription request message includes service name information of at least one NAS service, and one NAS service network element registers any NAS service in the at least one NAS service in the NAS service management network element, the NAS service management network element can actively send a notification message including the information of the NAS service network element after the NAS service network element registers or updates the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element.

[0189] In an implementation manner, if the subscription request message includes at least one NAS service NF type information, and the NAS service NF type information of one NAS service network element is one of the at least one NAS service NF type information, the NAS service management network element can actively send a notification message including the information of the NAS service network element after the NAS service network element registers or updates the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element in the NAS service management network element.

[0190] In an implementation manner, optionally, the NAS service management network element can send a notification message to the signaling distribution network element according to the trigger condition in the subscription request message.

[0191] The NAS service management network element can send multiple notification messages, which are not limited in the present application.

[0192] It should be noted that in step 301, the signaling distribution network element can obtain the information of at least one NAS service network element using at least one flow shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

[0193] In the present application, how the NAS service network element registers the NAS service in the NAS service management network element is not limited. An example is given below.

[0194] As shown in FIG. 6, an NAS service registration process provided by the present application is shown. In the following process, the first NAS service network element is taken as an example for description, and other cases are not described herein.

[0195] Step 601: The first NAS service network element sends a registration request message to the NAS service management network element, and the registration request message includes the identification information of the first NAS service.

[0196] The identification information of the first NAS service can also be replaced by the service name information or index information of the first NAS service, and the like.

[0197] The registration request message can also have other names, such as an NAS service registration request message, and the like. The name of the registration request message is not limited in the present application.

[0198] If the first NAS service network element can provide multiple NAS services, the registration request message includes the identification information of each NAS service in the multiple NAS services.

[0199] In one implementation manner, the first NAS service network element sends the registration request message to the NAS service management network element when it is powered on and enters the network. In another implementation manner, the first NAS service network element sends the registration request message to the NAS service management network element when it adds a new NAS service. The first NAS service network element can also send the registration request message in other cases, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0200] Optionally, step 602: The NAS service management network element sends a registration response message to the first NAS service network element.

[0201] The registration response message can also have other names, such as an NAS service registration response message, and the like.

[0202] The NAS service management network element can generate the configuration (profile) information of the first NAS service network element, which can include the identification information of the first NAS service network element, the type information of the first NAS service network element, the address information of the first NAS service network element, the identification information of the NAS service provided by the first NAS service network element, or the service name information of the provided NAS service, and the like. The NAS service management network element can save the identification information or the service name information of the first NAS service provided by the first NAS service network element, and establish the corresponding relationship between the identification information of the first NAS service network element and the identification information of the first NAS service. The address information of the first NAS service network element can be the FQDN or IP address of the first NAS service network element.

[0203] Optionally, the registration response message comprises NAS service registration result indication information, the service registration result indication information is used to indicate NAS service registration success or NAS service registration failure. The registration response message can also comprise part or all of the configuration information of the first NAS service network element.

[0204] Through the above process, the NAS service network element completes the NAS service registration. The above is only an example, and other NAS service registration processes can also exist, which are not limited in the present application.

[0205] The present application also provides a method, in which the terminal device determines that the first NAS service network element can provide the first NAS service based on the information of the first NAS service network element, and then carries the information of the first NAS service network element in the message for requesting to invoke the first NAS service, which helps to improve the invocation efficiency of the NAS service. The method will be described below in combination with the flowchart shown in FIG. 7.

[0206] Step 701: The terminal device acquires the information of at least one NAS service network element.

[0207] The information of the at least one NAS service network element is used to indicate the NAS service provided by each NAS service network element in the at least one NAS service network element. For example, the at least one NAS service network element comprises the first NAS service network element, and the information of the at least one NAS service network element comprises the corresponding relationship between the identification information of the first NAS service network element and the identification information of the first NAS service. The specific content of the information of the at least one NAS service network element can refer to the description in step 301, which will not be described here again.

[0208] The specific content of the first NAS service network element and the first NAS service can refer to the description in step 301, which will not be described here again.

[0209] In the present application, the terminal device can obtain information of at least one NAS service network element through a NAS service management network element. The NAS service management network element can store information of each NAS service network element in multiple NAS service network elements, for example, the NAS service management network element can store profile information of each NAS service network element, and the profile information of one NAS service network element can include identification information of the NAS service network element, type information of the NAS service network element, and address information of the NAS service network element. Among them, the address information of the NAS service network element can be the FQDN or IP address of the NAS service network element. The information of each NAS service network element can also include identification information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element or type information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element, for example, the profile information of the NAS service network element includes the identification information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element or the type information of the NAS service provided by the NAS service network element.

[0210] For example, the terminal device can request the NAS service management network element to provide information of at least one NAS service network element. The terminal device performs discovery of the NAS service before invoking the NAS service. The terminal device initiates the NAS service discovery process independently, which is not limited in the present application, for example, reference can be made to the following FIG. 8.

[0211] After the terminal device obtains the information of at least one NAS service network element, the terminal device can invoke one or more NAS services provided by at least one NAS service network element. The present application does not limit the conditions under which the terminal device requests to invoke the NAS service. For example, the terminal device determines to perform initial registration to the network, thereby activating the NAS security and performing other basic NAS services (such as session management service, policy control service, etc.) as needed, and the terminal device can invoke the initial registration service provided by the network. For another example, after the terminal device completes the initial registration and the basic NAS services such as activation of the NAS security, it determines to offload the computing task to complete the corresponding NAS service processing, and the terminal device can invoke the computing service provided by the network.

[0212] Step 702: The terminal device determines a first NAS service network element providing a first NAS service from at least one NAS service network element according to the information of the at least one NAS service network element.

[0213] Wherein, since the information of the at least one NAS service network element is used to indicate the NAS service provided by each of the at least one NAS service network element, the terminal device can determine the first NAS service network element according to the first NAS service network element that needs to be invoked. The terminal device can invoke multiple NAS services in parallel as needed; the terminal device needs to complete the invocation of the basic NAS service before invoking a new NAS service; for example, the terminal device needs to invoke the basic NAS service such as the initial registration service before invoking the computing service.

[0214] Step 703: The terminal device sends a first request message.

[0215] Correspondingly, the signaling distribution network element receives the first request message from the terminal device. Wherein, the first request message is used to request to invoke the first NAS service. The application does not limit the conditions under which the terminal device requests to invoke the first NAS service.

[0216] In the application, the terminal device can send the first request message to the signaling distribution network element through the access network device, and the access network device can forward the first request message to the signaling distribution network element. The specific process is not limited in the application and will not be described here.

[0217] The first request message includes the identification information of the first NAS service network element, and the identification information of the first NAS service network element is used to instruct the signaling distribution network element to send a second request message to the first NAS service network element, and the second request message is used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0218] The first request message can also include the address information of the first NAS service network element and the identification information of the terminal device. The address information of the first NAS service network element is used for the signaling distribution network element to determine the first NAS service network element.

[0219] For example, the first NAS service is the initial registration service, and the first NAS service network element is the mobility management service network element. For example, the terminal device determines to initially register with the network, thereby activating the NAS security and performing other basic NAS services (such as session management service, policy control service, etc.) as needed, and the terminal device can invoke the initial registration service provided by the network. In this case, the first request message can include the identification information and address information of the mobility management service network element, and also include the identification information of the terminal device.

[0220] For example, the first NAS service is a computing service, and the first NAS service network element is a computing management service network element. For example, the terminal device determines to offload a computing task to complete corresponding NAS service processing, and the terminal device can invoke a computing service provided by the network. In this case, the first request message can include identification information and address information of the computing management service network element, and also include identification information of the terminal device.

[0221] In this application, the first request message can also include a second information element, which can include identification information of the first NAS service and identification information of the terminal device, for example, the second information element can be referred to as a NAS container. Wherein, the signaling distribution network element does not analyze the second information element, but forwards the second information element to the first NAS service network element.

[0222] The first request message can also include other information, which is not limited in this application and will not be repeated here.

[0223] Step 704: The signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element, and the second request message is used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0224] Correspondingly, the first NAS service network element receives the second request message from the signaling distribution network element.

[0225] The signaling distribution network element can determine the first NAS service network element according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element. For example, the signaling distribution network element can pre-establish a binding relationship between the terminal device and the first NAS service network element, so as to determine the first NAS service network element according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element and the binding relationship.

[0226] In an implementation manner, the first request message includes the second request message, and the signaling distribution network element can obtain the second request message from the first request message.

[0227] In another implementation manner, the signaling distribution network element generates the second request message according to the first request message.

[0228] The second request message can include identification information of the first NAS service, and the second request message can also include identification information of the terminal device. For example, the first request message includes a second information element, and the signaling distribution network element can forward the second information element as part of the second request message to the first NAS service network element.

[0229] The second request message can also include other information, which is not limited in this application and will not be repeated here.

[0230] Step 705: The first NAS service network element provides the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message.

[0231] The first NAS service network element provides a specific process for the terminal device to provide the first NAS service, which is not limited in the present application.

[0232] For example, the first NAS service is an initial registration service, and the first NAS service network element can perform an initial registration process with the terminal device, so that the terminal device completes the initial registration.

[0233] For example, the first NAS service is a computing service, and the first NAS service network element can provide the terminal device with computing resources required for the computing service, so that the terminal device can complete the corresponding computing task through the computing resources.

[0234] Through the method provided in the present application, the terminal device can call the first NAS service provided by the first NAS service network element through the signaling distribution network element, realize the on-demand flexible calling of the NAS service, and improve the efficiency of calling the NAS service.

[0235] In the present application, the terminal device can discover the NAS service through the following process.

[0236] As shown in FIG. 8, it is a flowchart for a terminal device to obtain information of a NAS service network element.

[0237] Step 801: The terminal device sends a first message, and the first message is used to request NAS service information.

[0238] Correspondingly, the signaling distribution network element receives the first message. The terminal device can send the first message to the signaling distribution network element through the access network device, and the access network device can forward the first message to the signaling distribution network element, and the specific process is not limited in the present application, which will not be repeated here.

[0239] The name of the first message is not limited, for example, the first message can also be called a NAS service discovery request message.

[0240] Optionally, the first message can include NAS service type information, which is used to indicate that the first message is used for NAS service discovery, i.e., the first message is used to request NAS service information. The first message can also include identification information of the terminal device.

[0241] The first message can further comprise service name information of at least one NAS service, the at least one NAS service comprising the first NAS service. For example, the first message can comprise the following service name information: an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a computing service; a sensing service. For example, the first message can comprise a NAS service discovery NAS container, the NAS service discovery NAS container comprising the service name information of the at least one NAS service, and the signaling distribution network element can not resolve the information in the NAS service discovery NAS container.

[0242] The first message can further comprise at least one NAS service NF type information; one NAS service NF type information corresponds to a NAS service network element that can provide one or more NAS services of the at least one NAS service. For example, the first message can comprise the following NAS service NF type information: an access management network element that can provide an access management service; a mobility management network element that can provide a mobility management service; a session management network element that can provide a session management service. For example, the first message can comprise a NAS service discovery NAS container, the NAS service discovery NAS container comprising the at least one NAS service NF type information, and the NAS service discovery NAS container can further comprise identification information of the terminal device and the like, which are not limited in the present application.

[0243] Step 802: The signaling distribution network element sends a second message to the NAS service management network element, the second message being used to request information of a NAS service network element capable of providing a NAS service.

[0244] Correspondingly, the NAS service management network element receives the second message. The name of the second message is not limited, for example, the second message can also be referred to as a NAS service discovery request message.

[0245] The signaling distribution network element can determine, according to the NAS service type information in the first message, that the first message is used for NAS service discovery, so as to send the second message to the NAS service management network element.

[0246] Optionally, the first message comprises the second message. Alternatively, the second message is generated according to the first message.

[0247] The second message can comprise at least one of the following: service name information of at least one NAS service, at least one NAS service NF type information, and identification information of the terminal device, and the second message can also comprise other information, which is not limited in the present application. For example, the second message comprises a NAS service discovery NAS container, the NAS service discovery NAS container being from the first message, and the NAS service discovery NAS container comprising the above information.

[0248] Step 803: The NAS service management network element sends a second response message to the signaling distribution network element, and the second response message comprises information of the at least one NAS service network element.

[0249] The at least one NAS service network element comprises the first NAS service network element. Each of the at least one NAS service network element can provide one or more NAS services of the at least one NAS service.

[0250] For example, the information of the at least one NAS service network element can comprise NF type information of each of the at least one NAS service network element and service name information of the NAS service provided by each of the at least one NAS service network element. Alternatively, the information of the at least one NAS service network element can comprise address information (for example, FQDN or IP address) of each of the at least one NAS service network element.

[0251] For example, the information of the at least one NAS service network element can comprise: {access management network element, IP address 1, access management service}, {mobile management network element, IP address 2, mobile management service}, {session management network element, IP address 2, session management service}.

[0252] Alternatively, the signaling distribution network element can establish a binding relationship between the terminal device and the at least one NAS service network element. When the terminal device invokes the NAS service provided by any of the at least one NAS service network element, the signaling distribution network element can distribute and route messages according to the binding relationship, so as to request the invocation of the NAS service from the NAS service network element.

[0253] Alternatively, the NAS service management network element can perform authorization verification on the signaling distribution network element. If the authorization verification is passed, the second message can be responded to. If the authorization verification is not passed, the second message can be rejected, for example, the NAS service management network element can not respond to the second message, or does not carry any NAS service in the response message of the second message; or carries a rejection reason value in the response message of the second message. How the NAS service management network element performs authorization verification on the signaling distribution network element is not limited in the present application, and will not be described herein.

[0254] Alternatively, the signaling distribution network element can establish a binding relationship among the terminal device, the first NAS service and the first NAS service network element. When the terminal device invokes the first NAS service, the signaling distribution network element can distribute and route messages related to the first NAS service according to the binding relationship, that is, distribute the messages related to the first NAS service to the first NAS service network element or the terminal device, so as to improve the message transmission efficiency.

[0255] It should be noted that, before performing the flow of FIG. 8, each of the at least one NAS service network element registers the NAS service in the NAS service management network element, so that the NAS service management network element can obtain the NAS service provided by each of the NAS service network elements. The specific process can refer to the registration flow shown in FIG. 6, which will not be described here.

[0256] Step 804: The signaling distribution network element sends a first response message, and the first response message includes the information of the at least one NAS service network element.

[0257] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first response message.

[0258] The signaling distribution network element can determine the network topology of the NAS service network element according to the information of the at least one NAS service network element, that is, determine which NAS service network element can provide which NAS service.

[0259] Through the above flow, the terminal device receives the information of the at least one NAS service network element from the NAS service management network element. The above is only an example, and the terminal device can also obtain the information of the at least one NAS service network element through other manners, which is not limited in the present application.

[0260] In the present application, the network side can also call the NAS service provided by the terminal device, and the following examples are given.

[0261] As shown in FIG. 9, it is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0262] Step 901: The first network element obtains first information, and the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device can provide a first NAS service.

[0263] The first information can also be used to indicate address information and identification information of a signaling distribution network element providing service for the terminal device and the like.

[0264] The first NAS service can be any of the following: computing service; sensing service; artificial intelligence service; data service; artificial intelligence agent communication service.

[0265] In the present application, how the first network element obtains the first information is not limited in the present application, for example, it can refer to the flow shown in FIG. 11.

[0266] The first network element can be a network side network element, for example, the first network element can be a NAS service network element or a NAS service management network element or an access network device and the like.

[0267] After the first network element obtains the first information, the first NAS service indicated by the first information can be called.

[0268] Step 902: The first network element sends a first request message to the signaling distribution network element.

[0269] Correspondingly, the signaling distribution network element receives the first request message from the first network element; the first request message is used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service.

[0270] In an implementation manner, the first network element sends the first request message in a case where the terminal device is in a registered state.

[0271] The first request message can include at least one of identification information of the terminal device and identification information of the first NAS service.

[0272] Step 903: The signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the terminal device; the second request message is used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service for the first network element.

[0273] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second request message from the signaling distribution network element.

[0274] In an implementation manner, the first request message includes the second request message, and the signaling distribution network element can obtain the second request message from the first request message.

[0275] In another implementation manner, the signaling distribution network element generates the second request message according to the first request message.

[0276] The second request message can include at least one of the identification information of the terminal device and the identification information of the first NAS service, for example, the second request message includes a NAS service invoking NAS container, the NAS service invoking NAS container includes the identification information of the terminal device and the identification information of the first NAS service, and the NAS service invoking NAS container is from the first request message. The second request message can also include other information, which is not limited in the application.

[0277] In the application, in a case where the terminal device is in a connected state, the signaling distribution network element sends the second request message to the terminal device.

[0278] In a case where the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state, the signaling distribution network element can also trigger paging for the terminal device before sending the second request message, so as to switch the terminal device from the idle state or the inactive state to the connected state. For example, the signaling distribution network element triggers a paging message, and the paging message is used to page the terminal device, and the specific process is not described herein.

[0279] Optionally, the signaling distribution network element can establish a binding relationship between the terminal device, the first NAS service and the first network element. When the first network element invokes the first NAS service provided by the terminal device, the signaling distribution network element can distribute and route the message related to the first NAS service according to the binding relationship, that is, distribute the message related to the first NAS service to the first network element or the terminal device, thereby improving the message transmission efficiency.

[0280] Step 904: In response to the second request message, the terminal device provides the first NAS service for the first NAS service network element.

[0281] The first NAS service is any one of the following:

[0282] A computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service.

[0283] For example, when the first NAS service is an artificial intelligence service and the first NAS service network element is an AI management network element, the specific process of the terminal device providing the first NAS service for the first NAS service network element is as follows:

[0284] The second request message includes information for indicating that the terminal device assists in local local AI model training, and the terminal device allocates local AI computing resource based on the information, including available computing resources such as central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU), and uses the allocated local AI computing resource to perform a local local AI model training task.

[0285] Optionally, the terminal device can send a response message of the second request message to the AI management network element, and the response message can carry a trained local local AI model. Optionally, the response message can also carry local AI computing resource information for informing the AI management network element of the local computing resource used by the terminal device to train the local local AI model.

[0286] Through the method provided in the present application, the first network element can invoke the terminal device to provide the first NAS service for the first network element, realizing on-demand flexible invocation of the NAS service; providing the first NAS service for the first network element by the terminal device can also reduce the load of the first network element and improve the system efficiency.

[0287] In the present application, before the first network element obtains the first information, the terminal device first registers the NAS service in the NAS service management network element, and before the first network element invokes the first NAS service provided by the terminal device, the first network element can also perform discovery of the NAS service, which will be described below.

[0288] As shown in FIG. 10, an NAS service registration process provided by the present application is shown.

[0289] Step 1001: The terminal device sends a first registration request message, and the first registration request message includes identification information of a first NAS service.

[0290] Correspondingly, the signaling distribution network element receives the first registration request message.

[0291] The identification information of the first NAS service can also be replaced by service name information or index information of the first NAS service, and the like.

[0292] The first registration request message can also have other names, such as an NAS service registration request message, and the present application does not limit the name of the first registration request message.

[0293] The terminal device can send the first registration request message to the signaling distribution network element through the access network device, that is, the access network device forwards the first registration request message to the signaling distribution network element after receiving the first registration request message, and the specific process is not limited by the present application and will not be described here.

[0294] If the terminal device can provide multiple NAS services, the first registration request message can include identification information of each NAS service in the multiple NAS services; or the terminal device can determine the number of identification information of the NAS service included in the first registration request message based on service capability and local configuration; or the terminal device can determine the number of identification information of the NAS service included in the first registration request message based on a policy issued by a home public land mobile network (HPLMN). The NAS services that the terminal device can provide in different public land mobile networks (PLMNs) can be different.

[0295] The terminal device can register the NAS services it provides in the NAS service management network element before initiating initial registration to the network after completing network selection and camping, or can perform NAS service registration after completing initial registration to the network, and the present application does not limit this.

[0296] The first registration request message can include NAS service type information, and the NAS service type information indicates that the first registration request message is used for NAS service registration. The first registration request message can also include an NAS service registration NAS container, and the NAS service registration NAS container includes identification information of the first NAS service and identification information of the terminal device.

[0297] Step 1002: The signaling distribution network element sends a second registration request message to the NAS service management network element, and the second registration request message includes the identification information of the first NAS service.

[0298] The second registration request message can also include the identification information of the terminal device. For example, the second registration request message includes a NAS service registration NAS container, and the NAS service registration NAS container is from the first registration request message.

[0299] Step 1003: The NAS service management network element sends a second registration response message to the signaling distribution network element.

[0300] The second registration response message can also have other names, such as a NAS service registration response message.

[0301] The NAS service management network element can generate the configuration (profile) information of the terminal device, which can include the identification information of the terminal device, the address information of the terminal device, the identification information of the NAS service provided by the terminal device, or the service name information of the provided NAS service. The NAS service management network element can save the identification information or the service name information of the first NAS service provided by the terminal device, and establish the correspondence between the identification information of the terminal device and the identification information of the first NAS service.

[0302] Optionally, the second registration response message includes NAS service registration result indication information, which is used to indicate that the NAS service registration is successful or that the NAS service registration fails. The second registration response message can also include part or all of the configuration information of the terminal device.

[0303] Step 1004: The signaling distribution network element sends a first registration response message to the terminal device.

[0304] Optionally, the first registration response message includes NAS service registration result indication information.

[0305] Through the above process, the terminal device completes the NAS service registration. The above is only an example, and other NAS service registration processes can also exist, which are not limited in the present application.

[0306] After the terminal device completes the NAS service registration, the network side can determine the NAS service that the terminal device can provide through the NAS service discovery process. For details, refer to the following process.

[0307] As shown in FIG. 11, it is a process schematic diagram of a first network element discovering a NAS service provided by the present application.

[0308] Step 1101: The first network element sends a first message to the NAS service management network element, and the first message includes the identification information of the terminal device.

[0309] Correspondingly, the NAS service management network element receives the first message. The first message is used to request information of the NAS service provided by the terminal device.

[0310] In the flow, the first network element can be a NAS service network element or a network element such as an access network device.

[0311] Step 1102: The NAS service management network element sends first information to the first network element.

[0312] Correspondingly, the first network element receives the first information from the NAS service management network element. The first information is used to indicate that the terminal device can provide the first NAS service. Optionally, the first information can also be used to indicate address information and identification information of a signaling distribution network element that provides services for the terminal device.

[0313] Optionally, the NAS service management network element performs authorization verification on the first network element. If the authorization verification is passed, the first information can be sent. If the authorization verification is not passed, the first information is not sent. How the NAS service management network element performs authorization verification on the first network element is not limited in the present application, and will not be described here.

[0314] Optionally, the first network element can also query the registration state of the terminal device, which is specifically described in steps 1103 and 1104. Steps 1103 and 1104 can be executed before step 1101 or after step 1102, and the execution order of the steps is not limited in the present application.

[0315] Optionally, if the first network element executes steps 1101 and 1102 first, and then executes steps 1103 and 1104, the first network element can execute step 902 to call the NAS service provided by the terminal device in the case that the terminal device is in the registration state. If the first network element executes steps 1103 and 1104 first, the first network element can execute steps 1101 and 1102 in the case that it is determined that the terminal device is in the registration state.

[0316] Step 1103: The first network element sends identification information of the terminal device to the mobile management database network element.

[0317] For example, the first network element sends a mobile management information query request message to the mobile management database network element. The mobile management information query request message is used to query mobile management information of the terminal device. The mobile management information query request message includes identification information of the terminal device. The mobile management database network element saves information such as the registration state and location information of the terminal device.

[0318] The mobile management information query request message can also be used to query location information of the terminal device.

[0319] Step 1104: The mobility management database network element sends the terminal device the mobility management information, the mobility management information indicating whether the terminal device is in a registered state.

[0320] Correspondingly, the first network element receives the mobility management information from the mobility management database network element.

[0321] For example, the mobility management information query response message includes the mobility management information.

[0322] Optionally, the mobility management database network element performs authorization verification on the first network element. If the authorization verification is passed, the mobility management information can be sent. If the authorization verification is not passed, the mobility management information can not be sent. How the mobility management database network element performs authorization verification on the first network element is not limited in the present application, and will not be described here.

[0323] Through the above process, the first network element can obtain the first information. The above is only an example, and other processes for obtaining the first information can also exist, which are not limited in the present application.

[0324] It can be understood that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element includes 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 method steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, 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 scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0325] The following is a possible structure schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments.

[0326] As shown in FIG. 12, the communication device 1200 includes a processing unit 1210 and a communication unit 1220. The communication device 1200 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element in the above method embodiments.

[0327] When the communication device 1200 is used to implement the functions of the signaling distribution network element:

[0328] The processing unit is configured to obtain information of a first non-access stratum (NAS) service network element, the information of the first NAS service network element being used to indicate that the first NAS service network element provides a first NAS service.

[0329] The communication unit is configured to receive a first request message from a terminal device, the first request message being used to request invoking the first NAS service; and send a second request message to the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0330] When the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the function of a terminal device:

[0331] The processing unit is configured to send a first request message through the communication unit, the first request message being used to request invoking a first non-access stratum (NAS) service, and the first request message comprising identification information of the first NAS service.

[0332] When the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the function of a first NAS service network element:

[0333] The communication unit is configured to receive a second request message from a signaling distribution network element, the second request message being used to request the first NAS service network element to provide a first NAS service for a terminal device.

[0334] The processing unit is configured to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message.

[0335] When the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the function of a terminal device:

[0336] The communication unit is configured to obtain information of at least one NAS service network element, the information of the at least one NAS service network element being used to indicate a NAS service provided by each NAS service network element in the at least one NAS service network element.

[0337] The processing unit is configured to determine, according to the information of the at least one NAS service network element, a first NAS service network element providing a first NAS service from the at least one NAS service network element.

[0338] The communication unit is configured to send a first request message to a signaling distribution network element, the first request message being used to request invoking the first NAS service, and the first request message comprising identification information of the first NAS service network element, the identification information of the first NAS service network element being used to instruct the signaling distribution network element to send a second request message to the first NAS service network element, the second request message being used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

[0339] When the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the function of a first network element:

[0340] The processing unit is configured to acquire first information, where the first information is used to indicate that the terminal device is capable of providing a first NAS service.

[0341] The communication unit is configured to send a first request message to a signaling distribution network element, where the first request message is used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service.

[0342] When the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the function of the signaling distribution network element:

[0343] The processing unit is configured to receive a first request message from a first network element via the communication unit, where the first request message is used to request a terminal device to provide a first NAS service.

[0344] The processing unit is configured to send a second request message to the terminal device via the communication unit, where the second request message is used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service for the first network element.

[0345] When the communication device 1200 is configured to implement the function of the terminal device:

[0346] The communication unit is configured to receive a second request message from a signaling distribution network element, where the second request message is used to request to provide a first NAS service for a first network element.

[0347] The processing unit is configured to provide the first NAS service for the first NAS service network element in response to the second request message.

[0348] For more detailed description of the processing unit 1210 and the communication unit 1220, please refer to the relevant description in the method embodiments shown in the above various flows directly, which will not be repeated here.

[0349] As another possible product form, the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by a general bus architecture. For ease of illustration, refer to FIG. 13, which is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 1300 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 1300 includes at least one processor 1301. Optionally, the communication device 1300 further includes a transceiver 1302. The communication device 1300 can be a terminal device or a signaling distribution network element or a first NAS service network element or a first network element, or a chip or a chip system or a module thereof. FIG. 13 only shows the main components of the communication device 1300. In addition to the processor 1301 and the transceiver 1302, the communication device 1300 can further include at least one memory 1303 and an input and output device (not shown in the figure).

[0350] Optionally, the processor 1301 is mainly used for processing communication protocol and communication data, and controlling the whole communication device, executing software program, and processing data of the software program. The memory 1303 is mainly used for storing software program and data. The transceiver 1302 can include radio frequency circuit and antenna, and the radio frequency circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signal and radio frequency signal, and processing radio frequency signal. The antenna is mainly used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic wave. The input and output device, such as touch screen, display screen, keyboard, etc. is mainly used for receiving user input data and outputting data to user.

[0351] Optionally, the processor 1301, the transceiver 1302, and the memory 1303 can be connected through communication bus.

[0352] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 1301 can read the software program in the memory 1303, interpret and execute the instruction of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1301 processes the baseband of the data to be transmitted, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit. The radio frequency circuit processes the baseband signal to radio frequency signal, and transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic wave through the antenna. When data is transmitted to the communication device, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal to baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1301. The processor 1301 converts the baseband signal to data and processes the data.

[0353] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged independently of the processor for baseband processing, such as in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged remotely from the communication device.

[0354] In some embodiments, in hardware implementation, those skilled in the art can conceive that the above-mentioned communication device 1200 can adopt the form of the communication device 1300 shown in FIG. 13.

[0355] As an example, the function / implementation process of the processing unit 1210 in FIG. 12 can be realized by the processor 1301 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG. 13 invoking computer execution instructions stored in the memory 1303. The function / implementation process of the communication unit 1220 in FIG. 12 can be realized by the transceiver 1302 in the communication device 1300 shown in FIG. 13.

[0356] As another possible product form, the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element in the present application can adopt the constituent structure shown in FIG. 14, or include the components shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a constituent schematic diagram of a communication device 1400 provided by the present application.

[0357] As shown in FIG. 14, the communication device 1400 includes at least one processor 1401. Optionally, the communication device further includes a communication interface 1402.

[0358] When the program instructions involved are executed in the at least one processor 1401, the device 1400 can be caused to implement the method provided by any of the preceding embodiments and any possible design thereof. Alternatively, the processor 1401 is used to implement the method provided by any of the preceding embodiments and any possible design thereof by logic circuit or executing code instructions.

[0359] The communication interface 1402 can be used to receive program instructions and transmit to the processor, or the communication interface 1402 can be used for the communication device 1400 to communicate with other communication devices, such as interaction control signaling and / or service data, etc. For example, the communication interface 1402 can be used to receive signals from other devices outside the communication device 1400 and transmit to the processor 1401 or send signals from the processor 1401 to other communication devices outside the communication device 1400.

[0360] Optionally, the communication interface 1402 can be a code and / or data read-write interface circuit, or the communication interface 1402 can be a signal transmission interface circuit between the communication processor and the transceiver, or a pin of the chip.

[0361] Optionally, the communication device 1400 can further include at least one memory 1403, which can be used to store the required program instructions and / or data involved. It should be noted that the memory 1403 can exist independently of the processor 1401, or can be integrated with the processor 1401. The memory 1403 can be located inside the communication device 1400 or outside the communication device 1400, which is not limited.

[0362] Optionally, the communication device 1400 can further include a power supply circuit 1404, which can be used to supply power to the processor 1401. The power supply circuit 1404 can be located in the same chip as the processor 1401, or in another chip outside the chip where the processor 1401 is located.

[0363] Optionally, the communication device 1400 can further include a bus, and various parts of the communication device 1400 can be interconnected through the bus.

[0364] In some embodiments, in hardware implementation, those skilled in the art can conceive that the communication device 1200 shown in FIG. 12 can adopt the form of the communication device 1400 shown in FIG. 14.

[0365] As an example, the function / implementation process of the processing unit 1210 in FIG. 12 can be implemented by invoking computer-executed instructions stored in the memory 1403 by the processor 1401 in the communication apparatus 1400 shown in FIG. 14. The function / implementation process of the communication unit 1220 in FIG. 12 can be implemented by the communication interface 1402 in the communication apparatus 1400 shown in FIG. 14.

[0366] It should be noted that the structure shown in FIG. 14 does not constitute a specific limitation on the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element. For example, in some other embodiments of the present application, the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element can include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or split certain components, or different component arrangements. The components shown can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0367] It can be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor.

[0368] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, which stores instructions, which can also be referred to as a computer program, computer program code, etc. The instructions run on a computer, so that the computer performs the functions of the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element in the above method embodiments.

[0369] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or the instructions are run by a communication apparatus, the method steps performed by the terminal device or the signaling distribution network element or the first NAS service network element or the first network element in the above method embodiments are executed.

[0370] Based on the same idea, the embodiments of the present application further provide a chip, which can include a processor and further include a memory (or coupled with the memory), and the chip executes program instructions in the memory to perform the method provided by the above embodiments. Wherein, the "coupled" means that two components are directly or indirectly combined with each other, such as the electrical connection between the two components.

[0371] Based on the same idea, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, which includes a signaling distribution network element and a first NAS service network element. Optionally, the communication system further includes a terminal device. The signaling distribution network element is configured to implement the functions of the signaling distribution network element in the above embodiments; the first NAS service network element is configured to implement the functions of the first NAS service network element in the above embodiments; and the terminal device is configured to implement the functions of the terminal device in the above embodiments.

[0372] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be realized by hardware or by the way of executing software instructions by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the base station or the terminal.

[0373] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed. The computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment or other programmable apparatus. The computer programs or instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transferred from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer programs or instructions can be transferred from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center through wired or wireless manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center and the like integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape; an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; and a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid state disk. The computer readable storage medium can be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or can include both volatile and non-volatile storage media.

[0374] In various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions of different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0375] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as a method, a system or a computer program product. Therefore, the present application can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Moreover, the present application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, optical storage, etc.) containing computer usable program code.

[0376] The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other processing device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other processing device to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

[0377] These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

[0378] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, it is intended that the present application cover the modifications and variations of this application provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: The signaling distribution network element obtains information of a first non-access stratum (NAS) service network element; The information of the first NAS service network element is used to indicate that the first NAS service network element provides a first NAS service; The signaling distribution network element receives a first request message from a terminal device, and the first request message is used to request invoking the first NAS service; The signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element, and the second request message is used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first NAS service is an initial registration service, and the first NAS service network element is a mobility management network element.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The signaling distribution network element obtains information of a first non-access stratum (NAS) service network element, comprising: The signaling distribution network element sends a first message to a NAS service management network element, and the first message is used to request information of a NAS service network element capable of providing the first NAS service; The signaling distribution network element receives the information of the first NAS service network element from the NAS service management network element.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The information of the first NAS service network element comprises a correspondence relationship between identification information of the first NAS service network element and identification information of the first NAS service, and the method further comprises: The signaling distribution network element determines identification information of the first NAS service network element according to the correspondence relationship and the identification information of the first NAS service; The signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element, comprising: The signaling distribution network element sends the second request message to the first NAS service network element according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The second request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first NAS service is any one of the following: An initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; A data service; An artificial intelligence agent communication service; a digital identity service.

8. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: A terminal device sends a first request message; The first request message is used to request invoking a first non-access stratum (NAS) service, and the first request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The first NAS service is an initial registration service, and the first NAS service network element is a mobility management network element.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The first NAS service is any one of the following: An initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a perception service; an artificial intelligence service; A data service; An artificial intelligence agent communication service; a digital identity service.

11. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: A first non-access stratum (NAS) service network element receives a second request message from a signaling distribution network element, and the second request message is used to request the first NAS service network element to provide a first NAS service for a terminal device; The first NAS service network element provides the first NAS service for the terminal device according to the second request message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The second request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The method further comprises: The first NAS service network element sends a registration request message to a NAS service management network element, and the registration request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The first NAS service is any one of: an initial registration service, an access management service, a mobility management service, a session management service, a policy control service, a NAS security service, a computing service, a sensing service, and an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service and a digital identity service.

15. A method of communication, comprising: Comprise: The terminal device acquires information of at least one NAS service network element; The information of the at least one NAS service network element is used to indicate NAS services provided by each NAS service network element in the at least one NAS service network element; The terminal device determines a first NAS service network element providing a first NAS service from the at least one NAS service network element according to the information of the at least one NAS service network element; The terminal device sends a first request message to a signaling distribution network element; The first request message is used to request to invoke the first NAS service, and the first request message comprises identification information of the first NAS service network element, and the identification information of the first NAS service network element is used to instruct the signaling distribution network element to send a second request message to the first NAS service network element, and the second request message is used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The first request message further comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

17. The method of any one of claims 15-16, wherein, The terminal device acquires information of at least one NAS service network element, and the method further comprises: The terminal device sends a first message, and the first message is used to request information of a NAS service network element capable of providing any one of at least one NAS service; The terminal device receives the information of the at least one NAS service network element from the NAS service management network element, and each NAS service network element in the at least one NAS service network element provides one or more NAS services in the at least one NAS service.

18. The method of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein, The first NAS service is any one of: an initial registration service, an access management service, a mobility management service, a session management service, a policy control service, a NAS security service, a computing service, a sensing service, and an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service and a digital identity service.

19. A method of communication, comprising: Comprise: The signaling distribution network element receives a first request message from a terminal device, and the first request message is used to request to invoke the first NAS service; The first request message comprises identification information of a first NAS service network element; The signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the first NAS service network element according to the identification information of the first NAS service network element, and the second request message is used to request the first NAS service network element to provide the first NAS service for the terminal device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The first request message further comprises identification information of the first NAS service.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, The first NAS service is any one of: an initial registration service; an access management service; a mobility management service; a session management service; a policy control service; a NAS security service; a computing service; a sensing service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service; a digital identity service.

22. A method of communication, comprising: comprises: The first network element obtains first information, which is used to indicate that the terminal device can provide a first NAS service; The first network element sends a first request message to a signaling distribution network element, the first request message being used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein, The first request message comprises at least one of identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the first non-access stratum (NAS) service, and identification information of the first network element.

24. The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein, The first network element obtains first information, comprising: the first network element sends a first message to a NAS service management network element, the first message comprising identification information of the terminal device; the first message is used to request information of a NAS service provided by the terminal device; and the first network element receives the first information from the NAS service management network element.

25. A method of communication, comprising: comprises: The signaling distribution network element receives a first request message from a first network element; The first request message is used to request a terminal device to provide a first NAS service; The signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to the terminal device, the second request message being used to request the terminal device to provide the first NAS service for the first network element.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, Before the signaling distribution network element sends a second request message to a terminal device, the method further comprises: The signaling distribution network element triggers paging for the terminal device, so as to switch the terminal device from an idle state to a connected state.

27. The method of claim 25 or 26, wherein, The first request message comprises at least one of: identification information of the terminal device, or identification information of the first NAS service.

28. The method of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein, The second request message comprises at least one of: identification information of the first network element, or identification information of the first NAS service.

29. A method of communication, comprising: comprises: The terminal device receives a second request message from a signaling distribution network element, the second request message being used to request to provide a first NAS service for a first network element; In response to the second request message, the terminal device provides the first NAS service for the first NAS service network element.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein, The first NAS service is any one of: a computing service; a sensing service; an artificial intelligence service; a data service; an artificial intelligence agent communication service.

31. The method of claim 29 or 30, wherein, The method further comprises: the terminal device sends a first registration request message, the first registration request message comprising identification information of the first NAS service.

32. A communications device, characterized by comprises: A module for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 31.

33. A communications device, characterized by comprises at least one processor; and a communication interface connected in communication with the at least one processor; the at least one processor, by executing instructions stored in a memory, causes the method of any one of claims 1 to 31 to be performed.

34. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer program or instructions stored on a computer readable medium, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of any of claims 1 to 31.

35. A computer program product, characterised in that, A computer program product which when read and executed by a computer, causes the method of any of claims 1 to 31 to be performed.

36. A communication system, characterized by comprising a first NAS serving network element and a signaling distribution network element, wherein: the signaling distribution network element is configured to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 7 and the first NAS serving network element is configured to perform the method of any of claims 11 to 14; or the signaling distribution network element is configured to perform the method of any of claims 19 to 21 and the first NAS serving network element is configured to perform the method of any of claims 11 to 14.

37. A communication system, characterized by comprising a first network element configured to perform the method of any of claims 22 to 24 and a signaling distribution network element configured to perform the method of any of claims 25 to 28.

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