Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application discloses a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first network element receives a first message from a second network element, the first message being used for requesting subscription to a model of a first analytics service corresponding to a first analytics identifier, the first message comprising a first duration, and the first duration being a duration corresponding to inference performed by the model of the first analytics service; the first network element determines a first model for executing the first analytics service, an inference duration of the first model when running in a first operating environment provided by the second network element being greater than the first duration; and the first network element sends a second message to the second network element, the second message comprising first information, the first information being used for determining a second operating environment, and an inference duration of the first model when running in the second operating environment being less than or equal to the first duration. Thus, the second network element can request a network element providing the second operating environment to use the first model to provide the first analytics service, or adjust the first operating environment provided by the second network element, thereby improving the analysis efficiency of the analytics service.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510374209.2, filed on March 25, 2025, entitled "A Communication Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0004] In 3GPP Release 17, the training and inference functions of the network data analytics function (NWDAF) were separated. An NWDAF can support only model training, only data inference, or both. Specifically, an NWDAF element supporting the model training logical function (MTLF) can be called an MTLF element, and an NWDAF element supporting the analytics logical function (AnLF) can be called an AnLF element.

[0005] Service consuming network elements can subscribe to analysis services from AnLF network elements, and AnLF network elements can subscribe to models of these analysis services from MTLF network elements, thereby using these models to provide analysis services to the service consuming network elements. However, since the inference time of these analysis service models varies in different operating environments, if the inference time of the analysis service models in the operating environment provided by AnLF network elements does not meet the analysis time requirements of the service consuming network elements, the analysis efficiency of the analysis service will be poor. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a communication method and apparatus to improve analysis efficiency.

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method. This method is applied to a first network element, or a component (such as a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or others) within the first network element, or a software module. The first network element can be an NWDAF network element supporting MTLF or other core network elements. Taking the application of this method to a first network element as an example, the method includes: receiving a first message from a second network element, the first message being used to request subscription to a model of a first analysis service corresponding to a first analysis identifier, the first message including a first duration, the first duration being the duration corresponding to inference performed by the model of the first analysis service; determining a first model, the first model being used to execute the first analysis service, the duration corresponding to inference performed by the first model in a first operating environment provided by the second network element being greater than the first duration; and sending a second message to the second network element, the second message including first information, the first information being used to determine a second operating environment, the duration corresponding to inference performed by the first model in the second operating environment being less than or equal to the first duration.

[0008] In this embodiment, when requesting the first network element to provide a model for the first analysis service, the second network element can indicate to the first network element the inference duration of the model for the first analysis service that the second network element expects. If the first network element determines, based on the inference duration of the model for the first analysis service that the second network element expects, that the inference duration of the first model running in the first operating environment provided by the second network element is greater than the first duration, and that the inference duration of the model running in the second operating environment is less than or equal to the first duration, then the first network element can indicate a second operating environment to the second network element. This allows the second network element to request the network element providing the second operating environment to use the first model to provide the first analysis service, or to adjust the first operating environment provided by the second network element, thereby meeting the second network element's requirement for the inference duration of the model for the first analysis service and improving the analysis efficiency of the analysis service.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the first message further includes one or more of the following: second information, which indicates the first operating environment; third information, which indicates the dataset corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; fourth information, which indicates the amount of data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; or, fifth information, which indicates the size of the data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference.

[0010] In this embodiment, when the second network element requests the first network element to provide a model for the first analysis service, it can instruct the first network element on one or more of the following: the first operating environment provided by the second network element, the dataset of the model that the second network element expects to input the first analysis service, the number of data samples that the second network element expects to input the first analysis service, or the size of the data samples that the second network element expects to input the first analysis service. This allows the first network element to determine the duration of inference for the first model based on one or more of the following: the first operating environment, the dataset, the number of data samples, or the size of the data samples.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the second operating environment includes one or more of the following: a third operating environment provided by the first network element; or, a fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first information includes one or more of the following: information of a first network element; information of a third network element; or, sixth information, the sixth information being used to indicate the second operating environment.

[0013] In this embodiment, various possibilities for the first information are provided. For example, the first information may include or be information about a first network element, such as the address or identifier of the first network element. Alternatively, the first information may include or be information about a third network element, such as the address or identifier of the third network element. Yet another example is that the first information may include or be sixth information used to indicate a second operating environment. Besides these, there are other possibilities for the first information, which are not limited thereto.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, which has the capability to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service, or is used to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service.

[0015] In this embodiment, when the first network element has the capability to provide the first analysis service or is used to provide the first analysis service, the first network element and the second network element can be the same network element. That is, the first network element and the second network element can be NWDAF network elements that support AnLF and MTLF or other core network elements. In this case, the first network element can instruct the second network element that the network element providing the second operating environment includes or is the first network element, so that the second network element can request the first network element to use the first model to provide the first analysis service, thereby meeting the time requirement of the second network element for inference of the model of the first analysis service and improving the analysis efficiency of the analysis service.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: a seventh message, which indicates that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first duration; and a second duration, which is the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element.

[0017] In this embodiment, when the network element providing the second operating environment includes or is a first network element, the first network element can instruct the second network element that the time for the first model to perform inference in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first time, and / or that the time for the first model to perform inference in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first time, so that the second network element can request the first network element to use the first model to provide the first analysis service, thereby meeting the second network element's requirement for the time for the model to perform inference in the first analysis service and improving the analysis efficiency of the analysis service.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information of the third network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: an eighth message, which indicates that the inference time corresponding to the first model running in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first time; and a third time, which is the inference time corresponding to the first model running in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0019] In this embodiment, when the network element providing the second operating environment includes or is a third network element, the first network element can instruct the second network element that the time for the first model to perform inference in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first time, and / or that the time for the first model to perform inference in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first time, so that the second network element can request the third network element to use the first model to provide the first analysis service, thereby meeting the second network element's requirement for the time for the model to perform inference in the first analysis service and improving the analysis efficiency of the analysis service.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, and the method further includes: receiving a third message from the second network element, the third message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the third message including the first duration; using the first model to provide the first analysis service to the second network element, obtaining a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service; and sending a fourth message to the second network element, the fourth message including the first analysis result.

[0021] In this implementation, the second network element can request the first network element to provide the first analysis service using the first model. Since the time for the first model to perform inference in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first time, the time requirement for the second network element to perform inference on the model of the first analysis service is met, thereby improving the analysis efficiency of the analysis service.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, and the method further includes: receiving a fifth message from the second network element, the fifth message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the fifth message including the first duration and information about the fourth network element; using the first model to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element, obtaining a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service; and sending a sixth message to the fourth network element, the sixth message including the first analysis result.

[0023] In this implementation, the second network element can request the first network element to use the first model to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element. Since the time for the first model to perform inference in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first time, it meets the time requirement for the second network element to perform inference on the model of the first analysis service, thereby improving the analysis efficiency of the analysis service.

[0024] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a communication method. This method is applied to a second network element, or a component (such as a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or others) within the second network element, or a software module. The second network element can be an NWDAF network element supporting AnLF or other core network elements. Taking the application of this method to a second network element as an example, the method includes: sending a first message to a first network element, the first message being used to request subscription to a model of a first analysis service corresponding to a first analysis identifier, the first message including a first duration, the first duration being the duration corresponding to the inference performed by the model of the first analysis service; receiving a second message from the first network element, the second message including first information, the first information being used to determine a second operating environment, the duration corresponding to the inference performed by the first model in the second operating environment being less than or equal to the first duration.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the first message further includes one or more of the following: second information, which indicates the first operating environment; third information, which indicates the dataset corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; fourth information, which indicates the amount of data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; or, fifth information, which indicates the size of the data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the second operating environment includes one or more of the following: a third operating environment provided by the first network element; or, a fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0027] In one possible implementation, the first information includes one or more of the following: information of the first network element; information of the third network element; or, sixth information, the sixth information being used to indicate the second operating environment.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, which has the capability to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service, or is used to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: a seventh message, which indicates that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first duration; and a second duration, which is the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information of the third network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: an eighth message, which indicates that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first duration; and a third duration, which is the duration of inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving a seventh message from a fourth network element, the seventh message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the seventh message including a fourth duration, the fourth duration being the duration corresponding to the first analysis service; and determining the first duration based on the fourth duration.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the second message further includes a second duration or a third duration, wherein the second duration is the duration for inference performed by the first model in a third operating environment provided by the first network element, and the third duration is the duration for inference performed by the first model in a fourth operating environment provided by the third network element. The method further includes: determining a fifth duration and a sixth duration; wherein the fifth duration is the sum of the second duration, the communication duration between the first network element and the second network element, and the communication duration between the second network element and the fourth network element, or the fifth duration is the sum of the third duration, the communication duration between the third network element and the second network element, and the communication duration between the second network element and the fourth network element; the sixth duration is the sum of the second duration and the communication duration between the first network element and the fourth network element, or the sixth duration is the sum of the third duration and the communication duration between the third network element and the fourth network element.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: if the fifth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, sending a third message to the first network element or the third network element, the third message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the third message including the first duration; receiving a fourth message from the first network element or the third network element, the fourth message including a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service; and sending an eighth message to the fourth network element, the eighth message including the first analysis result.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: if the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, sending a ninth message to the fourth network element, the ninth message indicating that the subscription to the first analysis service has failed, the ninth message including information of the first network element or information of the third network element.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: if the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, sending a fifth message to the first network element or the third network element, the fifth message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the fifth message including the first duration and information of the fourth network element.

[0036] Thirdly, this application also provides a communication device. This communication device can perform the methods or various possible embodiments shown in the first or second aspect above. The communication device can be a chip or circuit capable of performing the functions corresponding to the above methods, or a device including such a chip or circuit.

[0037] In one possible design, the communication device includes a communication unit for receiving and / or transmitting data; the communication device also includes a processing unit for implementing the methods in any of the possible embodiments shown in the first or second aspect above. The aforementioned functions can be implemented in hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more units corresponding to the aforementioned functions.

[0038] Fourthly, this application also provides a communication device. This communication device can execute the methods or various possible embodiments shown in the first or second aspect above. The communication device includes a processor. When the processor executes instructions, it causes the communication device or a device equipped with the communication device to execute the methods in any of the possible embodiments shown in the first or second aspect above.

[0039] Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory for storing computer-executable program code, which may include the aforementioned instructions. The memory may be located internally or externally to the communication device; this application does not limit this. The memory may be coupled to a processor.

[0040] The communication device may also include a communication interface. Optionally, if the communication device is a chip or circuit, the communication interface may be the chip's input / output interface, such as input / output pins.

[0041] Fifthly, this application also provides a communication system comprising at least one of the following: a first network element performing the method of the first aspect, and a second network element performing the method of the second aspect.

[0042] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods in any of the possible implementations shown in the first or second aspect above.

[0043] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer program product, wherein a computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when invoked by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method in any of the possible embodiments shown in the first or second aspect above.

[0044] Eighthly, this application provides a chip including a processor for executing the methods in any of the possible embodiments shown in the first or second aspect above. Optionally, the chip may further include a communication interface for inputting and / or outputting signaling or data. Optionally, the chip may further include a memory for storing the aforementioned computer program; the processor is coupled to the memory, and the processor can read the computer program stored in the memory to execute the methods in any of the possible embodiments shown in the first or second aspect above.

[0045] For the description of the beneficial effects of any of the second to eighth aspects above, please refer to the description of the technical effects in any possible implementation of the first aspect above, and this application will not repeat it here. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 4A is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 4B is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0051] Figure 4C is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 4D is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 4E is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0055] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0056] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] The technical solutions of this application embodiment can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) communication system, 5th Generation (5G) system, or New Radio (NR), or applied to future communication systems or other similar communication systems, etc.

[0058] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. Taking a service-oriented architecture-based 5G system as an example, the 5G system shown in Figure 1 may include terminal equipment, access network equipment, and core network (CN) equipment. The terminal equipment can access the data network (DN) through the access network equipment and the core network equipment.

[0059] Terminal devices can be user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. They can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, and smart cities. Terminal devices can include mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, urban air mobility vehicles (such as drones and helicopters), ships, robots, robotic arms, and smart home devices.

[0060] Access network equipment can be radio access network (RAN) equipment. Examples include: base stations, evolved NodeBs (eNodeBs), transmission reception points (TRPs), next-generation NodeBs (gNBs) in 5G mobile communication systems, base stations in future mobile communication systems, or access nodes in wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems. It can also be modules or units that perform some of the functions of a base station; for example, it can be a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). RAN equipment can be macro base stations, micro base stations, indoor stations, relay nodes, or donor nodes. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or equipment forms used in the RAN equipment.

[0061] Access network equipment and terminal equipment can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can be deployed in the air on aircraft, balloons, and satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of the access network equipment and terminal equipment.

[0062] Core network equipment includes various network functions (NFs) or network elements, such as some or all of the following network elements: unified data management (UDM) network elements, unified data repository (UDR) network elements, application function (AF) network elements, policy control function (PCF) network elements, access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, user plane function (UPF) network elements, network data analytics function (NWDAF) network elements, network exposure function (NEF) (not shown in Figure 1), network repository function (NRF) network elements (not shown in Figure 1), and analytics data repository functional (ADRF) network elements (not shown in Figure 1).

[0063] The following is a brief introduction to some core network equipment:

[0064] The AMF (Active Mobility Filter) element, or AMF for short, includes functions such as mobility management and access authentication / authorization. It is also responsible for transmitting user policies between terminal devices and the PCF (Programmable Component Filter).

[0065] The SMF network element, or SMF for short, includes functions such as performing session management, executing control policies issued by the PCF, selecting the UPF, and allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to terminal devices.

[0066] UPF (User Plane Filter) network elements serve as interfaces with data networks and include functions such as user plane data forwarding, session / flow-based billing and statistics, and bandwidth limiting.

[0067] UDM network elements, or UDM for short, include functions such as managing contracted data and authorizing user access.

[0068] UDR network element, or UDR for short, includes functions for storing and retrieving data of various types, such as contract data, policy data, and application data.

[0069] NEF (Network Element for short) is used to support the opening of capabilities and events.

[0070] An AF (Application Provider) network element, or AF for short, conveys the application's requests to the network, such as Quality of Service (QoS) requirements or user state event subscriptions. An AF can be a third-party functional entity or an application server deployed by the operator.

[0071] PCF network element, or PCF for short, includes policy control functions such as billing at the session and service flow level, QoS bandwidth guarantee and mobility management, and terminal device policy decision-making.

[0072] NRF (Network RF) elements provide network element discovery functionality, offering network element information corresponding to the network element type based on requests from other network elements. NRF elements also provide network element management services, such as network element registration, updates, deregistration, and network element status subscription and push notifications.

[0073] NWDAF (Network Window Data Acquisition Filter) network elements are used to collect data (including one or more of the following: terminal device data, access network device data, core network device data, and third-party application device data). This data can be the data itself of the terminal device, access network device, core network device, or third-party application device, or it can be data from the terminal device on that access network device, core network device, or third-party application device. The collected data is then analyzed, and the analysis results are output for use by the network, network management devices, and applications in policy decision-making. NWDAF can utilize machine learning (ML) models for data analysis. In the embodiments of this application, an NWDAF can be a standalone network element or co-located with other network elements, such as being set up in a PCF (Public Network Function) or AMF (Application Window Function).

[0074] In the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) Release 17, the training and inference functions of NWDAF were separated. An NWDAF can support only model training, only data inference, or both.

[0075] In the embodiments of this application, the model training function network element can be an NWDAF that supports model training functions, also known as a training NWDAF, or an NWDAF that supports model training logical function (MTLF), or simply MTLF. For example, the MTLF can train the model based on the acquired data to obtain the trained model.

[0076] The analytics function network element can be an NWDAF that supports data inference, also known as an inference NWDAF, or an NWDAF that supports analytics logical function (AnLF), or simply AnLF. For example, AnLF can request a model from MTLF via a model subscription service (MLModelProvision_Subscribe) or a message. This model can be trained by MTLF using relevant data. Then, AnLF can input input data into the trained model to obtain analytics results or inference data.

[0077] It is understandable that MTLF can be interpreted as an NWDAF that at least supports model training functionality. As a possible implementation, MTLF can also support data inference functionality. AnLF can be interpreted as an NWDAF that at least supports data inference functionality. As a possible implementation, AnLF can also support model training functionality. If an NWDAF supports both model training and data inference functionality, then that NWDAF can be called a training NWDAF, an inference NWDAF, or a training-inference NWDAF.

[0078] The ADRF network element, or ADRF for short, is used to store model-related data. This data can be generated by the AnLF. The ADRF can provide model-related data to the MTLF upon request.

[0079] A Domain Provider (DN) is a network located outside of the carrier's network. A carrier's network can connect to multiple DNs, and various services can be deployed on a DN, providing data and / or voice services to terminal devices. For example, a DN might be the private network of a smart factory. Sensors installed in the workshop can act as terminal devices, and a control server for these sensors is deployed within the DN. The control server provides services to the sensors. Sensors can communicate with the control server, receive instructions from it, and transmit the collected sensor data back to the control server accordingly. Another example is a DN serving as an internal office network for a company. Employees' mobile phones or computers can act as terminal devices, accessing information and data resources on the company's internal office network.

[0080] It is understood that the above network elements are examples of one implementation method, and this application does not exclude the possibility that network elements or devices with the above network element functions may have other names or other forms in newer wireless communication systems.

[0081] In Figure 1, Nudr, Npcf, Namf, Nudm, Nsmf, Naf, and Nnwdaf are the service interfaces provided by UDR, PCF, AMF, UDM, SMF, AF, and NWDAF, respectively, used to call the corresponding service operations. N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6 are interface sequence numbers, and the meanings of these interface sequence numbers are as follows:

[0082] 1) N1: The interface between the AMF network element and the terminal device, which can be used to transmit non-access stratum (NAS) signaling (such as QoS rules from the AMF network element) to the terminal device.

[0083] 2) N2: The interface between the AMF network element and the access network equipment, which can be used to transmit radio bearer control information from the core network side to the access network equipment.

[0084] 3) N3: The interface between the access network equipment and the UPF network element, mainly used to transmit uplink and downlink user plane data between the access network equipment and the UPF network element.

[0085] 4) N4: The interface between SMF network elements and UPF network elements. It can be used to transmit information between the control plane and the user plane, including the distribution of forwarding rules, QoS rules, traffic statistics rules, etc. from the control plane to the user plane, as well as the reporting of information from the user plane.

[0086] 5) N6: The interface between the UPF network element and the DN, used to transmit uplink and downlink user data streams between the UP network element F and the DN.

[0087] Additionally, in the architecture shown in Figure 1, Nadrf can serve as a service interface for ADRF.

[0088] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 uses a 5G system based on a point-to-point interface as an example. The functions of the devices and network elements in Figure 2 can be found in the corresponding descriptions of the devices and network elements in Figure 1, and will not be repeated here. The main difference between Figure 2 and Figure 1 is that the interfaces between the various control plane network elements in Figure 1 are service-oriented interfaces, while the interfaces between the various control plane network elements in Figure 2 are point-to-point interfaces.

[0089] In the 5G system shown in Figure 2, the interface names and functions between the various network elements in the core network are as follows:

[0090] 1) N5: The interface between AF network element and PCF network element, which can be used for application service request distribution and network event reporting.

[0091] 2) N7: The interface between PCF network elements and SMF network elements, which can be used to issue protocol data unit (PDU) session granularity and service data flow granularity control strategies.

[0092] 3) N8: The interface between the AMF network element and the UDM network element. It can be used by the AMF network element to obtain access and mobility management related subscription data and authentication data from the UDM network element, as well as by the AMF network element to register the current mobility management information of the terminal device with the UDM network element.

[0093] 4) N9: User plane interface between UPF network elements, used to transmit uplink and downlink user data streams between UPF network elements.

[0094] 5) N10: The interface between the SMF network element and the UDM network element. It can be used for the SMF network element to obtain session management-related subscription data from the UDM network element, and for the SMF network element to register terminal device current session-related information with the UDM network element.

[0095] 6) N11: The interface between SMF network elements and AMF network elements. It can be used to transmit PDU session tunnel information between access network devices and UPF network elements, transmit control messages sent to terminal devices, and transmit radio resource control information sent to access network devices.

[0096] 7) N15: The interface between PCF network elements and AMF network elements, which can be used to issue terminal equipment policies and access control related policies.

[0097] 8) N23: The interface between the PCF network element and the NWDAF network element. The NWDAF network element can collect data from the PCF network element through this interface. It should be noted that the NWDAF network element can also have interfaces with other devices (such as AMF network elements, UPF network elements, access network devices, terminal devices, etc.), which are not fully shown in the figure.

[0098] 9) N35: The interface between UDM network elements and UDR network elements, which can be used by UDM network elements to obtain user subscription data information from UDR network elements.

[0099] 10) N36: The interface between PCF network elements and UDR network elements, which can be used by PCF network elements to obtain policy-related contract data and application data related information from UDR network elements.

[0100] It is understood that the aforementioned network element or function can be a network component in a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualization function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). As one possible implementation method, the aforementioned network element or function can be implemented by a single device, multiple devices working together, or a functional module within a single device; this application does not specifically limit this.

[0101] The above content describes the communication system to which the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are applicable. In order to better understand the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the relevant technical features involved in the embodiments of this application will be explained below.

[0102] 1. Analysis Identification (Analysis ID)

[0103] An analysis identifier can be used to indicate an analysis service (or analysis business), or simply a service. An analysis identifier is associated with a model (or machine learning model), meaning the model is used to execute the analysis service corresponding to the analysis identifier. Alternatively, it can be understood that an analysis service is associated with a model, meaning the model can be used to execute the analysis service. Or, it can be understood that an analysis identifier is associated with an MTLF, meaning the model provided by the MTLF is used to execute the analysis service corresponding to the analysis identifier. For example, an MTLF can be associated with one or more analysis identifiers. This can be understood as the MTLF providing a model for the analysis service corresponding to each of the one or more analysis identifiers. For instance, if MTLF1 is associated with analysis identifier 1 and analysis identifier 2, meaning MTLF1 corresponds to analysis identifier 1 and analysis identifier 2, then MTLF1 can provide a model for analysis service 1 corresponding to analysis identifier 1, and a model for analysis service 2 corresponding to analysis identifier 2.

[0104] 2. Federated learning (FL)

[0105] Federated learning is a distributed machine learning paradigm that effectively solves the data silo problem by enabling joint modeling without sharing user data. This technically breaks down data silos and facilitates collaborative artificial intelligence (AI) learning. Federated learning can be categorized into three types: vertical federated learning (VFL), horizontal federated learning (HFL), and federated transfer learning (FTL).

[0106] Vertical federated learning and horizontal federated learning can be used to address model training and inference when participants are unwilling to share their original data. Vertical federated learning is suitable when participants' training sample identifiers (IDs) overlap significantly, while their data features overlap less. Vertical federated learning combines different data features from common samples of multiple participants for federated learning; that is, the training data for each participant is partitioned vertically, hence the name vertical federated learning. Horizontal federated learning is suitable when participants' training sample identifiers overlap less, while their data features overlap significantly. Horizontal federated learning combines common data features from different samples of multiple participants for federated learning; that is, the training data for each participant is partitioned horizontally, hence the name horizontal federated learning.

[0107] 3. Service consumers, service producers, model consumers, and model producers

[0108] Service consumers, also known as Network Function Consumers (NFc), are the primary users of analytics services. Service producers, also known as Network Function Producers (NFp), are the primary users of analytics services. In other words, service producers need to provide analytics services to service consumers. For example, service consuming network elements can be AMF network elements, SMF network elements, or other core network elements, while service producing network elements can be NWDAF network elements that support AnLF.

[0109] Model consumers are the main body of models that provide consumption analysis services. Model producers are the main body of models that provide production analysis services. In other words, model producers need models that provide analysis services to model consumers. For example, model consumer network elements can be NWDAF network elements that support AnLF, and model producers can be NWDAF network elements that support MTLF.

[0110] Currently, service consumers can subscribe to analytics services from model consumers, and model consumers can subscribe to models provided by these analytics services from model producers, thereby using these models to provide analytics services to service consumers. However, because the inference time of these analytics service models varies in different runtime environments, if the inference time of the models in the runtime environment provided by the model consumer does not meet the service consumer's requirements for the analytics service's analysis time, it will lead to poor analytics efficiency.

[0111] Therefore, embodiments of this application provide a communication method for improving analysis efficiency.

[0112] In the embodiments of this application, "when," "if," and "if" all refer to the device taking corresponding actions under certain objective circumstances, and are not time-limited, nor do they require the device to perform a judgment action, nor do they imply any other limitations. Unless otherwise specified, "if" and "if" can be substituted, and "when" and "in the case of" can be substituted. "When" and "if" / "if" can be substituted.

[0113] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the terms "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0114] In this document, "used for indication" can include both direct and indirect indication. For example, when descriptive information I is used to indicate information J, it can mean that information I directly indicates information J or indirectly indicates information J, but it does not necessarily mean that information I carries information J.

[0115] Let information J, indicated by information I, be called the information to be indicated. In practice, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be indicated, such as the information itself or its index. It can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be indicated. It can also indicate only a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the indication of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-defined) order of various pieces of information, thereby reducing indication overhead to some extent. Simultaneously, common parts of various pieces of information can be identified and indicated uniformly to reduce the indication overhead caused by individually indicating the same information.

[0116] Furthermore, the specific instruction method can also be any existing instruction method, such as, but not limited to, the above-mentioned instruction methods and their various combinations. As described above, for example, when multiple pieces of information of the same type need to be indicated, the instruction methods for different pieces of information may differ. In specific implementation, the required instruction method can be selected according to specific needs. This application embodiment does not limit the selected instruction method. Therefore, the instruction methods involved in this application embodiment should be understood to cover various methods that enable the party to be instructed to obtain the information to be indicated.

[0117] In the embodiments of this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission via the air interface by other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which may include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY via the air interface by other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface.

[0118] Information may undergo necessary processing, such as encoding and modulation, between the source and destination ends, but the destination end can understand the valid information from the source end. Similar statements in the embodiments of this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be repeated here.

[0119] In this application embodiment, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " can indicate that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0120] In this application, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. For example, "first information" and "second information" refer to two different pieces of information, and do not indicate a difference in priority or importance between the two pieces of information. For a technical feature, the technical features within that technical feature are distinguished by "A," "B," "C," and "D," and there is no sequential or hierarchical order among the technical features described by "A," "B," "C," and "D."

[0121] The solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application is applied to the communication system shown in Figure 1 as an example. The communication system and application scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of communication systems and the emergence of new application scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0122] The following describes the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application, which is executed by the first network element and the second network element.

[0123] The steps executed by the first network element can be implemented by the first network element itself, or by components (such as chips, processing units, or processor modules) within the first network element. The first network element can be an NWDAF network element supporting MTLF as shown in Figures 1-2, or it can be a chip (system) within an NWDAF network element supporting MTLF as shown in Figures 1-2.

[0124] The steps performed by the second network element can be implemented by the second network element itself, or by components within the second network element (such as a baseband chip, or other processing units or processor modules). For example, the second network element can be an AnLF-supporting NWDAF network element as shown in Figures 1-2, or it can be a chip (system) within an AnLF-supporting NWDAF network element as shown in Figures 1-2.

[0125] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 3, the communication method includes the following steps.

[0126] S301, the second network element sends the first message to the first network element.

[0127] Correspondingly, the first network element receives a first message from the second network element. This first message requests subscription to the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. The first message includes a first duration, which is the duration for inference performed by the model of the first analysis service.

[0128] In this embodiment, the second network element can request the first network element to provide a model for the second network element to perform a first analysis service via a first message. The second network element can be understood as a model-consuming network element; for example, it can be an NWDAF network element supporting AnLF or other core network elements. This embodiment does not limit this. The first network element can be understood as a model-producing network element; for example, it can be an NWDAF network element supporting MTLF or other core network elements. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0129] The first message can be a model subscription message, such as the Nnwdaf_MLModelProvision_Subscribe message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0130] The first message may include a first analysis identifier and a first duration. The first analysis identifier can be used to indicate a first analysis service. The first duration can be understood as the time required for the second network element to perform inference using the model of the first analysis service, or as the time required for the second network element to use the model of the first analysis service to obtain the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service, or as the time required for the second network element to obtain the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service. This embodiment of the application does not limit this. In other words, the first duration is a requirement or demand for the time required for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference.

[0131] In one possible implementation, the first duration may include one or more of the following: (model inference) data collection duration; (model inference) data preprocessing duration; model inference duration, such as the duration for the model to infer from the input data and output the analysis results, the generation duration of the analysis results, the analysis duration; or, the analysis results transmission duration.

[0132] It is understood that duration can be equivalently replaced by latency, and analysis results can be equivalently replaced by analysis reports. This application does not limit this.

[0133] In one possible implementation, the first message may also include one or more of the following: second information; third information; fourth information; or, fifth information. These will be described below.

[0134] 1) Second information, wherein the second information can be used to indicate the first operating environment provided (or set) by the second network element. This can be understood as the first operating environment of the model corresponding to the first analysis service provided (or set) by the second network element during the inference process of the model in the first analysis service. This first operating environment can be used to determine the duration of the inference process of the model in the first analysis service. The first operating environment can be understood as a hardware and software environment, or it can also be understood as hardware and software configuration requirements, such as the ability of the model to be used in this hardware and software environment for training, inference, etc. This application embodiment does not limit this. For example, the second information can be the machine learning model interoperability information of the second network element, which includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: the model's operating environment; the model's type; or, the model's format.

[0135] 2) Third information, which can be used to instruct the model of the first analysis service to perform inference on the corresponding input dataset. This can be understood as the dataset that the second network element expects to input to the model of the first analysis service during the inference process. This dataset can be used to determine the duration of the inference process performed by the model of the first analysis service. For example, the third information may include a dataset tag, where a dataset tag can be used to label a dataset. A dataset tag can be understood as an index of the dataset or an index of the data.

[0136] 3) Fourth information, which can be used to indicate the number of data samples input for the inference process of the first analysis service model. This can be understood as the number of data samples (i.e., batch size) that the second network element expects to input into the first analysis service model each time during the inference process. This number of data samples can be used to determine the inference time of the first analysis service model. For example, if the number of data samples input into the first analysis service model each time during inference is 32, then the first analysis service model will simultaneously infer from 32 data samples each time, obtaining analysis results for 32 samples. It can be understood that based on the inference time and the number of data samples input for the first analysis service model, the inference speed of the first analysis service model can be determined. For example, if the number of data samples input into the first analysis service model is 32, and the time for the first analysis service model to simultaneously infer from 32 data samples and obtain analysis results for 32 samples is 3200 seconds, then the inference speed of the first analysis service model is 0.01 samples per second (sample / s).

[0137] 4) Fifth information, which can be used to instruct the model of the first analysis service on the size of the input data samples for inference. This can be understood as the size of each data sample that the second network element expects to input into the model of the first analysis service during inference. The size of each data sample can be used to determine the duration of inference for the model of the first analysis service. It can be understood that the size of each data sample can be the average size of each data sample. For example, in a language model, data samples can be text or tokens, and the size of the data sample is the number of texts or tokens. When a text is "What questions do you have?", the number of texts is 6. When a token is "you", "have", "what", or "question", the number of tokens is 4.

[0138] In one possible implementation, as shown in FIG4A, the present application may also perform the following steps before performing S301.

[0139] Step A1: The fourth network element sends the seventh message to the second network element.

[0140] Correspondingly, the second network element receives a seventh message from the fourth network element. This seventh message requests subscription to the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. The seventh message includes a fourth duration, which is the duration corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0141] It is understood that the fourth network element can request the second network element to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element through the seventh message. Here, the fourth network element can be understood as a service-consuming network element, such as an AMF network element, an SMF network element, or other core network element; this embodiment does not limit this. The second network element can be understood as a service-producing network element.

[0142] The seventh message can be an analytics subscription message, such as the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0143] The seventh message may include a first analysis identifier and a fourth duration. The first analysis identifier can be used to indicate the first analysis service. The fourth duration can be understood as the duration corresponding to the first analysis service expected by the fourth network element, or it can be understood as the duration corresponding to the first analysis result expected by the fourth network element. This embodiment of the application does not limit this. In other words, the fourth duration is a requirement or demand for the duration corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0144] In one possible implementation, the fourth duration may include one or more of the following: (model inference) data collection duration; (model inference) data preprocessing duration; model inference duration, such as the duration for the model to infer from the input data and output analysis results, the duration for generating analysis results, and the analysis duration; or, the duration for transmitting analysis results. For example, the fourth duration may be the time when analytics information is needed as stated in the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe message.

[0145] Step A2: The second network element determines the first duration based on the fourth duration.

[0146] It is understood that the first duration and the fourth duration can be the same or different, and this application does not limit this.

[0147] For example, consider a difference between the first and fourth durations. The fourth duration is the duration corresponding to the first analysis service expected by the fourth network element, and may include one or more of the following: (model inference) data collection duration; (model inference) data preprocessing duration; model inference duration, such as the duration for the model to infer from the input data and output the analysis results, the generation duration of the analysis results, and the analysis duration; or, the transmission duration of the analysis results. The first duration is the duration corresponding to the model inference for the first analysis service expected by the second network element, and may only include the model inference duration.

[0148] In one possible implementation, as shown in FIG4A, the present application may also perform the following steps before performing step A1.

[0149] Step A01: The second network element sends an NF registration message to the NRF network element.

[0150] Correspondingly, the NRF network element receives the NF registration message from the second network element. The NF registration message includes a first analysis identifier and a duration A. The first analysis identifier indicates the first analysis service, and the duration A can be understood as the duration corresponding to the first analysis service provided (or set) by the second network element. For example, the NF registration message can be an Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister message.

[0151] Step A02: The fourth network element sends an NF discovery message to the NRF network element.

[0152] Correspondingly, the NRF network element receives the NF discovery message from the fourth network element. The NF discovery information includes a first analysis identifier and a duration B. The first analysis identifier indicates the first analysis service, and the duration B can be understood as the duration corresponding to the first analysis service expected by the fourth network element (i.e., the aforementioned fourth duration). For example, the NF discovery message can be an Nnrf_NF_Discovery message.

[0153] Step A03: The NRF network element sends an NF notification message to the fourth network element.

[0154] Correspondingly, the fourth network element receives the NF notification message from the NRF network element. The NF notification message includes information about the second network element (e.g., the identifier and address of the second network element). For example, the NF notification message can be an Nnrf_NF_Discovery_Notify message.

[0155] It is understandable that if duration A is less than or equal to duration B, the NRF network element can determine that the second network element can provide the fourth network element with the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier based on the first analysis identifier and duration B in the NF discovery message, and the first analysis identifier and duration A in the NF registration message.

[0156] S302. The first network element determines the first model. The first model is used to execute the first analysis service, and the duration of inference performed by the first model in the first operating environment provided by the second network element is longer than the first duration.

[0157] In this embodiment, after the first network element receives a first message from the second network element, the first network element can determine a first model based on the first analysis identifier in the first message. The first model can be used to execute the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. The first model can be a non-federated learning model, a horizontal federated learning model, or a vertical federated learning model; this embodiment does not limit this. It is understood that when the first model is a vertical federated learning model, the first model can include multiple models, namely, the model trained by the vertical federated learning server and the model trained by the vertical federated learning client.

[0158] The first network element can also determine, based on the first duration in the first message, that the duration for inference performed by the first model in the first operating environment provided (or set) by the second network element is longer than the first duration. The first operating environment provided (or set) by the second network element can be indicated by the second network element to the first network element through the first message (e.g., the first message includes second information), or it can be pre-configured, or it can be defined by a standard; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0159] It is understood that the inference time corresponding to the first model running in the first operating environment provided (or set) by the second network element can be the inference time corresponding to one or more of the following when the first model runs in the first operating environment provided (or set) by the second network element, and inputs a specific dataset, a specific number of data samples, or a data sample of a specific size. The specific dataset, the specific number of data samples, or the data sample of a specific size can be indicated by the second network element to the first network element through a first message (e.g., the first message includes third, fourth, or fifth information), or it can be pre-configured, or it can be defined by a standard; this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0160] For example, if the first message includes second information, which is used to indicate the operating environment 1 provided (or set) by the second network element, then the first network element can determine the duration of inference performed by the first model in the operating environment 1.

[0161] For example, if the first message includes third information, which is used to instruct the model of the first analysis service to perform inference on the corresponding input dataset 1, then the first network element can determine the duration for the first model to perform inference on the input dataset 1.

[0162] For example, if the first message includes a fourth message, which indicates that the number of data samples input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference is 32, then the first network element can determine the duration corresponding to the first model inputting 32 data samples for inference.

[0163] For example, if the first message includes the fifth information, which is used to instruct the model of the first analysis service to perform inference on a data sample of size 20, then the first network element can determine the duration of inference on a data sample of size 20 input to the first model.

[0164] The first network element can also determine, based on the first duration in the first message, that the duration for inference performed by the first model in the second operating environment is less than or equal to the first duration. The second operating environment may include or be a third operating environment provided (or set) by the first network element, or it may include or be a fourth operating environment provided (or set) by a third network element, or it may include or be other operating environments provided (or set) by other network elements. This application embodiment does not limit this. The second, fourth, and third operating environments can all be understood as hardware and software environments, or as hardware and software configuration requirements, such as the ability of the model to be used in these environments for training, inference, etc. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0165] S303, the first network element sends a second message to the second network element.

[0166] Correspondingly, the second network element receives a second message from the first network element. This second message includes first information, which is used to determine a second operating environment. The duration for which the first model performs inference in the second operating environment is less than or equal to the first duration.

[0167] In this embodiment of the application, the first network element can notify the second network element of the model that it can or cannot provide the first analysis service for the second network element through the second message. This embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0168] The second message can be a model notification message, such as the Nnwdaf_MLModelProvision_Notify message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0169] The second message may or may not include information about the first model; this application embodiment does not limit this. The information about the first model may include the file address of the first model (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN); or it may include the identifier of the first model; or it may include the identifier of an ADRF network element or the identifier of a set of ADRF network elements. When the identifier of an ADRF network element or the identifier of a set of ADRF network elements is included, the information about the first model may also include a storage transaction identifier. That is, part of the information about the first model can be used to obtain the first model. For example, if the information about the first model includes the URL of the first model, the second network element can obtain the first model based on the URL; or, the information about the first model may include the identifier of an ADRF network element, allowing the second network element to send a model retrieval message to that ADRF network element, and the ADRF network element to send the first model to the second network element. Furthermore, the information about the first model may also include other content, such as describing the accuracy of the first model, the applicable scenarios of the first model, etc. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0170] The second message may include the first information. The first information can be used to determine the second operating environment.

[0171] In one possible implementation, the first information may include or may be one or more of the following: information of a first network element; information of a third network element; or, sixth information. This will be described below.

[0172] 1) Information of the first network element. For example, the identifier of the first network element, the address of the first network element, etc., but this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0173] When the first model runs in the second operating environment and the duration of inference is less than or equal to the first duration, and the second operating environment includes or is provided (or set) by the first network element, the first network element can indicate its information to the second network element through the second message. That is, the first information in the second message can include or be the information of the first network element.

[0174] When the first information in the second message includes or is related to the information of the first network element, the first network element can have the capability to provide the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier and the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier, or the first network element can be used to provide the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier and the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. In other words, the first network element and the second network element can be the same network element; that is, the first network element and the second network element can be NWDAF network elements supporting AnLF and MTLF or other core network elements.

[0175] When the first information in the second message includes or is related to the information of the first network element, the second message may further include a seventh information and / or a second duration. The seventh information may be used to indicate that the duration for inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided (or set) by the first network element is less than or equal to the first duration. The second duration may be the duration for inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided (or set) by the first network element. The information of the first network element, the seventh information, and the second duration may be the same information or different information; this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0176] 2) Information about the third network element. For example, the identifier of the third network element, the address of the third network element, etc., but this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0177] When the first model runs in the second operating environment and the duration of inference is less than or equal to the first duration, and the second operating environment includes or is provided (or set) by a third network element, the first network element can indicate the information of the third network element to the second network element through a second message. That is to say, the first information in the second message can include or include the information of the third network element.

[0178] When the first information in the second message includes or is related to the information of a third network element, the third network element can have the capability to provide the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier and the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier, or the third network element can be used to provide the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier and the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. In other words, the first network element and the third network element can be the same network element; that is, the first network element and the third network element can be NWDAF network elements supporting AnLF and MTLF or other core network elements.

[0179] When the first information in the second message includes or is related to the information of the third network element, the second message may further include the eighth information and / or the sixth duration. The eighth information may be used to indicate that the duration for inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided (or set) by the third network element is less than or equal to the first duration. The third duration may be the duration for inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided (or set) by the third network element. The information of the third network element, the eighth information, and the third duration may be the same information or different information; this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0180] 3) Sixth information. The sixth information can be used to indicate the second operating environment.

[0181] The first network element can instruct the second network element on the second operating environment through the second message. That is, the first information in the second message may include, or be used to instruct on, the sixth information on the second operating environment.

[0182] The second network element can determine the network element providing the second operating environment based on the sixth information used to indicate the second operating environment. The second network element can then request the network element providing the second operating environment to provide a first analysis service using the first model. Alternatively, the second network element can also adjust the first operating environment it provides / or sets based on the sixth information used to indicate the second operating environment. This allows the second network element to use the first model to provide a first analysis service to the fourth network element.

[0183] When the first information in the second message includes or is used to indicate the sixth information of the second operating environment, the second message may also include information of the first model so that the second network element can use the first model to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element.

[0184] In one possible implementation, after the second network element receives the second message from the first network element, if the second message includes a second duration or a third duration, then as shown in FIG4B, after executing S303, this application may also perform the following steps.

[0185] Step B1: The second network element determines the fifth and sixth durations.

[0186] The fifth duration is the sum of the second duration, the communication duration between the first network element and the second network element, and the communication duration between the second network element and the fourth network element; or, the fifth duration is the sum of the third duration, the communication duration between the third network element and the second network element, and the communication duration between the second network element and the fourth network element.

[0187] For example, if the second message includes information about the first network element and a second duration, then the second network element can determine the duration A1 corresponding to communication between the first and second network elements, the duration A2 corresponding to communication between the second and fourth network elements, and the fifth duration equal to the second duration, the sum of duration A1 and duration A2. In other words, the fifth duration includes the duration corresponding to the first analysis result obtained by the first network element using the first model to perform inference, the duration corresponding to the first analysis result sent by the first network element to the second network element, and the duration corresponding to the second network element forwarding the first analysis result to the fourth network element.

[0188] For example, if the second message includes information about the third network element and a third duration, then the second network element can determine the duration B1 corresponding to communication between the third network element and itself, the duration B2 corresponding to communication between the second network element and the fourth network element, and the fifth duration equal to the sum of the third duration, duration B1, and duration B2. In other words, the fifth duration includes the duration corresponding to the third network element using the first model to infer the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service, the duration corresponding to the third network element sending the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service to the second network element, and the duration corresponding to the second network element forwarding the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service to the fourth network element.

[0189] The sixth duration is the sum of the second duration and the communication duration between the first network element and the fourth network element, or the sixth duration is the sum of the third duration and the communication duration between the third network element and the fourth network element.

[0190] For example, if the second message includes information about the first network element and a second duration, then the second network element can determine the duration C1 corresponding to the communication between the first network element and the fourth network element. The fifth duration is equal to the sum of the second duration and duration C1. In other words, the fifth duration includes the duration corresponding to the first analysis result obtained by the first network element using the first model to perform inference and the duration corresponding to the first analysis service being sent by the first network element to the fourth network element.

[0191] For example, if the second message includes information about the third network element and a third duration, then the second network element can determine the duration C2 corresponding to the communication between the third network element and the fourth network element. The fifth duration is equal to the sum of the third duration and duration C2. In other words, the fifth duration includes the duration corresponding to the third network element using the first model to perform inference to obtain the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service, and the duration corresponding to the third network element sending the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service to the fourth network element.

[0192] In one possible implementation, as shown in FIG4C, after performing step B1, the embodiments of this application may further perform the following steps.

[0193] Step C1: If the fifth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the second network element sends a third message to the first network element or the third network element.

[0194] Correspondingly, the first network element or the third network element receives a third message from the second network element. This third message is used to request subscription to the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier, and includes a first duration.

[0195] It is understandable that if the second message includes information about the first network element and the second duration, and the fifth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the second network element can request the first network element to provide the first analysis service through the third message.

[0196] If the second message includes information about the third network element and a third duration, and the fifth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the second network element can request the third network element to provide the first analysis service through the third message.

[0197] The third message can be an analytics subscription message, such as the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0198] The third message may include a first analysis identifier and a first duration. The first analysis identifier may be used to indicate the first analysis service.

[0199] Step C2: The first network element or the third network element uses the first model to provide the first analysis service to the second network element, and obtains the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0200] It is understandable that the time for the first network element or the third network element to use the first model for inference can be less than or equal to the first time.

[0201] Step C3: The first network element or the third network element sends a fourth message to the second network element.

[0202] Correspondingly, the second network element receives a fourth message from the first or third network element. This fourth message includes the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0203] It is understandable that the first network element or the third network element can notify the second network element of the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service through the fourth message.

[0204] The fourth message can be an analysis notification message, such as the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0205] The fourth message may include a first analysis identifier and a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service. The first analysis identifier may be used to indicate the first analysis service.

[0206] Step C4: The second network element sends the eighth message to the fourth network element.

[0207] Correspondingly, the fourth network element receives the eighth message from the second network element. This eighth message includes the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0208] It is understandable that the second network element can notify the fourth network element of the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service through the eighth message.

[0209] The eighth message can be an analysis notification message, such as the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0210] The eighth message may include a first analysis identifier and a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service. The first analysis identifier may be used to indicate the first analysis service.

[0211] In one possible implementation, as shown in FIG4D, after performing step B1, the embodiments of this application may further perform the following steps.

[0212] Step D1: If the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the second network element sends the fifth message to the first or third network element.

[0213] Correspondingly, the first network element or the third network element receives the fifth message from the second network element. This fifth message is used to request subscription to the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier, and includes the first duration and information from the fourth network element.

[0214] It is understandable that, if the second message includes information about the first network element and the second duration, and the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the second network element can request the first network element to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element through the fifth message.

[0215] If the second message includes information about the third network element and the third duration, and the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the second network element can request the third network element to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element through the fifth message.

[0216] The fifth message can be an analytics subscription message, such as the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0217] The fifth message may include a first analysis identifier, a first duration, and information about the fourth network element. The first analysis identifier may be used to indicate the first analysis service, and the information about the fourth network element may include the identifier of the fourth network element, the address of the fourth network element, etc., which are not limited in this embodiment.

[0218] Step D2: The first network element or the third network element uses the first model to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element, and obtains the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0219] It is understandable that the time for the first network element or the third network element to use the first model for inference can be less than or equal to the first time.

[0220] Step D3: The first or third network element sends the sixth message to the fourth network element.

[0221] Correspondingly, the fourth network element receives a sixth message from the first or third network element. This sixth message includes the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0222] It is understandable that the first network element or the third network element can notify the fourth network element of the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service through the sixth message.

[0223] The sixth message can be an analysis notification message, such as the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0224] The sixth message may include a first analysis identifier and a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service. The first analysis identifier may be used to indicate the first analysis service.

[0225] In one possible implementation, as shown in FIG4E, after performing step B1, the embodiments of this application may further perform the following steps.

[0226] Step E1: If the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the second network element sends the ninth message to the fourth network element.

[0227] Correspondingly, the fourth network element receives the ninth message from the second network element. This ninth message indicates that the subscription to the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier has failed, and the ninth message includes information from either the first or third network element.

[0228] It is understandable that the second network element can notify the fourth network element via the ninth message that the subscription to the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier has failed.

[0229] The ninth message can be an analysis notification message, such as the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify message, or it can be other messages. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0230] If the second message includes information about the first network element and the second duration, and the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the ninth message may include the first analysis identifier and information about the first network element, to indicate that the fourth network element may request the first network element to provide the fourth network element with the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier.

[0231] If the second message includes information about the third network element and the third duration, and the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, the ninth message may include the first analysis identifier and information about the third network element to indicate that the fourth network element may request the third network element to provide the fourth network element with the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier.

[0232] Step E2: The fourth network element sends an analysis subscription message to the first or third network element.

[0233] Correspondingly, the first network element or the third network element receives an analysis subscription message from the fourth network element. The analysis subscription message is used to request subscription to the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier, and includes a first duration.

[0234] It is understandable that the fourth network element can request the first or third network element to provide the first analysis service by analyzing the subscription message.

[0235] The analytics subscription message may include a first analytics identifier and a first duration. The first analytics identifier can be used to indicate a first analytics service. For example, the analytics subscription message could be an `Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe` message.

[0236] Step E3: The first network element or the third network element uses the first model to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element, and obtains the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0237] It is understandable that the time for the first network element or the third network element to use the first model for inference can be less than or equal to the first time.

[0238] Step E4: The first or third network element sends an analysis notification message to the fourth network element.

[0239] Accordingly, the fourth network element receives analysis notification messages from the first or third network element. These analysis notification messages include the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service.

[0240] It is understandable that the first or third network element can notify the fourth network element of the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service through an analysis notification message. For example, the analysis notification message can be an Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Notify message.

[0241] The analysis notification message may include a first analysis identifier and a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service. The first analysis identifier may be used to indicate the first analysis service.

[0242] It is understood that the above embodiments of this application can be implemented individually or in combination with each other, and the embodiments of this application are not limited.

[0243] The methods provided by the embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatus provided by the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0244] Based on the same technical concept, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a module / unit / means for executing the method performed by the device in the above-described method embodiments. This module / unit / means can be implemented in software, or in hardware, or implemented by hardware executing corresponding software.

[0245] For example, referring to FIG5, a schematic diagram of a communication device 500 is provided, which includes a transceiver module 501 and a processing module 502.

[0246] When device 500 is the first network element, the functions of each module of device 500 are as follows:

[0247] The transceiver module 501 is used to receive a first message from a second network element. The first message is used to request subscription to the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. The first message includes a first duration, which is the duration for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference.

[0248] Processing module 502 is used to determine a first model, the first model is used to execute the first analysis service, and the duration of inference performed by the first model in the first operating environment provided by the second network element is longer than the first duration.

[0249] The transceiver module 501 is used to send a second message to the second network element. The second message includes first information, which is used to determine a second operating environment. The duration of inference performed by the first model in the second operating environment is less than or equal to the first duration.

[0250] In one possible implementation, the first message further includes one or more of the following: second information, which indicates the first operating environment; third information, which indicates the dataset corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; fourth information, which indicates the amount of data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; or, fifth information, which indicates the size of the data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference.

[0251] In one possible implementation, the second operating environment includes one or more of the following: a third operating environment provided by the first network element; or, a fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0252] In one possible implementation, the first information includes one or more of the following: information of a first network element; information of a third network element; or, sixth information, the sixth information being used to indicate the second operating environment.

[0253] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, which has the capability to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service, or is used to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service.

[0254] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: a seventh message, which indicates that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first duration; and a second duration, which is the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element.

[0255] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information of the third network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: an eighth message, which indicates that the inference time corresponding to the first model running in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first time; and a third time, which is the inference time corresponding to the first model running in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0256] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element; the transceiver module 501 is used to receive a third message from the second network element, the third message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the third message including the first duration; the processing module 502 is used to provide the first analysis service to the second network element using the first model, and obtain a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service; the transceiver module 501 is used to send a fourth message to the second network element, the fourth message including the first analysis result.

[0257] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element; the transceiver module 501 is configured to receive a fifth message from the second network element, the fifth message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the fifth message including the first duration and information about the fourth network element; the processing module 502 is configured to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element using the first model, and obtain a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service; the transceiver module 501 is configured to send a sixth message to the fourth network element, the sixth message including the first analysis result.

[0258] Alternatively, when the device 500 is the second network element, the functions of each module of the device 500 are as follows:

[0259] The transceiver module 501 is used to send a first message to the first network element. The first message is used to request subscription to the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. The first message includes a first duration, which is the duration for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference.

[0260] The transceiver module 501 is used to receive a second message from the first network element. The second message includes first information, which is used to determine a second operating environment. The duration of inference performed by the first model in the second operating environment is less than or equal to the first duration.

[0261] In one possible implementation, the first message further includes one or more of the following: second information, which indicates the first operating environment; third information, which indicates the dataset corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; fourth information, which indicates the amount of data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference; or, fifth information, which indicates the size of the data corresponding to the input for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference.

[0262] In one possible implementation, the second operating environment includes one or more of the following: a third operating environment provided by the first network element; or, a fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0263] In one possible implementation, the first information includes one or more of the following: information of the first network element; information of the third network element; or, sixth information, the sixth information being used to indicate the second operating environment.

[0264] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, which has the capability to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service, or is used to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service.

[0265] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information about the first network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: a seventh message, which indicates that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first duration; and a second duration, which is the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element.

[0266] In one possible implementation, the first information includes information of the third network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: an eighth message, which indicates that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first duration; and a third duration, which is the duration of inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

[0267] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 501 is configured to receive a seventh message from a fourth network element, the seventh message being a request to subscribe to the first analysis service, the seventh message including a fourth duration, the fourth duration being the duration corresponding to the first analysis service; and to determine the first duration based on the fourth duration.

[0268] In one possible implementation, the second message further includes a second duration or a third duration. The second duration is the duration for inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element, and the third duration is the duration for inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element. The processing module 502 is used to determine a fifth duration and a sixth duration. The fifth duration is the sum of the second duration, the communication duration between the first and second network elements, and the communication duration between the second and fourth network elements; or, the fifth duration is the sum of the third duration, the communication duration between the third and second network elements, and the communication duration between the second and fourth network elements. The sixth duration is the sum of the second duration and the communication duration between the first and fourth network elements; or, the sixth duration is the sum of the third duration and the communication duration between the third and fourth network elements.

[0269] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 501 is configured to, when the fifth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, send a third message to the first network element or the third network element, the third message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the third message including the first duration; receive a fourth message from the first network element or the third network element, the fourth message including a first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service; and send an eighth message to the fourth network element, the eighth message including the first analysis result.

[0270] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 501 is configured to send a ninth message to the fourth network element if the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration. The ninth message is used to indicate that the subscription to the first analysis service has failed, and the ninth message includes information about the first network element or information about the third network element.

[0271] In one possible implementation, the transceiver module 501 is configured to send a fifth message to the first network element or the third network element when the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration. The fifth message is used to request subscription to the first analysis service and includes the first duration and information about the fourth network element.

[0272] In practical implementation, the above-mentioned device 500 can have various product forms. Several possible product forms are introduced below.

[0273] Referring to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of another communication device, the communication device 600 includes a processor 601 and an interface circuit 602. The interface circuit 602 is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor 601, or to send signals from the processor 601 to other communication devices outside the communication device. The processor 601 is used to implement the method executed by the first network element or the second network element in the above method embodiment through logic circuits or execution instructions.

[0274] The processor 601 and the interface circuit 602 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 602 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 600 may also include a memory 603 for storing instructions executed by the processor 601, or storing input data required by the processor 601 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 601 executes instructions.

[0275] It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in hardware or software. When implemented in hardware, the processor can be a logic circuit, integrated circuit, etc. When implemented in software, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, implemented by reading software code stored in memory.

[0276] For example, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0277] It should be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0278] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) can be integrated into the processor.

[0279] It should be noted that the memories described herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

[0280] Based on the same technical concept, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a processor, enables the method executed by the first network element or the second network element in the above method embodiments to be implemented.

[0281] Based on the same technical concept, this application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a processor, the method executed by the first network element or the second network element in the above method embodiments is implemented.

[0282] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0283] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to this application. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart illustrations and / or one or more blocks of the block diagrams.

[0284] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.

[0285] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive a first message from the second network element. The first message is used to request subscription to the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. The first message includes a first duration, which is the duration for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference. A first model is determined, which is used to execute the first analysis service. The duration of inference performed by the first model in the first operating environment provided by the second network element is longer than the first duration. Send a second message to the second network element. The second message includes first information, which is used to determine the second operating environment. The duration of the first model performing inference in the second operating environment is less than or equal to the first duration.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first message also includes one or more of the following: The second information is used to indicate the first operating environment; The third information is used to instruct the model of the first analysis service to perform inference on the corresponding input dataset; The fourth information is used to indicate the number of input data that the model of the first analysis service performs inference on; or, The fifth piece of information is used to instruct the model of the first analysis service on the size of the input data for inference.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second operating environment includes one or more of the following: The third operating environment provided by the first network element; or, The third network element provides the fourth operating environment.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The first information includes one or more of the following: Information about the first network element; Information about the third network element; or, The sixth piece of information is used to indicate the second operating environment.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the first network element, which has the capability to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service, or is used to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the first network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: The seventh information is used to indicate that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first duration. The second duration is the duration for the first model to perform inference in the third operating environment provided by the first network element.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the third network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: The eighth information is used to indicate that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first duration. The third duration is the duration during which the first model performs inference in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

8. The method according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the first network element, and the method further includes: Receive a third message from the second network element, the third message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the third message including the first duration; The first model is used to provide the first analysis service to the second network element, and the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service is obtained. A fourth message is sent to the second network element, the fourth message including the first analysis result.

9. The method according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the first network element, and the method further includes: Receive a fifth message from the second network element, the fifth message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the fifth message including the first duration and information from the fourth network element; The first model is used to provide the first analysis service to the fourth network element, and the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service is obtained. A sixth message is sent to the fourth network element, the sixth message including the first analysis result.

10. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Send a first message to the first network element. The first message is used to request subscription to the model of the first analysis service corresponding to the first analysis identifier. The first message includes a first duration, which is the duration for the model of the first analysis service to perform inference. A second message is received from the first network element. The second message includes first information, which is used to determine a second operating environment. The duration of inference performed by the first model in the second operating environment is less than or equal to the first duration.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first message also includes one or more of the following: The second information is used to indicate the first operating environment; The third information is used to instruct the model of the first analysis service to perform inference on the corresponding input dataset; The fourth information is used to indicate the number of input data that the model of the first analysis service performs inference on; or, The fifth piece of information is used to instruct the model of the first analysis service on the size of the input data for inference.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The second operating environment includes one or more of the following: The third operating environment provided by the first network element; or, The third network element provides the fourth operating environment.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, The first information includes one or more of the following: Information about the first network element; Information about the third network element; or, The sixth piece of information is used to indicate the second operating environment.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the first network element, which has the capability to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service, or is used to provide the first analysis service and a model for the first analysis service.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the first network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: The seventh information is used to indicate that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element is less than or equal to the first duration. The second duration is the duration for the first model to perform inference in the third operating environment provided by the first network element.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13-15, characterized in that, The first information includes information about the third network element, and the second message further includes one or more of the following: The eighth information is used to indicate that the duration of inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element is less than or equal to the first duration. The third duration is the duration during which the first model performs inference in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10-16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive a seventh message from the fourth network element, the seventh message being used to request subscription to the first analysis service, the seventh message including a fourth duration, the fourth duration being the duration corresponding to the first analysis service; The first duration is determined based on the fourth duration.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The second message further includes a second duration or a third duration, wherein the second duration is the duration for inference performed by the first model in the third operating environment provided by the first network element, and the third duration is the duration for inference performed by the first model in the fourth operating environment provided by the third network element. The method further includes: Determine the fifth and sixth durations; Wherein, the fifth duration is the sum of the second duration, the communication duration between the first network element and the second network element, and the communication duration between the second network element and the fourth network element; or, the fifth duration is the sum of the third duration, the communication duration between the third network element and the second network element, and the communication duration between the second network element and the fourth network element. The sixth duration is the sum of the second duration and the communication duration between the first network element and the fourth network element, or the sixth duration is the sum of the third duration and the communication duration between the third network element and the fourth network element.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the fifth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, a third message is sent to the first network element or the third network element. The third message is used to request subscription to the first analysis service, and the third message includes the first duration. Receive a fourth message from the first network element or the third network element, the fourth message including the first analysis result corresponding to the first analysis service; Send an eighth message to the fourth network element, the eighth message including the first analysis result.

20. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, a ninth message is sent to the fourth network element. The ninth message indicates that the subscription to the first analysis service has failed. The ninth message includes information from the first network element or information from the third network element.

21. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the sixth duration is less than or equal to the first duration, a fifth message is sent to the first network element or the third network element. The fifth message is used to request subscription to the first analysis service and includes the first duration and information about the fourth network element.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-9, or a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 10-21.

23. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-9, or the method as described in any one of claims 10-21.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the method as described in any one of claims 1-9 to be performed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 10-21 to be performed.

25. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the method as described in any one of claims 1-9 to be performed, or causes the method as described in any one of claims 10-21 to be performed.

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