WO2020224437A1 - 一种通信方法、装置、实体及计算机可读存储介质 - Google Patents

一种通信方法、装置、实体及计算机可读存储介质 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020224437A1
WO2020224437A1 PCT/CN2020/086116 CN2020086116W WO2020224437A1 WO 2020224437 A1 WO2020224437 A1 WO 2020224437A1 CN 2020086116 W CN2020086116 W CN 2020086116W WO 2020224437 A1 WO2020224437 A1 WO 2020224437A1
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network function
function entity
network
entity
service
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English (en)
French (fr)
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王涛
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Tencent Technology Shenzhen Co Ltd
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Tencent Technology Shenzhen Co Ltd
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Priority to JP2021541643A priority Critical patent/JP7130142B2/ja
Priority to KR1020217027356A priority patent/KR102513998B1/ko
Priority to EP20802157.6A priority patent/EP3968702B1/en
Publication of WO2020224437A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020224437A1/zh
Priority to US17/405,962 priority patent/US11991036B2/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/30—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
    • H04W4/40—Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
    • H04L41/5041—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements characterised by the time relationship between creation and deployment of a service
    • H04L41/5051—Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/40—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
    • H04L41/5003—Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
    • H04L41/5009—Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
    • H04L41/5012—Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF] determining service availability, e.g. which services are available at a certain point in time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
    • H04L41/5041—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements characterised by the time relationship between creation and deployment of a service
    • H04L41/5054—Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01—Protocols
    • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
    • H04L67/1001—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
    • H04L67/1004—Server selection for load balancing
    • H04L67/1008—Server selection for load balancing based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01—Protocols
    • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
    • H04L67/1001—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
    • H04L67/1004—Server selection for load balancing
    • H04L67/1012—Server selection for load balancing based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01—Protocols
    • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
    • H04L67/1001—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
    • H04L67/1004—Server selection for load balancing
    • H04L67/1014—Server selection for load balancing based on the content of a request
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/51—Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/60—Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources
    • H04L67/62—Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W52/00—Power management, e.g. Transmission Power Control [TPC] or power classes
    • H04W52/02—Power saving arrangements
    • H04W52/0209—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices
    • H04W52/0225—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
    • H04W52/0248—Power saving arrangements in terminal devices using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal dependent on the time of the day, e.g. according to expected transmission activity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/18—Service support devices; Network management devices
    • H04W88/182—Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/34—Signalling channels for network management communication
    • H04L41/342—Signalling channels for network management communication between virtual entities, e.g. orchestrators, SDN or NFV entities
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
    • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Definitions

  • This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, device, entity, and computer-readable storage medium.
  • the 5G communication standard formulated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP) began with Release 15, introducing network function (NF) network elements and network function services (NF Service) into the communication network.
  • 3rd Generation Partnership Project 3rd Generation Partnership Project
  • NF Service can be a module located on an NF network element, or a module divided in a virtualized network.
  • the NF network element and NF Service in the operator's network can provide certain or certain specific services in the running state.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which may include:
  • the control function entity receives the first request sent by the N first network function entities, where the first request includes a first valid time, and the first valid time corresponds to the first network function that sent the first request
  • the N is an integer, and N>0;
  • the control function entity receives a second request sent by a second network function entity; the second request is used to determine a third network function entity among the N first network function entities;
  • the control function entity sends a first response to the second network function entity, where the first response includes the first valid time for the third network function entity to provide the service for the second network function entity
  • the third network function entity performs business communication with the third network function entity within the first valid time when the service is provided.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which may include:
  • the second network function entity sends a second request to the control function entity; the second request is used to determine the third network function entity among the N first network function entities;
  • the second network function entity receives a first response sent by the control function entity, where the first response includes the first valid time for the service provided by the third network function entity, and each of the N first network function entities The first valid time of has been saved on the control function entity, the N is an integer, and N>0;
  • the second network function entity performs service communication with the third network function entity within the first effective time when the service is provided by the third network function entity.
  • An embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may include:
  • the receiving module is configured to receive first requests respectively sent by N first network function entities, wherein the first request includes a first valid time, and the first valid time corresponds to the first request that sends the first request For the service provided by the network function entity, the N is an integer and N>0;
  • the receiving module is configured to receive a second request sent by a second network function entity; the second request is used to determine a third network function entity among the N first network function entities;
  • the sending module is configured to send a first response to the second network function entity, the first response including the first valid time for the third network function entity to provide the service for the second network function entity
  • the third network function entity performs business communication with the third network function entity within the first valid time when the service is provided.
  • An embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may include:
  • a sending module configured to send a second request to the control function entity; the second request is used to determine a third network function entity among the N first network function entities;
  • the receiving module is configured to receive a first response sent by the control function entity, the first response including the first valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity, and the first effective time of each of the N first network function entities A valid time has been stored on the control function entity, the N is an integer, and N>0;
  • the communication module is configured to perform business communication with the third network function entity within the first effective time when the third network function entity provides the service.
  • An embodiment of the present application provides a control function entity, which may include: a transceiver, a processor, and a memory; the memory is configured to store executable instructions, and when the control function entity is running, the transceiver is configured to execute the implementation of the application
  • the processor executes the executable instructions stored in the memory to execute the determined steps in the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a network function entity, which may include: a transceiver, a processor, and a memory; the memory is configured to store executable instructions, and when the network function entity is running, the transceiver is used to execute the embodiment of the present application
  • the processor executes the executable instructions stored in the memory to execute the determined steps in the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application.
  • the embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium.
  • the computer-readable storage medium stores executable instructions.
  • the executable instructions run on a computer, the computer executes the Communication method.
  • Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of an Internet of Vehicles scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the 5G communication standard formulated by 3GPP started with Release 15, introducing NF network elements and NF Service into the communication network. Whether it is an NF network element or NF Service, it needs to be always in operation when providing services, and the operation of these NF network elements or NF Service in the network requires a large amount of electric energy.
  • embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can control the use of each network function entity through the effective time of the service provided by the network function entity, thereby reducing the power consumption of the network function entity. Detailed descriptions are given below.
  • FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided by an embodiment of the application.
  • the communication system provided by the embodiment of the present application includes a first network function entity, a control function entity (in FIG. 1A, a control network element is taken as an example), and a second network function entity.
  • the first network function entity and the second network function entity can be network elements or modules that perform certain or certain specific functions in the operator's network, and can be NF network elements, NF Service modules, or service communication agents (Service Communication Proxy, SCP) network element.
  • NF network elements NF Service modules
  • SCP Service Communication Proxy
  • the first network function entity or the second network function entity may include an access and mobility management function (Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF) network element, and a session management function (Session Management Function, SMF) network element.
  • AMF Access and Mobility Management Function
  • SMF Session Management Function
  • Element User Plane Function (UPF) network element, Policy Control Function (PCF) network element, Unified Data Management (UDM), Unified Data Repository (UDR) network element ⁇ Authorization service function (AUthentication Server Function, AUSF) network element, network slice selection function (Network Slice Selection Function, NSSF) network element, network data analysis function (Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF) network element or network repository function (Network Repository) Function, NRF) network element.
  • UPF User Plane Function
  • PCF Policy Control Function
  • UDM Unified Data Management
  • UDR Unified Data Repository
  • AUthentication Server Function AUthentication Server Function, AUSF
  • NSSF Network Slice Selection Function
  • the first network function entity or the second network function entity is the NF Service module, it may be the function module of the service provided by these network elements, such as: AMF Service module, SMF Service module, UPF Service module, PCF Service module, UDM Service module, UDR Service module, AUSF Service module, NSSF Service module, NWDAF Service module or NRF Service module.
  • the first network function entity or the second network function entity is an SCP network element, it may be a device that acts as a proxy for the function of the aforementioned NF network element or NF Service module.
  • the control function entity can be a network element with registration and storage functions, such as a Network Repository Function (NRF) network element, and the control function entity can also be a service module with registration and storage functions, such as the NRF Service module.
  • NRF Network Repository Function
  • first network function entities there may be one or more first network function entities, and there may also be one or more second network function entities.
  • Each first network function entity will have a first valid time.
  • the functional entity may send its own first effective time to the control functional entity, and the control functional entity may store the first effective time of each first network functional entity.
  • the second network function entity needs to use the third network function entity, it can obtain the first valid time of the third network function entity from the control function entity, where the third network function entity is one or more of the first network function entities.
  • One of the first network function entity and the second network function entity may be a producer, and the other may be a consumer.
  • the AMF network element when the SMF network element is used as the first network function entity, the AMF network element may be used as the second network function entity; when the source AMF network element is used as the first network function entity, the target AMF network element may be used as the second network function entity; When the source SMF network element is used as the first network functional entity, the target SMF network element can be used as the second network functional entity; when the UPF network element is used as the first network functional entity, the SMF network element can be used as the second network functional entity; When the network element is used as the first network function entity, the AMF network element may be used as the second network function entity, and the SMF network element may also be used as the second network function entity.
  • the producer-consumer relationship between the entities is not limited to the ones listed here. If the two entities can communicate with each other, the relationship between the first network function entity and the second network function entity can be established. The relationship between producers and consumers. Of course, producers and consumers can also be at the level of SCP network elements.
  • an AMF network element can include one or more AMF Service modules, which can be marked It is AMF Service 1/2/3/...
  • SMF network element can include one or more SMF Service modules, which can be marked as SMF Service 1/2/3/..., when SMF Service 1/2/3/...
  • AMF Service 1 can be used as the second network functional entity.
  • AMF Service 2 can also be used as the second network functional entity.
  • the embodiment of this application only uses this method as an example. In fact, for other networks The relationship between the service modules in the element can all be inferred based on the relationship between the producer and the consumer between the aforementioned network elements.
  • the above-mentioned relationship between the producer and the consumer is relative and not fixed.
  • the relationship between the two can be determined according to different usage scenarios, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the embodiment of the present application also provides a schematic diagram of the network architecture as shown in FIG. 1B.
  • the terminal device 100 is connected to the second network functional entity 300 through the network 200.
  • the network 200 may be a wide area network or a local area network, or a combination of the two.
  • the terminal device 100 can be implemented as notebook computers, tablet computers, desktop computers, set-top boxes, mobile devices (for example, mobile phones, portable music players, personal digital assistants, dedicated messaging devices, portable game devices) and other types of Terminal device, FIG. 1B only uses the terminal device 100 as a mobile terminal device as an example.
  • the control function entity 400 receives a first request respectively sent by N first network function entities 500, the first request includes a first valid time, and the first valid time corresponds to the first network function that sent the first request For the services provided by the entity 500, the case where N is 3 is used as an example here.
  • the control function entity 400 stores the received first valid time of the first network function entities 500-1, 500-2, and 500-3 locally.
  • the user can send a service request to the second network function entity 300 through the terminal device 100 to request the required service data.
  • the type of service request is not limited here, such as a video request, a navigation request or a sensor data request, etc. .
  • the second network function entity 300 After receiving the service request, the second network function entity 300 generates a second request according to the service request, and sends the second request to the control function entity 400.
  • the generated second request may include the ability to provide service data (referring to service data).
  • the second request may also include network slice information, data network name, location information and effective time information of the terminal device 100, and so on.
  • the control function entity 400 determines a third network function entity among the first network function entities 500-1 to 500-3 according to the received second request. Taking the first network function entities 500-1 to 500-3 all complying with the entity type in the second request as an example, if the effective time information included in the second request is the time period of 19:00-20:00 (for example, the user needs Browsing the video during this time period), and the first valid time of the first network function entity 500-1 is 16:00-24:00, and the first valid time of the first network function entity 500-2 is 8:00-16 00:00, the first valid time of the first network function entity 500-3 is 0:00-8:00, and the control function entity 400 determines the first network function entity 500-1 as the third network function entity.
  • the control function entity 400 sends a first response to the second network function entity 300, the first response including the first valid time for the first network function entity 500-1 to provide the service.
  • the second network function entity 300 After the second network function entity 300 receives the first response, it can perform business communication with the first network function entity 500-1 within the first valid time when the first network function entity 500-1 provides the service, that is, obtain the first network function entity 500-1.
  • a network function entity 500-1 provides service data, and sends the service data to the terminal device 100 via the network 200.
  • the terminal device 100 can display the obtained business data in the graphical interface 110.
  • the power consumption of the network function entity can be reduced.
  • users usually work in commercial areas during the day, and return to their own homes at night (mostly not in commercial areas), that is, the network function entities used by users during the day are usually deployed in commercial areas.
  • network function entities are used in non-commercial areas.
  • the operator may partially close the network function entity in the commercial area at night on weekdays, and close the network function entity in the non-commercial area during the day on weekdays.
  • operators can partially close network functional entities in commercial areas during the day and open all network functional entities in non-commercial areas.
  • the communication efficiency can be improved, and the power consumption of the network functional entity and the entire communication network can be reduced.
  • the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include:
  • Step 101 The control function entity receives the first request sent by the N first network function entities respectively, and accordingly, the N first network function entities respectively send the first request to the control function entity.
  • the first request includes the first valid time for the service provided by the first network function entity that sent the first request, N is an integer, and N>0.
  • each first network function entity has a first effective time for providing services by itself, and the first effective time of each of the N first network function entities may be the same or different.
  • the entity types of the N first network function entities may be the same or different.
  • the first valid time may be a time period during which the first network function entity provides the service, or other time information that can indicate the time range during which the first network function entity provides the service.
  • the first request may be a registration request or other types of requests, as long as the first valid time of the first network function entity can be sent to the control function entity, and the type of the first request is not limited.
  • control function entity After the control function entity receives the first request respectively sent by the N first network function entities, it can record the corresponding relationship between the identification information of each first network function entity and the respective first valid time.
  • the recording form can be through a list Record in the form, as shown in the list in Table 1:
  • Table 1 Correspondence table between the identification information of the first network function entity and the respective first valid time
  • Table 1 is only an example.
  • the form of expression in Table 1 is not limited to the way recorded in Table 1.
  • the identification information can be expressed in the form of a character string, and the first valid time can be expressed in a specific time.
  • the value of the segment is expressed in a manner, or other expression manners may also be used, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.
  • identification information in Table 1 above may be the identification of the NF network element or the identification of the NF Service module.
  • Table 1 When it is the identifier of the NF network element, for example, taking the NF network element as an SMF network element, the above Table 1 can be expressed in the form of Table 2:
  • Table 2 Correspondence table between the identification information of SMF network elements and the respective first valid time
  • SMF network element identification information First effective time SMF network element identification 1 Effective time 1 SMF network element identification 2 Effective time 2 SMF network element identification 3 Effective time 3 ... ... SMF network element identification N Effective time N
  • Table 1 When it is the identifier of the NF Service module, for example, taking the NF Service as SMF Service as an example, the above Table 1 can be expressed in the form of Table 3:
  • Table 3 Correspondence table between the identification information of the SMF Service module and the respective first valid time
  • SMF Service module identification information First effective time SMF Service Module ID 1 Effective time 1 SMF Service Module ID 2 Effective time 2 SMF Service Module ID 3 Effective time 3 ... ... SMF Service Module ID N Effective time N
  • Table 1 When it is the identifier of the SCP network element, the above Table 1 can be expressed in the form of Table 4:
  • Table 4 Correspondence between the identification information of the SCP network element and the respective first valid time
  • Step 102 The control function entity receives the second request sent by the second network function entity, and accordingly, the second network function entity sends the second request to the control function entity.
  • the second request may be a query request or another type of request.
  • the second request is used to obtain information of the third network function entity among the N first network function entities.
  • Step 103 The control function entity sends a first response to the second network function entity, and accordingly, the second network function entity receives the first response sent by the control function entity.
  • the first response includes the first valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity, and the third network function entity is included in the N first network function entities.
  • Step 104 The second network function entity performs business communication with the third network function entity within the first valid time when the third network function entity provides the service.
  • the first network function entity will provide the control function entity with the first effective time of the service provided by the first network function entity, and then the second network function entity will request the control function entity to be included in the Nth The first effective time of the third network functional entity in a network functional entity, and then the second network functional entity communicates with the third network functional entity within the first effective time.
  • This solution of controlling the services of each network function entity through the effective time can reduce the power consumption of the network function entity.
  • the second request may include the entity type of the third network function entity.
  • entity type refers to the functional classification or equipment classification of the first network functional entity.
  • AMF is a type
  • SMF is a type
  • UPF is a type
  • PCF is a type
  • UDM is a type
  • UDR is a type
  • AUSF is a type. It is a category
  • NSSF is a category
  • NWDAF is a category
  • NRF is a category.
  • the service communication between the second network function entity and the third network function entity is usually established for the service requested by the terminal, so in the second request, the second network function entity will clearly indicate the network that the control function entity needs.
  • the entity type of the functional entity for example, taking the scenario of the Internet of Vehicles as an example, if the second network functional entity is AMF, the entity type included in the second request is the type information of SMF.
  • the method may further include: controlling the functional entity to determine a first entity set corresponding to the entity type from the N first functional entities, and the first entity set includes the third network Functional entity.
  • the second request also includes at least one of the following: network slice information, data network name, location information and effective time information of the terminal requesting the service from the second network function entity.
  • the control function entity may determine the third network function entity from the first entity set according to at least one of the above-mentioned network slice information, data network name, location information of the terminal requesting services from the second network function entity, and effective time information .
  • the information of the network slicing in the embodiments of the present application may be a type of network slicing.
  • the fifth generation (5th Generation, 5G) network adopts the form of network slicing, thereby realizing the division of network resources with suitable characteristics for services with different requirements. The requirements of different services are different, and the types of network slicing are also different.
  • 5G networks adopts the form of network slicing, thereby realizing the division of network resources with suitable characteristics for services with different requirements. The requirements of different services are different, and the types of network slicing are also different.
  • the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to 5G networks, and are applicable to all networks that include network slicing.
  • eMBB enhanced Mobile BroadBand
  • URLLC ultra-high-reliability and low-latency communication
  • mIoT massive Internet (massive Internet) of Things
  • eMBB is mainly used for applications such as ultra-high-definition video, holographic technology, augmented reality and virtual reality, and requires high network bandwidth and speed.
  • URLLC is mainly used in fields such as unmanned driving, Internet of Vehicles, automatic factories and telemedicine, requiring low latency and high reliability
  • mIoT is mainly used for the deployment of massive IoT sensors in measurement, construction, agriculture, logistics, and smart cities And in the home and other fields, the requirements for delay and mobility are not high.
  • Tenants can rent different types of network slices according to their own needs. Tenants are mostly companies that provide various applications.
  • Network slicing is actually the division of radio access network resources, core network resources, and transmission resources.
  • the corresponding radio access network resources, core network resources, and transmission resources are Users provide business support.
  • the network slices involved in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as slices for short, including but not limited to slices, slice instances or slice sub-instances, where slices can select support information through a single network slice (Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAI)
  • S-NSSAI Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information
  • the ID is uniquely identified
  • the slice instance can be uniquely identified by the Network Slice Information (NSI) ID
  • the slice sub-instance can be uniquely identified by the Network Slice Selection Information (NSSI) ID.
  • NSI Network Slice Selection Information
  • the Data Network Name refers to the type of network that the terminal accesses.
  • the location information of the terminal may indicate the location of the terminal, and the location information of the terminal may include the Public Land Mobile Network Identity (PLMN ID), At least one of Tracking Area Identity (TAI) and Cell Global Identity (CGI), of course, can also include other information used to indicate location, so when determining the third network functional entity, you can try to determine A third network functional entity covering the location of the terminal.
  • PLMN ID Public Land Mobile Network Identity
  • TAI Tracking Area Identity
  • CGI Cell Global Identity
  • the effective time information may be the length information required for the effective time, for example, it takes 5 minutes or 1 hour, so that when the control functional entity makes a selection, it can determine a more accurate third network functional entity.
  • control function entity determines the third network function entity suitable for business communication with the second network function entity according to the above series of parameters.
  • control function entity may determine multiple third network function entities, and the second network function entity does not need so many third network function entities, it can make a further selection, and the execution process may be: 2.
  • the network functional entity determines the fourth network functional entity from the third network functional entity according to at least one of the effective time information, the entity's capacity information and the entity's priority information; the second network functional entity is in the fourth network functional entity Perform business communication with the fourth network function entity within the first valid time of providing the service.
  • the effective time information here can be analogized based on the effective time information in the second request.
  • the capacity information of the entity refers to the remaining capacity of the third network function entity. For example, if the control function entity provides multiple third network function entities, the remaining capacity of some third network function entities does not meet the current service requirements. , The third network function entity will be excluded, and the third network function entity whose remaining capacity meets the current service requirements will be selected to provide service communication. When the remaining capacity of all the third network functional entities can meet the business needs of this time, the third network functional entity with the most remaining capacity is selected to provide business communication to ensure the load balance of the entire communication system to prevent partial system Overload, improve the reliability of the system.
  • the priority information of an entity refers to the priority identifier of the third network function entity.
  • each third network function entity can have its own priority identifier.
  • the second network function entity will be selected from multiple third network function entities. , Select the third network function entity with the highest priority to provide service communication.
  • the above-mentioned control function entity determines according to the above-mentioned entity type, and at least one of a series of parameters such as the above-mentioned network slice information, data network name, location information of the terminal requesting service from the second network function entity, and effective time information.
  • the process of the third network function entity can be understood in conjunction with the Internet of Vehicles scenario shown in FIG. 3.
  • the Internet of Vehicles scenario shown in Figure 3 includes terminal 10, radio access network (RAN) equipment 20, AMF network element 30, NRF network element 40, SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network. Yuan 50C.
  • the AMF network element 30, NRF network element 40, SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C shown in Figure 3 are all independent devices.
  • Figure 3 is just for ease of illustration, AMF network element 30 , NRF network element 40, SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C may be independent devices, or may be resource blocks with corresponding functions differentiated on the cloud network.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the expression forms of the AMF network element 30, NRF network element 40, SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C.
  • SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C may all be the first network functional entity, and SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C may respectively send their respective The first valid time is sent to the NRF network element 40 for recording.
  • the terminal 10 initiates a navigation request, which is sent to the AMF network element 30 through the RAN device 20.
  • the AMF network element 30 sends a second request to the NRF network element 40.
  • the request may include information that the entity type is an SMF network element.
  • the second request may also include at least one of the following: network slice information, data network name, location information of the terminal requesting the service from the second network function entity, or valid Time information.
  • the NRF network element 40 can determine the set of the first SMF network element from among the many types of network elements recorded by itself according to the information that the entity type is the SMF network element.
  • the set of the first SMF network element includes a series of SMF network elements. yuan.
  • the NRF network element 40 may also determine from the set of first SMF network elements a set of second SMF network elements suitable for the Internet of Vehicles scenario according to the network slice information, and the second SMF The set of network elements also includes multiple SMF network elements.
  • the NRF network element 40 may also use the data network name and the location information of the terminal requesting the service from the second network function entity, and then The set of the third SMF network element is further determined from the set of the second SMF network element.
  • the third SMF network element set may also include multiple SMF network elements.
  • the NRF network element 40 may further filter out SMF network elements whose coverage area is closer to the terminal 10 from the set of second SMF network elements to form the third SMF network element set. Then the NRF network element 40 provides the set of the third SMF network element to the AMF network element 30 for the AMF network element 30 to choose.
  • the set of the third SMF network element includes SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C.
  • the AMF network element 30 may select the SMF network element according to at least one of effective time information, entity capacity information, and entity priority information.
  • the following is an example of determining the SMF network element based on the effective time information and the entity's capacity information as an example.
  • the AMF network element 30 selects the SMF network element based on the effective time information. For example, the AMF network element 30 needs to provide navigation services for 2 hours. If it is already 19:00, the first valid time for the service provided by the SMF network element 50A is 6:00 -22:00, the first valid time for SMF network element 50B to provide services is 4:00-20:00, and the first valid time for SMF network element 50C to provide services is 5:00-21:00, then the SMF network can be determined Both element 50A and SMF network element 50C can be selected.
  • the AMF network element 30 further selects from the SMF network element 50A and the SMF network element 50C according to the capacity information of the entity. If the capacity of the SMF network element 50A and the SMF network element 50C can satisfy the navigation service this time, the SMF network element 50A with a larger capacity can be selected to provide navigation services for the terminal.
  • the set of third SMF network elements including SMF network element 50A, SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C as an example.
  • the set of third SMF network elements may include more SMF network elements, if there are more SMF network elements, can further select the highest priority or the SMF network elements with the top priority rankings to provide navigation services for the terminal according to the priority information.
  • the AMF network element 30 establishes business communication with the SMF network element 50A, provides navigation services for the terminal 10, and returns navigation data to the terminal 10.
  • SMF network element 50A SMF network element 50B, and SMF network element 50C are marked.
  • SMF network elements covering various time periods will provide services. These SMFs Each network element does not have to be in service all the time, so that the power consumption of the SMF network element can be effectively saved.
  • the NRF network element 40 can provide at least two SMF network elements for the AMF network element 30, and use one of the provided SMF network elements as a backup SMF network element. To ensure the high availability of SMF network elements in the business process.
  • the above second request does not include valid time information, so the NRF network element 40 selects the SMF network element 50B and enters the set of the third SMF network element. If the second request includes valid time information, the NRF network element 40 will not select The SMF network element 50B enters the set of the third SMF network element.
  • the aforementioned AMF network element 30 made a selection based on the effective time information, excluding the SMF network element 50B. If the AMF network element 30 did not make a selection based on the effective time information, the SMF network element 50B was selected to provide services for the terminal, and the NRF network element 40 could also Before the expiration of the first valid time of the SMF network element 50B from 4:00 to 20:00, the SMF network element 50A is provided to the AMF network element 30 in time, that is, the service communication is switched to avoid affecting the service of the terminal 10.
  • Fig. 3 is an example of an Internet of Vehicles scenario, so the terminal 10 may be a wireless terminal or a navigation terminal in an auto-driving vehicle.
  • a terminal also referred to as user equipment (UE)
  • UE user equipment
  • UE user equipment
  • the terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (Virtual Reality, VR) terminal, an augmented reality (Augmented Reality, AR) terminal, and one of the industrial control (industrial control) Wireless terminal, wireless terminal in remote medical, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transportation safety, wireless terminal in smart city, and smart home ( Wireless terminals in smart home).
  • a virtual reality Virtual Reality, VR
  • AR Augmented Reality
  • industrial control industrial control
  • the first valid time of the N first network function entities in the embodiment of the present application may be updated according to requirements.
  • the following describes the update process of the first valid time of some first network function entities in the embodiment of the present application with reference to FIG. 4 .
  • the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include:
  • Step 201 The control function entity receives the third request respectively sent by the M first network function entities, and correspondingly, the M first network function entities respectively send the third request to the control function entity.
  • each third request includes the second valid time for the service provided by the first network function entity that sent the third request
  • M is an integer, M>0 and M ⁇ N.
  • M can be 1.
  • the second valid time can be the time range information used to replace the first valid time, or it can be an offset relative to the first valid time, for example: extend forward or backward at the start time point of the first valid time The shortened offset, or the offset extended backward or shortened forward at the end time point of the first valid time. You can also modify the limited effective time to infinite effective time, or modify the infinite effective time to limited effective time.
  • Step 202 The control function entity correspondingly updates the respective first valid times of the M first network function entities according to the M second valid times.
  • the valid time of the corresponding first network function entity in Table 1 can be correspondingly updated according to the second valid time.
  • the second valid time is time range information that can replace the first valid time
  • the first valid time can be replaced with the second valid time
  • the first valid time is extended or shortened according to the offset to obtain a new valid time.
  • Step 203 The second network function entity receives the first time update request sent by the control function entity, and the corresponding control function entity sends the first time update request to the second network function entity.
  • the first time update request includes the second valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity.
  • This step 203 is a step that is executed when the second network function entity and the third network function entity are still in service communication. In addition, if the second network function entity and the third network function entity are still in service communication, they can also be executed. Step 204.
  • Step 204 The second network function entity receives the second time update request sent by the third network function entity.
  • the second time update request includes the second valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity.
  • step 204 the second valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity can be updated more quickly.
  • Step 205 The second network functional entity updates the first effective time of the service provided by the third network functional entity according to the second effective time.
  • step 205 is executed.
  • the solution for updating the effective time provided by the embodiments of the present application can ensure the flexibility of effective time configuration of each network function entity and the accuracy of consumer use.
  • the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: the control function entity monitors the first effective time of each of the N first network function entities; when the first effective time of the Q first network function entities is When a valid time expires, delete the relevant information of the Q first network function entities, the relevant information includes the first valid time of the Q first network function entities, Q is an integer, Q>0 and Q ⁇ N.
  • the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include: after the first valid time of the third network function entity expires, deleting relevant information of the third network function entity to disconnect Open business communication with a third network functional entity, and the relevant information includes the first valid time of the third network functional entity.
  • control function entity or the second network function entity directly deletes it without notifying other entities, which can save the network overhead caused by notification signaling and also realize the network function entity Time-based automatic control.
  • the communication device 60 may include: a receiving module 601 configured to receive first requests respectively sent by N first network function entities, where the first request includes the first valid time, And the first valid time corresponds to the service provided by the first network function entity that sent the first request, N is an integer, and N>0; the receiving module 601 is configured to receive the second request sent by the second network function entity; the second request Used to determine the third network function entity among the N first network function entities; the sending module 602 is configured to send a first response to the second network function entity, the first response including the first valid service provided by the third network function entity The time is used for the second network function entity to perform business communication with the third network function entity within the first valid time when the third network function entity provides services.
  • the first network function entity will provide the control function entity with the first effective time of the service provided by the first network function entity, and then the second network function entity will request the control function entity to be included in the Nth The first effective time of the third network functional entity in a network functional entity, and then the second network functional entity communicates with the third network functional entity within the first effective time.
  • This solution of controlling the services of each network function entity through the effective time can reduce the power consumption of the network function entity.
  • the first valid time of each of the N first network function entities is the same.
  • the communication device further includes a processing module 603 configured to determine the first corresponding entity type from the N first functional entities when the second request includes the entity type of the third network functional entity.
  • the entity set, the first entity set includes a third network function entity.
  • the processing module 603 is configured to, when the second request includes at least one of network slice information, data network name, location information of the terminal requesting the service from the second network function entity, and effective time information, According to the content included in the second request, the third network function entity is determined from the first entity set.
  • the receiving module 601 is configured to receive a third request respectively sent by the M first network function entities, where the third request includes the second valid time for the service provided by the first network function entity that sent the third request , M is an integer, M>0 and M ⁇ N; the processing module 603 is configured to correspondingly update the first valid time of each of the M first network function entities according to the M second valid times.
  • M of the M first network function entities is 1.
  • the processing module 603 is configured to monitor the first valid time of each of the N first network function entities, and delete the Q first valid times when the first valid time of the Q first network function entities expires.
  • the relevant information of the network function entity includes the first valid time of Q first network function entities, Q is an integer, Q>0 and Q ⁇ N.
  • the first network function entity is a network function NF network element, an NF service module or a service communication agent SCP;
  • the second network function entity is a network function NF network element, an NF service module or SCP.
  • the communication device 70 may include: a sending module 701 configured to send a second request to the control function entity; the second request is used to determine the third of the N first network function entities Network function entity; receiving module 702, configured to receive a first response sent by a control function entity, the first response including the first valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity, and the first valid time of each of the N first network function entities It has been saved on the control function entity, N is an integer, and N>0; the communication module 703 is configured to perform business communication with the third network function entity within the first valid time when the third network function entity provides services.
  • the second network function entity will request the control function entity for the first valid time of the third network function entity included in the N first network function entities, and then the second network function entity will Communicate with the third network function entity within the first valid time.
  • This solution of controlling the services of each network function entity through the effective time can reduce the power consumption of the network function entity.
  • the second request includes the entity type, and the second request further includes at least one of network slice information, data network name, location information of the terminal requesting the service from the second network function entity, and effective time information.
  • the communication device 70 further includes a processing module 704 configured to determine the first network function entity from the third network function entity according to at least one of effective time information, entity capacity information, and entity priority information Four network function entities; the communication module 703 is configured to perform business communication with the fourth network function entity within the first valid time when the fourth network function entity provides services.
  • a processing module 704 configured to determine the first network function entity from the third network function entity according to at least one of effective time information, entity capacity information, and entity priority information Four network function entities; the communication module 703 is configured to perform business communication with the fourth network function entity within the first valid time when the fourth network function entity provides services.
  • the receiving module 702 is configured to receive a first time update request sent by the control function entity, the first time update request includes the second valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity; the processing module 704 is configured to The second valid time is to update the first valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity.
  • the receiving module 702 is configured to receive a second time update request sent by a third network function entity, where the second time update request includes the second valid time for the service provided by the third network function entity; processing module 704, configure To update the first valid time of the service provided by the third network function entity according to the second valid time.
  • the processing module 704 is configured to delete related information of the third network function entity after the first valid time of the third network function entity expires, so as to disconnect the service communication with the third network function entity,
  • the related information includes the first valid time of the third network function entity.
  • the control function entity, the first network function entity, or the second network function entity includes hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to each function.
  • the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed by hardware or computer software-driven hardware depends on the specific application and design constraint conditions of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods for each specific application to implement the described functions, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of the present application.
  • control function entity Described from the perspective of a physical device, the control function entity, the first network function entity, or the second network function entity described above can be implemented by one physical device, or can be implemented by multiple physical devices, or can be a logic within one physical device. Functional unit, this embodiment of the application does not specifically limit this.
  • FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the hardware structure of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the application.
  • the communication device includes at least one processor 801, a memory 802, and a communication line 803.
  • the communication device may further include at least one of a transceiver 804 and a communication interface 806.
  • the processor 801 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), a microprocessor, an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or one or more programs for controlling the execution of the program of this application. integrated circuit.
  • CPU Central Processing Unit
  • ASIC Application-Specific Integrated Circuit
  • the communication line 803 may include a path to transmit information between the aforementioned components.
  • the transceiver 804 using any device such as a transceiver, is used to communicate with other equipment or communication networks, such as Ethernet, Radio Access Network (RAN), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), etc. .
  • the transceiver 804 may also be a transceiver circuit or a transceiver.
  • the communication device is a first network function entity, a second network function entity or a control function entity, the transceiver may be included.
  • the communication device may also include a communication interface 806.
  • the memory 802 can be a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), or other types that can store information and instructions
  • the dynamic storage device can also be Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (Including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or can be used to carry or store desired program codes in the form of instructions or data structures and can be used by a computer Any other media accessed, but not limited to this.
  • the memory may exist independently and is connected to the processor 801 through a communication line 803.
  • the memory 802 may also be integrated with the processor 801.
  • the memory 802 is used to store executable instructions for executing the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, and the processor 801 controls the execution.
  • the processor 801 is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory 802, so as to implement the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application.
  • the executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application program codes, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.
  • the processor 801 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 7.
  • the communication device may include multiple processors, such as the processor 801 and the processor 805 in FIG. 7.
  • processors can be a single-CPU (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor.
  • the processor here may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (for example, executable instructions).
  • the embodiments of the present application can divide functional units into the control functional entity, the first network functional entity, or the second network functional entity.
  • each functional unit can be divided corresponding to each function, or two or More than two functions are integrated in one functional unit.
  • the above-mentioned integrated functional unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional unit.
  • receiving module 601, sending module 602, sending module 701, and communication module 703 can all be implemented by the transceiver 804.
  • Both the processing module 603 and the processing module 704 described above may be implemented by the processor 801 or the processor 805.
  • the computer program product includes one or more executable instructions.
  • the computer can be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices.
  • Executable instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium.
  • executable instructions can be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center through a cable (Such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) to another website site, computer, server or data center.
  • a cable such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)
  • wireless such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.
  • the computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be stored by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center integrated with one or more available media.
  • the usable medium may be a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, and a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (for example, a solid state disk (SSD)).
  • SSD solid state disk
  • the computer-readable storage medium may be FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic surface memory, optical disk, or CD-ROM; it may also include one or any combination of the foregoing memories.
  • Various equipment may be FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic surface memory, optical disk, or CD-ROM; it may also include one or any combination of the foregoing memories.
  • Various equipment may be FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic surface memory, optical disk, or CD-ROM; it may also include one or any combination of the foregoing memories.
  • Various equipment may be FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, magnetic surface memory, optical disk, or CD-ROM; it may also include one or any combination of the foregoing memories.
  • executable instructions may be in the form of programs, software, software modules, scripts or codes, written in any form of programming language (including compiled or interpreted languages, or declarative or procedural languages), and their It can be deployed in any form, including being deployed as an independent program or deployed as a module, component, subroutine or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment.
  • executable instructions can be deployed to be executed on one computing device, or on multiple computing devices located in one location, or on multiple computing devices that are distributed in multiple locations and interconnected by a communication network Executed on.
  • the N first network function entities are screened to obtain the third network function entity, which effectively meets the service communication requirements of the second network function entity.
  • the second network function entity can screen the third network function entity to obtain the fourth network function entity according to at least one of effective time information, entity capacity information and entity priority information, which further improves The communication effect of business communication.
  • control function entity or the second network function entity After the valid time expires, the control function entity or the second network function entity directly deletes the relevant information of the network function entity whose valid time has expired, without notifying other entities, thereby saving the network overhead caused by notification signaling. At the same time, time-based automatic control of network function entities is also realized.
  • the first network function entity provides the control function entity with the first effective time of the service provided by the first network function entity, and then the second network function entity requests the control function entity to be included in the N first network function entities
  • the first valid time of the third network function entity of the third network function entity, the second network function entity conducts business communication with the third network function entity within the first valid time period, and controls the service of each network function entity by setting the valid time. It realizes the saving of signaling and reduces the power consumption of the network function entity, and can be applied to various communication networks including the network function entity.

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Abstract

本申请提供了一种通信方法、装置、实体及计算机可读存储介质，其中，方法包括：控制功能实体接收N个第一网络功能实体发送的N个第一请求，其中，每个第一请求包括发送该第一请求的第一网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，控制功能实体接收第二网络功能实体发送的第二请求，并向第二网络功能实体发送第一响应，第一响应包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，第二网络功能实体在第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内与第三网络功能实体进行业务通信，第三网络功能实体包含于N个第一网络功能实体。本申请实施例通过设置有效时间的方式来控制各网络功能实体服务的方案，可以减少网络功能实体的电能消耗。

Description

一种通信方法、装置、实体及计算机可读存储介质
相关申请的交叉引用
本申请基于申请号为201910372444.0、申请日为2019年05月06日的中国专利申请提出，并要求该中国专利申请的优先权，该中国专利申请的全部内容在此引入本申请作为参考。
技术领域
本申请涉及通信技术领域，具体涉及一种通信方法、装置、实体及计算机可读存储介质。
背景技术
第三代合作伙伴计划(3rd Generation Partnership Project，3GPP)制定的5G通信标准从Release 15开始，在通信网络中引入了网络功能(Network Function，NF)网元和网络功能服务(NF Service)。
NF Service可以是位于NF网元上的模块，也可以是在虚拟化网络中划分出来的模块。运营商网络中的NF网元和NF Service可在运行状态下，提供某种或某些特定的服务。
发明内容
本申请实施例提供一种通信方法，可以包括：
控制功能实体接收N个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第一请求，其中，所述第一请求包括第一有效时间，且所述第一有效时间对应发送所述第一请求的第一网络功能实体提供的服务，所述N为整数，且N>0；
所述控制功能实体接收第二网络功能实体发送的第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定所述N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
所述控制功能实体向所述第二网络功能实体发送第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，用于供所述第二网络功能实体在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
本申请实施例提供一种通信方法，可以包括：
第二网络功能实体向控制功能实体发送第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
所述第二网络功能实体接收所述控制功能实体发送的第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，所述N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间已保存在所述控制功能实体上，所述N为整数，且N>0；
所述第二网络功能实体在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
本申请实施例提供一种通信装置，可以包括：
接收模块，配置为接收N个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第一请求，其中，所述第一请求包括第一有效时间，且所述第一有效时间对应发送所述第一请求的第一网络功能实体提供的服务，所述N为整数，且N>0；
所述接收模块，配置为接收第二网络功能实体发送的第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定所述N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
发送模块，配置为向所述第二网络功能实体发送第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，用于供所述第二网络功能实体在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
本申请实施例提供一种通信装置，可以包括：
发送模块，配置为向控制功能实体发送第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
接收模块，配置为接收所述控制功能实体发送的第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，所述N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间已保存在所述控制功能实体上，所述N为整数，且N>0；
通信模块，配置为在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
本申请实施例提供一种控制功能实体，可以包括：收发器、处理器和存储器；该存储器配置为存储可执行指令，当所述控制功能实体运行时，所述收发器配置为执行本申请实施例提供的通信方法中的接收和发送的步骤，所述处理器执行所述存储器存储的所述可执行指令，以执行本申请实施例提供的通信方法中的确定的步骤。
本申请实施例提供一种网络功能实体，可以包括：收发器、处理器和存储器；该存储器配置为存储可执行指令，当所述网络功能实体运行时，所述收发器用于执行本申请实施例提供的通信方法中的接收和发送的步骤，所述处理器执行所述存储器存储的所述可执行指令，以执行本申请实施例提供的通信方法中的确定的步骤。
本申请实施例提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，所述计算机可读存储介质中存储有可执行指令，当所述可执行指令在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行本申请实施例提供的通信方法。
附图说明
图1A是本申请实施例提供的网络架构示意图；
图1B是本申请实施例提供的网络架构示意图；
图2是本申请实施例提供的通信方法的示意图；
图3是本申请实施例提供的车联网的场景示例示意图；
图4是本申请实施例提供的通信方法的示意图；
图5是本申请实施例提供的通信装置的示意图；
图6是本申请实施例提供的通信装置的示意图；
图7是本申请实施例提供的通信设备的示意图。
具体实施方式
下面结合附图，对本申请实施例进行描述，显然，所描述的实施例仅仅是本申请一部分的实施例，而不是全部的实施例。本领域普通技术人员可知，随着技术的发展和新场景的出现，本申请实施例提供的技术方案对于类似的技术问题，同样适用。
本申请的说明书和权利要求书及上述附图中的术语“第一”、“第二”等是用于区别类似的对象，而不必用于描述特定的顺序或先后次序。应该理解这样使用的数据在适当情况下可以互换，以便这里描述的实施例能够以除了在这里图示或描述的内容以外的顺序实施。此外，术语“包括”和“具有”以及他们的任何变形，意图在于覆盖不排他的包含，例如，包含了一系列步骤或单元的过程、方法、系统、产品或设备不必限于清楚地列出的那些步骤或单元，而是可包括没有清楚地列出的或对于这些过程、方法、产品或设备固有的其它步骤或单元。
在以下的描述中，涉及到“一些实施例”，其描述了所有可能实施例的子集，但是可以理解,“一些实施例”可以是所有可能实施例的相同子集或不同子集，并且可以在不冲突的情况下相互结合。另外，在以下的描述中，涉及到的“多个”是指至少两个。
除非另有定义，本文所使用的所有的技术和科学术语与属于本申请的技术领域的技术人员通常理解的含义相同。本文中所使用的术语只是为了描述本申请实施例的目的，不是旨在限制本申请。
3GPP制定的5G通信标准从Release 15开始，在通信网络中引入了NF 网元和NF Service。无论是NF网元还是NF Service，在提供服务时都需要一直处于运行状态，而网络中的这些NF网元或者NF Service的运行都需要消耗大量的电能。
为了克服上述缺陷，本申请实施例提供一种通信方法，可以通过网络功能实体提供服务的有效时间来控制对各网络功能实体的使用，从而减少网络功能实体的电能消耗。以下分别进行详细说明。
图1A为本申请实施例提供的网络架构示意图。
如图1A所示，本申请实施例提供的通信系统包括第一网络功能实体、控制功能实体(图1A中以控制网元作为示例)和第二网络功能实体。
第一网络功能实体和第二网络功能实体可以是运营商网络中执行某种或某些特定功能的网元或模块，可以是NF网元，也可以是NF Service模块，还可以是服务通信代理(Service Communication Proxy，SCP)网元。
当第一网络功能实体或第二网络功能实体是NF网元时，可以包括接入和移动性管理功能(Access and Mobility management Function，AMF)网元、会话管理功能(Session Management Function，SMF)网元、用户面功能(User Plane Function，UPF)网元、策略控制(Policy Control Function，PCF)网元、统一数据管理(Unified Data Management，UDM)、统一数据仓库(Unified Data Repository，UDR)网元、授权服务功能(AUthentication Server Function，AUSF)网元、网络切片选择功能(Network Slice Selection Function，NSSF)网元、网络数据分析功能(Network Data Analytics Function，NWDAF)网元或网络仓库功能(Network Repository Function，NRF)网元。
当第一网络功能实体或第二网络功能实体是NF Service模块时，可以是上述这些网元所提供服务的功能模块，例如：AMF Service模块、SMF Service模块、UPF Service模块、PCF Service模块、UDM Service模块、UDR Service模块、AUSF Service模块、NSSF Service模块、NWDAF Service模块或NRF Service模块。
当第一网络功能实体或第二网络功能实体是SCP网元时，可以是代理上述NF网元或NF Service模块的功能的设备。
控制功能实体可以是具有注册与存储功能的网元，如：网络仓库功能(Network Repository Function，NRF)网元，控制功能实体也可以是具有注册与存储功能的服务模块，如：NRF Service模块。
本申请实施例中，第一网络功能实体可以有一个或多个，第二网络功能实体也可以有一个或多个，每个第一网络功能实体都会有一个第一有效时间，该第一网络功能实体可以将自身的第一有效时间发送给控制功能实体，控制功能实体会存储各个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间。第二网络功能实体在需要使用到第三网络功能实体可以从控制功能实体获取该第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间，其中，第三网络功能实体是第一网络功能实体中的一个或多个。
第一网络功能实体和第二网络功能实体可以一方作为生产者(producer)，另一方作为消费者(consumer)。例如：当SMF网元作为第一网络功能实体时，AMF网元可以作为第二网络功能实体；当源AMF网元作为第一网络功能实体时，目标AMF网元可以作为第二网络功能实体；当源SMF网元作为第一网络功能实体时，目标SMF网元可以作为第二网络功能实体；当UPF网元作为第一网络功能实体时，SMF网元可以作为第二网络功能实体；当PCF网元作为第一网络功能实体时，AMF网元可以作为第二网络功能实体，SMF网元也可以作为第二网络功能实体。当然，各个实体之间的生产者与消费者的关系也不限于这里列举的几种，若两个实体之间可以相互通信的，都可以建立上述第一网络功能实体和第二网络功能实体之间的生产者和消费者之间的关系。当然，生产者和消费者也可以是SCP网元的级别。
上述描述的是生产者和消费者都是网元级别，实际上，在各网元级别下还可以有相应的服务模块，例如：AMF网元中可以包括一个或多个AMF  Service模块，可以标记为AMF Service 1/2/3/…，SMF网元中可以包括一个或多个SMF Service模块，可以标记为SMF Service 1/2/3/…，当SMF Service 1/2/3/…作为第一网络功能实体时，AMF Service 1可以作为第二网络功能实体，当然，AMF Service2也可以作为第二网络功能实体，本申请实施例中只是以这种方式做举例说明，实际上，针对其他网元中的服务模块之间的关系，都可以根据上述网元之间的生产者和消费者之间的关系进行类推。
上述生产者与消费者之间的关系是相对的，并不是固定不变的，可以根据不同的使用场景确定两者之间的关系，本申请实施例中对此不做限定。
为了便于说明，本申请实施例还提供了如图1B所示的网络架构示意图，终端设备100通过网络200连接第二网络功能实体300，网络200可以是广域网或者局域网，又或者是二者的组合，其中，终端设备100可实施为笔记本电脑，平板电脑，台式计算机，机顶盒，移动设备(例如，移动电话，便携式音乐播放器，个人数字助理，专用消息设备，便携式游戏设备)等各种类型的终端设备，图1B中仅以终端设备100为移动终端设备的情况进行举例。
在图1B中，控制功能实体400接收N个第一网络功能实体500分别发送的第一请求，该第一请求包括第一有效时间，且第一有效时间对应发送第一请求的第一网络功能实体500提供的服务，这里以N为3的情况进行举例。控制功能实体400将接收到的第一网络功能实体500-1、500-2和500-3的第一有效时间存储在本地。用户可通过终端设备100，向第二网络功能实体300发送业务请求，用于请求所需求的业务数据，这里对业务请求的类型不做限定，例如可以是视频请求、导航请求或传感器数据请求等。第二网络功能实体300在接收到业务请求后，根据业务请求生成第二请求，并将第二请求发送至控制功能实体400，例如，生成的第二请求可包括能够提供业务数据(指与业务请求相应的业务数据)的第一网络功能实体的实体 类型，除此之外，第二请求还可包括网络切片的信息、数据网络名、终端设备100的位置信息和有效时间信息等。
控制功能实体400根据接收到的第二请求，在第一网络功能实体500-1至500-3中，确定出第三网络功能实体。以第一网络功能实体500-1至500-3均符合第二请求中的实体类型为例，若第二请求中包括的有效时间信息为19:00-20:00的时间段(例如用户需要在该时间段浏览视频)，同时第一网络功能实体500-1的第一有效时间为16:00-24:00，第一网络功能实体500-2的第一有效时间为8:00-16:00，第一网络功能实体500-3的第一有效时间为0:00-8:00，则控制功能实体400将第一网络功能实体500-1确定为第三网络功能实体。
然后，控制功能实体400向第二网络功能实体300发送第一响应，该第一响应包括第一网络功能实体500-1提供服务的第一有效时间。第二网络功能实体300在接收到第一响应后，即可在第一网络功能实体500-1提供服务的第一有效时间内，与第一网络功能实体500-1进行业务通信，即获取第一网络功能实体500-1提供的业务数据，并将业务数据经网络200发送至终端设备100。终端设备100可在图形界面110中显示得到的业务数据。通过上述方式，能够通过有效时间实现对网络功能实体的动态控制，提升业务通信的有效性。
同时，对于网络功能实体的运营商来说，能够减少网络功能实体的电能消耗。举例来说，对于工作日，用户白天一般都是在商业区域进行办公，晚上就回到用户自己的家中(大部分不在商业区域)，即用户白天使用的网络功能实体通常是部署在商业区域，而晚上则是在非商业区域使用网络功能实体。在本申请实施例中，运营商可在工作日晚上将商业区域的网络功能实体部分关闭，在工作日白天将非商业区域的网络功能实体部分关闭。另外，对于周末及法定节假日，运营商可在白天将商业区域的网络功能实体部分关闭，并将非商业区域的网络功能实体全部打开。从而，能够提升 通信效率，并且降低网络功能实体和整个通信网络的耗电。
基于图1A和图1B所描述的网络架构，下面结合图2介绍本申请实施例中的通信方法。
如图2所示，本申请实施例提供的通信方法可以包括：
步骤101、控制功能实体接收N个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第一请求，相应地，N个第一网络功能实体分别向控制功能实体发送第一请求。
其中，第一请求包括发送该第一请求的第一网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，N为整数，且N>0。
本申请实施例中，每个第一网络功能实体都有一个自身提供服务的第一有效时间，N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间可以是相同的，也可以是不相同的。其中，N个第一网络功能实体的实体类型可以相同，也可以不同。
第一有效时间可以是第一网络功能实体提供服务的时间段，或者其他能指示第一网络功能实体提供服务的时间范围的时间信息。
该第一请求可以是注册请求，也可以是其他类型的请求，只要能将第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间发送到控制功能实体即可，不限定第一请求的类型。
控制功能实体接收到N个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第一请求后，可以记录各第一网络功能实体的标识信息与各自第一有效时间之间的对应关系，记录形式可以是通过列表的形式进行记录，如表1所示的列表：
表1：第一网络功能实体的标识信息与各自第一有效时间之间的对应关系表
第一网络功能实体的标识信息 第一有效时间
实体标识1 有效时间1
实体标识2 有效时间2
实体标识3 有效时间3
… …
实体标识N 有效时间N
当然，上述表1只是举例，实际上表1中的表现形式不限于上述表1中所记录的方式，例如：标识信息可以是通过字符串的方式表示，第一有效时间可以是通过具体的时间段数值的方式来表示，或者也可以是其他的表现方式，本申请实施例对此不做限定。
需要说明的是，上述表1中的标识信息可以是NF网元的标识，也可以是NF Service模块的标识。
当是NF网元的标识时，例如以NF网元是SMF网元为例，上述表1可以表示为表2的形式：
表2：SMF网元的标识信息与各自第一有效时间之间的对应关系表
SMF网元的标识信息 第一有效时间
SMF网元标识1 有效时间1
SMF网元标识2 有效时间2
SMF网元标识3 有效时间3
… …
SMF网元标识N 有效时间N
当是NF Service模块的标识时，例如以NF Service是SMF Service为例，上述表1可以表示为表3的形式：
表3：SMF Service模块的标识信息与各自第一有效时间之间的对应关系表
SMF Service模块的标识信息 第一有效时间
SMF Service模块标识1 有效时间1
SMF Service模块标识2 有效时间2
SMF Service模块标识3 有效时间3
… …
SMF Service模块标识N 有效时间N
当是SCP网元的标识时，上述表1可以表示为表4的形式：
表4：SCP网元的标识信息与各自第一有效时间的对应关系表
SCP网元的标识信息 第一有效时间
SCP网元标识1 有效时间1
SCP网元标识2 有效时间2
SCP网元标识3 有效时间3
… …
SCP网元标识N 有效时间N
步骤102、控制功能实体接收第二网络功能实体发送的第二请求，相应地，第二网络功能实体向控制功能实体发送第二请求。
第二请求可以是查询请求，也可以是其他类型的请求，第二请求用于获取N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体的信息。
步骤103、控制功能实体向第二网络功能实体发送第一响应，相应地，第二网络功能实体接收控制功能实体发送的第一响应。
第一响应包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，第三网络功能实体包含于N个第一网络功能实体。
步骤104、第二网络功能实体在第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
本申请实施例提供的方案中，第一网络功能实体会向控制功能实体提供第一网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，然后第二网络功能实体会 向控制功能实体请求包含于N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间，然后第二网络功能实体在该第一有效时间内与第三网络功能实体通信。这种通过有效时间来控制各网络功能实体服务的方案，可以减少网络功能实体的电能消耗。
在一些实施例中，第二请求可以包括第三网络功能实体的实体类型。实体类型指的是第一网络功能实体的功能分类或设备分类，例如：AMF是一类，SMF是一类，UPF是一类，PCF是一类，UDM是一类，UDR是一类，AUSF是一类，NSSF是一类，NWDAF是一类，NRF是一类。
第二网络功能实体和第三网络功能实体之间的业务通信通常都是为终端所请求的业务建立的，所以在第二请求中第二网络功能实体会明确指示控制功能实体自己所需要的网络功能实体的实体类型，例如：以车联网的场景为例，若第二网络功能实体是AMF，第二请求中所包括的实体类型为SMF的类型信息。
当第二请求包括第三网络功能实体的实体类型时，方法还可以包括：控制功能实体从N个第一功能实体中确定与实体类型对应的第一实体集合，第一实体集合包括第三网络功能实体。
第二请求还包括以下至少一项：网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息和有效时间信息。控制功能实体可以根据上述网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息和有效时间信息中的至少一项，从第一实体集合中确定第三网络功能实体。
本申请实施例中网络切片的信息可以是网络切片的类型，第五代(5th Generation，5G)网络采用了网络切片的形式，从而实现了为不同需求的业务划分适合特性的网络资源。不同业务的需求不同，网络切片的类型也不相同，当然，本申请实施例所提供的方案不限于5G网络，所有包含网络切片的网络都适用。
网络切片有多种不同类型，如：增强移动宽带(enhanced Mobile BroadBand，eMBB)、超高可靠性低时延通信(Ultra high-Reliability and Low-Latency Communication，URLLC)及大规模物联网(massive Internet of Things，mIoT)等。当然，网络切片的类型不限于这里列举的几种，网络切片还可以有自定义类型。
每种类型的网络切片都有各自的特点，所适用的领域也不太相同，例如：eMBB主要用于超高清视频、全息技术、增强现实及虚拟现实等应用，对网络带宽和速率要求较高；URLLC主要用于无人驾驶、车联网、自动工厂及远程医疗等领域，要求低时延和高可靠性；mIoT主要用于海量的物联网传感器部署于测量、建筑、农业、物流、智慧城市及家庭等领域，对时延和移动性的要求不高。
租户可以根据自己的需求，租用不同类型的网络切片，租户多是提供各种应用的企业。
网络切片实际上是对无线接入网资源、核心网资源以及传输资源的划分，各种不同类型的切片在为用户提供服务时，由相应的无线接入网资源、核心网资源以及传输资源为用户提供业务支持。
本申请实施例中涉及的网络切片也可以简称为切片，包括但不限于切片、切片实例或切片子实例，其中切片可以通过单个网络切片选择支撑信息(Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information，S-NSSAI)ID唯一地标识，切片实例可以通过网络切片信息(Network Slice Information，NSI)ID唯一地标识，切片子实例可以通过网络切片选择信息(Network Slice Selection Information，NSSI)ID唯一地标识。
数据网络名(Data Network Name，DNN)指的是终端访问网络的类型。
对于向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息来说，终端的位置信息可以指示终端所处的位置，终端的位置信息可以包括公共陆地移动网(Public Land Mobile Network Identity，PLMN ID)、追踪区域标识(Tracking  Area Identity，TAI)及小区信息(Cell Global Identity，CGI)中的至少一个，当然也可以包括其他用于指示位置的信息，这样在确定第三网络功能实体时，可以尽量确定一个覆盖该终端所处位置的第三网络功能实体。
有效时间信息可以是对有效时间需求的长度信息，例如：需要5分钟，还是1小时，这样控制功能实体在做选择时，可以确定一个更准确的第三网络功能实体。
当然，上述是由控制功能实体根据上述一系列参数，确定适合与第二网络功能实体进行业务通信的第三网络功能实体的。
在一些实施例中，当控制功能实体可能确定了多个第三网络功能实体、且第二网络功能实体不需要这么多第三网络功能实体时，可以再做进一步选择，执行过程可以是：第二网络功能实体根据有效时间信息、实体的容量信息和实体的优先级信息中的至少一项，从第三网络功能实体中确定第四网络功能实体；第二网络功能实体在第四网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与第四网络功能实体进行业务通信。
这里的有效时间信息可以根据第二请求中的有效时间信息进行类推。
实体的容量信息指的是第三网络功能实体的剩余容量，如：若控制功能实体提供了多个第三网络功能实体，其中，有的第三网络功能实体的剩余容量不满足本次业务需求，则会排除该第三网络功能实体，会选择剩余容量满足本次业务需求的第三网络功能实体提供业务通信。当所有的第三网络功能实体的剩余容量都能满足本次业务需求的情形下，选择剩余容量最多的第三网络功能实体来提供业务通信，以保证整个通信系统的负载均衡，以防止系统局部过载，提升系统的可靠性。
实体的优先级信息是指第三网络功能实体的优先级标识，通常每个第三网络功能实体可以都有自己的优先级标识，通常第二网络功能实体会从多个第三网络功能实体中，选择优先级最高的第三网络功能实体提供业务通信。
上述控制功能实体根据上述的实体类型，以及上述网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息以及有效时间信息等一系列参数中的至少一项，来确定第三网络功能实体的过程，可以结合图3所示的车联网场景进行理解。
如图3所示的车联网场景中包括终端10、无线接入网(Radio Access Network，RAN)设备20、AMF网元30、NRF网元40、SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C。图3中所出的AMF网元30、NRF网元40、SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C都是独立的设备，实际上图3中只是为了便于表示，AMF网元30、NRF网元40、SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C可以是独立的设备，也可以是在云网络上所分化出的具有相应功能的资源块。本申请实施例对AMF网元30、NRF网元40、SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C这些网元的表现形式不做限定。
该场景中，SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C都可以是第一网络功能实体，SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C可以分别通过第一请求将各自的第一有效时间发送到NRF网元40上进行记录。
终端10发起导航请求，该导航请求通过RAN设备20发送给AMF网元30，当第二网络功能实体是AMF网元30时，AMF网元30向NRF网元40发送第二请求，该第二请求中可以包括实体类型是SMF网元的信息，该第二请求中还可以包括如下至少一项：网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息或者有效时间信息。
NRF网元40可以根据实体类型是SMF网元的信息从自身记录的众多类型的网元中，确定出第一SMF网元的集合，该第一SMF网元的集合中包括一系列的SMF网元。
若第二请求还包括网络切片的信息，则NRF网元40还可以根据网络切片的信息从第一SMF网元的集合中确定适用于车联网场景的第二SMF 网元的集合，第二SMF网元的集合中也包括多个SMF网元。
若第二请求中还包括数据网络名和向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息，则NRF网元40还可以根据数据网络名和向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息，再从第二SMF网元的集合进一步确定第三SMF网元的集合。第三SMF网元的集合也可以包括多个SMF网元。
例如：NRF网元40还可以从第二SMF网元的集合中，进一步筛选出覆盖范围距离终端10更近的SMF网元组成第三SMF网元的集合。然后NRF网元40将第三SMF网元的集合提供给AMF网元30，供AMF网元30做选择。例如：第三SMF网元的集合包括SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C。AMF网元30可以根据有效时间信息、实体的容量信息和实体的优先级信息中的至少一项选择SMF网元。
下面以根据有效时间信息、实体的容量信息两个共同确定SMF网元为例进行说明。
AMF网元30根据有效时间信息选择SMF网元，例如：AMF网元30要提供导航服务2小时，若目前已经是19:00点，SMF网元50A提供服务的第一有效时间是6:00-22:00，SMF网元50B提供服务的第一有效时间是4:00-20:00，SMF网元50C提供服务的第一有效时间是5:00-21:00，那么可以确定SMF网元50A和SMF网元50C都可以被选择。
AMF网元30进一步根据实体的容量信息从SMF网元50A和SMF网元50C中做选择。若SMF网元50A和SMF网元50C的容量都能满足本次导航业务，则可以从中选择容量较大的SMF网元50A为终端提供导航服务。
需要说明的是，该场景只是以第三SMF网元的集合包括SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C为例进行说明，实际上第三SMF网元的集合可以包括更多的SMF网元，若还有更多的SMF网元时，还可以再进一步根据优先级信息，选择优先级最高的，或者优先级排名在前几名的SMF网元为终端提供导航服务。
AMF网元30与SMF网元50A建立业务通信，为终端10提供导航服务，向终端10返回导航数据。
实际上，上述图3所示的场景中只是标记出了SMF网元50A、SMF网元50B和SMF网元50C，在实际使用中，会有覆盖各个时间段的SMF网元提供服务，这些SMF网元不用每个都一直处于服务状态，这样就可以有效的节省SMF网元的耗电量。
另外，上述只是描述了一种选择第三网络功能实体的思想，NRF网元40可以为AMF网元30提供至少两个SMF网元，并将提供的其中一个SMF网元作为备用SMF网元，以保证SMF网元在业务过程中的高可用性。
另外，上述第二请求没包括有效时间信息，所以NRF网元40选择到了SMF网元50B进入了第三SMF网元的集合，若第二请求包括有效时间信息，则NRF网元40不会选择SMF网元50B进入第三SMF网元的集合。
上述AMF网元30根据有效时间信息做了选择，排除了SMF网元50B，若AMF网元30没有根据有效时间信息做选择，选择了SMF网元50B为终端提供业务，NRF网元40也可以在SMF网元50B的第一有效时间4:00-20:00到期前，及时为AMF网元30提供SMF网元50A，即进行业务通信的切换，以避免影响终端10的业务。
上述图3中是以车联网场景为例的，所以终端10可以是无人驾驶(auto driving)车辆中的无线终端或者导航终端。
在其他场景中，终端(也可以称为用户设备(user equipment，UE))是一种具有无线收发功能的设备，可以部署在陆地上，包括室内、室外、手持及车载；也可以部署在水面上(如轮船等)；还可以部署在空中(例如飞机、气球和卫星上等)。终端可以是手机(mobile phone)、平板电脑(pad)、带无线收发功能的电脑、虚拟现实(Virtual Reality，VR)终端、增强现实(Augmented Reality，AR)终端、工业控制(industrial control)中的无线终端、远程医疗(remote medical)中的无线终端、智能电网(smart grid) 中的无线终端、运输安全(transportation safety)中的无线终端、智慧城市(smart city)中的无线终端及智慧家庭(smart home)中的无线终端等。
本申请实施例中N个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间可以是根据需求进行更新的，下面结合图4描述本申请实施例中的部分第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间的更新过程。
如图4所示，本申请实施例提供的通信方法可以包括：
步骤201、控制功能实体接收M个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第三请求，相应地，M个第一网络功能实体分别向控制功能实体发送第三请求。
其中，每个第三请求包括发送该第三请求的第一网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间，M为整数，M>0且M≤N。例如，M可以为1。
该第二有效时间可以是用于替换第一有效时间的时间范围信息，也可以是相对于第一有效时间的偏移量，例如：在第一有效时间的开始时间点向前延长或向后缩短的偏移量，或者，在第一有效时间的结束时间点向后延长或向前缩短的偏移量。还可以将有限的有效时间修改为无限的有效时间，也可以将无限的有效时间修改为有限的有效时间。
步骤202、控制功能实体根据M个第二有效时间，对应更新M个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间。
若第一有效时间是通过例如表1的形式记录的，则可以根据第二有效时间对应更新上述表1中相应的第一网络功能实体的有效时间。
若第二有效时间是可以替换第一有效时间的时间范围信息，则可以用第二有效时间可替换第一有效时间。
若第二有效时间是相对于第一有效时间的偏移量，则根据该偏移量，在第一有效时间上延长或缩短符合该偏移量的数值，以得到一个新的有效时间。
步骤203、第二网络功能实体接收控制功能实体发送的第一时间更新请求，相应的控制功能实体向第二网络功能实体发送第一时间更新请求。
第一时间更新请求包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间。
该步骤203是在第二网络功能实体和第三网络功能实体还在进行业务通信时才执行的步骤，此外，若第二网络功能实体和第三网络功能实体还在进行业务通信，也可以执行步骤204。
步骤204、第二网络功能实体接收第三网络功能实体发送的第二时间更新请求。
第二时间更新请求包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间。
通过步骤204可以更快的更新第三网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间。
步骤205、第二网络功能实体根据第二有效时间，更新第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间。
无论是执行步骤203，还是执行步骤204，都会执行步骤205。
本申请实施例提供的有效时间更新的方案，可以确保各网络功能实体有效时间配置的灵活性和消费者使用的准确性。
从控制功能实体的角度来看，本申请实施例提供的通信方法还可以包括：控制功能实体监控N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间；当其中Q个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间到期时，删除Q个第一网络功能实体的相关信息，相关信息包括Q个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间，Q为整数，Q>0且Q≤N。
从第二网络功能实体的角度来看，本申请实施例提供的通信方法还可以包括：在第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间到期后，删除第三网络功能实体的相关信息，以断开与第三网络功能实体的业务通信，相关信息包括第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间。
本申请实施例中，在有效时间到期后，由控制功能实体或第二网络功能实体直接删除，不需要通知其他实体，可以节省通知信令带来的网络开销，同时也实现了网络功能实体基于时间的自动控制。
以上描述了本申请实施例所涉及的网络架构以及通信方法，下面结合附图介绍本申请实施例提供的通信装置。
如图5所示，本申请实施例提供的通信装置60可以包括：接收模块601，配置为接收N个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第一请求，其中，第一请求包括第一有效时间，且第一有效时间对应发送第一请求的第一网络功能实体提供的服务，N为整数，且N>0；接收模块601，配置为接收第二网络功能实体发送的第二请求；第二请求用于确定N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；发送模块602，配置为向第二网络功能实体发送第一响应，第一响应包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，用于供第二网络功能实体在第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内与第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
本申请实施例提供的方案中，第一网络功能实体会向控制功能实体提供第一网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，然后第二网络功能实体会向控制功能实体请求包含于N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间，然后第二网络功能实体在该第一有效时间内与第三网络功能实体通信。这种通过有效时间来控制各网络功能实体服务的方案，可以减少网络功能实体的电能消耗。
在一些实施例中，N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间是相同的。
在一些实施例中，通信装置还包括处理模块603，处理模块603配置为在第二请求包括第三网络功能实体的实体类型时，从N个第一功能实体中确定与实体类型对应的第一实体集合，第一实体集合包括第三网络功能实体。
在一些实施例中，处理模块603，配置为在第二请求包括网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息以及有效时间信息中的至少一项时，根据第二请求包括的内容，从第一实体集合 中确定第三网络功能实体。
在一些实施例中，接收模块601，配置为接收M个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第三请求，其中，第三请求包括发送第三请求的第一网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间，M为整数，M>0且M≤N；处理模块603，配置为根据M个第二有效时间，对应更新M个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间。
在一些实施例中，M个第一网络功能实体中的M为1。
在一些实施例中，处理模块603，配置为监控N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间，当其中Q个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间到期时，删除Q个第一网络功能实体的相关信息，相关信息包括Q个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间，Q为整数，Q>0且Q≤N。
在一些实施例中，第一网络功能实体为网络功能NF网元、NF服务模块或服务通信代理SCP；第二网络功能实体为网络功能NF网元、NF服务模块或SCP。
如图6所示，本申请实施例提供的通信装置70可以包括：发送模块701，配置为向控制功能实体发送第二请求；第二请求用于确定N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；接收模块702，配置为接收控制功能实体发送的第一响应，第一响应包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间已保存在控制功能实体上，N为整数，且N>0；通信模块703，配置为在第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
本申请实施例提供的方案中，第二网络功能实体会向控制功能实体请求包含于N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间，然后第二网络功能实体在该第一有效时间内与第三网络功能实体通信。这种通过有效时间来控制各网络功能实体服务的方案，可以减少网络功能实体的电能消耗。
在一些实施例中，第二请求包括实体类型，第二请求还包括网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息以及有效时间信息中的至少一项。
在一些实施例中，通信装置70还包括处理模块704，处理模块704配置为根据有效时间信息、实体的容量信息和实体的优先级信息中的至少一项，从第三网络功能实体中确定第四网络功能实体；通信模块703，配置为在第四网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与第四网络功能实体进行业务通信。
在一些实施例中，接收模块702，配置为接收控制功能实体发送的第一时间更新请求，第一时间更新请求包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间；处理模块704，配置为根据第二有效时间，更新第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间。
在一些实施例中，接收模块702，配置为接收第三网络功能实体发送的第二时间更新请求，第二时间更新请求包括第三网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间；处理模块704，配置为根据第二有效时间，更新第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间。
在一些实施例中，处理模块704，配置为在第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间到期后，删除第三网络功能实体的相关信息，以断开与第三网络功能实体的业务通信，相关信息包括第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间。
上述主要从各个实体之间交互的角度对本申请实施例提供的方案进行了介绍。可以理解的是，上述控制功能实体、第一网络功能实体或者第二网络功能实体为了实现上述功能，其包含了执行各个功能相应的硬件结构和/或软件模块。本领域技术人员应该很容易意识到，结合本文中所公开的实施例描述的功能，本申请实施例能够以硬件或硬件和计算机软件的结合形式来实现。某个功能究竟以硬件还是计算机软件驱动硬件的方式来执行，取决于技术方案的特定应用和设计约束条件。专业技术人员可以对每个特 定的应用来使用不同方法来实现所描述的功能，但是这种实现不应认为超出本申请实施例的范围。
从实体装置角度来描述，上述控制功能实体、第一网络功能实体或者第二网络功能实体可以由一个实体装置实现，也可以由多个实体装置共同实现，还可以是一个实体装置内的一个逻辑功能单元，本申请实施例对此不作具体限定。
例如，上述控制功能实体、第一网络功能实体或者第二网络功能实体可以由图7中的通信设备来实现。图7所示为本申请实施例提供的通信设备的硬件结构示意图。该通信设备包括至少一个处理器801、存储器802、通信线路803。该通信设备还可以包括收发器804以及通信接口806中的至少一个。
处理器801可以是一个通用中央处理器(Central Processing Unit，CPU)，微处理器，特定应用集成电路(Application-Specific Integrated Circuit，ASIC)，或一个或多个用于控制本申请方案程序执行的集成电路。
通信线路803可包括一通路，在上述组件之间传送信息。
收发器804，使用任何收发器一类的装置，用于与其他设备或通信网络通信，如以太网，无线接入网(Radio Access Network，RAN)，无线局域网(Wireless Local Area Networks，WLAN)等。该收发器804也可以是收发电路或者收发信机。当该通信设备为第一网络功能实体、第二网络功能实体或者控制功能实体时，可以包括该收发器。
该通信设备也可以包括通信接口806。
存储器802可以是只读存储器(Read-Only Memory，ROM)或可存储静态信息和指令的其他类型的静态存储设备，随机存取存储器(Random Access Memory，RAM)或者可存储信息和指令的其他类型的动态存储设备，也可以是电可擦可编程只读存储器(Electrically Erable Programmable Read-Only Memory，EEPROM)、只读光盘(Compact Disc Read-Only Memory， CD-ROM)或其他光盘存储、光碟存储(包括压缩光碟、激光碟、光碟、数字通用光碟、蓝光光碟等)、磁盘存储介质或者其他磁存储设备、或者能够用于携带或存储具有指令或数据结构形式的期望的程序代码并能够由计算机存取的任何其他介质，但不限于此。存储器可以是独立存在，通过通信线路803与处理器801相连接。存储器802也可以和处理器801集成在一起。
其中，存储器802用于存储执行本申请实施例的通信方法的可执行指令，并由处理器801来控制执行。处理器801用于执行存储器802中存储的可执行指令，从而实现本申请实施例提供的通信方法。
一种可能的实现方式，本申请实施例中的可执行指令也可以称之为应用程序代码，本申请实施例对此不作具体限定。
在具体实现中，作为一种实施例，处理器801可以包括一个或多个CPU，例如图7中的CPU0和CPU1。
在具体实现中，作为一种实施例，通信设备可以包括多个处理器，例如图7中的处理器801和处理器805。这些处理器中的每一个可以是一个单核(single-CPU)处理器，也可以是一个多核(multi-CPU)处理器。这里的处理器可以指一个或多个设备、电路、和/或用于处理数据(例如可执行指令)的处理核。
从功能单元的角度，本申请实施例可对控制功能实体、第一网络功能实体或者第二网络功能实体进行功能单元的划分，例如，可以对应各个功能划分各个功能单元，也可以将两个或两个以上的功能集成在一个功能单元中。上述集成的功能单元既可以采用硬件的形式实现，也可以采用软件功能单元的形式实现。
上述接收模块601、发送模块602、发送模块701、和通信模块703都可以通过收发器804来实现。
上述处理模块603和处理模块704都可以通过处理器801或处理器805 来实现。
在上述实施例中，可以全部或部分地通过软件、硬件、固件或者其任意组合来实现。当使用软件实现时，可以全部或部分地以计算机程序产品的形式实现。
计算机程序产品包括一个或多个可执行指令。在计算机上加载和执行可执行指令时，全部或部分地产生按照本申请实施例的流程或功能。计算机可以是通用计算机、专用计算机、计算机网络、或者其他可编程装置。可执行指令可以存储在计算机可读存储介质中，或者从一个计算机可读存储介质向另一计算机可读存储介质传输，例如，可执行指令可以从一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心通过有线(例如同轴电缆、光纤、数字用户线(DSL))或无线(例如红外、无线、微波等)方式向另一个网站站点、计算机、服务器或数据中心进行传输。计算机可读存储介质可以是计算机能够存储的任何可用介质或者是包含一个或多个可用介质集成的服务器、数据中心等数据存储设备。可用介质可以是磁性介质，(例如，软盘、硬盘、磁带)、光介质(例如，DVD)、或者半导体介质(例如固态硬盘(Solid State Disk，SSD))等。本领域普通技术人员可以理解上述实施例的各种方法中的全部或部分步骤是可以通过程序来指令相关的硬件来完成，该程序可以存储于一计算机可读存储介质中。
在一些实施例中，计算机可读存储介质可以是FRAM、ROM、PROM、EPROM、EEPROM、闪存、磁表面存储器、光盘、或CD-ROM等存储器；也可以是包括上述存储器之一或任意组合的各种设备。
在一些实施例中，可执行指令可以采用程序、软件、软件模块、脚本或代码的形式，按任意形式的编程语言(包括编译或解释语言，或者声明性或过程性语言)来编写，并且其可按任意形式部署，包括被部署为独立的程序或者被部署为模块、组件、子例程或者适合在计算环境中使用的其它单元。
作为示例，可执行指令可被部署为在一个计算设备上执行，或者在位于一个地点的多个计算设备上执行，又或者，在分布在多个地点且通过通信网络互连的多个计算设备上执行。
综上，通过本申请实施例能够实现以下技术效果：
1)通过有效时间实现了对网络功能实体的动态控制，同时实现了信令的节省，减少了无效数据的传输。
2)对于网络功能实体的运营商来说，能够提升网络系统的容量，减少电能的消耗，提升运营商的竞争力。例如在工作日中，用户白天一般都是在商业区域进行办公，晚上就回到用户自己的家中(大部分不在商业区域)，则运营商可以针对性地在工作日的白天，将非商业区域的网络功能实体部分关闭；在工作日的晚上，将商业区域的网络功能实体部分关闭，以节省电能。
3)通过第二请求包括的至少一个维度的数据，对N个第一网络功能实体进行筛选得到第三网络功能实体，有效地满足了第二网络功能实体的业务通信需求。在此基础上，第二网络功能实体可根据有效时间信息、实体的容量信息和实体的优先级信息中的至少一项，对第三网络功能实体进行筛选得到第四网络功能实体，进一步提升了业务通信的通信效果。
4)通过对有效时间进行更新，确保各网络功能实体的有效时间的配置灵活性和消费者使用的准确性。
5)在有效时间到期后，由控制功能实体或第二网络功能实体直接删除有效时间到期的网络功能实体的相关信息，不通知其他实体，从而能够节省通知信令带来的网络开销，同时也实现了对于网络功能实体的基于时间的自动控制。
以上对本申请实施例所提供的通信方法、通信装置、控制功能实体以及网络功能实体进行了详细介绍，本文中应用了具体个例对本申请的原理 及实施方式进行了阐述，以上实施例的说明只是用于帮助理解本申请实施例的方法及其核心思想；同时，对于本领域的一般技术人员，依据本申请实施例的思想，在具体实施方式及应用范围上均会有改变之处，综上，本说明书内容不应理解为对本申请实施例的限制。
工业实用性
本申请实施例中，第一网络功能实体向控制功能实体提供第一网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，然后第二网络功能实体向控制功能实体请求包含于N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间，第二网络功能实体在该第一有效时间内与第三网络功能实体进行业务通信，通过设置有效时间的方式来控制各网络功能实体的服务，能够实现信令的节省，同时减少网络功能实体的电能消耗，能够适用于包括网络功能实体的各种通信网络。

Claims (20)

  1. 一种通信方法，包括：
    控制功能实体接收N个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第一请求，其中，所述第一请求包括第一有效时间，且所述第一有效时间对应发送所述第一请求的第一网络功能实体提供的服务，所述N为整数，且N>0；
    所述控制功能实体接收第二网络功能实体发送的第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定所述N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
    所述控制功能实体向所述第二网络功能实体发送第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，用于供所述第二网络功能实体在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的通信方法，其中，所述N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间是相同的。
  3. 根据权利要求1所述的通信方法，其中，所述第二请求包括所述第三网络功能实体的实体类型，所述方法还包括：
    所述控制功能实体从所述N个第一网络功能实体中确定与所述实体类型对应的第一实体集合，所述第一实体集合包括所述第三网络功能实体。
  4. 根据权利要求3所述的通信方法，其中，所述第二请求还包括以下至少一项：网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向所述第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息和有效时间信息，所述方法还包括：
    所述控制功能实体根据所述第二请求包括的内容，从所述第一实体集合中确定所述第三网络功能实体。
  5. 根据权利要求1-4任一项所述的通信方法，其中，所述方法还包括：
    所述控制功能实体接收M个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第三请求，其中，所述第三请求包括发送所述第三请求的第一网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间，所述M为整数，M>0且M≤N；
    所述控制功能实体根据M个第二有效时间，对应更新所述M个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间。
  6. 根据权利要求5所述的通信方法，其中，所述M＝1。
  7. 根据权利要求1-4任一项所述的通信方法，其中，所述方法还包括：
    所述控制功能实体监控所述N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间；
    当其中Q个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间到期时，删除所述Q个第一网络功能实体的相关信息，所述相关信息包括所述Q个第一网络功能实体的第一有效时间，所述Q为整数，Q>0且所述Q≤N。
  8. 根据权利要求1-4任一项所述的通信方法，其中，
    所述第一网络功能实体为网络功能NF网元、NF服务模块或服务通信代理SCP；
    所述第二网络功能实体为网络功能NF网元、NF服务模块或SCP。
  9. 一种通信方法，包括：
    第二网络功能实体向控制功能实体发送第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
    所述第二网络功能实体接收所述控制功能实体发送的第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，所述N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间已保存在所述控制功能实体上，所述N为整数，且N>0；
    所述第二网络功能实体在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
  10. 根据权利要求9所述的通信方法，其中，所述第二网络功能实体接收所述控制功能实体发送的第一响应之后，所述方法还包括：
    所述第二网络功能实体根据有效时间信息、实体的容量信息和实体的优先级信息中的至少一项，从所述第三网络功能实体中确定第四网络功能实体；
    所述第二网络功能实体在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信，包括：
    所述第二网络功能实体在所述第四网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与所述第四网络功能实体进行业务通信。
  11. 根据权利要求9或10所述的通信方法，其中，所述方法还包括：
    所述第二网络功能实体接收所述控制功能实体发送的第一时间更新请求，所述第一时间更新请求包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间；
    所述第二网络功能实体根据所述第二有效时间，更新所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间。
  12. 根据权利要求9或10所述的通信方法，其中，所述方法还包括：
    所述第二网络功能实体接收所述第三网络功能实体发送的第二时间更新请求，所述第二时间更新请求包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第二有效时间；
    所述第二网络功能实体根据所述第二有效时间，更新所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间。
  13. 根据权利要求9或10所述的通信方法，其中，所述方法还包括：
    在所述第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间到期后，删除所述第三网络功能实体的相关信息，以断开与所述第三网络功能实体的业务通信，所述相关信息包括所述第三网络功能实体的第一有效时间。
  14. 根据权利要求9或10所述的通信方法，其中，所述第二请求包括实体类型以及以下至少一项:网络切片的信息、数据网络名、向所述第二网络功能实体请求业务的终端的位置信息和有效时间信息。
  15. 根据权利要求9或10所述的通信方法，其中，
    所述第一网络功能实体为网络功能NF网元、NF服务模块或服务通信代理SCP；
    所述第二网络功能实体为网络功能NF网元、NF服务模块或SCP。
  16. 一种通信装置，包括：
    接收模块，配置为接收N个第一网络功能实体分别发送的第一请求，其中，所述第一请求包括第一有效时间，且所述第一有效时间对应发送所述第一请求的第一网络功能实体提供的服务，所述N为整数，且N>0；
    所述接收模块，配置为接收第二网络功能实体发送的第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定所述N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
    发送模块，配置为向所述第二网络功能实体发送第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，用于供所述第二网络功能实体在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
  17. 一种通信装置，包括：
    发送模块，配置为向控制功能实体发送第二请求；所述第二请求用于确定N个第一网络功能实体中的第三网络功能实体；
    接收模块，配置为接收所述控制功能实体发送的第一响应，所述第一响应包括所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间，所述N个第一网络功能实体各自的第一有效时间已保存在所述控制功能实体上，所述N为整数，且N>0；
    通信模块，配置为在所述第三网络功能实体提供服务的第一有效时间内，与所述第三网络功能实体进行业务通信。
  18. 一种控制功能实体，包括：收发器、处理器和存储器；该存储器配置为存储可执行指令，当所述控制功能实体运行时，所述收发器配置为执行权利要求1-8任一项中的接收和发送的步骤，所述处理器执行所述存储器存储的所述可执行指令，以执行权利要求1-8任一项的通信方法中的确定的步骤。
  19. 一种网络功能实体，包括：收发器、处理器和存储器；所述存储器配置为存储可执行指令，当所述网络功能实体运行时，所述收发器配置为执行权利要求9-15任一项中的接收和发送的步骤，所述处理器执行所述存储器存储的所述可执行指令，以执行权利要求9-15任一项的通信方法中的确定的步骤。
  20. 一种计算机可读存储介质，包括可执行指令，当所述可执行指令在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行如权利要求1-8任一项所述的通信方法，或者执行如权利要求9-15任一项所述的通信方法。
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