CN120224161A

CN120224161A - A sample determination method and device

Info

Publication number: CN120224161A
Application number: CN202311840523.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郭涛; 吴义壮
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-12-27
Filing date: 2023-12-27
Publication date: 2025-06-27
Also published as: WO2025140417A1

Abstract

The application provides a sample determining method and device, which are used for assisting a longitudinal federation entity to execute a longitudinal federation learning task. The method comprises the steps that a first network element obtains a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first application function of a longitudinal federation, the terminal in the first terminal set is a terminal which is supported by the first application function and used for a task of the longitudinal federation, the first network element obtains a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second application function of the longitudinal federation, the terminal in the second terminal set is a terminal which is supported by a second AF and used for the task of the longitudinal federation, and the first network element determines the first terminal which is included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and data of the first terminal serves as a sample of the task of the longitudinal federation.

Description

Sample determination method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of mobile communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for determining a sample.

Background

The participating entities of the vertical federation learning task (e.g., network elements in the vertical federation) need to align the sample cases of parties participating in the vertical federation task, i.e., training and/or reasoning on the same scope of data by different entities. Currently, the third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP) supports training and/or reasoning through longitudinal federal learning tasks to implement mobile network-related analytics services.

At present, how to assist a vertical federation entity to execute a vertical federation learning task is a technical problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a sample determining method and device, which are used for assisting a longitudinal federation entity to execute a longitudinal federation learning task.

In a first aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method may be implemented by a first network element, which may also be referred to as a communication device or network equipment, or a component in the first network element. The first network element is for example a network data analysis function (network DATA ANALYTICS function, NWDAF), a network opening function (network exposure function, NEF) or a storage network element, which may be a unified data management (unified DATA MANAGEMENT, UDM), a unified database (unified data repository, UDR) or an analysis data storage function (ANALYTICS DATA repository functional, ADRF). The component in the present application may include, for example, at least one of a chip, a chip system, a processor, a transceiver, a processing unit, or a transceiver unit. Taking an example that an execution subject is a first network element, the method can be realized by the steps that the first network element obtains a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first application function of a longitudinal federation, wherein the terminal in the first terminal set is a terminal which is supported by the first application function and is used for a task of the longitudinal federation, the first network element obtains a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second application function of the longitudinal federation, the terminal in the second terminal set is a terminal which is supported by the second application function and is used for the task of the longitudinal federation, and the first network element determines the first terminal set and the second terminal set to include the first terminal according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and data of the first terminal is used as a sample of the task of the longitudinal federation. Or, the data of the first terminal is used for the task of the longitudinal federation.

Based on the method shown in the first aspect, a first network element may obtain a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set and obtain a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set, and determine, according to the first identifier and the second identifier, a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set. The data of the first terminal can be used as a sample of the tasks of the longitudinal federation, so that efficient determination of the sample can be realized, and the method can be used for assisting the longitudinal federation entity to execute the longitudinal federation learning tasks.

Optionally, "the first network element obtains the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first application function of the longitudinal federation" may be replaced by "the first network element obtains the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set".

In one possible implementation, a first network element may determine a user permanent identifier (subscription PERMANENT IDENTIFIER, SUPI) of a terminal in the first set of terminals according to a first identity of the terminal in the first set of terminals, determine a SUPI of a terminal in the second set of terminals according to a second identity of the terminal in the second set of terminals, and determine the first terminal according to the SUPI of the terminal in the first set of terminals and the SUPI of the terminal in the second set of terminals.

In the application, the first identifier and the second identifier of the terminal are identifiers used outside the core network respectively, and the first identifier of the terminal in the first application function is different from the second identifier of the terminal in the second application function, so that the same terminal is difficult to accurately determine only by comparing the first identifier and the second identifier. Based on the implementation manner, the first network element can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into SUPI of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into SUPI, so that the first terminals contained in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set can be accurately determined based on SUPI. In the present application, the SUPI may be replaced by the GPSI and the third identifier. The third identifier may be an identifier for identifying a terminal supporting the learning task of the longitudinal federation, i.e. the terminal supporting the task of the longitudinal federation may be represented by the third identifier in different application functions. The third identification is for example a VFL UE ID.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send a first identifier of the first terminal to the first application function and/or send a second identifier of the first terminal to the second application function.

Based on this implementation, the first identification/second identification of the first terminal may be used for tasks of the longitudinal federation, such as for determining terminals related to learning tasks of the longitudinal federation, or for screening samples. For example, the first identification of the first terminal may be used for a first application function screening sample, such as for the first application function to determine data of the first terminal as a task sample. The second identity of the first terminal may be used for a second application function screening sample, such as for the second application function to determine data of the first terminal as a task sample.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send a third identifier allocated for the first terminal to the first application function and the second application function.

Based on this implementation, the third identification of the first terminal may be used for tasks of the longitudinal federation, such as for determining terminals related to learning tasks of the longitudinal federation, or for screening samples. Optionally, the first network element may send the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, for establishing an association between the first terminal and the third identifier or the longitudinal federation. Optionally, the first network element may send the second identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the second application function, for establishing an association between the first terminal and the third identifier or the longitudinal federation.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal and/or at least one information of the identifier of the longitudinal federation, or the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or the information of the application function corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or the information of the public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or the information of the equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or the first identifier of the first terminal, or the second identifier of the first terminal to the storage network element.

Based on the implementation, the first network element may indicate the third identifier of the first terminal to the storage network element, so as to indicate an association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and/or the longitudinal federation.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send information of the longitudinal federation to the first application function, where the information of the longitudinal federation is used to determine terminals in the first terminal set, and/or send information of the longitudinal federation to the second application function, where the information of the longitudinal federation is used to determine terminals in the second terminal set.

Based on the implementation, a first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals may be requested by the first network element to the first application function and/or a second identity of a terminal in the second set of terminals may be requested by the first network element to the second application function. The first application function can determine the terminals in the first terminal set according to the information of the longitudinal federation, and the second application function can determine the terminals in the second terminal set according to the information of the longitudinal federation, so that accurate determination of samples is realized.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send information of the longitudinal federation to a storage network element, where the information of the longitudinal federation is used to determine terminals in the first terminal set and/or terminals in the second terminal set, and the first network element may further receive a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set from the storage network element and/or receive a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

Based on the implementation, a first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals and/or a second identity of a terminal in the second set of terminals may be requested by the first network element from the storage network element. The storage network element can determine the terminals in the first terminal set and/or determine the terminals in the second terminal set according to the information of the longitudinal federation, so that accurate determination of samples is realized.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may also receive information from the longitudinal federation of network data analysis functions.

Based on this implementation, information of the longitudinal federation may be provided by NWDAF.

In one possible implementation, the information of the longitudinal federation includes at least one of an identification of the longitudinal federation, an identification of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of an application function corresponding to the longitudinal federation, a PLMN corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an information of a device manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or an information of a terminal desiring to use for a task of the longitudinal federation. The information of the terminal desired for the task of the longitudinal federation may include one or more of a SUPI, a first identity, or a second identity of the terminal desired for the task of the longitudinal federation.

Based on the implementation manner, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation can be used for indicating the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation, and the terminal can be the terminal to which the data required by the task belongs, so that the terminal can be screened according to the information of the longitudinal federation to realize reasonable determination of samples. In the present application, "desired" may also be replaced with "request", "specify", "candidate", "alternative" or "expect".

In one possible implementation, the information of the longitudinal federation includes information of terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation, the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation includes SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation, and the first network element may further determine a first identification of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation and/or a second identification of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation according to SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation.

Based on the implementation, if the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation obtained by the first network element is the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation, the first network element may convert the SUPI of the terminal into a first identifier or a second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation, provide the first network element with the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation, and provide the second network element with the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation. Wherein the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation can be used for the first application function to screen the terminals in the first terminal set, so that the range of the terminals in the first terminal set can be reduced, more accurate sample results can be obtained, for example, the first application function can determine, from the terminals supporting the longitudinal federation, the terminal with the first identifier of the terminal belonging to the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation as the terminal in the first terminal set. Similarly, a second identification of terminals intended for the longitudinal federation's task may be used for a second application function to screen terminals in a second set of terminals.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may send the SUPI of the terminal desiring the task of the longitudinal federation to a storage network element, and receive a first identification of the terminal desiring the task of the longitudinal federation and/or a second identification of the terminal desiring the task of the longitudinal federation from the storage network element.

Based on this implementation, the first network element may convert the SUPI to the first identity and/or the second identity via the storage network element.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may determine the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation according to a correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation and the first identifier, and/or determine the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation according to a correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation and the second identifier.

Based on the implementation manner, the first network element may convert the SUPI into the first identifier according to a correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal and the first identifier, and/or the first network element may convert the SUPI into the second identifier according to a correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal and the second identifier.

In one possible implementation, a first network element may send a first identification of a terminal in the first set of terminals to a storage network element and receive a SUPI from a terminal in the first set of terminals of the storage network element, and/or the first network element may send a second identification of a terminal in the second set of terminals to a storage network element and receive a SUPI from a terminal in the second set of terminals of the storage network element.

In one possible implementation manner, a first network element may determine, according to a correspondence between a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set and a SUPI, the SUPI corresponding to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, and/or the first network element may determine, according to a correspondence between a second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set and a SUPI, the SUPI corresponding to the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set.

In a second aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method may be implemented by the first application function or a component in the first application function, the data storage network element may also be referred to as a communication device or network equipment, etc. The first application function is, for example, an application function (application function, AF). Taking the example that the execution subject is a first application function, the method can be realized by sending a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal device, wherein the terminal in a first terminal set is a terminal supported by the first application function and used for a task of the longitudinal federation, receiving the first identifier of the first terminal from a network opening function, the first terminal is a terminal which is determined according to the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in a second terminal set of the longitudinal federation, and the first terminal data is used as a sample of the task of the longitudinal federation.

In one possible implementation, the first application function may further receive information of a longitudinal federation, where the information of the longitudinal federation is used to determine terminals in the first set of terminals.

In one possible implementation, the information of the longitudinal federation includes at least one of an identification of the longitudinal federation, an identification of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of an application function (such as including a first application function) corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or a PLMN corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation.

In one possible implementation, the first application function may further receive a third identifier allocated for the first terminal.

Optionally, in the second aspect, the first application function may be replaced by the second application function, the first terminal set may be replaced by the second terminal set, and the first identifier may be replaced by the second identifier.

The advantages of the above second aspect and its various possible implementations may be referred to in the description of the advantages of the first aspect and the corresponding implementations and are not repeated.

In a third aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method may be implemented by a storage network element or a component in a storage network element, which may also be referred to as a communication device or network equipment, etc. Taking an example that an execution subject is a storage network element, the method can be realized by the steps that the storage network element acquires information of a longitudinal federation, the storage network element determines a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first application function according to the information of the longitudinal federation, the terminal in the first terminal set is a terminal supported by the first application function and used for a task of the longitudinal federation, the storage network element determines a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second application function according to the information of the longitudinal federation, the terminal in the second terminal set is a terminal supported by the second application function and used for the task of the longitudinal federation, and the storage network element determines the first terminal set and the second terminal set both comprise according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and the data of the first terminal is used as a sample of the task of the longitudinal federation.

Based on the implementation, a storage network element may determine, according to information of a longitudinal federation, a first identity of a terminal in a first set of terminals of a first application function of the longitudinal federation, and determine a second identity of a terminal in a second set of terminals of a second application function. Furthermore, it may be determined by the storage network element. In addition, the storage network element may further determine, according to the first identifier and the second identifier, a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set. The data of the first terminal can be used as a sample of the tasks of the longitudinal federation, so that efficient determination of the sample can be realized, and the method can be used for assisting the longitudinal federation entity to execute the longitudinal federation learning tasks.

In one possible implementation, the storage network element may determine a SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set according to a first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set, determine a SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set according to a second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set, and determine the first terminal according to the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set.

Based on the implementation, the storage network element can convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into SUPI of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into SUPI, so that the first terminals contained in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set can be accurately determined based on SUPI.

In one possible implementation, the storage network element may receive information of the longitudinal federation from a network data analysis function, or receive information of the longitudinal federation from a network open function, or receive information of the longitudinal federation from the first application function, or receive information of the longitudinal federation from the second application function.

Based on this implementation, the storage network element may obtain information of the longitudinal federation from the NWDAF, the NEF, the first application function or the second application function.

In one possible implementation, the information of the longitudinal federation includes at least one of an identification of the longitudinal federation, an identification of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of an application function corresponding to the longitudinal federation, a PLMN corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an information of a device manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or an information of a terminal desiring to use for a task of the longitudinal federation.

Based on the implementation mode, terminal screening can be performed according to the information of the longitudinal federation so as to realize reasonable determination of the sample.

In a possible implementation manner, the storage network element may further send the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) of the first terminal and the identifier of the first application function to the network opening function, the network opening function may send the first identifier (or the first identifier and the third identifier) of the first terminal to the first application function according to the identifier of the first application function, and/or the storage network element may further send the second identifier (or the second identifier and the third identifier) of the first terminal and the identifier of the second application function to the network opening function, and the network opening function may send the second identifier (or the second identifier and the third identifier) of the first terminal to the second application function according to the identifier of the second application function.

In a fourth aspect, a sample determination method is provided. The method may be implemented by the first application function or a component in the first application function, the data storage network element may also be referred to as a communication device or network equipment, etc. The first application function is, for example, AF. Taking the execution subject as a first application function as an example, the method can be realized by the steps that the first application function sends information of a longitudinal federation, the information of the longitudinal federation is used for determining a first identifier of a first terminal in a first terminal set of the first application function, the application function corresponding to the longitudinal federation comprises the first application function, the first application function can also receive the first identifier of the first terminal from a network open function, the first terminal is a terminal which is determined according to the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in a second terminal set of the second application function of the longitudinal federation, and the data of the first terminal is taken as a sample of the task of the longitudinal federation.

In one possible implementation manner, the information of the longitudinal federation comprises at least one of an identifier of the longitudinal federation, an identifier of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identifier of an application function corresponding to the longitudinal federation, a PLMN corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation.

Alternatively, in the fourth aspect, the first application function may be replaced by the second application function, the first terminal set may be replaced by the second terminal set, and the first identifier may be replaced by the second identifier.

The advantages of the fourth aspect and the various possible implementations thereof may be seen from the description of the advantages of the third aspect and the corresponding implementations, which are not repeated.

In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The apparatus may implement the method of any possible implementation manner of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect. The device has the functions of the first network element, the second network element or the storage network element. The device is, for example, a first network element, a second network element or a storage network element, or is a functional module in the first network element, a functional module in the second network element or a functional module in the storage network element.

In an alternative implementation manner, the apparatus may include modules corresponding to one to perform the method/operation/step/action described in any possible implementation manner of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, where the modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software implementation. In an alternative implementation, the apparatus includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a communication unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module, a communication module, etc.). The transceiver unit can realize a transmission function and a reception function, and may be referred to as a transmission unit (sometimes referred to as a transmission module) when the transceiver unit realizes the transmission function, and may be referred to as a reception unit (sometimes referred to as a reception module) when the transceiver unit realizes the reception function. The transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be the same functional module, which is called a transceiver unit, which can implement the transmitting function and the receiving function, or the transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a generic term for these functional modules.

For example, when the apparatus is used to perform the method described in any of the first to fourth aspects, the apparatus may comprise a communication unit and a processing unit.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application also provide a communication device comprising a processor for executing a computer program (or computer executable instructions) stored in a memory, which when executed causes the device to perform a method as claimed in any of the possible implementations of any of the first to fourth aspects.

In one possible implementation, the processor and memory are integrated together;

In another possible implementation, the memory is located outside the communication device.

The communication device also includes a communication interface for the communication device to communicate with other devices, such as the transmission or reception of data and/or signals. By way of example, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface.

In a seventh aspect, a computer readable storage medium is provided for storing a computer program or instructions which, when executed, cause the method of any one of the first to fourth aspects of any possible implementation thereof and the method of any possible implementation thereof to be implemented.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the method of any of the possible implementations of any of the first to fourth aspects to be carried out.

In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a communications device configured to perform the method according to any of the foregoing first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation manner thereof.

In a tenth aspect, a chip system is provided, which comprises logic (or is understood that the chip system comprises a processor, which may comprise logic, etc.), and may further comprise an input-output interface. The input-output interface may be used for inputting messages as well as for outputting messages. The input/output interfaces may be the same interface, i.e. the same interface is capable of both a sending function and a receiving function, or the input/output interfaces comprise an input interface for implementing a receiving function, i.e. for receiving messages, and an output interface for implementing a sending function, i.e. for sending messages. The logic circuitry may be operable to perform operations other than the transceiving functionality in the method of any of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects described above, the logic circuitry being further operable to transmit messages to the input output interface or to receive messages from other communication devices from the input output interface. The system-on-chip may be used to implement the method of any of the possible implementations of any of the first to fourth aspects. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

Optionally, the system on a chip may further include a memory, the memory being operable to store instructions, the logic circuit being operable to invoke the instructions stored in the memory to implement the corresponding functionality.

In an eleventh aspect, a sample determination method is provided, which may include a method as shown in the first aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof, and a method as shown in the second aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof. Or the sample determination method may comprise the method as shown in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof and the method as shown in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

As an example of the sample determining method, if including the method shown in the first aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof and the method shown in the second aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof, the method may include the first application function sending, to the first network element, a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal device, where the terminal in the first terminal set is a terminal supported by the first application function and used for a task of the longitudinal federation. The second application function sends a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal device to the first network element, wherein the terminal in the second terminal set is a terminal supported by the second application function and used for the task of the longitudinal federation. Correspondingly, the first network element obtains a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first application function of the longitudinal federation. The first network element determines first terminals included in the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the first identification of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identification of the terminals in the second terminal set, and data of the first terminals are used as samples of tasks of the longitudinal federation. Or, the data of the first terminal is used for the task of the longitudinal federation.

In one possible implementation manner, the first network element may further determine a SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminals in the first terminal set, determine a SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set according to the second identifier of the terminals in the second terminal set, and determine the first terminal according to the SUPI of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminals in the second terminal set.

In one possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, and accordingly, the first application function receives the first identifier of the first terminal, and/or the first network element may further send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second application function, and accordingly, the second application function receives the second identifier of the first terminal.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, and accordingly, the first application function receives the third identifier of the first terminal, and/or the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal to the second application function, and accordingly, the second application function receives the third identifier of the first terminal.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send the third identifier of the first terminal and/or at least one of the identifier of the longitudinal federation, the identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the information of the application function corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the information of the PLMN corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the information of the equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the first identifier of the first terminal, or the second identifier of the first terminal to the storage network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send, to the first application function, information of the longitudinal federation, where the information of the longitudinal federation is used to determine terminals in the first terminal set, and accordingly, the first application function may receive the information of the longitudinal federation, and/or send, to the second application function, the information of the longitudinal federation, where the information of the longitudinal federation is used to determine terminals in the second terminal set, and accordingly, the second application function may receive the information of the longitudinal federation.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send information of the longitudinal federation to a storage network element, where the information of the longitudinal federation is used to determine terminals in the first terminal set and/or terminals in the second terminal set, and the storage network element may receive the information of the longitudinal federation and determine terminals in the first terminal set and/or terminals in the second terminal set according to the information of the longitudinal federation. The storage network element may also send to the first network element a first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals and/or a second identity of a terminal in the second set of terminals. The first network element may also receive a first identification of a terminal from the first set of terminals of the storage network element and/or a second identification of a terminal from the second set of terminals of the storage network element.

In one possible implementation, the network data analysis function may provide the information of the longitudinal federation to the first network element, and correspondingly, the first network element may also receive the information of the longitudinal federation from the network data analysis function.

In one possible implementation, the information of the longitudinal federation includes information of terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation, the information of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation includes SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation, and the first network element may further determine a first identification of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation and/or a second identification of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation according to SUPI of the terminals expected to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation. The first network element may also send a first identification of a terminal intended for the task of the longitudinal federation to the first application function and/or the first network element may send a second identification of a terminal intended for the task of the longitudinal federation to the second application function.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may send the SUPI of the terminal desired for the role of the longitudinal federation to a storage network element. Accordingly, the storage network element may obtain a SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation, and determine a first identity of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation and/or a second identity of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation according to the SUPI. The storage network element may further send to the first network element a first identification of a terminal intended for the task of the longitudinal federation and/or a second identification of a terminal intended for the task of the longitudinal federation, and accordingly the first network element may receive from the storage network element the first identification of a terminal intended for the task of the longitudinal federation and/or the second identification of a terminal intended for the task of the longitudinal federation.

In one possible implementation manner, the first network element may further determine a first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation according to a correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation and the first identifier, and/or determine a second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation according to a correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation and the second identifier.

In one possible implementation manner, the first network element may further send the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to the storage network element, and correspondingly, the storage network element may receive the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and determine the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set according to the correspondence between the first identifier of the terminal and the SUPI. The storage network element may also send the SUPI of the terminal in the first set of terminals to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element may receive the SUPI from a terminal of the first set of terminals of the storage network element. And/or the first network element sends the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set to the storage network element, and correspondingly, the storage network element can receive the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set and determine the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the corresponding relation between the second identifier of the terminal and the SUPI. The storage network element may also send the SUPI of the terminal in the second set of terminals to the first network element. Accordingly, the first network element may receive the SUPI from a terminal of the second set of terminals of the storage network element.

As an example of the sample determination method, if including the method shown in the third aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof and the method shown in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof, the method may include:

The network data analysis function, the network opening function, the first application function and/or the second application function send the information of the longitudinal federation, and the storage network element correspondingly acquires the information of the longitudinal federation. The method comprises the steps of determining a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first application function according to information of a longitudinal federation, wherein the terminal in the first terminal set is a terminal which is supported by the first application function and used for a task of the longitudinal federation, determining a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second application function according to the information of the longitudinal federation, wherein the terminal in the second terminal set is a terminal which is supported by the second application function and used for the task of the longitudinal federation, and determining the first terminal set and the second terminal set as samples of the task of the longitudinal federation according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set by the storage network element.

In one possible implementation, the storage network element may send a first identifier of the first terminal to the first application function, where the first application function obtains the first identifier of the first terminal, and/or the storage network element sends a second identifier of the first terminal to the second application function, where the second application function obtains the second identifier of the first terminal.

In a twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided that may include a first communication device and a second communication device. Wherein the first communication device is operable to implement the method of the first aspect and any of its possible implementations, and the second communication device is operable to implement the method of the second aspect and any of its possible implementations. Or the first communication device may be adapted to implement the method of the third aspect and any of its possible implementations, and the second communication device may be adapted to implement the method of the fourth aspect and any of its possible implementations.

Technical effects brought about by the third aspect to the twelfth aspect may be referred to the description of the beneficial effects of the corresponding aspects in the first aspect to the second aspect, and are not repeated here.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of another architecture of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal federation provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a sample determining method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another sample determination method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another sample determination method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another sample determination method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another sample determination method according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of another sample determination method according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a servitization architecture. The 5G network architecture shown in fig. 1 may include a terminal device, an access network device, and a Core Network (CN) device. The terminal device accesses a Data Network (DN) through the access network device and the core network device. The core network device comprises various Network Functions (NF) or network elements, for example, some or all of UDM network elements, UDR network elements, NEF network elements (not shown in the figure), application functions (application function, AF) network elements, policy control functions (policy control function, PCF) network elements, access and mobility management functions (ACCESS AND mobility management function, AMF) network elements, session management functions (session management function, SMF) network elements, user plane functions (user plane function, UPF) network elements, NWDAF network elements, network storage functions (network repository function, NRF) network elements (not shown in the figure), and location management functions (location management function, LMF) network elements (not shown in the figure).

The access network device may be a radio access network (radio access network, RAN) device. Such as a base station (base station), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission and reception point (transmission reception point, TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a next generation base station in a sixth generation (the 6th generation,6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a wireless fidelity (WIRELESS FIDELITY, wiFi) system, etc., or may be a module or unit that performs part of the functions of a base station, such as a Centralized Unit (CU), or a Distributed Unit (DU). The radio access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, a donor node, or the like. The embodiment of the application does not limit the specific technology and the specific equipment form adopted by the wireless access network equipment.

The terminal device may be a User Equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, or the like. The terminal device may be widely applied to various scenes, for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-device (vehicle to everything, V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (internet of things, IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autopilot, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, and the like. The terminal equipment can be a mobile phone, a tablet personal computer, a computer with a wireless receiving and transmitting function, a wearable device, a vehicle, an urban air vehicle (such as an unmanned aerial vehicle, a helicopter and the like), a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, intelligent household equipment and the like.

The access network device and the terminal device may be fixed in location or may be mobile. The access network equipment and the terminal equipment can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld or vehicle-mounted, on water surface, and on aerial planes, balloons and satellites. The embodiment of the application does not limit the application scene of the access network equipment and the terminal equipment.

The following describes a core network device according to the present application:

The AMF network element comprises functions of executing mobility management, access authentication/authorization and the like. In addition, it is responsible for delivering user policies between the terminal device and the PCF. The SMF network element comprises functions of executing session management, executing PCF issuing control strategy, selecting UPF, distributing internet protocol (internet protocol, IP) address of terminal equipment, and the like. The UPF network element is used as an interface with a data network and comprises the functions of completing user plane data forwarding, charging statistics based on session/stream level, bandwidth limitation and the like. The UDM network element comprises functions of executing subscription data management, user access authorization and the like. The UDR network element includes access functions for executing subscription data, policy data, application data, and other types of data. NEF network elements for supporting the opening of capabilities and events. The AF network element delivers the requirements of the application side to the network side, such as quality of service (quality of service, qoS) requirements or user state event subscriptions. The AF may be a third party functional entity or an application server deployed by an operator. PCF network element, including responsible for charging, qoS bandwidth guarantee, mobility management, terminal equipment policy decision and other policy control functions for session, service flow level. The NRF network element may be configured to provide a network element discovery function, and provide network element information corresponding to a network element type based on a request of another network element. NRF network elements also provide network element management services such as network element registration, updating, deregistration, and network element state subscription and push.

NWDAF network elements are mainly used for collecting data (including one or more of terminal equipment data, access network equipment data, core network element data and third party application equipment data), wherein the data can be data of terminal equipment, access network equipment, core network elements or third party application equipment, or data of the terminal equipment on the access network equipment, the core network elements or the third party application equipment, then data analysis is carried out according to the collected data, and data analysis results are output for use by a network, network management equipment and application execution policy decision. NWDAF may utilize a machine learning model for data analysis. The 3GPP splits the training function and the reasoning function of NWDAF, and one NWDAF may support only the model training function, only the data reasoning function, or both the model training function and the data reasoning function. Wherein NWDAF supporting the model training function may also be referred to as training NWDAF or NWDAF (abbreviated MTLF) supporting the model training logic function (model training logical function, MTLF). Training NWDAF may perform model training according to the acquired data to obtain a trained model. NWDAF supporting the data reasoning function may also be referred to as reasoning NWDAF or NWDAF (abbreviated AnLF) supporting the analysis logic function (ANALYTICS LOGICAL FUNCTION, anLF). Inference NWDAF can input the input data to the trained model to obtain analysis results or inference data. In the present embodiment, training NWDAF refers to at least NWDAF that supports model training functions. As one possible implementation, training NWDAF may also support data reasoning functions. Inference NWDAF refers to NWDAF that supports at least data reasoning functions. As one possible implementation, reasoning NWDAF may also support model training functions. If one NWDAF supports both model training functions and data reasoning functions, then that NWDAF may be referred to as training NWDAF, reasoning NWDAF, or training reasoning NWDAF or NWDAF. In the embodiment of the present application, one NWDAF may be a single network element, or may be combined with other network elements, for example, NWDAF may be set in a PCF network element or an AMF network element.

ADRF network elements, which may be referred to simply as ADRF. ADRF may be used to store data related to the model. Wherein the data may be generated by AnLF. ADRF can provide model-related data to MTLF upon request of MTLF. ADRF are not shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2.

The LMF network element is used for managing the position information of the terminal equipment, calculating or verifying the position of the terminal equipment and/or carrying out speed estimation on the terminal equipment, and providing the estimation precision. The LMF network element may receive a location request from the AMF network element to the terminal device through the Nlmf interface. The granularity of the location of the terminal calculated by the LMF network element may be one or more of longitude, latitude, altitude, cell, global positioning system (global positioning system, GPS).

The DN is a network outside the operator network, the operator network can be accessed to a plurality of DNs, a plurality of services can be deployed on the DNs, and services such as data and/or voice can be provided for the terminal equipment. For example, the DN is a private network of an intelligent plant, the sensors installed in the plant of the intelligent plant may be terminal devices, a control server of the sensors is disposed in the DN, and the control server may serve the sensors. The sensor may communicate with the control server, obtain instructions from the control server, transmit collected sensor data to the control server, etc., according to the instructions. For another example, DN is an internal office network of a company, where a mobile phone or a computer of an employee of the company may be a terminal device, and the mobile phone or the computer of the employee may access information, data resources, etc. on the internal office network of the company.

It will be appreciated that the above network element is an example of an implementation, and the present application does not exclude the presence of network elements or devices with the above network element functionality in 6G or newer wireless communication systems with other names, or with other modalities.

Nudr, npcf, namf, nudm, nsmf, naf, nnwdaf in fig. 1 are service interfaces provided for UDR, PCF, AMF, UDM, SMF, AF, NWDAF, respectively, for invoking corresponding service operations. N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6 are interface serial numbers, and the meaning of these interface serial numbers is as follows:

1) The interface between the AMF network element and the terminal device, may be used to communicate non-access stratum (non access stratum, NAS) signaling (e.g., including QoS rules from the AMF network element) to the terminal device, etc.

2) The interface between the AMF network element and the access network equipment can be used for transmitting the radio bearer control information and the like from the core network side to the access network equipment.

3) And N3, an interface between the access network equipment and the UPF network element, which is mainly used for transmitting uplink and downlink user plane data between the access network equipment and the UPF network element.

4) And N4, an interface between the SMF network element and the UPF network element can be used for transmitting information between a control plane and a user plane, including controlling the issuing of forwarding rules, qoS rules, flow statistics rules and the like facing the user plane and the information reporting of the user plane.

5) And N6, an interface of the UPF network element and the DN, which is used for transmitting uplink and downlink user data streams between the UP network element F and the DN.

In addition, nadrf may serve as a server interface for ADRF in the architecture shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a point-to-point interface, where the description of the functions of the network elements may refer to the description of the functions of the corresponding network elements in fig. 1, and will not be repeated. The main difference between fig. 2 and fig. 1 is that the interfaces between the control plane network elements in fig. 1 are served interfaces, and the interfaces between the control plane network elements in fig. 2 are point-to-point interfaces.

In the architecture shown in fig. 2, the interface names and functions between the network elements of the core network are as follows:

1) And N5, an interface between the AF network element and the PCF network element can be used for issuing application service requests and reporting network events.

2) The interface between PCF network element and SMF network element can be used to issue protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session granularity and service data flow granularity control policy.

3) The interface between the AMF network element and the UDM network element can be used for the AMF network element to acquire the subscription data and authentication data related to access and mobility management from the UDM network element, and the AMF network element registers the current mobility management related information of the terminal equipment to the UDM network element.

4) And N9, a user interface between the UPF network elements and the UPF network elements, which is used for transmitting uplink and downlink user data streams between the UPF network elements.

5) The interface between the SMF network element and the UDM network element can be used for the SMF network element to acquire session management related subscription data from the UDM network element, registering current session related information of the terminal equipment from the UDM network element, and the like.

6) The interface between SMF network element and AMF network element can be used to transfer PDU session tunnel information between access network device and UPF network element, transfer control information sent to terminal device, transfer radio resource control information sent to access network device, etc.

7) And N15 is an interface between the PCF network element and the AMF network element, and can be used for issuing terminal equipment strategies and access control related strategies.

8) And N23 is an interface between the PCF network element and the NWDAF network element, and NWDAF network element can collect data on the PCF network element through the interface. It should be noted that, the NWDAF network element may also have interfaces with other devices (such as an AMF network element, a UPF network element, an access network device, a terminal device, etc.), which are not fully shown in the figure.

9) The interface between the UDM network element and the UDR network element can be used for the UDM network element to acquire the user subscription data information from the UDR network element.

10 And N36, interface between PCF network element and UDR network element, which can be used for PCF network element to obtain the related subscription data of strategy and related information of application data from UDR network element.

It will be appreciated that the network elements or functions described above may be either network elements in a hardware device, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). As a possible implementation method, the network element or the function may be implemented by one device, or may be implemented by a plurality of devices together, or may be a functional module in one device, which is not specifically limited by the embodiment of the present application.

As an implementation method, the data analysis network element in the embodiment of the present application may be the NWDAF network element, or may be a network element with the function of the NWDAF network element in future communications, for example, a 6G network. For convenience of description, the data analysis network element is taken as an example of NWDAF network elements, and NWDAF network element is simply referred to as NWDAF.

AnLF can be used in the present application to perform reasoning, derive analysis information, and disclose analysis services. Analysis may refer to, among other things, deriving statistical information and/or predictions from requests of analysis consumers (consumers). MTLF can be used to train machine learning ML models and disclose new training services, for example, providing trained ML models to AnLF. In the present application, anLF may be referred to as NFp for the process of obtaining model-related data, and MTLF may be referred to as NFc for the data producer (producer).

Currently AnLF can request a model from MTLF via a model subscription (MLModelProvision _subscribe) service or message, which can be MTLF trained on relevant data (e.g., called samples) of the model. In addition, anLF may use the dataset tab (DATA SET TAG) to specify a dataset (data set) that may contain data related to a model. Thus, the dataset tag may be used to tag a dataset, i.e., tag model-related data. A dataset tab may also be understood as an index of a dataset or an index of data. MTLF consumer network elements, which can be model-related data, obtain data stored by a data producer network element, which can be AnLF, and data storage network elements, which can be network elements for storing data, such as analysis data storage functions (ANALYTICS DATA repository functional, ADRF). In the present application, the relevant data may be understood as data for a longitudinal federal learning task, such as input data, training data, reasoning data, or sample data.

In particular, the model-related data may include any of model input data from ADRF, model output data (e.g., prediction results or prediction data), model true value data, and bias data at the time of prediction. Wherein the model input data may be used to train the acquisition model. The model output data is, for example, a prediction result obtained according to the input data, and is, for example, a model prediction result corresponding to the input data. The model true value data may be used to represent a true value of output data corresponding to the model input data, which may also be referred to as a true result of the input data. The deviation data at the time of prediction may identify a deviation between the prediction data and the true value data. The model output data and model true value data may be used for accuracy monitoring and retraining and/or re-providing correlations of the model. That is, the model may be obtained from model training data, wherein the model may be obtained by training based on model input data and model true value data when the model is obtained by first training. In addition, the model can also be obtained by retraining on the basis of a history model, i.e. an existing model, according to data related to the model. Wherein the prediction data may be an output result of the model.

To enable training of data from different domains, model distributed training may be implemented by means of longitudinal federal learning (VERTICAL FEDERATED LEARNING, VFL). The VFL, as a machine learning technique, can be used to solve model training and reasoning in the case where each member is unwilling to share the original data, and is applicable to the case where the participant training sample Identifiers (IDs) overlap more and the participant's data features overlap less. The VFL performs federal learning in conjunction with different data characteristics of a common sample of multiple participants, i.e., the training data of each participant is longitudinally partitioned, and is therefore referred to as longitudinal federal learning.

Taking a linear regression algorithm as an example, the process of longitudinal federal learning training is shown in fig. 3.

Owning data set on client A (client A)Possession of a data set on client B (client B)Where y _i is the tag data, then the model to be trained is as follows:

the objective function for linear regression is assumed as follows,

Wherein L is a loss function, specifically as follows:

Because the raw data D _A on client A and D _B on client B cannot be summarized together, training based on the traditional centralized training method is not possible, but training based on the longitudinal federal training method is possible as follows:

Order the The L transform is as follows:

Order the Then

L=l _A+L_B+L_AB (formula 5)

Let the residual errorThe gradient of L with respect to Θ _A and Θ _B is as follows:

accordingly, the model parameters are updated as follows:

the training process for longitudinal federal learning is then as follows:

Step 1, initializing model parameters Θ _A and Θ _B by client A and client B respectively;

step 2, client A calculates based on Θ _A And L _A, which is then sent to client B;

step 3, client B calculates based on Θ _B Further based onAnd y _i calculates d _i、L_AB、L_B and finally calculates L based on L _A、L_AB、L_B. client B sends d _i to client A;

Step 4, client A and client B are each calculated based on d _i, respectively AndThen respectively based onAndModel parameters Θ _A and Θ _B are updated.

The steps 2 to 4 are circularly executed until the model training end condition is reached, for example, the iteration number reaches a set threshold (for example, 10000 times) or the value of the loss function L is smaller than the set threshold (for example, 0.001).

By the aid of the technology, original data interaction among all domains is avoided, and a service experience model can be trained and obtained. After training is finished, aiming at a group of dataIn the reasoning stage, client A and client B calculate local reasoning results based on trained model parameters Θ _A and Θ _B, respectivelyAndThen client A will reason the results locallySending to client B, and finally determining the reasoning result by the client B

At present, how a core network assists a participating entity of a longitudinal federation learning task to complete the longitudinal federation learning task is a technical problem to be solved urgently. In the application, the participating entities of the longitudinal federal learning task comprise the client A and the client B. Optionally, the participating entity of the longitudinal federal learning task may further include more clients, which is not particularly limited. For example, client A and client B may be different AF or different NWDAF, respectively, or AF and NWDAF, respectively.

For example, the longitudinal federation needs to analyze the network experience situation of the terminal, and the participants of the longitudinal federation may include NWDAF, AF1 and AF2. Wherein the terminal may be connected to AF1 and/or AF2 through a network. In this longitudinal federation learning task, the data regarding the terminals that NWDAF can provide or use may include the configuration of the terminals at the core network, e.g., qoS configuration of the terminals. In addition, for NWDAF, the related data of the terminal may further include a delay between the terminal and the core network (such as UPF) or terminal related network data collected by the UPF. For AF, the related data of the terminal that it can provide or use includes network data generated by the terminal in using or connecting with the AF, which are data generated or managed by the AF, but which are not necessarily shared with the network. For example, the data may include application layer data, such as data related to terminal or application triggered behavior or actions, as well as types of data selected by the terminal for transmission, such as voice, video, game, etc., and service related configurations, such as whether retransmission is required.

That is, for NWDAF, the input data of the learning task may include relevant data of the terminal of NWDAF in the core network, such as QoS configuration of the terminal, and for the AF, the input data of the learning task may include relevant data of the terminal of the AF, for example, network data generated by the terminal in using the AF or connecting the AF. Taking the analysis of the network experience of the terminal as an example, the output data of the learning task of the longitudinal federation may be the historical network experience situation of the terminal or predict the future network experience situation.

It will be appreciated that in performing the tasks of the vertical federation, participants need to ensure that model training or reasoning is performed using the relevant data of the same terminal. If the respective samples of the participants are not aligned, this may lead to poor training or reasoning. Wherein NWDAF may determine the terminal to which the sample data belongs based on the unique identity of the terminal.

The application provides a sample determination method which is used for assisting a longitudinal federation entity to execute a longitudinal federation task. The method may be implemented by the first network element or a module or chip in the first network element. The first network element may be a core network element. For example, the first network element may be a NEF, NWDAF, storage network element or other core network element. In the present application, the storage network element may be any one of UDM, UDR or ADRF or other network elements having a data storage function, and hereinafter, description will be given by taking the case that the storage network element is UDM.

It will be appreciated that the vertical federation may be a specialized community of two or more members (or referred to as participants) that are targeted to participate in a co-campaign vertical federation or to share each other's resources to achieve a common outcome. Any member may be a natural person, a company, an organization, a network element entity (e.g., an application function or service), a network (e.g., PLMN or CN), etc., or a combination of any of the above. All or part of the members within the federation participate in a longitudinal federation task in common. The vertical federation tasks refer to tasks corresponding to vertical federation learning, which may include training and/or reasoning. The vertical federation tasks may also be referred to as vertical federation activities or vertical federation learning tasks, or simply learning tasks or federation tasks, etc. In various embodiments of the present application, multiple AFs included in the longitudinal federation may maintain respective data, e.g., the AFs each maintain terminal data for different terminals, respectively. Wherein the object of longitudinal federal learning may be a terminal.

For a vertical federation task, data of terminals respectively contained by a plurality of AFs within the vertical federation may be used as a sample of a learning task, where vertical federation learning generally requires vertical federation members to train using data of the same object. Sample determination of a vertical federation task may be understood as determining by the vertical federation members which objects' data to use together to perform the vertical federation task. For example, when the longitudinal federation task is PDU session (session) analysis of the terminal, and the longitudinal federation member includes CN, AF1 and AF2, the CN, AF1 and AF2 all need to use the data of the same terminal to perform the longitudinal federation task. Wherein AF1 and AF2 can be connected to CN. For example, if the longitudinal federal member includes NF network elements (such as NWDAF), AF1, and AF2 in the PLMN network, then NWDAF, AF1, and AF2 all need to use the data of the same terminal for the longitudinal federal task. Wherein AF1 and AF2 may be AFs in a PLMN network. As another example, the AF may be an AF outside the network, trusted AF (trusted AF) of the PLMN, or untrusted AF (untrusted AF). That is, the relation of the AF and the network is not limited. It will be appreciated that the relationships of members within the longitudinal federation are not limiting. In the present application, the AF may be an application provider, for example, an application server (application server, AS) or an application-related network element entity, etc.

The first network element may be used in the present application to align samples of various AFs within the longitudinal federation to assist the longitudinal federation entity in performing longitudinal federation learning tasks. In the present application, the sample of the AF may be data of the terminal of the AF, for example, application data including the terminal, PDU session related data of the terminal, traffic data of the terminal, or the like.

In the application, the longitudinal federation can be identified or distinguished by the information of the longitudinal federation. For example, the information of the longitudinal federation includes at least one of an identification of the longitudinal federation, an identification of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of an AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation, information of a network corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation.

Wherein an identification of a longitudinal federation may be used to indicate or identify a longitudinal federation, which may be referred to hereafter as a federation ID.

The identification of the analytics service corresponding to the longitudinal federation may be used to indicate analytics services supported by the longitudinal federation. For example, the identification of the analysis service is an analysis ID. Taking the analytics ID as an example, the longitudinal federation may correspond to one or more analytics IDs. The analysis ID may indicate, for example, an analysis service such as a terminal anomaly detection, a terminal session analysis (e.g., a quality of service QoS analysis), or the like.

The identification of the AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation may be used to indicate AF supporting the longitudinal federation. The first AF and the second AF in the present application may support the same longitudinal federation.

The information of the network to which the longitudinal federation corresponds may indicate the network supporting the longitudinal federation, i.e., may indicate the network as a member of the federation. For example, the network may be one or more PLMNs, or may be a network corresponding to one or more access modes.

Information of the vendors corresponding to the longitudinal federation may be used to indicate the vendors supporting the longitudinal federation, i.e., the vendors that are members of the federation. For example, the information of the equipment manufacturer may be equipment manufacturer identification (vendor ID).

Data granularity supported by the longitudinal federation. The data granularity may be terminal granularity, federation identification granularity, analysis identification granularity, federation member granularity, and the like. That is, the granularity of the data used by the current learning task is indicated. For example, the terminal granularity indicates that the sample used by the current learning task is data of a terminal within a certain range, for example, for the terminal granularity, the data granularity supported by the longitudinal federal federation can be used to indicate that the sample used by the current learning task is traffic data of the terminal on the AF or traffic data of the terminal on the AF, and the like.

It may be appreciated that the federation ID corresponds to at least one of an identification of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of an AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation, a PLMN corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation, and thus at least one of an identification of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of an AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of a PLMN corresponding to the longitudinal federation, or information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation may be indicated or determined by using the federation ID. It is to be appreciated that the AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation and/or the network (e.g., PLMN) corresponding to the longitudinal federation can be members of the longitudinal federation.

The sample determining method provided by the present application will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in fig. 4. As shown in fig. 4, the method may comprise the steps of:

S101, a first network element acquires a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first AF of a longitudinal federation and acquires a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second AF of the longitudinal federation. The terminals in the first terminal set are terminals which are supported, authorized or allowed by the first AF and used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation, or the terminals in the first terminal set support, authorize or allow the first AF to use related data of the terminals for the tasks of the longitudinal federation, and the terminals in the second terminal set are terminals which are supported, authorized or allowed by the second AF and used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation, or the terminals in the second terminal set support, authorize or allow the second AF to use the terminals which belong to the tasks of the longitudinal federation.

It will be appreciated that the granularity at which the terminal supports, authorizes, or allows the first AF to use its relevant data for the tasks of the longitudinal federation may be terminal granularity (i.e., supporting the first AF to use its relevant data for the tasks of all of the longitudinal federations), longitudinal federation granularity (i.e., supporting the first AF to use its relevant data for all of the tasks of one or more of the longitudinal federations), or analysis identification granularity (i.e., supporting the first AF to use its relevant data for the tasks corresponding to one or more analysis identifications of the longitudinal federation).

S102, the first network element determines the first terminals included in the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the first identification of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identification of the terminals in the second terminal set, and the data of the first terminals are taken as samples of the tasks of the longitudinal federation.

Wherein the first terminal may be an intersection of a terminal in the first set of terminals and a terminal in the second set of terminals, so that sample alignment of the terminals of the first AF with the terminals of the second AF may be achieved.

In the application, the AF terminal identifier, or the identifier of the terminal about AF, can be the identifier about the terminal distributed by the network for AF, which is used for AF and/or network to manage the terminal. The AF terminal identity may be used as an identity of the terminal outside the core network. The AF terminal identity may be assigned by a storage network element or by a network element such as an AF, e.g. the AF terminal identity may be registered by the AF into the storage network element or pre-assigned by a network element in the network, such as a storage network element. For example, the AF terminal identity is an AF-specific terminal identity (AF SPECIFIC UE ID), a general public user identifier (generic public subscription identifier, GPSI), or an IP address or a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the terminal, or the AF terminal identity may be determined according to the AF-specific terminal identity, the GPSI, the IP address, and/or the MAC address. At present, the network may allocate different AF terminal identifiers for different AFs for the same terminal, so that it can be understood that different AFs maintain the terminal respectively. That is, the same terminal is different in the AF terminal identification of different AFs. For convenience of distinction, the AF terminal identification of the terminal of the first AF is referred to as a first identification, and the AF terminal identification of the terminal of the second AF is referred to as a second identification, i.e., the first identification and the second identification of the same terminal are different.

The AF terminal identifier of the terminal under the AF indicates that the AF may use related data (such as sample data) corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to perform a vertical federation task, or that the AF is authorized by the UE corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to perform a vertical federation task using its data. Or the AF terminal identification of the terminal under AF indicates that the AF can use related data corresponding to the AF terminal identification in a longitudinal federation task corresponding to the longitudinal federation.

As an example of S101, the first network element may obtain a first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals from the first AF and a second identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals from the second AF. For example, the first network element may receive the first identification from the first AF and the second identification from the second AF.

For example, in this example, a first request may be sent by the first network element to the first AF and/or the second AF for requesting a first identity and/or a second identity of a terminal of the longitudinal federation. The first request may be a longitudinal federation information acquisition request.

In one possible implementation, the first request may carry information of the longitudinal federation, which is used by the first AF to determine terminals in the first set of terminals of the first AF, and/or used by the second AF to determine terminals in the second set of terminals of the second AF. That is, the information of the longitudinal federation may be used for an AF screening sample, and the AF may determine the longitudinal federation supported by the terminal according to the subscription information of the terminal, thereby determining the terminal supporting the longitudinal federation indicated by the first request. The information of the longitudinal federation may include one or more of an identifier of the federation, an identifier of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identifier of an AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation, information of a network corresponding to the longitudinal federation, and information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation.

For example, if the information of the longitudinal federation includes an identifier of the federation, the AF may query the terminal according to the longitudinal federation supported by the terminal and the identifier of the federation in the information of the longitudinal federation, and the terminal obtained as a result of the query may be used as the terminal in the first terminal set and/or the terminal in the second terminal set.

If the information of the longitudinal federation includes the identification of the analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the AF can query the subscription information or configuration information of the terminal, determine the analysis service supported by the terminal, or determine that the terminal or the user corresponding to the terminal allows the AF to use the terminal related data corresponding to the analysis service to perform the longitudinal federation learning task. The data related to the terminal corresponding to the analysis service can be understood as data required by the AF for performing the analysis service, and the data can be used as a sample of longitudinal federal training. In the form that the user allows the AF to perform the longitudinal federal learning task by using the terminal related data corresponding to the analysis service, one possible implementation manner is that the AF obtains the consent or authorization of the terminal through a protocol or a dynamic window confirmation manner. Another possible implementation is to have the AF be allowed by the terminal or user to use the data for longitudinal federal tasks in a preconfigured way. If the analysis service supported by the terminal or the analysis service developed by the terminal authorization AF is consistent with the analysis service indicated by the identification of the analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the terminal can be used as the terminal in the first terminal set and/or the terminal in the second terminal set.

If the information of the longitudinal federation includes an AF identifier corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the first network element may request the AF to provide terminal information supporting a federation task. Terminal information supporting federation tasks is, for example, the identity of the terminal. The terminal information supporting the federation task may be used to determine samples of the longitudinal federation task, i.e., sample screening may be performed based on the terminal identification of the AF.

If the information of the longitudinal federation includes information of a network (such as a PLMN) corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the AF may query subscription information of the terminal, determine a PLMN supported by the terminal, and if the PLMN supported by the terminal is consistent with the information of the PLMN in the information of the longitudinal federation, the terminal may be used as the terminal in the first terminal set and/or the terminal in the second terminal set.

If the information of the longitudinal federation includes information of a device manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation, the AF may query subscription information of the terminal, determine the device manufacturer of the terminal, and if the information of the device manufacturer of the terminal is consistent with the information of the device manufacturer in the information of the longitudinal federation, the terminal may be used as the terminal in the first terminal set and/or the terminal in the second terminal set.

In addition, the first request may further carry information about the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation, such as an AF terminal identification of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation.

In the present application, the AF terminal identification can be used to identify the terminal in AF.

For the first AF, the information of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation may include a first identification of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation. The first identification of terminals intended for the role of the longitudinal federation may be used by the first AF to determine terminals in the first set of terminals. For example, the first identity of the terminal that is desired to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation is taken as a list of desired terminals, from which list the first AF may determine terminals belonging to the first set of terminals. When the first request includes information of the federation and a list of desired terminals, if a certain terminal of the AF belongs to a terminal selected according to the information of the federation, but does not belong to a terminal in the list of desired terminals, the terminal may not be a terminal in the first terminal set. Similarly, for the second AF, the information of the terminal desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federation may include a second identification of the terminal desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federation. A second identification of terminals intended for the role of the longitudinal federation may be used by the second AF to determine terminals in the second set of terminals.

Wherein, the information of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation may be included in the information of the longitudinal federation, or may be independent of the information of the longitudinal federation as a separate cell or domain, and the present application is not particularly limited.

It will be appreciated that the AF may also determine the intersection of terminals as a first identity of a terminal in a first set of terminals of the first AF and/or a second identity of a terminal in a second set of terminals of the second AF based on the longitudinal federation information and information of terminals desired for the tasks of the longitudinal federation.

Further, in this example, it may also be determined by the AF-initiating terminal, i.e. in S101 the first identity of the terminal in the first set of terminals may be provided actively by the first AF and/or the second identity of the terminal in the second set of terminals may be provided actively by the second AF. For example, a second request may be sent by the first AF and/or the second AF to the first network element, the second request being usable to request the first network element to determine the sample. The second request sent by the first AF may include a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set, and the second request sent by the second AF may include a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set. The second request may be initiated based on a particular time condition or event condition, such as, for example, reaching the time of performing a vertical federal learning task, or meeting a sample collection condition for the learning task (e.g., turning on model training when model accuracy is insufficient, at which time samples need to be collected).

In one possible implementation, the second request may further include information of a longitudinal federation, such as an identifier of the longitudinal federation, for identifying the longitudinal federation related to the learning task.

As another example of S101, the first network element may obtain, from the storage network element, a first identity of a terminal in a first set of terminals of the first AF and a second identity of a terminal in a second set of terminals of the second AF. If the storage network element allocates the AF terminal identifier, the storage network element may store a correspondence between the AF terminal identifier and at least one of longitudinal federation information, a terminal, or AF after allocating the AF terminal identifier. The first network element may query the storage network element for the AF terminal identifier according to the information of the longitudinal federation, e.g. provide the storage network element with the information of the longitudinal federation, and the storage network element may determine the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and determine the first identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the information of the longitudinal federation provided by the first network element. The storage network element may also provide the first network element with a first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals and a second identity of a terminal in the second set of terminals.

In the present application, the correspondence relationship may be replaced by an association relationship or a mapping relationship. The corresponding relation between A and B can be used for determining B corresponding to A or A corresponding to B.

It will be appreciated that the storage network element may store the first identity and/or the second identity of the terminals of the AF, e.g. the AF terminal identity of the terminals for which the AF is registering with the storage network element. The method that the storage network element determines the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the first identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the longitudinal federation information may refer to the method that the AF determines the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the first identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the longitudinal federation information, and is not repeated.

In one possible implementation, in determining the first terminal, the first network element may further provide information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation to the storage network element, and the storage network element is configured to screen the terminal according to the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation, so as to determine the first terminal.

Wherein the unique identification, the first identification, the second identification or the third identification of the terminal, which may comprise a task intended for the longitudinal federation, is provided to the storage network element.

In the application, the unique identifier of the terminal can also be a network side identifier, and can be used for uniquely identifying the terminal, for example, the unique identifier in the core network. The unique identification may include, among other things, the SUPI of the terminal, the international mobile subscriber identity (international mobile subscriber identity, IMSI), the terminal equipment identity (terminal equipment identifier, TEI), or the permanent equipment identity (PERMANENT EQUIPMENT IDENTIFIER, PEI), etc. Hereinafter, description will be made mainly with an example in which SUPI is a unique identifier.

The third identity may be a VFL identity (e.g., referred to as a VFL UE ID) of the terminal for identifying terminals that support longitudinal federal learning or longitudinal federation. Wherein the third identifiers of the same terminal in a plurality of AFs supporting the longitudinal federation are the same. That is, the third identity may be an identity of the first terminal in a learning task of the longitudinal federation. It is to be appreciated that the third identifier may be generic across different granularities of the longitudinal federation. For example, in all tasks of the federation, the identifier of the first terminal is the third identifier.

For example, the first network element may provide the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and information of the terminal desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federal federation to the storage network element, and after determining at least one terminal (such as a second terminal) included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set, the storage network element screens the at least one terminal from the second terminal as the first terminal according to the information of the terminal desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federation, for example, the first identifier, the second identifier, the unique identifier, or the third identifier of the first terminal is included in the information of the terminal desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federal federation. In this implementation, the AF does not need to perform terminal screening according to information of terminals expected to be used for tasks of the longitudinal federation, thereby reducing processing complexity of the AF.

As shown in table 1, the AF1 UE ID represents a first identity of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first AF, and the AF2 UE ID represents a second identity of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second AF. As can be seen, the SUPI of the intersection of the first terminal set and the second terminal set is a terminal corresponding to SUPI2, SUPI3, and SUPI4, i.e., the first terminal includes a terminal corresponding to SUPI2, SUPI3, and SUPI 4. The first network element may allocate VFL UE IDs to terminals corresponding to SUPI2, SUPI3, and SUPI4, which are respectively denoted as V1, V2, and V3. The VFL UE ID is the third identification.

TABLE 1

SUPI	AF1 UE ID	AF2 UE ID	VFL UE ID
				SUPI1	A1	/	/
SUPI2	A2	B2	V1
				SUPI3	A3	B3	V2
SUPI4	A4	B4	V3
				SUPI5	/	B5	/

The storage network element may convert the unique identity and/or the third identity of the terminal desired for the role of the longitudinal federation into an AF terminal identity, such as the first identity and/or the second identity. The storage network element may also query an AF terminal identity of the terminal of the first AF and an AF terminal identity of the terminal of the second AF, determine an intersection of the AF terminal identity of the terminal of the task that is desired for the longitudinal federation with the AF terminal identity of the terminal of the first AF as a first identity of the terminal in the first set of terminals of the first AF, and determine an intersection of the AF terminal identity of the terminal of the task that is desired for the longitudinal federation with the AF terminal identity of the terminal of the second AF as a second identity of the terminal in the second set of terminals of the second AF.

It will be appreciated that the storage network element may also determine the intersection of terminals as the first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals of the first AF and/or the second identity of a terminal in the second set of terminals of the second AF based on the longitudinal federation information and information of terminals desired for the tasks of the longitudinal federation.

It will be appreciated that if the first network element is a NEF, the longitudinal federation information and/or information of the terminal (e.g., unique identity, first identity, second identity, or third identity of the terminal) desiring to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation may come from NWDAF.

If the information, provided by NWDAF to the NEF, of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation is the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal, the NEF may convert the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation into the first identifier and/or the second identifier of the terminal, and carry the first identifier and/or the second identifier of the terminal in the foregoing first request. The third identifier of the terminal may be assigned to the terminal in a previous learning task, or the third identifier may be pre-assigned to the terminal in the current learning task NWDAF, where NWDAF may further provide, to the NEF, a correspondence between the third identifier of the terminal and at least one of the first identifier, the second identifier, or the unique identifier, or NWDAF may provide, to the storage network element, a correspondence between the third identifier and at least one of the first identifier, the second identifier, or the unique identifier.

It will be appreciated that the manner in which the NEF converts the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal desired to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation into the first identifier and/or the second identifier of the terminal, for example, the NEF sends the information of the terminal desired to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation to the UDM as the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal, and the mapping of the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal is performed by the storage network element according to the correspondence between the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal and the first identifier and/or the second identifier, so as to obtain the first identifier and/or the second identifier of the terminal and provide the first identifier and/or the second identifier of the terminal to the NEF. In addition, the NEF can also map the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal according to the corresponding relation between the unique identifier or the third identifier of the terminal and the first identifier and/or the second identifier stored locally to obtain the first identifier and/or the second identifier of the terminal.

In addition, any one or more members of the longitudinal federation may also send longitudinal federation information and/or information of a terminal desiring to use for a task of the longitudinal federation to the first network element for initiating the task. The member may be the first AF or the second AF, or may be a core network element, etc., which is not particularly limited. That is, a task may be triggered by a portion of the member AFs (e.g., an AF). At this time, the first network element may determine all member AFs according to the information of the longitudinal federation, and send a first request to some or all member AFs. For example, the first request may be sent to a member AF other than the member AF that initiated the task. Optionally, the member AF initiating the task may further provide the AF terminal identification of the terminal set to the first network element. For example, when the first AF is a member AF initiating a task, the first AF may send longitudinal federation information and/or information of terminals desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federation to the first network element, and may also send a first identification of a terminal in the first set of terminals, and the first network element may send a first request to the second AF requesting to obtain a second identification of a terminal in the second set of terminals of the second AF.

In S102, the first terminal may be determined according to a unique identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set and a unique identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set. For example, the first network element may determine the unique identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, determine the unique identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, and determine the first terminal by solving an intersection of the unique identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the unique identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set.

The first network element determines a unique identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set according to a first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, for example, the first network element sends the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to the storage network element, the storage network element determines the unique identifier of the terminal according to a corresponding relationship between the first identifier of the terminal and the unique identifier of the terminal, and the unique identifier of the terminal is provided to the first network element. In another manner, the first network element locally stores a correspondence between the first identifier of the terminal and the unique identifier of the terminal, so that the first network element can query the correspondence according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to determine the unique identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set.

Similarly, the first network element may obtain the unique identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set through the storage network element, or may query the correspondence between the second identifier and the unique identifier of the terminal according to the second identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to determine the unique identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send a first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, where the first identifier may be used for a task of longitudinal federal learning, for example, the first AF may filter sample information of the task of longitudinal federal learning according to the first identifier. Similarly, the first network element may further send a second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, where the second identifier may be used for a task of longitudinal federal learning, for example, the second AF may filter sample information of the task of longitudinal federal learning according to the second identifier. It is understood that sample information refers to information of a sample. For example, the sample information is identification information of a sample. For example, the sample may be data of a terminal, and accordingly, the AF terminal identification of the terminal may be understood as identification information of the sample. The first AF may determine relevant data for the task of longitudinal federal learning based on the first identification. Specifically, the first AF may determine, according to the first identifier, data corresponding to the first identifier for the longitudinal federal learning task, where the data corresponding to the first identifier includes network data, PDU session related data, and the like of a corresponding user of the first identifier. These data are used by the first AF for longitudinal federal learning tasks, e.g., for training and or reasoning of the model to which the first AF longitudinal federal task corresponds.

It will be appreciated that the first network element sending a message or information to the first AF includes the first network element sending a message or information to the first AF through an interface or transmission channel between the first network element and the first AF, and may also include the first network element sending or information to the first AF through other network elements or communication devices. For example, if the first network element is NWDAF, the first network element may send a message or information to the first AF through the NEF.

In one possible implementation, the first network element may further send a third identifier allocated for the first terminal to the first AF. The first network element may also send a third identification allocated for the first terminal to the second AF. As an example, the first network element may send the first identity and the third identity of the first terminal to the first AF. The first network element may also send the second identity and the third identity of the first terminal to the second AF.

Wherein the third identity may be assigned by the first network element, the storage network element or other network elements.

For example, if the third identifier is allocated by the first network element, the first network element may further send the third identifier to the storage network element after allocating the third identifier. For example, the first network element sends the corresponding relation between the third identifier of the first terminal and at least one of the information of the longitudinal federation and the first identifier or the second identifier of the first terminal to the storage network element, so that the storage network element obtains and stores the corresponding relation between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the longitudinal federation and the first identifier and the second identifier of the first terminal, thereby facilitating the subsequent searching of the terminal.

If the third identifier is allocated by the storage network element, the first network element may send at least one of the unique identifier of the first terminal, the first identifier or the second identifier to the storage network element after determining the first terminal in S102, for requesting the first network element to allocate the third identifier. Correspondingly, after the storage network element distributes the third identifier, the association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and at least one of the unique identifier of the first terminal, the first identifier or the second identifier can be obtained and stored. Optionally, the first network element may further send information of the longitudinal federation, so as to provide a correspondence between the first terminal and the longitudinal federation, so as to facilitate subsequent terminal searching.

The method provided by the application is described below with reference to examples. The following embodiments 1 to 4 are descriptions of the flow of fig. 4 and possible implementations of fig. 4, respectively. In some cases, examples 1 to 4 may be regarded as an explanation of the flow of fig. 4 and the above-described embodiments. In addition, examples 1 to 4 are exemplary embodiments of the method provided by the present application, and should not be construed as being necessarily strict procedures for the method provided by the present application.

Embodiment 1, nwdaf or NEF is used as the first network element, and the first AF is requested by NWDAF/NEF to provide the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, and the second AF is requested by NWDAF/NEF to provide the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, the method provided by the present application may include the following steps shown in fig. 5:

and S201, the first network element sends a longitudinal federation preparation request to the first AF, wherein the longitudinal federation preparation request comprises information of a longitudinal federation and/or information of a terminal expected to be used for a task of the longitudinal federation.

As described in the present application, the information including the longitudinal federation in the longitudinal federation task request may include one or more of an identification of the federation, an identification of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identification of an AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation, information of a network corresponding to the longitudinal federation, and information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation, and the information of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation may include at least one of a unique identification, a first identification, or a second identification of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation.

It is also considered that information of a terminal desiring to be used for a task of the longitudinal federation is included in the information of the longitudinal federation.

It will be appreciated that in embodiment 1, the information of the longitudinal federation and/or the information of the terminal desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federation may be determined by the first network element according to the requirement of the learning task of the longitudinal federation, in a manner not falling within the limitation of the present application. The requirements of the learning task of the longitudinal federation may include requirements of analysis service (such as analysis identification), requirements of the learning task for data, requirements of the learning task for accuracy, and the like.

The longitudinal federation preparation request in S201 may be used as an example of the first request, and information of the longitudinal federation in the longitudinal federation preparation request may be used by the first AF to determine the first identity of the terminal in the first terminal set.

Wherein the information of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation may include a first identification of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation.

S201 may also be replaced by the first network element sending information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to use for the tasks of the longitudinal federation to the first AF.

And S202, the first network element sends a longitudinal federation preparation request to the second AF, wherein the longitudinal federation preparation request comprises information of a longitudinal federation and/or information of a terminal expected to be used for a task of the longitudinal federation.

The longitudinal federation preparation request in S202 may be used as an example of the first request, and information of the longitudinal federation in the longitudinal federation preparation request may be used by the second AF to determine the second identity of the terminal in the second terminal set.

Wherein the information of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation may include a second identification of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation.

S202 may also be replaced by the first network element sending information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to use for the tasks of the longitudinal federation to the second AF.

The present application does not limit the execution timing between S201 and S202.

Optionally, before S201 and/or S202, the first AF and the second AF each obtain or determine sample information and or identification information of a sample, where the sample information may be an AF terminal identification of a terminal, terminal-related data, or the like. For example, the AF terminal identification may include an AF-specific terminal identification, GPSI, IP address, MAC address, or the like of the terminal.

The first AF may determine a first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals according to the longitudinal federal preparation request, and the second AF may determine a second identity of a terminal in the second set of terminals according to the longitudinal federal preparation request S203.

The first AF may screen terminals according to information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals expected to be used for tasks of the longitudinal federation to determine terminals in the first terminal set, and the second AF may screen terminals according to information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals expected to be used for tasks of the longitudinal federation to determine terminals in the second terminal set. The manner in which terminals are screened for information based on the information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desired for the tasks of the longitudinal federation may be referred to in the description of the present application.

And S204, the first AF sends a first identification of the terminal in the first terminal set to the first network element.

The first identifier may be an AF1 UE ID of the terminal.

And S205, the second AF sends a second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set to the first network element.

The second identifier may be an AF2 UE ID of the terminal.

It will be appreciated that S204 and S205 may be examples of one implementation of S101 in the flow of fig. 4.

S206, the first network element sends the acquisition request of the network side identification of the terminal to the storage network element.

The network side identifier of the UE may be a unique identifier, for example, SUPI, or may be other identifiers TEI, PEI, or the like.

The SUPI acquisition request may be used to request acquisition of SUPI for the terminals in the first set of terminals and SUPI for the terminals in the second set of terminals.

S207, the storage network element sends SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set and SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set to the first network element.

It is understood that S206 and S207 may be used as examples of one implementation of S102 in the flow of fig. 4.

And S208, the first network element determines the first terminal according to the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set and the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set.

The first terminal is an intersection terminal in the first terminal set and the second terminal set.

And S209, optionally, the first network element distributes a third identifier for the first terminal.

For example, the third identification is a VFL UD ID.

The third identity may be an identity of the first terminal in a learning task of the longitudinal federation. It is to be appreciated that the third identifier may be generic across different granularities of the longitudinal federation. For example, in all tasks of the federation, the identifier of the first terminal is the third identifier.

In addition, the third identifier may also be allocated by NWDAF or other network elements, and S209 may be skipped at this time.

And S210, optionally, the first network element sends the association relation between the third identification of the first terminal and the information of the longitudinal federation to the storage network element, so that the UDM can conveniently store the information of the first terminal supporting the learning task of the longitudinal federation. Optionally, the first network element indicates to the storage network element an association relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and information of the longitudinal federation, the first identifier, the second identifier, or the unique identifier of the first terminal. For example, the first network element may send the SUPI and the third identifier of the first terminal to indicate an association relationship between the two, so the storage network element may learn the association relationship between the SUPI and the third identifier, and the storage network element may learn a correspondence relationship between the SUPI of the first terminal and at least one of the information of the longitudinal federation, the first identifier of the first terminal, or the second identifier of the first terminal, so the storage network element may learn a correspondence relationship between the third identifier of the first terminal and at least one of the information of the longitudinal federation, the first identifier of the first terminal, or the second identifier of the first terminal. Specifically, the first network element may send a list of (SUPI, VFL UE IDs), which may represent a correspondence between the SUPI and the VFL UE IDs of the first terminal. The storage network element may determine an association between the SUPI and the VFL UE ID from the list.

S211, the first network element sends a first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF so that the first AF can determine sample data of a learning task of the longitudinal federation according to a second identifier of the first terminal to realize sample screening.

Optionally, the first network element may further send a third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the longitudinal federation. For example, the first network element sends the first identifier and the third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF.

S212, the first network element sends a second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF so that the second AF can determine sample data of a learning task of the longitudinal federation according to the second identifier of the first terminal to realize sample screening.

Optionally, the first network element may further send a third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the longitudinal federation. For example, the first network element sends the second identity and the third identity of the first terminal to the second AF.

Optionally, before S201, a longitudinal federation task request may be initiated by any one or more members of the longitudinal federation to the first network element for initiating a task. The longitudinal federation task request may contain information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to use for the tasks of the longitudinal federation. Wherein the member may be a first AF or a second AF. That is, a task may be triggered by a portion of the member AFs (e.g., an AF). The first network element may determine all member AFs according to the information of the longitudinal federation and perform S201 and/or S202. If the member AF that sends the longitudinal federation task request to the first network element is the first AF, the first network element may skip (or ignore to execute) S201, where the longitudinal federation task request may further include a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set, and the determining manner of the terminal in the first terminal set may refer to S203, where a difference is that the determining of the first terminal set may be initiated by the first AF. Similarly, if the member AF that sends the longitudinal federation task request to the first network element is the second AF, the first network element may skip (or ignore to execute) S202, where the longitudinal federation task request may further include a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set, and the determining manner of the terminal in the second terminal set may refer to S204, where a difference is that the determining of the first terminal set may be initiated by the first AF.

In embodiment 2, the nef acts as a first network element, and requests the first AF to provide a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set and requests the second AF to provide a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set according to information of the longitudinal federation provided or preconfigured by other network elements (e.g., NWDAF) and/or information of a terminal desiring to be used for a task of the longitudinal federation. In addition, in embodiment 2, the NEF notifies NWDAF of the determination result of the first terminal, and instructs the first terminal to the first AF and the second AF by NWDAF. The method provided by the application can comprise the following steps shown in fig. 6:

s301, NWDAF sends a longitudinal federation task request to the NEF.

The longitudinal federation task request includes information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation, and is used for determining NWDAF which terminals and/or samples are supported by the NEF to participate in the longitudinal federation task.

Optionally, S301 may also be replaced with NWDAF transmitting information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation.

In example 2 NWDAF may be one of the members of the vertical federal task. It will be appreciated that in embodiment 2, the information of the longitudinal federation and/or the information of the terminal desiring to use in the task of the longitudinal federation may be determined by NWDAF according to the requirements of the learning task of the longitudinal federation, in a manner not falling within the limitation of the present application. The requirements of the learning task of the longitudinal federation may include requirements of analysis service (such as analysis identification), requirements of the learning task for data, requirements of the learning task for accuracy, and the like.

The NEF sends a longitudinal federal preparation request to the first AF, the longitudinal federal preparation request including information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation S302.

The longitudinal federation preparation request in S302 may be used as an example of the first request, where information of the longitudinal federation in the longitudinal federation preparation request may be used by the first AF to determine the first identity of the terminal in the first terminal set.

S302 may also be replaced by the first network element sending information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to use for the tasks of the longitudinal federation to the first AF.

The NEF sends a longitudinal federal preparation request to the second AF, the longitudinal federal preparation request including information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to use for the tasks of the longitudinal federation S303.

The longitudinal federation preparation request in S303 may be used as an example of the first request, and information of the longitudinal federation in the longitudinal federation preparation request may be used by the second AF to determine the second identity of the terminal in the second terminal set.

S303 may also be replaced by the first network element sending information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desiring to use for the tasks of the longitudinal federation to the second AF.

The present application does not limit the execution timing between S303 and S303.

Optionally, before S302 and/or S303, the first AF and the second AF each obtain sample information, where the sample information may be an AF terminal identification of the terminal. For example, the AF terminal identification may include an AF-specific terminal identification, GPSI, IP address, MAC address, or the like of the terminal.

The first AF may determine a first identity of a terminal in the first set of terminals according to the longitudinal federal preparation request, and the second AF may determine a second identity of a terminal in the second set of terminals according to the longitudinal federal preparation request S304.

The first AF sends the first identity of the terminal in the first set of terminals to the NEF S305.

The first identifier may be an AF1 UE ID of the terminal.

And S306, the second AF sends a second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set to the NEF.

The second identifier may be an AF2 UE ID of the terminal.

And S307, the NEF determines the first terminal according to the first identification of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set.

As an example, the NEF may determine the first terminal in the manner shown in S206 to S208.

As another example, if in S301, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation includes a first identifier, a second identifier, and a unique identifier of the terminal, that is, there is a correspondence between the unique identifier of the terminal and the first identifier and the second identifier, the NEF may convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into the unique identifier, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into the unique identifier, and further may determine an intersection terminal of the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the unique identifier, to obtain the first terminal.

Similarly, if in S301, the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation includes the first identifier, the second identifier, and the third identifier of the terminal, that is, there is a correspondence between the unique identifier of the terminal and the first identifier and the second identifier, the NEF may convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set to the third identifier, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set to the third identifier, and further may determine an intersection terminal in the first terminal set and the second terminal set according to the third identifier, so as to obtain the first terminal.

S307 above may be taken as an example of S102.

And S308, optionally, the NEF allocates a third identifier for the first terminal.

In addition, the third identifier may also be allocated by NWDAF or other network elements, in which case S308 may be skipped.

S309, optionally, the NEF sends the association relation between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the longitudinal federation to the storage network element, so that the UDM can conveniently store the information of the first terminal supporting the learning task of the longitudinal federation.

S308 to S309 may be implemented with reference to S209 to S210.

And S310, the NEF sends the first identification of the first terminal and the second identification of the first terminal to NWDAF.

Optionally, the NEF may send the first identifier, the second identifier of the first terminal, and may also send the unique identifier and/or the third identifier of the first terminal to NWDAF.

Therefore, NWDAF may learn information of the first terminal, so that NWDAF indicates the first terminal to the first AF and the second AF.

And S311, NWDAF, sending the first identification of the first terminal to the first AF so that the first AF can determine sample data of the learning task of the longitudinal federation according to the second identification of the first terminal.

Optionally, NWDAF may further send a third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the longitudinal federation. For example NWDAF sends the first identity and the third identity of the first terminal to the first AF.

And S312, NWDAF, sending the second identification of the first terminal to the second AF so that the second AF can determine sample data of the learning task of the longitudinal federation according to the second identification of the first terminal.

Optionally, NWDAF may further send a third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the longitudinal federation. For example NWDAF sends the second identity and the third identity of the first terminal to the second AF.

In embodiment 3, in a scenario where the AF initiates the longitudinal federal information task, the AF may actively provide the AF terminal identifier of the own terminal to the first network element. For example, the first network element may be a NEF or NWDAF. The method of embodiment 3 may include the following steps as shown in fig. 7:

s401, a first AF determines a first identification of a terminal in a first terminal set, and a second AF determines a second identification of a terminal in a second terminal set.

In embodiment 3, the information of the longitudinal federation and/or the information of the terminals desired for the tasks of the longitudinal federation may be configured or stored in the AF. For example, the longitudinal federation requires the AF to initiate a learning task when a certain period or event is satisfied, and the information of the longitudinal federation corresponding to the learning task and/or the information of the terminal desiring to use for the task of the longitudinal federation may be preconfigured in the AF of the longitudinal federation.

Wherein for the first AF, the information of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation may include a first identification of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation. For the second AF, the information of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation may include a second identification of the terminal desiring to be used for the task of the longitudinal federation.

Optionally, before S401, the first AF and the second AF each obtain sample information, where the sample information may be an AF terminal identification of the terminal. For example, the AF terminal identification may include an AF-specific terminal identification, GPSI, IP address, MAC address, or the like of the terminal.

And S402, the first AF sends a first identification of the terminal in the first terminal set to the first network element.

The first identifier may be an AF1 UE ID of the terminal.

Alternatively, the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set may be included in a longitudinal federation information construction request sent by the first AF to the first network element.

The first identification of terminals in the first set of terminals may be carried in a longitudinal federal preparation request. Longitudinal federal preparation requests may be used as an example of the second request shown in the present application.

And S403, the second AF sends a second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set to the first network element.

The second identifier may be an AF2 UE ID of the terminal.

Optionally, the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set may be included in a longitudinal federation information construction request sent by the second AF to the first network element.

The second identification of terminals in the second set of terminals may be carried in a longitudinal federal preparation request. Longitudinal federal preparation requests may be used as an example of the second request shown in the present application.

It is understood that S402 and S403 may be used as examples of one implementation of S101 in the flow of fig. 4.

S404, the first network element determines the first terminal according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set.

S404 may be implemented with reference to S307, and will not be described in detail.

S404 may be used as an example of one implementation of S102 in the flow of fig. 4.

And S405, optionally, the first network element allocates a third identifier for the first terminal.

For example, the third identification is a VFL UD ID.

In addition, the third identifier may also be allocated by NWDAF or other network elements, in which case S405 may be skipped.

And S406, optionally, the first network element sends the association relation between the third identification of the first terminal and the information of the longitudinal federation to the storage network element, so that the UDM can conveniently store the information of the first terminal supporting the learning task of the longitudinal federation.

S405 to S406 may be implemented with reference to S209 to S210.

S407, the first network element sends a first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF so that the first AF can determine sample data of a learning task of the longitudinal federation according to a second identifier of the first terminal.

And S408, the first network element sends the second identification of the first terminal to the second AF so that the second AF can determine sample data of the learning task of the longitudinal federation according to the second identification of the first terminal.

Alternatively, S407 to S408 may be replaced by S310 to S312, where S404 may be performed by the NEF to determine the first terminal, and the NWDAF sends the first identity of the first terminal to the first AF and the second identity of the first terminal to the second AF.

In embodiment 4, in a scenario where an AF initiates a longitudinal federal information task, a storage network element may further obtain an AF terminal identifier of a terminal in each AF, and determine an intersection terminal according to the AF terminal identifier of each AF, so as to obtain a first terminal. Wherein, the AF can provide the AF terminal identification to the storage network element through the NEF. For example, in a scenario where a longitudinal federal information task is initiated by a first AF and a second AF, the method provided by the present application may include the following steps, as shown in fig. 8:

s501, a first AF determines a first identification of a terminal in a first terminal set, and a second AF determines a second identification of a terminal in a second terminal set.

The first AF sends the first identity of the terminal in the first set of terminals to the NEF S502.

And S503, the second AF sends a second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set to the NEF.

Among them, S501 to S503 can be referred to S401 to S403.

It is understood that S502 and S503 may be examples of one implementation of S101 in the flow of fig. 4.

And S504, the NEF sends the first identification of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set to the storage network element.

S505, the storage network element determines the first terminal according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set.

As an implementation manner, the storage network element may convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into a unique identifier of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into a unique identifier of the terminal, so that an intersection terminal, i.e. the first terminal, included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set may be determined according to the unique identifier.

As another implementation manner, the storage network element may convert the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set into the third identifier of the terminal, and convert the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set into the third identifier of the terminal, so that an intersection terminal, i.e. the first terminal, included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set may be determined according to the third identifier.

S505 may be an example of one implementation of S102 in the flow of fig. 4.

And S506, optionally, the storage network element allocates a third identifier for the first terminal.

For example, the third identification is a VFL UD ID.

S507, optionally, the storage network element stores the association relation between the third identifier of the first terminal and the information of the longitudinal federation, so that the UDM can conveniently store the information of the first terminal supporting the learning task of the longitudinal federation.

And S508, the storage network element sends the first identification of the first terminal to the first AF so that the first AF can determine sample data of the learning task of the longitudinal federation according to the second identification of the first terminal.

Wherein the storage network element can send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF through the NEF

Optionally, the storage network element may further send a third identifier of the first terminal to the first AF, so that the first AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the longitudinal federation. For example, the storage network element sends the first identity and the third identity of the first terminal to the first AF.

And S509, the storage network element sends a second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF so that the second AF can determine sample data of the learning task of the longitudinal federation according to the second identifier of the first terminal.

Optionally, the storage network element may further send a third identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, so that the second AF learns the third identifier of the first terminal, that is, learns the identifier of the first terminal in the learning task of the longitudinal federation. For example, the storage network element sends the second identity and the third identity of the first terminal to the second AF.

In example 4, NEF can also be replaced by NWDAF.

It will be appreciated that in embodiments 1 to 4, description will be given by taking an example that the AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation includes the first AF and the second AF, and when the longitudinal federation includes more AFs, reference may be made to the implementation, and the description of the present application will not be repeated.

As another sample determining method provided by the application, the storage network element can acquire the information of the longitudinal federation and determine the AF terminal identification of the terminal under each AF of the longitudinal federation according to the information of the longitudinal federation.

The AF terminal identity of the terminal may be registered by the AF into a storage network element or pre-assigned by a network element in the network, such as a storage network element. The AF terminal identifier of the terminal under AF indicates that the AF can use the related data (such as sample data) corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to perform the longitudinal federation task, or the AF is authorized by the terminal corresponding to the AF terminal identifier to use the data to perform the longitudinal federation task. Or the AF terminal identification of the terminal under AF indicates that the AF can use related data corresponding to the AF terminal identification in a longitudinal federation task corresponding to the longitudinal federation. Therefore, when the learning task of the longitudinal federation needs to be executed, the first network element and/or at least one AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation may provide the information of the longitudinal federation to the storage network element, and the storage network element determines the terminal in the first terminal set and the terminal in the second terminal set according to the information of the longitudinal federation. The AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation may include a plurality of AFs, and one or more AFs in the plurality of AFs may provide longitudinal federation information to the storage network element, that is, all AFs corresponding to the longitudinal federation may not be required to provide longitudinal federation information to the storage network element, so as to reduce signaling overhead. Alternatively, the AF may provide information of the longitudinal federation to the storage network element via the NEF.

The information of the longitudinal federation may include one or more of an identifier of the federation, an identifier of an analysis service corresponding to the longitudinal federation, an identifier of an AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation, information of a network corresponding to the longitudinal federation, and information of an equipment manufacturer corresponding to the longitudinal federation. Further, the information of the longitudinal federation may also be considered to include information of terminals desiring to be used for the tasks of the longitudinal federation.

As shown in fig. 9, taking an example that each AF of the longitudinal federation includes a first AF and a second AF, in S601, the storage network element may obtain information of the longitudinal federation, in S602, the storage network element may determine a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of the first AF and determine a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of the second AF according to the information of the longitudinal federation.

As a possible implementation manner, in this embodiment, the storage network element may determine, according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set, as shown in S603 in fig. 9. The storage network element may also notify the first network element of the first identifier of the first terminal and the second identifier of the first terminal, so that the first network element sends the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF and/or sends the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF. In addition, after determining the first terminal, the storage network element may send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF and/or send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

As another possible implementation manner, the first network element may also be provided with the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set by the storage network element, and the first network element determines the first terminal according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, for example, refer to the description in S102. Optionally, the first network element may send the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF and/or send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF, which may be implemented in a manner described in the present application, and/or the first network element may assign the third identifier of the first terminal, which may be specifically described in the related embodiment of the first network element assigning the third identifier in the present application.

In fig. 9, taking an example that the storage network element determines the first terminal and the AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation includes the first AF and the second AF, in fig. 9, the storage network element may obtain information of the longitudinal federation, determine a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of the first AF according to the information of the longitudinal federation, and determine a second identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the second AF. The storage network element can store the subscription information of the terminal, so that the longitudinal federation supported by the terminal can be known. In addition, the storage network element can also learn the AF where the terminal is located. Therefore, when the storage network element obtains the information of the longitudinal federation provided by the first AF, the terminal supporting the longitudinal federation in the first AF can be queried according to the information of the longitudinal federation and the identification of the first AF, namely the first terminal set is obtained, and when the storage network element obtains the information of the longitudinal federation provided by the second AF, the terminal supporting the longitudinal federation in the second AF can be queried according to the information of the longitudinal federation and the identification of the second AF, namely the second terminal set is obtained.

Optionally, the storage network element may further determine the first terminal according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set. Wherein the first terminal may be a terminal included in the first set of terminals and the second set of terminals. For example, the storage network element may determine, from the unique identifiers of the terminals in the first set of terminals and the unique identifiers of the terminals in the second set of terminals, intersection terminals with the same unique identifier, i.e. the first terminal. For another example, the storage network element may determine, according to the third identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the third identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, an intersection terminal with the same third identifier, where the intersection terminal is the first terminal.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first terminal may be assigned a third identity by the storage network element. Nor does it exclude that the storage network element may receive the third identity of the first terminal in case the third identity is assigned by NWDAF or NEF. For example, in the case of the third identity assigned by NWDAF or NEF, the storage network element may send NWDAF or NEF the unique identity of the first terminal and receive the first and third identities from the first terminal of NWDAF or NEF.

Based on the embodiment shown in fig. 9, the storage network element may send the first identity of the first terminal to the first AF and/or send the second identity of the first terminal to the second AF through the NEF. For example, the storage network element sends the identity of the first AF and the first identity (or the first identity and the third identity) of the first terminal to the NEF, and the NEF may send the first identity (or the first identity and the third identity) of the first terminal to the first AF according to the identity of the first AF. In addition, the storage network element sends the identity of the second AF (or the second identity and the third identity) and the second identity of the first terminal to the NEF, and the NEF may send the second identity of the first terminal (or the second identity and the third identity) to the second AF according to the identity of the second AF.

In various embodiments of the present application, there may be a plurality of AFs corresponding to the same longitudinal federation, which are not limited to the first AF and the second AF in the present application. In the case that the AF corresponding to the longitudinal federation includes more AFs (such as a third AF) other than the first AF and the second AF, the first terminal in the present application may be an intersection terminal of a terminal set of all AFs corresponding to the longitudinal federation, and at this time, the determining manner of the first terminal may refer to a manner of determining an intersection of a terminal in the first terminal set and a terminal in the second terminal set, which is not described herein.

It will be appreciated that, in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element may each include a corresponding hardware structure and/or software module for performing each of the functions described above. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the various illustrative elements and method steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented as hardware or computer software driven hardware depends upon the particular application scenario and design constraints imposed on the solution.

Fig. 10 and 11 are schematic structural diagrams of a possible communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. These communication devices may be used to implement the functions of the first network element, the first AF, the second AF, or the storage network element in the above method embodiments, so that the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments may also be implemented. Wherein the first network element is for example a NEF or NWDAF and the storage network element is for example a UDM, UDR or ADRF.

As shown in fig. 10, the communication apparatus 1000 includes a processing unit 1010 and a transceiver unit 1020. The communication device 1000 is configured to implement the functions of the first network element, the first AF, the second AF, or the storage network element in the method embodiments shown in any of the foregoing fig. 4 to 9.

When the communication device 1000 is configured to implement the function of the first network element in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4, the transceiver unit 1020 is configured to obtain the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF and obtain the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF. The processing unit 1010 may be configured to determine the first terminal according to a first identity of a terminal in the first terminal set and a second identity of a terminal in the second terminal set.

When the communication device 1000 is configured to implement the function of the first AF in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4, the transceiver unit 1020 may be configured to send the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set, and may be further configured to receive the first identifier of the first terminal. Optionally, the processing unit 1010 may be configured to determine terminals in the first set of terminals, for example, according to information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desired to be used for tasks of the longitudinal federation. When the communication device 1000 is configured to implement the function of the second AF in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4, the transceiver unit 1020 may be configured to send the second identifier of the terminal in the second set of terminals, and may be further configured to receive the second identifier of the first terminal. Optionally, the processing unit 1010 may be configured to determine terminals in the second set of terminals, for example, according to information of the longitudinal federation and/or information of terminals desired to be used for tasks of the longitudinal federation.

When the communication device 1000 is configured to implement the function of the storage network element in the method embodiment shown in fig. 9, the transceiver unit 1020 is configured to obtain information of the longitudinal federation. The processing unit 1010 may be configured to determine, according to information of the longitudinal federation, a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of the first AF and obtain a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of the second AF. The processing unit 1010 may be configured to determine the first terminal according to a first identity of a terminal in the first terminal set and a second identity of a terminal in the second terminal set.

When the communication device 1000 is configured to implement the function of the first AF in the method embodiment shown in fig. 9, the transceiver unit 1020 may be configured to send information of the longitudinal federation, and may be further configured to receive the first identifier of the first terminal. When the communication device 1000 is configured to implement the function of the second AF in the method embodiment shown in fig. 9, the transceiver unit 1020 may be configured to transmit information of the longitudinal federation and may be further configured to receive the second identifier of the first terminal.

For more details on the processing unit 1010 and the transceiver unit 1020, reference is made to the relevant description in the method embodiments shown in any of fig. 4 to 9. For example, technical terms related to the above actions of the processing unit 1010 and the transceiver unit 1020 may be referred to the description in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated.

As shown in fig. 11, the communication device 1100 includes a processor 1110 and an interface circuit 1120. The processor 1110 and the interface circuit 1120 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1120 may be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a memory 1130 for storing instructions to be executed by the processor 1110 or for storing input data required by the processor 1110 to execute instructions or for storing data generated after the processor 1110 executes instructions.

When the communication device 1100 is used to implement the method shown in any one of fig. 4 to 9, the processor 1110 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 1010, and the interface circuit 1120 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1020.

When the communication device is a chip applied to the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element, the chip realizes the functions of the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element in the embodiment of the method. The chip may receive information sent by other network elements or devices to the first network element, the first AF, the second AF, or the storage network element through other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna or a communication interface) in the first network element, the first AF, the second AF, or the storage network element, or the chip may send information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna or an interface) in the first network element, the first AF, the second AF, or the storage network element. Wherein the information is sent to other network elements or devices by the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element.

It is to be appreciated that the processor in embodiments of the application may be a central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU), but may also be other general purpose processors, digital signal processors (DIGITAL SIGNAL processors, DSPs), application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (field programmable GATE ARRAY, FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, it may be any conventional processor.

The method steps of the embodiments of the present application may be implemented in hardware or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions may be comprised of corresponding software modules that may be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read only memory, programmable read only memory, erasable programmable read only memory, electrically erasable programmable read only memory, registers, hard disk, removable disk, read only memory (compact disc read-only memory), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. The storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may reside in a first network element, a first AF, a second AF, or a storage network element. The processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a first network element, a first AF, a second AF, or a storage network element.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication system, which comprises one or more network elements or devices of the first network element, the first AF, the second AF or the storage network element for realizing the embodiment of the method.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, cause the method shown in the above-described method embodiments to be implemented.

The present application also provides a computer program product which, when run on a computer, causes the method shown in the method embodiments to be implemented.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are performed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable apparatus. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instructions may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server, or data center to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, an optical medium such as a digital video disk, or a semiconductor medium such as a solid state disk. The computer readable storage medium may be volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage medium.

In the description of the present application, the words "first," "second," and the like are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing between descriptions and not necessarily for the purpose of indicating or implying a relative importance or order. The order of appearance of the first, second, etc. is not limited in the present application, and for example, the second may appear first and then the first appears, which is not limited in the present application.

In the description of the present application, "at least one species" means one species or a plurality of species, and a plurality of species means two species or more than two species. "at least one of the following" or similar expressions thereof, means any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c may represent a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, wherein a, b, c may be single or plural. In the description of the present application, "/" means "or", e.g. a/b means a or b.

In various embodiments of the application, where no special description or logic conflict exists, terms and/or descriptions between the various embodiments are consistent and may reference each other, and features of the various embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logic.

It will be appreciated that the various numerical numbers referred to in the embodiments of the present application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The sequence number of each process does not mean the sequence of the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined according to the function and the internal logic.

Claims

1. A sample determination method, comprising:

Acquire a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first application function AF of a vertical federation alliance, where the terminals in the first terminal set are terminals supported by the first AF and used for tasks of the vertical federation alliance;

Acquire a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second AF of the vertical federation alliance, where the terminals in the second terminal set are terminals supported by the second AF for tasks of the vertical federation alliance;

According to the first identifiers of the terminals in the first terminal set and the second identifiers of the terminals in the second terminal set, a first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set is determined, and data of the first terminal is used as a sample of the task of the vertical federation alliance.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the first terminal according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set comprises:

determining a user permanent identifier SUPI of a terminal in the first terminal set according to a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set,

determining the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the second identification of the terminal in the second terminal set,

The first terminal is determined according to the SUPIs of the terminals in the first terminal set and the SUPIs of the terminals in the second terminal set.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

Sending a first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF;

Send the second identifier of the first terminal to the second AF.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises:

A third identifier allocated to the first terminal is sent to the first AF and the second AF.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the method further comprises:

Sending the third identifier of the first terminal and at least one of the following information to the storage network element:

the identification of the vertical federation; or,

an identifier of the analysis service corresponding to the vertical federation; or,

Information of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or

Information of the public land mobile network PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation; or,

Information of the equipment vendors corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or

a first identifier of the first terminal; or,

The second identifier of the first terminal.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the method further comprises:

sending information of the vertical federation alliance to the first AF, where the information of the vertical federation alliance is used to determine terminals in the first terminal set; and/or,

The information of the vertical federation alliance is sent to the second AF, where the information of the vertical federation alliance is used to determine the terminals in the second terminal set.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the method further comprises:

Sending information of the vertical federation alliance to a storage network element, where the information of the vertical federation alliance is used to determine terminals in the first terminal set and/or terminals in the second terminal set;

The obtaining of the first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set of the first AF of the vertical federation alliance includes:

Receiving a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set from the storage network element;

and/or,

The obtaining of the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF of the vertical federation alliance includes:

A second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set is received from the storage network element.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the method further comprises:

Receiving information from the vertical federation of network data analysis functions.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the information of the vertical federation alliance includes at least one of the following information:

the identification of the vertical federation; or,

The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation; or

The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or

Information of the terminals desired for the tasks of the vertical federation.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the information of the vertical federation alliance includes information of a terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, and the information of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance includes a SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance;

The method further comprises:

According to the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, a first identification of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and/or a second identification of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance are determined.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the determining, according to the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance, the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and/or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance comprises:

Sending the SUPI of the terminal desired to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance to a storage network element;

A first identifier of the terminal that is expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and/or a second identifier of the terminal that is expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance is received from the storage network element.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein determining the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and/or the second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance according to the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance comprises:

determining the first identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and the first identifier; and/or,

The second identifier of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance is determined according to the correspondence between the SUPI of the terminal expected to be used for the task of the vertical federation alliance and the second identifier.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein determining the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set comprises:

Sending a first identifier of a terminal in the first terminal set to a storage network element;

receiving a SUPI of a terminal in the first terminal set from the storage network element;

and/or,

The determining the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set according to the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set includes:

Sending a second identifier of a terminal in the second terminal set to a storage network element;

Receive the SUPI of the terminal in the second terminal set from the storage network element.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein determining the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set comprises:

Determine, according to a correspondence between the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the SUPI;

and/or,

The SUPI corresponding to the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set is determined according to the correspondence between the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set and the SUPI.

15. A sample determination method, characterized in that it is applied to a first AF of a vertical federation alliance, comprising:

Sending a first identification of a terminal in a first terminal device, where the terminals in the first terminal set are terminals supported by the first AF for tasks of the vertical federation alliance;

Receive a first identifier of a first terminal from a network open function, wherein the first terminal is a terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set determined based on the first identifier of the first terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set of the second AF of the vertical federal alliance, and the data of the first terminal is used as a sample of the task of the vertical federal alliance.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the method further comprises:

Information about a vertical federation alliance is received, where the information about the vertical federation alliance is used to determine terminals in the first terminal set.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the information of the vertical federation alliance includes at least one of the following information:

the identification of the vertical federation; or,

The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation; or

The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or

Information of equipment vendors corresponding to the vertical federal alliance.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the method further comprises:

A third identifier allocated to the first terminal is received.

19. A sample determination method, comprising:

Get information on vertical federation alliances;

Determine, according to the information of the vertical federation alliance, a first identifier of a terminal in a first terminal set of a first AF, where the terminals in the first terminal set are terminals supported by the first AF for tasks of the vertical federation alliance;

Determine, according to the information of the vertical federation alliance, a second identifier of a terminal in a second terminal set of a second AF, where the terminals in the second terminal set are terminals supported by the second AF for tasks of the vertical federation alliance;

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the determining, according to the first identifier of the terminal in the first terminal set and the second identifier of the terminal in the second terminal set, the first terminal included in both the first terminal set and the second terminal set comprises:

determining the SUPI of the terminal in the first terminal set according to the first identification of the terminal in the first terminal set,

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the obtaining the information of the vertical federation alliance comprises:

receiving information from said vertical federation alliance from a network data analysis function; or,

receiving information from said vertical federation alliance of network opening functions; or,

receiving information of the vertical federation alliance from the first AF; or,

Receive information about the vertical federation alliance from the second AF.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the information of the vertical federation alliance includes at least one of the following information:

the identification of the vertical federation; or,

The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation; or

The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or

Information of the terminals desired for the tasks of the vertical federation.

23. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the method further comprises:

Sending the first identifier of the first terminal and the identifier of the first AF to the network open function; and/or,

The second identifier of the first terminal and the identifier of the second AF are sent to the network open function.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that, when applied to the network open function, the method further comprises:

receiving a first identifier of the first terminal and an identifier of a first AF from the storage network element;

Sending the first identifier of the first terminal to the first AF according to the identifier of the first AF;

receiving a second identifier of the first terminal and an identifier of a second AF from the storage network element;

The second identifier of the first terminal is sent to the second AF according to the identifier of the second AF.

25. A sample determination method, comprising:

Sending information of a vertical federation alliance, where the information of the vertical federation alliance is used to determine a first identifier of a first terminal in a first terminal set of a first AF, and the AFs corresponding to the vertical federation alliance include the first AF;

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

A third identifier allocated to the first terminal is received.

27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the information of the vertical federation alliance includes at least one of the following information:

the identification of the vertical federation; or,

The identifier of the AF corresponding to the vertical federation; or

The PLMN corresponding to the vertical federation alliance; or

28. A communication device, characterized in that it comprises a unit or module for executing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, or comprises a unit or module for executing the method as described in any one of claims 15 to 18, or comprises a unit or module for executing the method as described in any one of claims 19 to 24, or comprises a unit or module for executing the method as described in any one of claims 25 to 27.

29. A communication device, characterized in that it comprises a processor, wherein the processor is used to execute a computer program or instruction to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, or to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, or to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 24, or to implement the method as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 27.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a computer program or instruction is stored in the storage medium, and when the computer program or instruction is executed by a communication device, the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 14 is implemented, or the method as described in any one of claims 15 to 18 is implemented, or the method as described in any one of claims 19 to 24 is implemented, or the method as described in any one of claims 25 to 27 is implemented.

31. A computer program product, characterized in that when the computer program product is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 15 to 18, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 19 to 24, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 25 to 27.