CN113824577B

CN113824577B - Information processing method, related network equipment and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN113824577B
Application number: CN202010564191.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王兵; 张昊; 陈佳媛; 陈旭; 宋月
Original assignee: China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd; China Mobile Communications Ltd Research Institute
Current assignee: China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd; China Mobile Communications Ltd Research Institute
Priority date: 2020-06-19
Filing date: 2020-06-19
Publication date: 2023-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-19
Also published as: CN113824577A

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses an information processing method, related network equipment and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: the first network device receives a first message of a first Network Function (NF); the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier; and sending a second message to the first NF when the state of the first NF group is detected to be changed, wherein the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to be changed.

Description

Information processing method, related network equipment and storage medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to an information processing method, a related network device, and a storage medium.

Background

In an operator network, a control plane network element often provides services by means of several groups of similar network elements (pool). The network elements in the pool are in a load sharing relationship, and when one or more network elements in the pool are out of service due to faults, other network elements in the pool can bear the traffic originally born by the network elements. The similar network element group pool can also solve the problem that each network element bears uneven traffic under the condition of not group pool, and avoid the situation that the utilization rate of some network elements is very high and the utilization rate of other network elements is very low.

The Network element storage management Function (NRF, network Repository Function) can manage Network elements in the pool, the Network elements can be called Network Functions (NF), and when NF is newly added in the pool, the newly added NF is registered to the NRF through service discovery.

Under the condition that the NF in the pool is not subscribed to the state of the NF in the pool, if the state of the NF in the pool is changed, the updated state of the NF can be configured on the NF only manually at present, so that the realization is complex, and the service instantaneity is influenced.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the existing technical problems, the embodiment of the invention provides an information processing method, related network equipment and a storage medium.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an information processing method, including:

the method comprises the steps that first network equipment receives a first message of a first network function NF; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

And sending a second message to the first NF when the state of the first NF group is detected to be changed, wherein the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to be changed.

In the above solution, detecting that the state of the first NF group changes includes:

the first network device receives a third message from the second NF; the third message at least comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF and an update indication identifier; the update indication identifies a change in at least one of the following related information characterizing the second NF: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; wherein, the third message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; or,

the first network device receives a fourth message from a third NF; the fourth message is used for registration of the third NF; the fourth message at least comprises the first identifier and related information of the third NF, wherein the third NF is a new NF in the first NF group; wherein, when the third NF obtains the first identifier, the fourth message includes the first identifier; or,

The first network device detects that the first NF group is deleted.

In the above solution, before the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further includes: the first network device receives a fifth message from the second NF; the fifth message is used for registration of the second NF; the fifth message comprises the first identifier and related information of the second NF; wherein, the fifth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier;

generating NF information corresponding to the first NF group based on the first identification and the related information of one or more of the second NFs; the NF information comprises the first identification and corresponding related information of each second NF.

In the above solution, the related information of the second NF includes an NF identifier of the second NF and at least one of the following related information: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status;

the NF information includes at least one of the first identifier, the number of the second NFs in the first NF group, the NF identifier of each of the second NFs, and the following related information of each of the second NFs: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status.

In the above solution, if the second NF corresponds to the first NF group, the first identifier is indicated in the fifth message by a first specific parameter.

In the above solution, the sending the second message to the first NF includes:

the first network device sends a second message corresponding to the second NF to the first NF; the second message includes at least one of the following changed related information represented by the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF, and the update indication identifier: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or,

the first network device sends a second message corresponding to the third NF to the first NF; the second message comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF and related information of the third NF; or,

the first network device sends a second message to the first NF; the second message includes the first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In the above scheme, the method further comprises:

the first network device updates the NF information based on the third message of the second NF; the updating of the NF information comprises updating at least one of NF capacity, NF load and NF state corresponding to the NF identifier of the second NF; or,

The first network device updates the NF information based on the fourth message of the third NF; wherein said updating said NF information comprises: adding related information of the third NF in the NF information; or,

the first network device deletes NF information associated with the first NF group.

In the above solution, after the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further includes: establishing a subscription relation between the first NF and the NF information;

and sending a second message to the first NF when the state of the first NF group changes, including:

and under the condition that the state of the first NF group is changed, inquiring the subscription relation, determining the first NF meeting the subscription relation, and sending a second message to the first NF.

In the above solution, the first network device receives a first message of a first NF, including:

the first network device receives a first message of the first NF through a second network device; the first network equipment and the second network equipment establish connection through a preset communication interface;

the sending a second message to the first NF includes:

The first network device sends a second message to the first NF through the second network device.

In the above solution, the second specific parameter in the first message is used to indicate the first identifier; or, the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier.

In the above solution, the third specific parameter in the second message is used to indicate the first identifier.

In the above solution, before the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further includes: the first network device receives a sixth message sent by the first NF; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

the first network device sends a seventh message to the first NF; the seventh message includes information of a second NF in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In the above scheme, the method further comprises: the first network device receives an eighth message sent by the first NF; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In the above scheme, the method further comprises: the first network device receives a ninth message of the second NF; the ninth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; the ninth message is for deregistration of the second NF.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an information processing method, where the method includes:

the first NF sends a first message to the first network device; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

the first NF receives a second message sent by the first network device; the second message is sent when the first network device detects that the state of the first NF group is changed; the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to change.

In the above solution, the receiving, by the first NF, the second message sent by the first network device includes:

the first NF receives a second message sent by the first network device; the second message includes the first identifier, an NF identifier of a second NF where NF information is changed, and at least one of the following related information where NF information is changed: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or,

The second message includes the first identifier, an NF identifier of a third NF newly added in the first NF group, and related information of the third NF; or,

the second message includes a first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In the above solution, the second specific parameter in the first message is used to indicate the first identifier; alternatively, the first corresponding specific message type is used to indicate the first identity.

In the above solution, the sending, by the first NF, a first message to the first network device includes:

the first NF sends a sixth message to the first network device; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

the first NF receives a seventh message sent by the first network device; the seventh message includes information of the second NF in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In the above scheme, the method further comprises: the first NF sends an eighth message to the first network device; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, where the network device is a first network device; the network device includes: a first receiving unit and a first transmitting unit; wherein,,

the first receiving unit is configured to receive a first message of a first network function NF; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

the first sending unit is configured to send a second message to the first NF when detecting that the state of the first NF group changes, where the second message is used to notify that the state of the first NF group changes.

In the above solution, the network device further includes a first processing unit, configured to detect that a state of the first NF group changes by: receiving, by the first receiving unit, a third message from the second NF; the third message at least comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF and an update indication identifier; the update indication identifies a change in at least one of the following related information characterizing the second NF: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; wherein, the third message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; or receiving, by the first receiving unit, a fourth message from a third NF; the fourth message is used for registration of the third NF; the fourth message at least comprises the first identifier and related information of the third NF, wherein the third NF is a new NF in the first NF group; wherein, when the third NF obtains the first identifier, the fourth message includes the first identifier; alternatively, the first NF group is detected to be deleted.

In the above solution, the first receiving unit is further configured to receive a fifth message from the second NF before receiving the first message of the first NF; the fifth message is used for registration of the second NF; the fifth message comprises the first identifier and related information of the second NF; wherein, the fifth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier;

the first processing unit is further configured to generate NF information corresponding to the first NF group based on the first identifier and the related information of one or more second NFs; the NF information comprises the first identification and corresponding related information of each second NF.

In the above solution, the first sending unit is configured to send, to the first NF, a second message corresponding to the second NF; the second message includes at least one of the following changed related information represented by the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF, and the update indication identifier: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or sending a second message corresponding to the third NF to the first NF; the second message comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF and related information of the third NF; or sending a second message to the first NF; the second message includes the first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In the above solution, the first processing unit is further configured to update the NF information based on the third message of the second NF; the updating of the NF information comprises updating at least one of NF capacity, NF load and NF state corresponding to the NF identifier of the second NF; or updating the NF information based on the fourth message of the third NF; wherein said updating said NF information comprises: adding related information of the third NF in the NF information; or deleting NF information related to the first NF group.

In the above scheme, the first processing unit is further configured to establish a subscription relationship between the first NF and the NF information; the method is also used for inquiring the subscription relation and determining the first NF meeting the subscription relation under the condition that the state of the first NF group is changed;

the first sending unit is configured to send a second message to the first NF determined by the first processing unit.

In the above solution, the first receiving unit is configured to receive, by using a second network device, a first message of the first NF; the first network equipment and the second network equipment establish connection through a preset communication interface;

the first sending unit is configured to send, by using the second network device, a second message to the first NF.

In the above solution, the first receiving unit is further configured to receive a sixth message sent by the first NF before receiving the first message of the first NF; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

The first sending unit is further configured to send a seventh message to the first NF; the seventh message includes information of the second NF in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In the above solution, the first receiving unit is further configured to receive an eighth message sent by the first NF; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In the above solution, the first receiving unit is further configured to receive a ninth message of the second NF; the ninth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; the ninth message is for deregistration of the second NF.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an NF, where the NF is a first NF; the NF includes: a second transmitting unit and a second receiving unit; wherein,,

the second sending unit is used for sending a first message to the first network equipment; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

The second receiving unit is configured to receive a second message sent by the first network device; the second message is sent when the first network device detects that the state of the first NF group is changed; the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to change.

In the above solution, the second receiving unit is configured to receive a second message sent by the first network device; the second message includes the first identifier, an NF identifier of a second NF where NF information is changed, and at least one of the following related information where NF information is changed: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or the second message includes the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF newly added in the first NF group, and the related information of the third NF; or the second message includes a first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In the above solution, the second sending unit is configured to send a sixth message to the first network device; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

the second receiving unit is configured to receive a seventh message sent by the first network device; the seventh message includes information that the first identifier corresponds to a second NF in the first NF group.

In the above solution, the second sending unit is further configured to send an eighth message to the first network device; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which when executed by a processor performs the steps of the method of the first or second aspect described above.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, where the processor executes the program to implement the steps of the method according to the first or second aspect.

The embodiment of the invention provides an information processing method, related network equipment and a storage medium, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the method comprises the steps that first network equipment receives a first message of a first NF; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier; and sending a second message to the first NF when the state of the first NF group is detected to be changed, wherein the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to be changed. By adopting the technical scheme of the embodiment of the invention, the service management and NF discovery taking the NF group as a unit are realized, the subscribed NF is informed by the notification mechanism under the condition that the state of the NF group is changed, and the subscribed NF can discover an instance of the NF group in time, thereby avoiding the complex realization and the uncertainty caused by manual configuration and not affecting the real-time performance of the service.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a second flow chart of an information processing method according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an interaction flow of an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a second schematic diagram of an interaction flow of an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a composition structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the composition of NF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a hardware composition structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific examples.

The embodiment of the invention provides an information processing method. FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; as shown in fig. 1, the method includes:

step 101: the method comprises the steps that first network equipment receives a first message of a first NF; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

step 102: and sending a second message to the first NF when the state of the first NF group is detected to be changed, wherein the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to be changed.

The system architecture to which the information processing method of the embodiment of the present invention is applied may include various network element devices (may also be referred to as network devices); the types of network element devices may encompass various network element devices in the mobile communication network, such as various core network devices. Wherein, a plurality of similar network element devices can form a group, and provide service in a group mode, and the network element devices in the group are in a load sharing relationship; when any network element device in the group is taken out of service due to a fault or other reasons, other network element devices in the group can bear the service originally born by the faulty network element device. The similar network element devices in the group can also solve the problem that the network element devices independently bear the service under the condition that the network devices are not in the group, so that the service volume borne by the network element devices of the same type is uneven, and the situation that the utilization rate of the network element devices is very high but the utilization rate of the network element devices is very low is avoided.

Illustratively, at least one network element device in MSC, SGSN, MME may constitute a group; at least one network element device of the I-CSCF, the S-CSCF and the P-CSCF can form a group; at least one network element device of the AMF, SMF may form a group.

The NF in the present embodiment may be at least one of the various network element devices listed in the above examples that may be grouped into groups; of course, the type of NF in the present embodiment is not limited to the above example, and other network element devices having the same type may also be used as NF in the present embodiment. Taking a 5G network or an NR network as an example, NF may be at least one network element device in AMF, SMF, UPF, UDM, PCF, AUSF, NSSF, GMLT, CHF, SMSF.

In some alternative embodiments, the first network device may be an NRF, and the NRF may perform service management, service discovery, service authorization, and the like on the NF. Among other things, service management may include NF registration, NF update, NF de-registration, NF service status subscription and notification, NF service status de-subscription, and so forth. Subscription notification mechanisms are also provided in 5G networks (NR networks).

In the related scheme, NRF performs service management, service discovery, service authorization, and the like in units of NF. In the case that NF corresponds to a certain group, if subscription management is still performed in NF units, the following problem may be caused: 1. and the efficiency is low. Each NF in the group needs to be subscribed, the number of subscribed messages and unsubscribed messages is large, and the flow is long; 2. if the number of network elements in the group increases, there is a problem that the newly added NF in the group cannot be subscribed, that is, there is no related notification mechanism to notify related information of the newly added NF. At present, route data of the newly added NF are still required to be configured in a manual configuration mode, and the NF is triggered to initiate subscription for the newly added NF. However, the manual configuration mode is complex to maintain, uncontrollable time delay is brought to the service flow, and the real-time performance of the service is affected.

Based on this, in this embodiment, the NF group is managed, and in the case that the status of the NF group changes, a second message is sent to the subscribed first NF, where the second message may also be a notification message; the second message (or notification message) is used to notify that the state of the first NF group has changed.

In this embodiment, the first network device may receive a first message of the first NF, where the first message may also be referred to as a subscription message or a subscription request message, and the first message is used to request to subscribe to information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier; the first message (e.g., a subscription message or a subscription request message) includes at least a first identification therein.

In this embodiment, one or more NFs may form an NF group; for example, two or more NFs may be included in a NF group. NF groups (e.g., first NF groups) in this embodiment represent corresponding to at least one NF, which is conceptually or synonymously equivalent to a set, and thus NF groups (e.g., first NF groups) in this embodiment may also be referred to as NF sets. In other embodiments, NF groups (e.g., first NF groups) may also be referred to as groups, collections, or pools (Pool). Accordingly, the first identifier in this embodiment may be a Group identifier (Group ID), a Set identifier (Set ID), or a Pool identifier (Pool ID), or the like. Of course, the NF group name in the present embodiment may also be other names capable of representing groups or sets, which is not limited in the present embodiment. The specific implementation of the first identifier in this embodiment is not limited to the above example, and other identifiers that can correspond to a group or a set may also be within the scope of protection of this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the case where the state of the first NF group changes may include: any second NF included in the first NF group changes state, the first NF group is deleted, and the like. Illustratively, the changing of any second NF included in the first NF group may include: the second NF included in the first NF group is increased or decreased, and information about the second NF included in the first NF group (for example, NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status, etc.) is changed.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, before the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further comprises: the first network device receives a fifth message from the second NF; the fifth message is used for registration of the second NF; the fifth message comprises the first identifier and related information of the second NF; wherein, the fifth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; generating NF information corresponding to the first NF group based on the first identification and the related information of one or more of the second NFs; the NF information comprises the first identification and corresponding related information of each second NF.

In this embodiment, in the case that multiple NFs form a group (e.g., multiple second NFs form a first NF group), each NF (e.g., each second NF) first initiates a registration procedure with the NRF. The first network device receives a fifth message of the second NF, which may be a registration message, for example. Wherein, the fifth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; the first identity is indicated in the fifth message (e.g. registration message) by a first specific parameter.

It will be appreciated that a particular field may be included in the fifth message (e.g., registration message); in conventional techniques, the specific field is an optional field, i.e., whether the second NF corresponds to a certain NF group or not, the optional field is selectively filled in. In the present application, if the second NF corresponds to the first NF group, the specific field in the fifth message (for example, registration message) is a field that needs to be filled in if the second NF obtains the first identifier; the specific field in the fifth message (e.g., registration message) may indicate the first identification by a first specific parameter.

In this embodiment, the second NF may obtain the first identifier by using a network configuration method or a predetermined method.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the related information of the second NF includes an NF identifier of the second NF and at least one of the following related information: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status; the NF information includes at least one of the first identifier, the number of the second NFs in the first NF group, the NF identifier of each of the second NFs, and the following related information of each of the second NFs: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status.

After receiving the registration message sent by each second NF, the first network device may generate NF information corresponding to the first NF group according to the first identifier in the registration message and the related information of the second NF.

Illustratively, taking NF information of the first NF group as an example by a Pool identification table (Pool ID table), the Pool ID table may refer to the example shown in table 1. It will be appreciated that in the first network device, there is corresponding NF information (i.e. Pool ID table as shown in table 1) for each group.

TABLE 1

In some alternative embodiments, a second specific parameter in the first message is used to indicate the first identity; or, the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier.

In this embodiment, a first message sent by a first NF is used to request subscription to related information of a first NF group; a second specific parameter in the first message is used for indicating the first identification; or, the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier. Wherein, the second specific parameter in the first message may be that a specific field in the first message fills out the second specific parameter. A field in the first message, which has been defined as a message type, fills in a specific value by means of which the first message with the specific message type can be represented.

If the first NF subscribes to the related information of the first NF group, any state change occurs in the first NF group, and the NRF sends a second message (for example, a notification message) to the subscribed first NF, and the second message (for example, the notification message) carries the related update information of the first NF group. For example, the first network device may send updated information about the first NF group to the first NF via a second message (e.g., a notification message). Wherein at least the first identification is included in the second message (e.g., notification message). In some alternative embodiments, a third specific parameter in the second message (e.g., a notification message) is used to indicate the first identity, or a specific type of the second message (e.g., a notification message) is used to indicate the first identity. Wherein the third specific parameter in the second message (e.g., notification message) may be that a specific field in the second message (e.g., notification message) fills out the specific parameter. A specific value is filled in for a message type field in the second message (e.g. notification message), by means of which a notification message with a specific message type can be represented.

It is understood that the first NF is only any NF subscribed to the related information of the first NF group.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, after the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further comprises: establishing a subscription relation between the first NF and the NF information; and sending a second message to the first NF when the state of the first NF group changes, including: and under the condition that the state of the first NF group is changed, inquiring the subscription relation, determining the first NF which meets the subscription relation with the NF information, and sending a second message to the first NF.

In this embodiment, after receiving the first message of the first NF, the first network device establishes a subscription relationship between the first NF and the first NF group. Referring to the example of NF information of the first NF group shown in table 1, the subscription relationship may increase the relevant entries of the subscribed NFs based on the NF information of the NF group. Illustratively, after receiving the first message of the first NF, the first network device may add information about the first NF, such as adding NF identification of the first NF, and so on, in an entry x in the example shown in table 2.

And, in the case that the first network device detects that the state of the first NF group changes, the first NF that meets the subscription relationship with the NF information may be determined by querying the subscription relationship as shown in table 2, and a second message may be sent to the first NF.

TABLE 2

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises: the first network device receives an eighth message sent by the first NF; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In this embodiment, after receiving the eighth message sent by the first NF, the first network device may update the NF field of the subscription in the entry x in table 2, that is, delete the identifier of the first NF recorded in the NF field of the subscription in the entry x, with respect to the subscription relationship shown in table 2.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises: the first network device receives a ninth message of the second NF; the ninth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; the ninth message is for deregistration of the second NF.

In this embodiment, the first network device receives a ninth message sent by a second NF, where the second NF may be any one of a plurality of second NFs included in the first NF group; the first network device deletes the related information about the second NF corresponding to the ninth message with respect to the NF information shown in table 1 or table 2, and updates the NF number in the entry 1.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, detecting a change in the state of the first NF group comprises: the first network device receives a third message from the second NF; the third message of the second NF at least comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF and the update indication identifier; the update indication identifies a change in at least one of the following related information characterizing the second NF: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; wherein, the third message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; or, the first network device receives a fourth message from a third NF; the fourth message is used for registration of the third NF; the fourth message at least comprises the first identifier and related information of the third NF, wherein the third NF is a new NF in the first NF group; wherein, when the third NF obtains the first identifier, the fourth message includes the first identifier; or, the first network device detects that the first NF group is deleted.

In this embodiment, in a scenario where information of the second NF in the first NF group is changed, for example, at least one of NF capacity, NF load, and NF status is changed, the corresponding NF (i.e., the second NF) sends a third message to the first network device, where the third message may be an update message, and the third message of the second NF includes at least the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF, and an update indication identifier; the update indication identifies a change in at least one of the following related information characterizing the second NF: NF capacity, NF load, NF status.

In another scenario, i.e., newly increased NF within the first NF group, the newly increased NF is denoted as a third NF; the first network device may receive a fourth message of the third NF, which may be a registration message, where the fourth message includes at least the first identifier and related information of the third NF, and the related information of the third NF may include at least one of an NF identifier of the third NF and related information of the third NF: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status.

In yet another scenario, the first NF group as a whole is deleted. In some alternative embodiments, if the first network device detects that the second NF is not included in the first NF group, it may indicate that the first NF group is deleted. For example, if all the second NFs in the first NF group send a deregistration message to the first network device, the first network device performs a deregistration procedure for each second NF in the first NF group, in which case it may indicate that the first NF group is deleted. In other optional embodiments, if the second NF in the first NF group receives a revocation message configured by the network side with respect to the first identifier, that is, indicates that the second NF does not correspond to the first NF group, the first network device receives an update message of the second NF, where the update message may include the first identifier and the specific indication information; the first network device may delete the related information about the second NF in the NF information of the first NF group through the specific indication information. In this scenario, if all the related information of the second NF is deleted, it may indicate that the first NF group is deleted. In still other alternative embodiments, the first network device may receive information about the network side configuration, and delete the first NF group according to the information about the network side configuration.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises: the first network device updates the NF information based on the third message of the second NF; the updating of the NF information comprises updating at least one of NF capacity, NF load and NF state corresponding to the NF identifier of the second NF; or, the first network device updates the NF information based on the fourth message of the third NF; wherein said updating said NF information comprises: adding related information of the third NF in the NF information; or, the first network device deletes NF information related to the first NF group.

In this embodiment, if the first network device detects that NF information in the first NF group changes, on one hand, the first network device may send updated information to the subscribed first NF through the second message; on the other hand, NF information in the first NF group, for example, as shown in table 1 or table 2, needs to be updated. As an example, at least one of the updated NF capacity, NF load, NF status is substituted for the content of the entry corresponding to NF in, for example, table 1 or table 2. As another example, the related information of the newly added third NF is supplemented to the entry in table 1 or table 2, and the information such as the number of NFs in table 1 or table 2 is updated accordingly. As yet another example, NF information corresponding to the first NF group, for example, as shown in table 1 or table 2, is deleted.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, the sending a second message to the first NF includes: the first network device sends a second message corresponding to the second NF to the first NF; the second message includes at least one of the following changed related information represented by the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF, and the update indication identifier: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or, the first network device sends a second message corresponding to the third NF to the first NF; the second message comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF and related information of the third NF; or, the first network device sends a second message to the first NF; the second message includes the first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In this way, in the case that the first NF group is deleted, in order to avoid that the first network device sends a message to the NF subscribed to the first NF group (for example, the first NF) for each second NF in the first NF group, so as to improve interaction efficiency, the first network device sends a second message to the NF subscribed to the first NF group (for example, the first NF), where the second message includes the first identifier and indication information for characterizing that the first NF group is deleted, so as to inform the first NF that the first NF group is deleted.

In this embodiment, a third specific parameter in the second message is used to indicate the first identifier. A specific field may be employed in the second message to carry the third specific parameter. In other embodiments, the second message may also employ a specific message type for indicating the first identity.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, the first network device receives a first message of a first NF, comprising: the first network device receives a first message of the first NF through a second network device; the first network equipment and the second network equipment establish connection through a preset communication interface; the sending a second message to the first NF includes: the first network device sends a second message to the first NF through the second network device.

In this embodiment, the first network device (for example, NRF) may have a front-end processing module or a back-end processing module, and in one implementation, the information processing method of this embodiment may be processed by the front-end processing module or the first network device (for example, NRF), and it may be understood that the foregoing first network device may be implemented by the front-end processing module of the first network device or the first network device itself. In another embodiment, the information processing method of this embodiment may also be processed by a back-end processing module of the first network device (for example, NRF), and in this embodiment, in a process that the back-end processing module of the first network device (for example, NRF) performs data interaction with NF, forwarding by the first network device (for example, NRF) is required, so that the NRF in this embodiment may be used as the second network device, and the back-end processing module of the NRF is the first network device.

The first network device (for example, a back-end module of NRF) and the second network device (for example, NRF) establish a connection through a preset communication interface, and data interaction between the first network device (for example, the back-end module of NRF) and the second network device (for example, NRF) is achieved through the connection, so that data interaction between the first network device (for example, the back-end module of NRF) and NF is achieved.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, before the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further comprises: the first network device receives a sixth message sent by the first NF; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier; the first network device sends a seventh message to the first NF; the seventh message includes information of a second NF in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In this embodiment, when the first NF desires to subscribe to the related information of a certain NF group (for example, the first NF group), the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier needs to be discovered through a sixth message (for example, NF discovery message); the first network device (e.g., NRF) receives a sixth message (e.g., NF found message) sent by the first NF, the sixth message including the first identification; the first network device may determine all second NFs in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier, and send information (for example, information of identifiers, NF types, and the like of all second NFs) corresponding to the first NF group to the first NF through a seventh message.

By adopting the technical scheme of the embodiment of the invention, on one hand, the service management and NF discovery taking the NF group as a unit are realized, the subscribed NF is informed by a notification mechanism under the condition that the state of the NF group is changed, and the subscribed NF can discover an instance of the NF group in time, thereby avoiding the complex realization and uncertainty caused by manual configuration and not affecting the real-time performance of the service; on the other hand, the problem of low efficiency caused by the management taking NF as a unit is solved, and the efficiency of service management is improved.

Based on the foregoing embodiment, the embodiment of the present invention further provides an information processing method. FIG. 2 is a second flow chart of an information processing method according to an embodiment of the invention; as shown in fig. 2, the method includes:

step 201: the first NF sends a first message to the first network device; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

step 202: the first NF receives a second message sent by the first network device; the second message is sent when the first network device detects that the state of the first NF group is changed; the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to change.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, the first NF receives a second message sent by the first network device, including: the first NF receives a second message sent by the first network device; the second message includes the first identifier, an NF identifier of a second NF where NF information is changed, and at least one of the following related information where NF information is changed: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or the second message includes the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF newly added in the first NF group, and the related information of the third NF; or the second message includes a first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, a second specific parameter in the first message is used to indicate the first identity; or, the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, a third specific parameter in the second message is used to indicate the first identity.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, the first NF sending a first message to the first network device comprises: the first NF sends a sixth message to the first network device, wherein the sixth message comprises the first identifier; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the first NF receives a seventh message sent by the first network device; the seventh message includes information of the second NF in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises: the first NF sends an eighth message to the first network device; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

The information processing method of the embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to specific examples.

In the following examples, the information processing architecture of an application may include: NF to be subscribed to (here noted NF 1), pool consisting of a plurality of NFs, and NRF; in the example, the NRF is provided with a back-end processing module (recorded as NRF-packet), and NF information is recorded through the NRF-packet; NF information in this example may be represented, for example, by a Pool ID table, and NF information in other examples may be represented, for example, by a group ID table or other forms.

Example one

This example is a scenario where information of NF in pool changes, and the changed NF is denoted NF2 as an example. Specifically, the method may include:

step 301: each NF in the pool sends a registration message to the NRF; the registration message at least comprises Pool ID, the registration message can also comprise relevant information of each NF, and the relevant information of each NF comprises NF identification and at least one of the following relevant information: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status.

In the drawing, only NF2 sends a registration message to NRF as an example, and other NF sends a registration message to NRF, which is not shown in the drawing.

Step 302: the NRF sends a registration message to the NRF-packet, wherein the registration message comprises an NF ID, in particular an NF2 ID, in addition to all the information in the registration message.

Step 303: NRF-band generates Pool ID table based on registration messages sent by each NF. The Pool ID table may be exemplified by the table shown in table 1 or table 2, but other forms may be adopted, and the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

Step 304: NF1 sends a subscription request message to the NRF; the NRF sends a subscription request message to the NRF-packet. The subscription request message at least comprises Pool ID. Of course, the subscription request message may also carry NF1 ID.

In this embodiment, a specific parameter (i.e., the aforementioned second specific parameter) in the subscription request message is used to indicate the Pool ID; or, the specific message type corresponding to the subscription request message is used for indicating the Pool ID.

Step 305: NRF-band forms a correspondence of Pool ID tables and subscriptions NF 1. For example, the form of the correspondence relationship (i.e. the subscription relationship) may be referred to as shown in the foregoing table 2, but other forms may be adopted, which is not limited in this embodiment.

Step 306: the capacity of NF2 changes, and an update message (i.e., the aforementioned first subscription response message) is sent to the NRF, where the update message includes at least the Pool ID. The update message may further include NF2 ID and NF 2-changed capacity-related information.

Step 307: the NRF sends an update message to the NRF-packet; the update message includes, in addition to all the information in the update message in step 306, an NF ID, which is specifically an ID of NF 2.

Step 308: NRF-band determines subscribed NF1 by looking up a table.

Step 309: the NRF-band sends an update message to the NRF, wherein the update message at least comprises NF1 ID, NF2 ID, pool ID and NF2 changed capacity related information.

Step 310: the NRF sends a notification message to NF1, where the notification message includes at least NF2 ID, pool ID, and NF 2-changed capacity-related information.

Example two

This example is a scenario of a new NF within the pool, illustratively noted NF3. Specifically, the method may include:

step 401: each NF in the pool sends a registration message to the NRF; the registration message at least comprises Pool ID, the registration message can also comprise relevant information of each NF, and the relevant information of each NF comprises NF identification and at least one of the following relevant information: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status.

Step 402: the NRF sends a registration message to the NRF-packet, wherein the registration message comprises an NF ID, in particular an NF2 ID, in addition to all the information in the registration message.

Step 403: NRF-band generates Pool ID table based on registration messages sent by each NF. The Pool ID table may be exemplified by the table shown in table 1 or table 2, but other forms may be adopted, and the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

Step 404: NF1 sends a subscription request message to the NRF; the NRF sends a subscription request message to the NRF-packet. The subscription request message at least comprises Pool ID. Of course, the subscription request message may also carry NF1 ID.

Step 405: NRF-band forms a correspondence of Pool ID tables and subscriptions NF 1. For example, the form of the correspondence relationship (i.e. the subscription relationship) may be referred to as shown in the foregoing table 2, but other forms may be adopted, which is not limited in this embodiment.

Step 406: NF3 is newly added in the Pool, and the NF3 sends a registration message to the NRF, wherein the registration message at least comprises a Pool ID. The registration message may further include information related to NF3, where the information related to NF3 may include at least one of the following related information: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status.

Step 407: the NRF sends a registration message to the NRF-packet, wherein the registration message includes, in addition to all the information in the foregoing registration message, an NF ID, specifically an ID of NF 3.

Step 408: NRF-band updates a Pool ID table, adds related information of NF3 to the Pool ID table, and inquires the Pool ID table to determine subscribed NF1.

Step 409: the NRF-band sends an update message to the NRF, wherein the update message at least comprises NF1 ID, NF3 ID and Pool ID. Optionally, the update message may also include NF3 related information.

Step 410: the NRF sends a notification message to NF1, wherein the notification message at least comprises NF2 ID and Pool ID. Optionally, NF3 related information may also be included in the notification message.

The embodiment of the invention also provides the network equipment, which is the first network equipment. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a composition structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention; as shown in fig. 5, the network device includes: a first receiving unit 51 and a first transmitting unit 52; wherein,,

The first receiving unit 51 is configured to receive a first message of a first NF; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

the first sending unit 52 is configured to send, when detecting that the state of the first NF group changes, a second message to the first NF, where the second message is used to notify that the state of the first NF group changes.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the network device further comprises a first processing unit 53, configured to detect that the state of the first NF group changes by: receiving, by the first receiving unit 51, a third message from the second NF; the third message at least comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF and an update indication identifier; the update indication identifies a change in at least one of the following related information characterizing the second NF: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; wherein, the third message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; or, receiving, by the first receiving unit 51, a fourth message from a third NF; the fourth message is used for registration of the third NF; the fourth message at least comprises the first identifier and related information of the third NF, wherein the third NF is a new NF in the first NF group; wherein, when the third NF obtains the first identifier, the fourth message includes the first identifier; alternatively, the first NF group is detected to be deleted.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the first receiving unit 51 is further configured to receive a fifth message from the second NF before receiving the first message of the first NF; the fifth message is used for registration of the second NF; the fifth message comprises the first identifier and related information of the second NF; wherein, the fifth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier;

the first processing unit 53 is further configured to generate NF information corresponding to the first NF group based on the first identifier and the related information of one or more second NFs; the NF information comprises the first identification and corresponding related information of each second NF.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, if the second NF corresponds to the first NF group, the first identification is indicated in the fifth message by a first specific parameter.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the first sending unit 52 is configured to send a second message corresponding to the second NF to the first NF; the second message includes at least one of the following changed related information represented by the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF, and the update indication identifier: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or sending a second message corresponding to the third NF to the first NF; the second message comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF and related information of the third NF; or sending a second message to the first NF; the second message includes the first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, the first processing unit 53 is further configured to update the NF information based on the third message of the second NF; the updating of the NF information comprises updating at least one of NF capacity, NF load and NF state corresponding to the NF identifier of the second NF; or updating the NF information based on the fourth message of the third NF; wherein said updating said NF information comprises: adding related information of the third NF in the NF information; or deleting NF information related to the first NF group.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the first processing unit 53 is further configured to establish a subscription relationship between the first NF and the NF information; the method is further used for inquiring the subscription relation and determining the first NF which meets the subscription relation with the NF information under the condition that the state of the first NF group is changed;

the first sending unit 52 is configured to send a second message to the first NF determined by the first processing unit 53.

In some optional embodiments of the invention, the first receiving unit 51 is configured to receive, by the second network device, a first message of the first NF; the first network equipment and the second network equipment establish connection through a preset communication interface;

the first sending unit 52 is configured to send, by the second network device, a second message to the first NF.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the first receiving unit 51 is further configured to receive a sixth message sent by the first NF before receiving the first message of the first NF; the sixth message includes the first identifier; the sixth message is for NF discovery;

the first sending unit 52 is further configured to send a seventh message to the first NF; the seventh message includes information of the second NF in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the first receiving unit 51 is further configured to receive an eighth message sent by the first NF; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the first receiving unit 51 is further configured to receive a ninth message of the second NF; the ninth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; the ninth message is for deregistration of the second NF.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first processing unit 53 in the network device may be implemented by a central processing unit (CPU, central Processing Unit), a digital signal processor (DSP, digital Signal Processor), a micro control unit (MCU, microcontroller Unit) or a programmable gate array (FPGA, field-Programmable Gate Array) in the terminal in practical application; the first receiving unit 51 and the first transmitting unit 52 in the network device may be implemented in practical application by a communication module (including a basic communication suite, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface, a protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna.

It should be noted that: in the network device provided in the above embodiment, when information processing is performed, only the division of each program module is used for illustration, and in practical application, the processing allocation may be performed by different program modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the network device is divided into different program modules, so as to complete all or part of the processing described above. In addition, the network device and the information processing method embodiment provided in the foregoing embodiments belong to the same concept, and specific implementation processes of the network device and the information processing method embodiment are detailed in the method embodiment, which is not described herein again.

The embodiment of the invention also provides the NF. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the composition of NF according to an embodiment of the present invention; as shown in fig. 6, the NF includes: a second transmitting unit 62 and a second receiving unit 61; wherein,,

the second sending unit 62 is configured to send a first message to a first network device; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier;

the second receiving unit 61 is configured to receive a second message sent by the first network device; the second message is sent when the first network device detects that the state of the first NF group is changed; the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to change.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the second receiving unit 61 is configured to receive a second message sent by the first network device; the second message includes the first identifier, an NF identifier of a second NF where NF information is changed, and at least one of the following related information where NF information is changed: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or the second message includes the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF newly added in the first NF group, and the related information of the third NF; or the second message includes a first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the second sending unit 62 is configured to send a sixth message to the first network device; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

The second receiving unit 61 is configured to receive a seventh message sent by the first network device; the seventh message includes information that the first identifier corresponds to a second NF in the first NF group.

In some optional embodiments of the present invention, the second sending unit 62 is further configured to send an eighth message to the first network device; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the second receiving unit 61 and the second sending unit 62 in the NF may be implemented in practical application by a communication module (including a basic communication suite, an operating system, a communication module, a standardized interface, a standardized protocol, etc.) and a transceiver antenna.

It should be noted that: in the NF provided in the above embodiment, only the division of each program module is used for illustration when information processing is performed, and in practical application, the processing allocation may be performed by different program modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the NF is divided into different program modules, so as to complete all or part of the processing described above. In addition, the NF provided in the foregoing embodiments and the information processing method embodiment belong to the same concept, and specific implementation processes thereof are detailed in the method embodiment and are not described herein again.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a network device, which can be the first network device or the NF. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a hardware composition structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 7, the network device may include a memory 72, a processor 71, and a computer program stored on the memory 72 and executable on the processor 71; the processor 71 implements the steps of the information processing method applied to the first network device or NF according to the embodiment of the present invention when executing the program.

In this embodiment, the network device further includes a network interface 73. The various components in the network device may be coupled together by a bus system 74. It is understood that the bus system 74 is used to enable connected communications between these components. The bus system 74 includes a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus in addition to the data bus. But for clarity of illustration the various buses are labeled as bus system 74 in fig. 7.

It will be appreciated that the memory 72 may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, and may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Wherein the nonvolatile Memory may be Read Only Memory (ROM), programmable Read Only Memory (PROM, programmable Read-Only Memory), erasable programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM, erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), electrically erasable programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM, electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), magnetic random access Memory (FRAM, ferromagnetic random access Memory), flash Memory (Flash Memory), magnetic surface Memory, optical disk, or compact disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM, compact Disc Read-Only Memory); the magnetic surface memory may be a disk memory or a tape memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM, random Access Memory), which acts as external cache memory. By way of example, and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM, static Random Access Memory), synchronous static random access memory (SSRAM, synchronous Static Random Access Memory), dynamic random access memory (DRAM, dynamic Random Access Memory), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM, synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (ddr SDRAM, double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM, enhanced Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM, syncLink Dynamic Random Access Memory), direct memory bus random access memory (DRRAM, direct Rambus Random Access Memory). The memory 72 described in embodiments of the present invention is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

The method disclosed in the above embodiment of the present invention may be applied to the processor 71 or implemented by the processor 71. The processor 71 may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the above method may be performed by integrated logic circuitry in hardware or instructions in software in the processor 71. The processor 71 may be a general purpose processor, DSP, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware components, or the like. Processor 71 may implement or perform the methods, steps and logic blocks disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiment of the invention can be directly embodied in the hardware of the decoding processor or can be implemented by combining hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in a storage medium in the memory 72 and the processor 71 reads the information in the memory 72, in combination with its hardware, to perform the steps of the method as described above.

In an exemplary embodiment, the network device may be implemented by one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASIC, application Specific Integrated Circuit), DSPs, programmable logic devices (PLD, programmable Logic Device), complex programmable logic devices (CPLD, complex Programmable Logic Device), FPGAs, general purpose processors, controllers, MCUs, microprocessors, or other electronic elements for performing the aforementioned methods.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present application also provides a computer readable storage medium, such as a memory 72, comprising a computer program executable by the processor 71 of the network device to perform the steps of the method described above. The computer readable storage medium may be FRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash Memory, magnetic surface Memory, optical disk, or CD-ROM; but may be a variety of devices including one or any combination of the above memories.

The embodiment of the application also provides a computer readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, which when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the information processing method applied to the first network device or NF according to the embodiment of the application.

The methods disclosed in the method embodiments provided by the application can be arbitrarily combined under the condition of no conflict to obtain a new method embodiment.

The features disclosed in the several product embodiments provided by the application can be combined arbitrarily under the condition of no conflict to obtain new product embodiments.

The features disclosed in the embodiments of the method or the apparatus provided by the application can be arbitrarily combined without conflict to obtain new embodiments of the method or the apparatus.

In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. The above described device embodiments are only illustrative, e.g. the division of the units is only one logical function division, and there may be other divisions in practice, such as: multiple units or components may be combined or may be integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not performed. In addition, the various components shown or discussed may be coupled or directly coupled or communicatively coupled to each other via some interface, whether indirectly coupled or communicatively coupled to devices or units, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise.

The units described as separate units may or may not be physically separate, and units displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units; some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may be separately used as one unit, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit; the integrated units may be implemented in hardware or in hardware plus software functional units.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that: all or part of the steps for implementing the above method embodiments may be implemented by hardware associated with program instructions, where the foregoing program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and when executed, the program performs steps including the above method embodiments; and the aforementioned storage medium includes: a removable storage device, ROM, RAM, magnetic or optical disk, or other medium capable of storing program code.

Alternatively, the above-described integrated units of the present invention may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium if implemented in the form of software functional modules and sold or used as separate products. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in essence or a part contributing to the prior art in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium, including several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the methods described in the embodiments of the present invention. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a removable storage device, ROM, RAM, magnetic or optical disk, or other medium capable of storing program code.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art will readily recognize that variations or substitutions are within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An information processing method, characterized in that the method comprises:

the method comprises the steps that first network equipment receives a first message of a first network function NF; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier; the second specific parameter in the first message is used for indicating the first identifier, or the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier;

sending a second message to the first NF when detecting that the state of the first NF group changes, wherein the second message is used for notifying that the state of the first NF group changes;

Wherein, before the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further comprises:

the first network device receives a sixth message sent by the first NF; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a change in the state of the first NF group comprises:

The first network device detects that the first NF group is deleted.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein prior to the first network device receiving the first message of the first NF, the method further comprises:

the first network device receives a fifth message from the second NF; the fifth message is used for registration of the second NF; the fifth message comprises the first identifier and related information of the second NF; wherein, the fifth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier;

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the related information of the second NF includes an NF identification of the second NF and at least one of the following related information: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status;

5. The method of claim 3, wherein if the second NF corresponds to the first NF group, the first identification is indicated in the fifth message by a first specific parameter.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the sending the second message to the first NF comprises:

7. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method further comprises:

8. The method of claim 3, wherein after the first network device receives the first message of the first NF, the method further comprises:

establishing a subscription relation between the first NF and the NF information;

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network device receiving the first message of the first NF comprises:

the sending a second message to the first NF includes:

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a third particular parameter in the second message is used to indicate the first identity.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

the first network device receives an eighth message sent by the first NF; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

12. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method further comprises:

the first network device receives a ninth message of the second NF; the ninth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; the ninth message is for deregistration of the second NF.

13. An information processing method, characterized in that the method comprises:

the first NF sends a first message to the first network device; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier; a second specific parameter in the first message is used for indicating the first identification; or, the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier;

the first NF receives a second message sent by the first network device; the second message is sent when the first network device detects that the state of the first NF group is changed; the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to change;

wherein before the first NF sends the first message to the first network device, the method further comprises:

the first NF receives a seventh message sent by the first network device; the seventh message includes information of a second NF in the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first NF receiving the second message sent by the first network device comprises:

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a third particular parameter in the second message is used to indicate the first identity.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

the first NF sends an eighth message to the first network device; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

17. A network device, the network device being a first network device; characterized in that the network device comprises: a first receiving unit and a first transmitting unit; wherein,,

the first receiving unit is configured to receive a first message of a first network function NF; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier; a second specific parameter in the first message is used for indicating the first identification; or, the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier;

the first sending unit is configured to send a second message to the first NF when detecting that the state of the first NF group changes, where the second message is used to notify that the state of the first NF group changes;

the first receiving unit is further configured to receive a sixth message sent by a first NF before receiving a first message of the first NF; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

18. The network device of claim 17, further comprising a first processing unit to detect a change in the state of the first NF group by: receiving, by the first receiving unit, a third message from the second NF; the third message at least comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF and an update indication identifier; the update indication identifies a change in at least one of the following related information characterizing the second NF: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; wherein, the third message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; or receiving, by the first receiving unit, a fourth message from a third NF; the fourth message is used for registration of the third NF; the fourth message at least comprises the first identifier and related information of the third NF, wherein the third NF is a new NF in the first NF group; wherein, when the third NF obtains the first identifier, the fourth message includes the first identifier; alternatively, the first NF group is detected to be deleted.

19. The network device of claim 18, wherein the first receiving unit is further configured to receive a fifth message from the second NF before receiving the first message of the first NF; the fifth message is used for registration of the second NF; the fifth message comprises the first identifier and related information of the second NF; wherein, the fifth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier;

20. The network device of claim 19, wherein the related information of the second NF includes an NF identification of the second NF and at least one of the following related information: NF type, NF capacity, NF load, NF status;

21. The network device of claim 19, wherein if the second NF corresponds to the first NF group, the first identification is indicated in the fifth message by a first specific parameter.

22. The network device of claim 18, wherein the first sending unit is configured to send a second message corresponding to the second NF to the first NF; the second message includes at least one of the following changed related information represented by the first identifier, the NF identifier of the second NF, and the update indication identifier: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or sending a second message corresponding to the third NF to the first NF; the second message comprises the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF and related information of the third NF; or sending a second message to the first NF; the second message includes the first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

23. The network device of claim 19, wherein the first processing unit is further configured to update the NF information based on the third message of the second NF; the updating of the NF information comprises updating at least one of NF capacity, NF load and NF state corresponding to the NF identifier of the second NF; or updating the NF information based on the fourth message of the third NF; wherein said updating said NF information comprises: adding related information of the third NF in the NF information; or deleting NF information related to the first NF group.

24. The network device of claim 19, wherein the first processing unit is further configured to establish a subscription relationship between the first NF and the NF information; the method is also used for inquiring the subscription relation and determining the first NF meeting the subscription relation under the condition that the state of the first NF group is changed;

25. The network device of claim 17, wherein the first receiving unit is configured to receive, by a second network device, a first message of the first NF; the first network equipment and the second network equipment establish connection through a preset communication interface;

26. The network device of claim 17, wherein a third particular parameter in the second message is used to indicate the first identity.

27. The network device of claim 17, wherein the first receiving unit is further configured to receive an eighth message sent by the first NF; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

28. The network device of claim 19, wherein the first receiving unit is further configured to receive a ninth message of the second NF; the ninth message includes the first identifier when the second NF obtains the first identifier; the ninth message is for deregistration of the second NF.

29. A NF, said NF being a first NF; characterized in that the NF comprises: a second transmitting unit and a second receiving unit; wherein,,

the second sending unit is used for sending a first message to the first network equipment; the first message at least comprises a first identifier, and the first identifier corresponds to a first NF group; the first NF group comprises one or more second NFs; the first message is used for requesting to subscribe to information of a first NF group corresponding to the first identifier; a second specific parameter in the first message is used for indicating the first identification; or, the specific message type corresponding to the first message is used for indicating the first identifier;

the second receiving unit is configured to receive a second message sent by the first network device; the second message is sent when the first network device detects that the state of the first NF group is changed; the second message is used for notifying the state of the first NF group to change;

The second sending unit is further configured to send a sixth message to the first network device; the sixth message is for NF discovery; the sixth message includes the first identifier;

the second receiving unit is further configured to receive a seventh message sent by the first network device; the seventh message includes information that the first identifier corresponds to a second NF in the first NF group.

30. The NF of claim 29, wherein the second receiving unit is configured to receive a second message sent by the first network device; the second message includes the first identifier, an NF identifier of a second NF where NF information is changed, and at least one of the following related information where NF information is changed: NF capacity, NF load, NF status; or the second message includes the first identifier, the NF identifier of the third NF newly added in the first NF group, and the related information of the third NF; or the second message includes a first identifier and indication information for indicating that the first NF group is deleted.

31. The NF of claim 29, wherein a third particular parameter in the second message is used to indicate the first identification.

32. The NF of claim 29, wherein the second sending unit is further configured to send an eighth message to the first network device; the eighth message includes the first identifier when the first NF obtains the first identifier; the eighth message is used for subscribing to the information of the first NF group corresponding to the first identifier.

33. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program, characterized in that the program when executed by a processor realizes the steps of the method according to any of claims 1 to 12; alternatively, the program when executed by a processor performs the steps of the method of any of claims 13 to 16.

34. A network device comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that the processor implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 12 when the program is executed; alternatively, the processor, when executing the program, implements the steps of the method of any one of claims 13 to 16.