WO2020098598A1 - 一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法、系统以及相关设备 - Google Patents

一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法、系统以及相关设备 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020098598A1
WO2020098598A1 PCT/CN2019/117105 CN2019117105W WO2020098598A1 WO 2020098598 A1 WO2020098598 A1 WO 2020098598A1 CN 2019117105 W CN2019117105 W CN 2019117105W WO 2020098598 A1 WO2020098598 A1 WO 2020098598A1
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network slice
network
performance index
message
nscf
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PCT/CN2019/117105
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English (en)
French (fr)
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WO2020098598A9 (zh
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柴晓前
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华为技术有限公司
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Priority to EP19884915.0A priority Critical patent/EP3869840A4/en
Publication of WO2020098598A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020098598A1/zh
Priority to US17/321,156 priority patent/US20210281997A1/en
Publication of WO2020098598A9 publication Critical patent/WO2020098598A9/zh

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/18—Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/10—Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1403—Architecture for metering, charging or billing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1403—Architecture for metering, charging or billing
    • H04L12/1407—Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
    • H04L41/0893—Assignment of logical groups to network elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/40—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
    • H04L41/5003—Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
    • H04L41/5009—Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
    • H04L41/5012—Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF] determining service availability, e.g. which services are available at a certain point in time
    • H04L41/5016—Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF] determining service availability, e.g. which services are available at a certain point in time based on statistics of service availability, e.g. in percentage or over a given time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
    • H04L41/5029—Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
    • H04L41/5041—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements characterised by the time relationship between creation and deployment of a service
    • H04L41/5048—Automatic or semi-automatic definitions, e.g. definition templates
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/41—Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/66—Policy and charging system
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/08—Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/02—Arrangements for optimising operational condition
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/04—Arrangements for maintaining operational condition

Definitions

  • the present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method, system, and related equipment for charging processing of network resources.
  • 5G (5th Generation) network examples include eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband), uRLLC (ultra High-Reliability and Low-Latency Communication, ultra-high reliability and low-latency communication), mMTC ( massive, Machine, Type, Communication, etc. These scenarios have very different requirements for network characteristics.
  • eMBB enhanced Mobile Broadband
  • uRLLC ultra High-Reliability and Low-Latency Communication, ultra-high reliability and low-latency communication
  • mMTC massive, Machine, Type, Communication, etc.
  • mMTC scenario will have a lot of devices, but the throughput of each device may be very low, and the required bandwidth is very small; while eMBB scenarios require almost the opposite characteristics , Because it will have much fewer devices, but each device will send or receive a lot of data, and the required bandwidth is very large; uRLLC scenarios have high requirements for end-to-end delay, such as autonomous driving, the delay requirement is less than 3 milliseconds.
  • the physical network can be divided at the end-to-end level to form a network slice (Network Slice) to achieve traffic grouping, isolation of tenants, and macro-level resource allocation.
  • Network Slice Network Slice
  • the essence of network slicing is a virtual network that runs on top of a shared physical network infrastructure.
  • Operators can create different services based on different service requirements (such as delay, bandwidth, security, and reliability) on the basis of physical networks.
  • a virtual network of service requirements (corresponding to a network slice instance) for customers with different network characteristics, thereby improving the utilization of network resources and the service quality of network services.
  • the scheme for charging the network resources is that the business system triggers the charging system to perform charging based on business events such as the start and end of the business, and the business system counts accurate business information (such as traffic used by the business) , The duration of business use, etc.), reported to the billing system, so that the billing system will be based on the evaluation and deduction.
  • business events such as the start and end of the business
  • business system counts accurate business information (such as traffic used by the business) , The duration of business use, etc.), reported to the billing system, so that the billing system will be based on the evaluation and deduction.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a method for charging a network resource.
  • the method includes: a network slice charging function NSCF device sends a first message to a network slice management function NSMF device, the first message Contains the identification of the network slice instance; the NSCF device receives a second message from the NSMF device, the second message includes data corresponding to the network slice performance index of the network slice instance, the network slice performance index is used to describe Network performance of the network slice instance; the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance based on data corresponding to the network slice performance index.
  • this method can charge the network slice instance based on the data corresponding to the network slice performance index, because the network slice performance index
  • the corresponding data is not only the data that the customer cares about, but also better reflects the operator's investment, so it helps to improve the matching degree of the billing result and the network resource investment, which is conducive to the implementation of the above diversified application scenarios, which in turn helps Improve the use efficiency of network resources or improve the service quality of network services.
  • the first message further includes the network slice performance indicator.
  • the NSCF device before sending the first message to the NSMF device, the NSCF device further determines the network slice performance index.
  • the determining the network slicing performance index specifically includes: determining the network slicing performance index based on order information of a customer ordering the network slicing instance.
  • the ordering information includes any one or any combination of service level agreement terms, network slicing type, network slicing template, and ordering duration of the network slicing instance.
  • the data corresponding to the network slicing performance index includes the value of the network slicing performance index
  • the NSCF device charges the network slicing instance based on the data corresponding to the network slicing performance index , Specifically including: storing the value of the network slicing performance index in the first charging bill.
  • the data corresponding to the network slice performance index further includes the time of the network slice performance index
  • the NSCF device charges the network slice instance based on the data corresponding to the network slice performance index
  • the processing further specifically includes: storing the time of the network slicing performance index in the first charging bill.
  • the data corresponding to the network slice performance index does not include the time of the network slice performance index
  • the NSCF device charges the network slice instance based on the data corresponding to the network slice performance index
  • the processing further specifically includes: storing the time when the second message is received as the time of the network slicing performance index into the first charging bill.
  • the charging process of the network slicing instance based on the data corresponding to the network slicing performance indicator specifically includes: determining a statistical time range of the network slicing performance indicator, and determining the Statistical method of network slicing performance index; using the statistical method, the value of the network slicing performance index within the statistical time range in the first charging bill is counted to obtain the network slicing performance index Statistical value; based on the statistical value of the network slicing performance index, charging processing of the network slicing instance is performed.
  • the NSCF device before sending the first message to the NSMF device, the NSCF device also determines a statistical time range of the network slice performance indicator, where the statistical time range is used to indicate the NSMF device Count one or more values of the network slice performance index within the statistical time range; the first message also includes the statistical time range.
  • the NSCF device collects a large amount of performance data about network slice instances, which is beneficial to develop a richer and flexible charging service. For example, for large customers, new The statistical method calculates the new statistical value, and calculates the usage cost of the network slice instance based on the new statistical value and the new charging rule; as a network slice management device, the NSMF device only needs to be responsible for collecting / collecting network slice performance indicators Value, without involving statistical operations related to billing, its calculation burden can be reduced.
  • the NSCF device before sending the first message to the NSMF device, the NSCF device also determines a statistical method of the network slice performance indicator, where the statistical method is used to instruct the NSMF device to use the The statistical method counts one or more values of the network slice performance index within the statistical range; the first message further includes the statistical method.
  • the data corresponding to the network slice performance index includes statistical values of the network slice performance index
  • the NSCF device charges the network slice instance based on the data corresponding to the network slice performance index
  • the processing specifically includes: performing charging processing on the network slice instance based on the statistical value of the network slice performance index.
  • the charging processing of the network slicing instance based on the statistical value of the network slicing performance indicator specifically includes: storing the statistical value of the network slicing performance indicator in a second charging Transcript.
  • the charging processing of the network slice instance based on the statistical value of the network slice performance index specifically includes: calculating the network based on the statistical value of the network slice performance index The usage fee of the slice instance.
  • the calculating the usage cost of the network slicing instance based on the statistical value of the network slicing performance indicator specifically includes: obtaining a charging rule corresponding to the network slicing performance indicator, the charging The rule includes a fee calculation method corresponding to the statistical value of the network slicing performance index; the usage fee of the network slicing instance is calculated based on the charging rule and the statistical value of the network slicing performance index.
  • the NSMF device performs sampling and statistics of network slicing performance indicators, and the NSCF device performs charging processing based on statistical values.
  • the advantage is that there is no need to frequently transfer network slices between the NSMF device and the NSCF device.
  • the sampling value of the performance index can reduce the occupation of the communication bandwidth between the NSMF device and the NSCF device, and reduce the calculation burden on the NSCF device side.
  • the statistical value of the network slicing performance index includes any one or any combination of the following: the average, maximum value, minimum value, degree of compliance, cumulative duration of compliance, and cumulative compliance of the network slicing performance index Times, accumulated non-compliance duration and accumulated non-compliance times.
  • the first message further includes an interval time, and the interval time is used to indicate a time interval for the NSMF device to obtain the value of the network slice performance indicator twice in a row.
  • the NSCF device may indicate the sampling time interval to the NSMF device to better meet the needs of the charging process, for example, a more accurate statistical value may be obtained based on the sampling value with a higher time density, thereby allowing the charging process more accurate.
  • the first message is a subscription request message
  • the second message is a subscription notification message
  • the subscription request message is used to request the NSMF device to generate a subscription resource for the network slice instance.
  • the first message also includes an address to receive data to instruct the NSMF device to send a subscription notification message to the NSCF device according to the address.
  • the method further includes: the NSCF device sends a subscription update request message that changes the subscription resource to the NSMF device, the subscription update request message includes a target statistical time range, a target interval time, Any one or any combination of the target statistical method and the target network slice performance index; the NSCF device receives data corresponding to the network slice performance index before the subscription resource is changed from the NSMF device.
  • the method further includes: the NSCF device sends the unsubscribed request of the subscribed resource to the NSMF device; the NSCF device receives the unsubscribed resource of the subscribed resource from the NSMF device Data corresponding to the performance index of the network slice.
  • a subscription-notification mechanism is adopted to make it more timely to transfer data corresponding to the network slice performance index between the NSMF device and the NSCF device.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a method for charging a network resource.
  • the method includes: a network slice management function NSMF device receives a first message from a network slice charging function NSCF device, and the first message includes The identification of the network slice instance; the NSMF device obtains data corresponding to the network slice performance index of the network slice instance according to the first message, and the network slice performance index is used to describe the network performance of the network slice instance; The NSMF device sends a second message to the NSCF device, where the second message includes data corresponding to the network slice performance indicator.
  • This method enables the NSMF device to provide data corresponding to the network slicing performance index for the NSCF device, so that the NSCF device can perform charging processing on the network slicing instance based on the data corresponding to the network slicing performance index, which helps improve the charging result and network resource investment
  • the degree of matching is conducive to the implementation of the above-mentioned diversified application scenarios, which in turn helps to improve the efficiency of the use of network resources or improve the service quality of network services.
  • the network slicing performance index is a network slicing performance index required for charging processing of the network slicing instance
  • the first message further includes the network slicing performance index
  • the NSMF device Obtaining data corresponding to the network slice performance index of the network slice instance according to the first message specifically includes: obtaining data corresponding to the network slice performance index contained in the first message.
  • the data corresponding to the network slice performance index includes the value of the network slice performance index
  • the NSMF device acquiring the data corresponding to the network slice performance index specifically includes: obtaining the network slice performance The value of the indicator.
  • the data corresponding to the network slice performance index further includes the time of the network slice performance index
  • the NSMF device obtains the data corresponding to the network slice performance index, specifically further comprising: obtaining the network Time for network slicing performance indicators.
  • the first message further includes a statistical time range; the data corresponding to the network slice performance index includes the statistical value of the network slice performance index; and the acquiring The data specifically includes: acquiring a plurality of values of the network slicing performance index of the network slicing instance within the statistical time range, and counting a plurality of values of the network slicing performance index to obtain the network slicing performance index Statistical value.
  • the first message further includes a statistical method; the counting of multiple values of the network slice performance index specifically includes: using the statistical method to count multiple of the network slice performance index value.
  • the first message is a subscription request message
  • the second message is a subscription notification message
  • the first message also includes an address to receive data
  • Generate a subscription resource for the network slice instance and send the subscription notification message to the NSCF device according to the address of the received data.
  • the method further includes: the NSMF device receives a subscription update request message that changes the subscription resource from the NSCF device, the subscription update request message includes a target statistical time range, a target interval time, Any one or any combination of the target statistical method and the target network slice performance index; the NSMF device performs a change subscription operation on the subscription resource according to the subscription update request message; the NSMF device sends the The data corresponding to the network slice performance index before the subscription resource is changed.
  • the method further includes: the NSMF device receives the unsubscribe request message of the subscribed resource from the NSCF device; the NSMF device executes the subscribed resource according to the unsubscribe request message De-subscription operation; the NSMF device sends data corresponding to the network slice performance index before the subscription resource is de-subscribed to the NSCF device.
  • the first message further includes an interval time
  • the method further includes: according to the interval time, determining a time interval between acquiring the value of the network slice performance indicator twice in the adjacent period.
  • the NSMF device can perform sampling according to the sampling time interval indicated by the NSCF device, which can better meet the needs of the NSCF device for charging processing.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a network slice charging function device, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein: the memory is used to store program instructions; and the processor is used to call and execute the Program instructions stored in the memory, so that the network slice charging function device executes the method for charging processing of network resources in the first aspect.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, including instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method for charging processing of network resources in the first aspect .
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a network slice management function device, which includes a processor and a memory, wherein: the memory is used to store program instructions; and the processor is used to call and execute Program instructions stored in the memory, so that the network slice management device executes the charging processing method for network resources in the second aspect.
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, including instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method for charging processing of network resources in the second aspect .
  • an embodiment of the present application provides a system for charging a network resource, including: a network slice management function NSMF device and a network slice charging function NSCF device, and wherein: the NSCF device sends the NSMF to the NSMF The device sends a first message, the first message includes the identifier of the network slice instance; the NSMF device receives the first message, and obtains the network slice performance index corresponding to the network slice instance according to the first message Data, the network slice performance index is used to describe the network performance of the network slice instance; the NSMF device sends a second message to the NSCF device, the second message includes data corresponding to the network slice performance index The NSCF device receives the second message and charges the network slice instance based on the data corresponding to the network slice performance index in the second message.
  • the network slicing performance indicator is a network slicing performance indicator required for charging processing of the network slicing instance, and the first message further includes the network slicing performance indicator; the NSCF device Before sending the first message to the NSMF device, the performance index of the network slice is also determined.
  • the data corresponding to the network slice performance index includes the value of the network slice performance index and the time of the network slice performance index; the NSMF device obtains the data corresponding to the network slice performance index, Specifically, it includes: acquiring the value of the network slicing performance index and the time of acquiring the network slicing performance index; the NSCF device based on the data corresponding to the network slicing performance index in the second message to the network slicing instance
  • the charging process specifically includes: performing charging processing on the network slice instance based on the value of the network slice performance index and the time of the network slice performance index.
  • the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slicing instance based on the value of the network slicing performance index and the time of the network slicing performance index, which specifically includes: The value of the indicator and the time of the network slicing performance indicator are stored in the first charging bill.
  • the first message further includes a statistical time range and a statistical method
  • the NSMF device acquiring data corresponding to the network slice performance index specifically includes: acquiring the network slice of the network slice instance The value of the performance index, and using the statistical method to count multiple values of the network slice performance index of the network slice instance within the statistical time range to obtain the statistical value of the network slice performance index
  • the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slicing instance based on the statistical value of the network slicing performance indicator, which specifically includes: calculating the statistic value based on the statistical value of the network slicing performance indicator The cost of using a network slice instance.
  • FIG. 1 is an architectural diagram of a charging system provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for charging network resources according to an embodiment of the present application
  • FIG. 3 is another architectural diagram of a charging system provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart of another method for charging a network resource according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another method for charging a network resource according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method for charging a network resource according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another method for charging a network resource according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 8 is a hardware structure diagram of an NSCF device or an NSMF device provided by an embodiment of this application;
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an NSCF device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of an NSMF device provided by an embodiment of this application.
  • FIG. 1 is an architecture diagram of a charging system provided by an embodiment of the present application, which includes a network slice charging function (Network Slice Function (NSCF) device 101, a network slice management function (Network Slice Management Function, NSMF) device 102, and the like.
  • NSF Network Slice Function
  • NSMF Network Slice Management Function
  • FIG. 1 is an architecture diagram of a charging system provided by an embodiment of the present application, which includes a network slice charging function (Network Slice Function (NSCF) device 101, a network slice management function (Network Slice Management Function, NSMF) device 102, and the like.
  • NSCF Network Slice Function
  • NSMF Network Slice Management Function
  • NSCF device 101 used to determine the network slicing performance index of a network slicing instance, and subscribe to the data corresponding to the network slicing performance index of the network slicing instance from the NSMF device 102 through an interface provided by the NSMF device 102 (Nnsmf is an exemplary interface identifier) , And based on the data to charge the network slice instance.
  • the network slicing performance index is used to describe the network performance of the network slicing instance, which can not only reflect the customer's or user's concerns about using the network slicing instance, but also can reflect These aspects reflect the operator's investment in the network slice instance, which may include but is not limited to one or more of the following parameters:
  • -End-to-end delay refers to the transmission delay of data packets in the access domain, transmission domain, and core network domain of the network slice instance.
  • -PDU (protocol data unit) session number refers to the number of PDU sessions established on the network slice instance (that is, the number of PDU sessions established between the user equipment using the network slice instance and the data gateway on the network slice Quantity).
  • -Bandwidth refers to the total bandwidth used by all concurrent PDU sessions of the network slice instance.
  • -Number of users refers to the number of users who have actually used or concurrently used this network slice instance or the number of users registered on this network slice instance.
  • the network slicing performance index is also simply referred to as "index" in the embodiments of the present application.
  • one network slicing instance may have one or more network slicing performance indicators.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of network slicing performance indicators of the network slicing instance.
  • the constraints of the network slicing performance index can be agreed, for example, “the number of times the delay exceeds 5ms should be within 10 times", “the bandwidth is lower than The cumulative time of 100G does not exceed 30 hours "and so on.
  • the performance index of the network slice transmitted by the message can be expressed by the parameter name or the parameter identifier of the index, for example, "E2EDelay" or "101" is used to indicate the "time delay" network performance index.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the representation method of the network slice performance index.
  • the embodiment of the present application takes the parameter name as an example for description.
  • the NSCF device also sends the result of the above charging process to the billing system (not shown in FIG. 1), so that the billing system generates a billing bill for the customer.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the actual physical device deployed by the NSCF device, for example, it may be independently deployed, or may be deployed in a converged charging function server or other physical devices.
  • NSMF device 102 used to provide data corresponding to the network slice performance index of the network slice instance to the NSCF device 101, including: receiving a subscription request for data corresponding to the network slice performance index of the network slice instance, and obtaining data corresponding to the network slice performance index , The data corresponding to the network slice indicator is sent to the NSCF device 101 through a subscription notification.
  • the NSMF device may be a cross-domain slice manager or a slice manager of a subdomain of a core network.
  • Network slice performance index value can refer to a certain moment, a certain time slot or a certain time period (such as within a certain minute), NSMF equipment or other equipment
  • the specific value of the network slice performance index is detected, sampled or obtained by other means; for the convenience of description, the embodiment of the present application is also referred to as the sampling value, instantaneous value of the network slice performance index, or even directly referred to as the sampling value Or instantaneous value.
  • Time of network slicing performance index refers to the time point, time slot or time period of detecting, sampling or otherwise obtaining the specific value of the network slicing performance index; for convenience of description, the embodiments of the present application are also referred to as The sampling time of the network slice performance index or the acquisition time of the network slice performance index is even directly referred to as the sampling time or acquisition time; it should be understood that the time / sampling time / acquisition time of the network slice performance index may be a specific time point , Can also be a specific time period (such as a certain minute); for example, the sampling time of "concurrent sessions” can be "2018-10-26 23:58:52", and the sampling time of "delay” can be "2018-09-26 13: 46: 00 / 2018-09-26 13:47:00" or "2018-09-26 13:46” etc.
  • Constraint conditions of network slicing performance indicators refers to the quantitative constraints or quantization requirements of network slicing performance indicators within a certain statistical time range, which is usually expressed in a numerical range or can also be expressed in specific numerical values.
  • the constraints of network slicing performance indicators are usually the result of agreement with the operator during the ordering of network slicing instances by customers.
  • the statistical value of the network slice performance index refers to the result obtained by statistically calculating the value of the network slice performance index whose sampling time or acquisition time falls within a certain statistical time range according to a certain statistical method.
  • the statistical method may be a statistical method irrelevant to the constraint condition, such as averaging, weighted average, etc., or a statistical method related to the constraint condition, that is, a statistical method determined according to parameters in the constraint condition.
  • the types of statistical values of several network slicing performance indicators are respectively illustrated below, as shown in Table-1. It should be understood that the types of statistical values of network slice performance indicators are not limited to those listed in Table-1.
  • the data corresponding to the network slice performance index may be the statistical value of the network slice performance index, or may be a combination of the sampling value of the network slice performance index and the corresponding sampling time, or the network slice The combination of the value of the performance index and the time of the network slice performance index.
  • the statistical value may be calculated by the NSMF device 102 and sent to the NSCF device 101, or the NSMF device 102 may send the combination of the sampling value and the sampling time at multiple times or within multiple time periods within a statistical time range to the NSCF
  • the device 101 then performs statistics or calculation by the NSCF device 101 to obtain the statistical value. In the subsequent embodiments of the present application, two cases will be further described separately.
  • the present application does not limit the actual physical equipment deployed by the NSMF equipment, for example, it can be independently deployed or can be deployed in physical equipment with other functions.
  • the NSCF device 101 After receiving the data corresponding to the network slice performance index from the NSMF device 102, the NSCF device 101 performs charging processing on the network slice instance based on the data.
  • the charging process may include: generating a network slicing bill based on the data, or calculating the usage fee of the network slicing instance based on the data, wherein the usage of the network slicing instance is calculated based on the data
  • the method for charging may include: obtaining charging rules related to the above network slice instance, and based on the data and the charging rules, calculating a usage fee for the above network slice instance. For details, reference may be made to subsequent embodiments in this application.
  • FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for charging a network resource according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the method flow is implemented based on the architecture of FIG. 1, wherein the NSMF device corresponds to the NSMF device 102 of FIG. 1, and the NSCF device corresponds to the NSCF device 101 of FIG. .
  • the method flow specifically includes the following steps:
  • Step 201 The NSCF device determines the network slice performance index pfmArg required for charging processing on the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId.
  • This step is optional, and the network slice performance index pfmArg can be determined or obtained by the NSMF device in the subsequent steps.
  • the NSCF device may determine the network slice performance index pfmArg to be used for charging processing on the network slice instance. For example, the NSCF device may obtain the network slicing performance index from the order information related to the customer ordering the network slicing instance, or may obtain the network slicing performance index from the configuration information preset by the operator. The embodiment of the present application obtains the NSCF device The way of network slice performance index is not limited.
  • the NSCF device may need to perform billing processing on the multiple network slicing instances, then this step may determine different network slicing performance indicators of the multiple network slicing instances (Considering that different types of network slicing instances may be different, the corresponding network slicing performance indicators may also be different). Therefore, the number of network slicing instances is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. The example is used as an example.
  • Performance indicators may also require multiple network slicing performance indicators. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of network slicing performance indicators, but for convenience of description, the embodiment of the present application mainly uses a single network slicing performance indicator as an example for description.
  • Step 202 The NSCF device sends a first message to the NSMF device, which includes nsiId and pfmArg.
  • the NSCF device includes the identification nsiId of the network slice instance and the network slice performance index pfmArg in the first message, and sends the first message to the NSMF device to request the NSMF device to provide the network slice instance.
  • the network slice performance index pfmArg is an optional parameter, which may be the name of the network slice performance index.
  • the NSMF device When the first message does not contain this parameter, the NSMF device will determine the parameter; the identification of the network slice instance
  • the nsiId may be s-NSSAI (Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, single network slice selection assistance information) of the network slice instance, or other information used to identify the network slice instance, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.
  • s-NSSAI Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, single network slice selection assistance information
  • the NSCF device may also include the address of the received data in the first message, so that subsequent NSMF devices can send data corresponding to the network slice indicator of the network slice instance to the NSCF device according to the address.
  • the NSCF device may also include a statistical time range in the first message, so that the NSMF device counts one or more values of the network slice performance index pfmArg in the time range to obtain the network slice performance
  • the statistical value of the indicator; the statistical time range can be determined according to the customer's order information or according to the customer's account balance and other information.
  • the NSCF device may also include a statistical method in the first message, so that the NSMF device uses the statistical method to count one or more values of the network slice performance index within the statistical range to obtain the Statistics of network slice performance indicators.
  • the first message may be a subscription request message.
  • the subscription request message is used to request the NSMF device to create a subscription resource for the network slice instance.
  • the subscription resource is used to manage a subscription (including querying, updating, and deleting the subscription). ),
  • the subscription resource has a unique identifier, which may be generated by the NSMF according to the subscription request message when receiving the subscription request message, or may be carried in the subscription request message after being generated by the NSCF.
  • the NSMF obtains data corresponding to the performance index of the network slice according to the subscription resource, and generates and sends the subscription notification message.
  • the NSMF sends the subscription notification message to the NSCF device according to the address that can receive the data.
  • the first message may include multiple network slice instance identifiers and corresponding single or multiple network slice performance indicators.
  • the nsiId may be replaced with a customer ID, or a combination of the customer ID and its corresponding network slice instance ID.
  • Step 203 The NSMF device obtains the data pfmArgData corresponding to the network slice performance index.
  • the NSMF device After receiving the first message, the NSMF device obtains the data pfmArgData corresponding to the network slice performance index pfmArg in the network slice instance identified as nsiId according to the nsiId and pfmArg in the first message. If the pfmArg is not included in the first message, the NSMF device determines the pfmArg, and the NSMF may determine the pfmArg according to subscription information ordered by a customer or configuration information preset by an operator. Alternatively, the NSMF device may start a task that runs periodically or continuously to obtain the data.
  • pfmArgData may be the statistical value of the network slice performance index whose index name corresponds to pfmArg, or its sampling value or a combination of its sampling value and sampling time.
  • the statistical value may be the result of the NSMF device performing statistics on the value of the network slice performance index corresponding to the pfmArg index name in the statistical time range; the statistical value may also be the NSMF device according to the above statistical method.
  • the index name in the above statistical time range corresponds to the result of the statistics of the network slice performance index of pfmArg.
  • NSMF after receiving the first message, NSMF correspondingly returns a response message of the first message.
  • Step 204 The NSMF device sends a second message to the NSCF device, which includes pfmArgData.
  • the NSMF device includes the pfmArgData obtained in step 203 in the second message, and sends the second message to the NSCF device.
  • the NSMF device may send pfmArgData to the NSCF device according to the address for receiving data described in step 202.
  • the second message is a subscription notification message.
  • Step 205 The NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId based on pfmArgData.
  • the NSCF device charges the network slice instance identified as nsiId based on the data pfmArgData provided by the NSMF device and corresponding to the network slice performance index contained in the second message, specifically It may be: generating a network slicing bill based on pfmArgData, or directly calculating the usage fee of the network slicing instance based on pfmArgData.
  • the pfmArgData may be the above statistical value, or a sample value or a combination of the sample value and the sample time.
  • the NSCF device may write each group of the combination of the sampling value and sampling time into the bill of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId (first billing bill) Subsequent cost calculations are performed based on the first bill; the NSCF device may further determine the corresponding statistical time range and statistical method, and charge multiple sets of sampled values in the bill from the index sampling value according to the statistical method The statistics are combined with the sampling time to obtain the statistical value of pfmArg, and then use the statistical value to calculate the usage cost of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId.
  • the NSCF device may write the statistical value into the bill of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId (second billing bill), and then perform cost calculation based on the second bill; NSCF device You can also use this statistical value to directly calculate the usage cost of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId.
  • Table-2 shows the above charging process and corresponding exemplary applicable scenarios.
  • the NSCF device may first obtain related charging rules, and then calculate the usage fee of the network slice instance based on the charging rules and the statistical value. For example, suppose that the charging rule configured by the operator for this network slicing template is "accumulated end-to-end delay exceeding 50ms for more than 10 monthly rent halvings", the above pfmArg is "delay", and its statistical value is "11 ", Then the usage of the above network slicing instance is charged at a 50% rate.
  • the NSCF device may obtain the charging rule from customer order information. Regarding the calculation of the usage fee, the subsequent embodiments of this application will be further described.
  • the NSCF After receiving the second message, the NSCF correspondingly returns a response message of the second message.
  • Step 206 The NSCF device determines the change factor related to pfmArg.
  • the NSCF device can determine the change factors related to the network slice performance index pfmArg, including but not limited to: the change in the above statistical time range, the change in the above statistical method, Changes in network slicing performance indicators, etc.
  • Step 207 The NSCF device sends a third message to the NSMF device, which contains the change factor.
  • the NSCF device may send the above change factor to the NSMF device through a third message, so that the NSMF device may make corresponding changes according to the third message, so as to satisfy the subsequent charging process of the NSCF device Need.
  • the third message is a subscription update request message for a subscription resource.
  • the subscription update request message is used to change the subscription resource.
  • the subscription update request message includes any one or any combination of a target statistical time range, a target interval time, a target statistical method, and a target network slice performance index.
  • Step 208 The NSMF device performs the change operation.
  • the NSMF device receives the third message, and performs a change operation according to the changing factors therein, such as adjusting the statistical time range, changing the statistical method, and so on.
  • the NSMF After the change operation is performed, the NSMF sends data corresponding to the network slice performance index before the change operation to the NSCF device.
  • the NSMF after receiving the third message, the NSMF correspondingly returns a response message of the third message.
  • the NSMF sends to the NSCF device data corresponding to the network slice performance index before the subscription resource is changed.
  • the NSMF device may carry the data corresponding to the performance index of the network slice before the subscription resource is changed in the response message of the subscription update request message, or the response message of the subscription update request message does not carry Data corresponding to the performance index of the network slice before the subscription resource change, but after sending the response message, the NSMF device sends the NSCF device a network slice carrying the network resource before the subscription resource change Notification messages for data corresponding to performance indicators.
  • Step 209 The NSCF device determines that the data corresponding to pfmArg is no longer needed.
  • This step is optional. Specifically, in the case where it is confirmed that the customer's order is about to expire or has expired, the NSCF device can determine that the data corresponding to pfmArg is no longer needed.
  • Step 210 The NSCF device sends a fourth message to the NSMF device.
  • the NSCF device may send a fourth message to the NSMF device to indicate to the NSMF device that the data corresponding to the pfmArg is no longer needed.
  • the fourth message is a subscribe request message for the subscription resource.
  • Step 211 The NSMF device performs a cancel operation.
  • the NSMF device receives the fourth message and performs a cancel operation, for example, stopping or deleting a task created to obtain data corresponding to pfmArg.
  • the NSMF After receiving the fourth message, the NSMF correspondingly returns a response message of the fourth message.
  • the NSMF sends data corresponding to the network slice performance index before the subscription resource is subscribed to the NSCF device.
  • the NSMF device may carry the data corresponding to the performance index of the network slice before the subscription resource is unsubscribed in the response message of the unsubscribe request message, or the response message of the unsubscribe request message may not Carrying the data corresponding to the performance index of the network slice before subscribing to the subscription resource, but after sending the response message, the NSMF device sends to the NSCF device a location before subscribing to carry the subscription resource.
  • the notification message of the data corresponding to the network slice performance index is described.
  • the method for charging a network slice instance corresponding to FIG. 2 can be based on the data pair corresponding to the network slice performance index.
  • the network slicing instance performs charging processing. Since the data corresponding to the network slicing performance index is not only the data that the customer cares about, but also better reflects the input of the operator, it helps to improve the matching degree of the charging result and the network resource input. It is conducive to the implementation of the aforementioned diversified application scenarios, which in turn helps to improve the efficiency of the use of network resources or improve the service quality of network services.
  • FIG. 3 is another architectural diagram of a charging system provided by an embodiment of the present application, including an NSCF device 301 (corresponding to the NSCF device 101 in FIG. 1), an NSMF device 302 (corresponding to the NSMF device 102 in FIG. 1), and an ordering entity 303 , Its brief functions are described as follows:
  • NSCF device 301 deployed in the converged billing server or independently deployed. Obtain the network slice instance information and customer order information from the ordering entity 303, determine the network slice performance index, statistical time range, and statistical method according to the order information, and subscribe to the network slice performance index corresponding to the network slice instance from the NSMF device 302 Based on the data and the subscription information, perform charging processing on the network slice instance.
  • NSMF can send network slice instance information to the NSCF through the ordering entity, and NSMF can also directly send network slice instance information to the NSCF, such as: network slice instance identification, network slice instance creation time, network slice instance information Current status (such as created, activated, etc.), etc.
  • NSMF device 302 provides data corresponding to the network slice performance index of the network slice instance to the NSCF device 301, including the sampling value or statistical value of the index.
  • Ordering entity 303 Receive a network slicing order request from a customer, notify NSMF device 302 to open a network slicing instance, and send order information and network slicing instance information to NSCF device 301, so that it can charge the network slicing instance deal with.
  • the ordering entity 303 is a functional module, which can be deployed in a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) server or in other devices.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart of another method for charging network resources according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the method flow is implemented based on the architecture shown in FIG. 3, where the NSMF device corresponds to the NSMF device 302 in FIG. 3 and the NSCF device corresponds to In the NSCF device 301 in FIG. 3, the ordering entity corresponds to the ordering entity 303 in FIG.
  • the NSMF device is responsible for counting and transmitting the statistical value of the network slicing performance index to the NSCF device, and then the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slicing instance based on the statistical value, which specifically includes the following steps:
  • Step 401 The ordering entity receives a network slice ordering request.
  • the customer (assuming that its identifier is "1381234567") can submit a network slice order request to the ordering entity through its terminal (such as a mobile terminal, a laptop, etc., through a browser or through other channels), and the order request Contains the customer's demand information on the network performance of the network slice.
  • the demand information may include the network slice type, network slice performance index requirements, and so on.
  • the ordering entity can provide multiple types of network slicing, which can be displayed on the client terminal for customers to choose.
  • the ordering entity can provide: eMBB type (less equipment but large bandwidth requirements), uRLLC type (requires end-to-end delay is very small ), MMTC type (small bandwidth but extremely large number of devices) three types for customers to choose.
  • the customer can further specify the constraints of the network slicing performance index (the value can be a specific value or a range value). For example: if the customer selects the eMBB type network slice, the bandwidth of the network slice instance can be further specified to be higher than 1000G; if the customer selects the uRLLC type network slice, the maximum delay of the network slice instance can be further specified to be less than 5 ms; By selecting an eMTC type network slice, you can further specify that the number of concurrent PDU sessions for this network slice instance is more than 1 million.
  • the above “bandwidth”, “maximum delay” and “number of concurrent PDU sessions” are all network slice performance indicators.
  • the customer may specify the constraint conditions corresponding to each network slice performance index separately.
  • the embodiment of the present application takes an index as an example for description.
  • the ordering entity may also provide a network slicing template for the customer to choose from or as a basis for customer modification.
  • a network slicing template for the customer to choose from or as a basis for customer modification.
  • a network slice template can be:
  • the charging rule includes a charging method corresponding to the statistical value of the network slice performance index. For different statistical values, the examples are as follows:
  • the correspondence between the degree of compliance and the charging method can also be in the form of expressions, formulas, or functions, but it is also essentially a mapping or correspondence.
  • the correspondence between the non-compliance duration and the charging method can also be in the form of an expression, formula, or function.
  • the statistical value is the case where the cumulative number of failures is not met: For example, regarding the end-to-end latency network slicing performance indicator, the constraint condition specified by the customer should be "full-time less than 5ms", while the actual end-to-end latency is greater than 5ms If the cumulative number of occurrences reaches 60, the 60 times are the cumulative number of non-compliances; the correspondence between the cumulative number of non-compliances and the charging method may be similar to the correspondence between the above-mentioned compliance level and the charging method, and will not be repeated here.
  • the above charging rules are only schematic, and the embodiments of the present application do not exclude other charging rules for charging based on the value of the network slice performance index.
  • the ordering entity can create and store network slicing order information, for example:
  • the value of the "Billing Rule” field may be a text string obtained by converting the above charging rules (for example, the contents of Table-3), and the string may be in XML (Extensible Markup Language, Extensible Markup Language) format, JSON (JavaScript object notation) format or other text format, it can also be a computer-executable script, or it can be converted into binary format data of the above charging rules (such as the content of Table-2).
  • XML Extensible Markup Language
  • JSON JavaScript object notation
  • customers described in the embodiments of this application may be industry customers or enterprise customers with many user equipments, such as bicycle sharing companies, taxi companies, etc., or natural person customers.
  • this application is implemented Cases are called customers.
  • Step 402 The ordering entity notifies the NSMF device to activate the network slicing service.
  • the ordering entity may send the NSMF device a provisioning slice service notification, and the provisioning slice service notification may include the slice type and constraint conditions in the above network slice ordering information, so that the NSMF device creates a network slice instance that meets customer requirements.
  • the ordering entity may also include the customer identification in the slicing service activation notification, so that the NSMF device subsequently establishes the correspondence between the created network slicing instance and the customer identification.
  • Step 403 The NSMF device creates a network slice instance for the customer.
  • the NSMF device receives the above notification of opening the network slice from the ordering entity, and creates a corresponding network slice instance according to the network slice type and the constraint conditions in the notification, and assigns a unique identifier to it, that is, the network slice instance identifier.
  • the NSMF device may allocate the newly created network slice instance to the client, that is, establish a correspondence between the network slice instance identifier and the client identifier.
  • the NSMF device can also check whether there is already a network slicing instance that can meet the customer's needs in the network. If it is determined that it already exists and the network slicing instance can be assigned to the customer, the NSMF device can directly slice the existing network Instances are directly assigned to the above customers, so that the process of creating a new network slice instance can be omitted.
  • the NSMF device may obtain the above-mentioned customer identification from the above-mentioned network slicing notification message.
  • Step 404 The NSMF device returns the network slice instance information to the ordering entity.
  • the NSMF device may return a network slice opening response to the ordering entity, where the response may include indication information of successful network slice creation and information of the above network slice instance, and the information may include the above network slice instance identifier and the above network slice instance Creation time.
  • Step 405 The ordering entity sends network slice ordering information and network slice instance information to the NSCF device.
  • the subscription entity may send a subscription information notification to the NSCF device, where the notification includes the network slice subscription information described in step 401 and the network slice instance information described in step 404.
  • the NSMF device can send the network slice instance information to the NSCF device through the ordering entity.
  • the NSMF device can also directly send the network slice instance information to the NSCF device, such as: network slice instance identification, network slice instance creation time, network slice instance current status (such as created, activated, etc.), etc.
  • Step 406 The NSCF device determines the network slice performance index pfmArg1.
  • the NSCF device may determine the network slice performance index pfmArg1 according to the slice type and / or constraint conditions contained therein.
  • the field content of the charging rule may include the charging method corresponding to the index satisfaction condition described in step 401.
  • the NSCF device may determine that the network slice performance index required for the charging process is "average bandwidth" according to the constraint conditions or charging rules in the network slice ordering information.
  • step 201 Similar to step 201, this step is optional, and the order indicator pfmArg1 can also be determined by the NSMF device in a subsequent step using a method similar to this step.
  • Step 407 The NSCF device determines the statistical time range timRng1 or statistical method staMtd1.
  • the NSCF device may determine the statistical time range of the network slice performance index timRng1 according to any one or any combination of the above network slice ordering information, network slice instance information, operator pre-configured information, and customer account balance information And statistical method staMtd1.
  • the following is an example.
  • the NSCF device can determine the statistical time range of the network slice performance index timRng1 according to the "network slice instance creation time” and "order period” fields in the above network slice order information, for example, according to "network slice instance creation time” and “subscription
  • the "period” field determines the current charging cycle, and then the time range corresponding to the current charging cycle is used as the statistical time range, or a part of the time range (such as February 2018) in the current charging cycle (such as the first quarter of 2018) ) As the statistical time range.
  • the NSCF device can also determine the statistical time range of the network slicing performance index timRng1 based on the customer account balance information.
  • the customer account balance information For example, based on the customer account balance information, it can be determined that the customer can also use its network slicing instance for up to 60 days. Within 60 days after the current time.
  • the NSCF device can also combine the above order information and the above balance information to determine the statistical time range timRng1. For example, according to the order information, it can be determined that the statistical time range is 30 days from the current time, but the customer's account balance is not enough for 30 days For example, only enough for 15 days, the above statistical time range timRng1 can be determined to be within 15 days from the current time.
  • the NSCF device may also determine the statistical time range according to a unified pre-configured charging period (such as the first and last dates of the natural month) for different network slice instances by the operator.
  • a unified pre-configured charging period such as the first and last dates of the natural month
  • the NSCF device may also determine the statistical method staMtd1 according to the name of the network slice performance index previously determined. Taking the indicator of "average bandwidth” as an example, the NSCF device can determine the statistical method as "averaging" according to the name of this indicator, and divide the sum of the bandwidth values detected or acquired multiple times by the number of times as the average bandwidth value.
  • the NSCF device may also determine the statistical method according to the parameters related to the statistical method pre-configured by the operator for each network slice performance index. Taking the indicator of "average bandwidth” as an example, operators can pre-configure holiday bandwidth weights, then the NSCF device can determine the statistical method as "weighted average", and use the weighted average of multiple detected bandwidth values as the bandwidth average value.
  • Step 408 The NSCF device sends a subscription request to the NSMF device, which includes the above nsiId1, pfmArg1, and may also include timRng1 and staMtd1.
  • the NSCF device includes one or more of the above nsiId1, pfmArg1, timRng1, and staMtd1 in a subscription request, and sends the subscription request to the NSMF device.
  • nsiId1 and pfmArg1 are respectively used to indicate that the NSMF device needs to obtain the statistical value of the network slice performance index corresponding to pfmArg1 of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId1.
  • the parameters timRng1 and staMtd1 are optional parameters, which are respectively used to indicate the statistical time range and statistical method of the corresponding indicator, so that the NSMF device samples the pfmArg1 indicator within the statistical time range indicated by timRng1 and the sampling value is as described by staMtd1
  • the statistical method of statistics is used to obtain the statistical value; when timRng1 and staMtd1 do not appear, the NSMF device is required to determine the statistical time range and statistical method.
  • the statistical method staMtd1 in the subscription request message may be in the form of a digital ID or a character ID (for example, "001" or “avrg” for “averaging"), or it may be computer-executable Scripts, codes, formulas, functions and other forms are not limited in this embodiment of the present application, and any form that allows the NSMF device to clarify the statistical method that should be adopted is within the scope of the meaning of the solution of the embodiment of the present application.
  • the NSCF device may also include the address for receiving the subscription notification in the subscription request, so that the subsequent NSMF device can send the subscription notification to the NSCF device according to the address.
  • the NSCF device may also include the client identification in the subscription request message, so that the subsequent NSMF device determines the identification of the corresponding network slice instance according to the client identification.
  • the NSCF device may also include the condition for sending the notification in the subscription request message, so that the subsequent NSMF device sends a subscription notification to the NSCF device according to the condition to meet the needs of billing processing, and the condition for sending the notification It includes any one or any combination of the following: the period or interval of sending the subscription notification, the specific time point when the subscription notification is sent, triggered by key events (such as: modification of the network slice instance ordered by the customer, abnormal interruption, etc.).
  • the NSCF device may query the address of the NSMF device from a Network Registration Function (NRF) device, or may obtain the address of the NSMF device from locally pre-configured information and send the above-mentioned subscription request to the address.
  • NRF Network Registration Function
  • Step 409 The NSMF device returns a subscription response to the NSCF device, which includes subId1.
  • the NSMF device After receiving the subscription request, the NSMF device generates a subscription resource and assigns a subId1 to the subscription resource, and returns a subscription response to the NSCF device to indicate to the NSCF device that the subscription was successful.
  • the NSMF device includes the subscription identifier subId1 in the In the subscription response, the NSCF device is used in subsequent processes such as requesting to change subscription, requesting to unsubscribe, and querying subscription information. For details, refer to subsequent embodiments in this application.
  • the NSMF device uses the specified statistical method (staMtd1) to obtain the statistical value of the network slice performance index pfmArg1 of the network slice instance identified by nsiId1 within the specified time range (timRng1).
  • the NSMF device may determine the statistical time range or the statistical method according to information pre-configured by the operator. For example, the pre-configured information may be set as follows: the default statistical time range is from the first day of the natural month to the last day of the natural month, and the default statistical method is to average multiple samplings.
  • Step 410 The NSMF device obtains the sampling value pfmArgSmp1 and the sampling time pfmArgTim1 of the network slice performance index.
  • the NSMF device samples the value of the network slice performance index pfmArg1 of the network slice instance identified by nsiId1 at a predetermined time interval within the time range timRng1 to obtain multiple sets of sample values pfmArgSmp1 and corresponding samples Time pfmArgTim1.
  • the NSMF device may also obtain the above time range timRng1 from the configuration information preset by the operator. In this case, the NSCF device may not provide timRng1 in step 408.
  • the subscription request message may further include an interval time. Therefore, in this step, the interval time may be used instead of the preset time interval.
  • Step 411 The NSMF device calculates the statistical value pfmArgSta1 of the network slice performance index.
  • the NSMF device may perform statistics on the multiple sets of sampling values pfmArgSmp1 and sampling time pfmArgTim1 obtained in step 410 according to the statistical method staMtd1 received in step 408, or may perform the above statistics based on the statistical method determined by itself
  • the NSCF device may not need to provide staMtd1) to obtain the statistical value pfmArgSta1.
  • the NSMF device may determine the statistical method according to the name of pfmArg1. For details, refer to the manner in which the NSCF device determines the statistical method in step 407.
  • the NSMF device may perform the foregoing statistical operation at the end point of the foregoing statistical time range.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the execution time of the statistical operation of the NSMF device.
  • Step 412 The NSMF device sends a subscription notification to the NSCF device, which includes pfmArgSta1.
  • the NSMF device includes the above-mentioned pfmArgSta1 in a subscription notification, and sends the subscription notification to the NSCF device.
  • the NSMF device may send the subscription notification to the NSCF device according to the address sent by the NSCF to receive the subscription notification.
  • the NSMF device may also include the above-mentioned statistical time range timRng1 in the subscription notification, so that the NSCF device determines that the statistical value pfmArgSta1 is a statistical result within the time range timRng1.
  • Step 413 The NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance based on pfmArgSta1.
  • the NSCF device after receiving the subscription notification from the NSMF device, the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId1 based on pfmArgSta1 in the subscription notification, which may specifically be one of the following processing methods.
  • the NSCF device may create a charging bill for the corresponding customer or the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId1 (if it already exists, it is not necessary to create), and then write pfmArgSta1 to the bill.
  • the NSCF device may also write nsiId1 and / or the identification of the corresponding customer into the bill.
  • the NSCF device may also store the statistical time range corresponding to pfmArgSta1 and the pfmArgSta1 correspondingly in the bill, as shown in Table-5, the NSCF device may use different charging factors according to different charging cycles (such as discount activities) The discount provided in) calculates the usage fee for the network slice instance.
  • the NSCF device may obtain the statistical time range corresponding to the pfmArgSta1 from the subscription notification, or may determine the statistical time range corresponding to the pfmArgSta1 according to the time when the subscription notification is received.
  • Table-5 is an example of the bill.
  • the NSCF device may transmit the bill to the module or network entity responsible for calculating the fee, and the module or network entity calculates the usage fee of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId1; wherein, the module or network responsible for calculating the fee
  • the entity may be deployed in the NSCF device (equivalent to that the NSCF device may further charge the bill based on the statistical value of the indicator to calculate the usage cost of the network slice instance, see the second method below for details), or it may be deployed outside the NSCF device.
  • the NSCF device may calculate the usage fee of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId1 based on the statistical value pfmArgSta1.
  • the NSCF device may first obtain the charging rule chgPol1 corresponding to the network slicing instance corresponding to nsiId1.
  • the charging rule chgPol1 may be obtained from the network slicing order information described in step 401 above, or may be pre-configured information from the operator To obtain the charging rule chgPol1.
  • the embodiment of the present application does not limit the way in which the NSCF obtains charging rules.
  • the NSCF device can calculate the usage fee of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId1. For example, assuming that the charging rule chgPol1 is shown in Table-4, the NSCF device can search the corresponding charging method or rate in Table-4 according to the specific value of pfmArgSta1, so that the usage fee can be calculated.
  • Figure 4 corresponds to the charging processing method for network resources.
  • the subscription-notification mechanism is used to implement the sampling and statistics of the network slice performance indicators by the NSMF device, and the charging processing based on the statistical value by the NSCF device.
  • the sampling values of the network slicing performance indicators are frequently transferred between the NSMF device and the NSCF device, thereby reducing the occupation of the communication bandwidth between the NSMF device and the NSCF device, and reducing the calculation burden on the NSCF device side.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another method for charging a network resource according to an embodiment of the present application.
  • the method flow is also implemented based on the architecture shown in FIG. 3, where the NSMF device corresponds to the NSMF device 302 and NSCF device in FIG. Corresponding to the NSCF device 301 in FIG. 3, the ordering entity corresponds to the ordering entity 303 in FIG.
  • the NSMF device transmits the sampling value / sampling time (not statistical value) of the network slicing performance index to the NSCF device, and the NSCF device charges the network slicing instance based on the sampling value / sampling time, specifically including The following steps:
  • Step 501 to step 506 similar to step 401 to step 406, in which the network slice instance identifier is changed to nsiId2, and the network slice performance index is changed to pfmArg2.
  • Step 507 The NSCF device determines the statistical time range timRng2, the statistical method staMtd2, and the interval time intv.
  • step 407 The method for determining timRng2 and staMtd2 is similar to step 407.
  • the NSCF device may also determine the interval time intv, and include the intv in the subscription request, the interval time intv will be used to instruct the NSMF device to sample pfmArg2 at a time interval (ie, two adjacent pfmArg2 The time interval between the indicators being sampled).
  • the NSCF device may also determine timRng2, staMtd2, intv, etc. in subsequent steps, such as step 512.
  • Step 508 The NSCF device sends a subscription request to the NSMF device, which includes the aforementioned nsiId2 and pfmArg2.
  • the subscription request may also include the aforementioned intv.
  • the NSCF device includes the network slice instance identifier nsiId2 and the network slice performance index pfmArg2 in the subscription identifier.
  • the NSCF device may also include the interval time intv determined in step 507 in the subscription request, so that the NSMF device may determine the time interval for sampling the network slice performance index pfmArg2.
  • Step 509 The NSMF device returns a subscription response to the NSCF device, which includes subId2.
  • This step is similar to step 409.
  • Step 510 The NSMF device obtains the sampling value pfmArgSmp2 and the sampling time pfmArgTim2 of the network slice performance index.
  • This step is similar to step 410.
  • the NSMF device records the sampling time pfmArgSmpTim2 corresponding to the sampling value pfmArgSmp2, and its value may be a specific time point or a time period.
  • sampling time pfmArgSmpTim2 corresponding to the sampling value pfmArgSmp2
  • its value may be a specific time point or a time period.
  • Step 511 The NSMF device sends a subscription notification to the NSCF device, which includes pfmArgSmp2 and pfmArgTim2.
  • the NSMF device includes the above-mentioned pfmArgSmp2 in a subscription notification, and sends the subscription notification to the NSCF device.
  • the NSMF device may send the subscription notification to the NSCF device according to the address sent by the NSCF to receive the subscription notification.
  • the NSMF device may also include the sampling time pfmArgTim2 in the subscription notification, so that the NSCF device confirms the sampling time corresponding to each sampling value pfmArgSmp2 for statistics.
  • Step 512 The NSCF device charges the network slice instance based on pfmArgSmp2 and pfmArgTim2.
  • the NSCF device after receiving the above subscription notification from the NSMF device, the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId2 based on the sampling value pfmArgSmp2 of the network slice performance index pfmArgS2 and the sampling time pfmArgTim2 of the network slice performance index pfmArg2 therein. If the subscription notification does not include pfmArgTim2, the NSCF device may use the time when the foregoing subscription notification is received as the sampling time pfmArgTim2.
  • the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId2, which may specifically be writing pfmArgSmp2 and pfmArgTim2 into the bill.
  • the NSCF device can create an indicator sample value billing bill for the corresponding customer or the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId2 (if it already exists, you do not need to create it), and then store pfmArgSmp2 and pfmArgTim2 in the bill.
  • the NSCF device stores the sampling time pfmArgTim2 and pfmArgSmp2 in the bill, which has the advantage that the NSCF device can subsequently confirm whether each sampling value pfmArgSmp2 is within the statistical time range timRng2 (or within the charging period).
  • the NSCF device may also write nsiId2 and / or the identification of the corresponding customer into the bill.
  • the form of the above bill may be as shown in Table-6.
  • the NSCF device may transmit the bill to the module or network entity responsible for calculating the fee, and the module or network entity calculates the usage fee of the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId2; wherein, the module or network responsible for calculating the fee
  • the entity may be deployed in the NSCF device or outside the NSCF device.
  • the NSCF device can subsequently read the sampling value in the statistical time range timRng21 (or within the charging period) from the bill, and refer to the method of step 411, according to the statistical method staMtd2 determined above, to calculate the statistical value of the network slice performance index pfmArg2 Then, referring to step 413 (method two), calculate the usage fee for the network slice instance corresponding to nsiId2. Therefore, the operations of acquiring or determining the statistical time range timRng2 and the statistical method staMtd2 in the above step 507 may also be delayed before the statistical operation.
  • the NSCF device collects a large amount of performance data about the network slice instance, which is beneficial to develop a richer and flexible charging service, for example, For large customers, new statistical methods can be used to calculate new statistical values at a later stage, and based on the new statistical values and new charging rules, the usage cost of network slice instances can be calculated.
  • NSMF devices only It is required to collect / collect the value of the network slice performance index without involving statistical operations related to charging, and its calculation burden can be reduced.
  • the NSCF device may require the NSMF device to provide the sampling value of the network slicing performance index, or may require the NSMF device to provide the statistical value of the network slicing performance index.
  • the method for distinguishing messages when the two methods are implemented at the same time includes: One method is to distinguish by the parameters in the message. For example, if the NSMF device receives the subscription message sent by the NSCF device, the statistical time range and / or Or statistical method, it can be determined that the NSCF device needs to provide the statistical value of the network slicing performance index by itself.
  • Another method may include an indication parameter in the first message or the subscription message, for example, argValType, which is used to indicate whether the NSCF device needs the NSMF device to provide the statistical value of the network slice performance index or the sampling value.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method for charging a network slice instance according to an embodiment of the present application. The method flow is also implemented based on the architecture shown in FIG. 3, where the NSMF device corresponds to the NSMF device 302 in FIG. 3, NSCF The device corresponds to the NSCF device 301 in FIG. 3.
  • the NSCF device may request the NSMF device to change the subscription according to the changes ordered by the customer, which specifically includes the following steps:
  • Step 601 The NSCF device determines that the NSMF device needs to be notified of the changed factor.
  • the NSCF device determines the factors that need to be notified of the changes to the NSMF device based on factors such as changes in customer ordering information received from the ordering entity or changes in customer account balances, including but not limited to: network slicing performance indicators, network slicing performance indicators Corresponding statistical time range, statistical method or sampling interval time, and then form a name-value pair list namValPairs according to these changing factors.
  • network slicing performance indicators Corresponding statistical time range, statistical method or sampling interval time, and then form a name-value pair list namValPairs according to these changing factors.
  • name-value pair "name” is used to indicate to the NSMF device what the corresponding change is, "value "Used to indicate to the NSMF device why the change is.
  • the NSCF device needs to temporarily perform billing processing (for example, the billing processing triggered by the customer temporarily requesting check and billing at the middle of the billing cycle or the time when the billing time is not reached), you can update it through the subscription
  • the request carries a new indication parameter, for example: immediatelyReporting, to indicate that the data corresponding to the network slice performance index needs to be reported immediately (instead of waiting until the end of the statistical period), or does not carry any parameters in the subscription update request to indicate the need for immediate Report data corresponding to network slice performance indicators.
  • Step 602 The NSCF device sends a subscription update request for subscribed resources to the NSMF device, which includes subId and namValPairs.
  • the NSCF device sends a subscription update request to the NSMF device, which includes the subscription identifier subId (for example, the above subId1 or subId2) allocated by the NSMF device previously received from the NSMF device and the namValPairs determined in the previous step, where namValPairs is available.
  • the subscription identifier subId for example, the above subId1 or subId2
  • the namValPairs determined in the previous step, where namValPairs is available.
  • Step 603 The NSMF device obtains the data befArgData corresponding to the network slice performance index so far.
  • the NSMF device first obtains the data corresponding to the network slice performance index so far: If the NSCF device previously subscribed to the statistical value of the network slice performance index (as shown in the corresponding method flow in FIG. 4), then the NSMF The device obtains the current statistical value of befArgSta of the network slice performance index (such as pfmArg1) subscribed by the previous NSCF device, and its statistical time range is from the actual time point of the previous statistical time range (such as timRng1) to the current time; The sampling value of the network slicing performance index (as shown in the corresponding method flow in FIG.
  • the NSMF device obtains the sampling value befArgSmp that the network slicing performance index (such as pfmArg2) currently subscribed to by the NSCF device should be sampled and sent. If the sampling value near the current time has been sent, or the NSCF device no longer needs the data corresponding to the network slice performance index so far, the NSMF device may not perform this step.
  • the network slicing performance index such as pfmArg2
  • Step 604 The NSMF device performs the subscription change operation of the subscription resource according to namValPairs.
  • the NSMF device changes the parameters in the previous subscription according to each namValPair in namValPairs, for example, changing the "statistical method” to "find the maximum value” and “statistical time range” to "20181001-20181015", In order to obtain the data corresponding to the network slice performance index according to the new parameters in the task created before.
  • Step 605 The NSMF device sends a subscription update response message to the NSCF device, which includes the above subId and befArgData.
  • the NSMF device sends a subscription update response message to the NSCF device, which includes the above subId and befArgData, and befArgData is optional, and its value may be the above befArgSmp or befArgSta.
  • Step 606 The NSMF device sends a notification to the NSCF device, which contains befArgData.
  • This step is optional.
  • a notification may also be sent to the NSCF device, which contains the befArgData.
  • Step 607 The NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance based on befArgData.
  • the NSCF device After receiving the above subscription response message or notification message, the NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance according to the befArgData therein. If befArgData is the above befArgSta, you can refer to the execution process of step 413 above; See the execution process of step 512 above.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another method for charging a network slice instance provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method flow is also implemented based on the architecture shown in FIG. 3, where the NSMF device corresponds to the NSMF device 302 in FIG. 3, NSCF The device corresponds to the NSCF device 301 in FIG. 3. In this method flow, the NSCF device may request the NSMF device to unsubscribe the subscription resource according to the customer order information or account balance information, which specifically includes the following steps:
  • Step 701 The NSCF device determines that the subscription needs to be ended.
  • the NSCF device determines that it is necessary to notify the NSMF device to end the subscription based on factors such as customer order information or customer account balance.
  • Step 702 The NSCF device sends the unsubscribed request of the subscription resource to the NSMF device, which includes the subId of the subscription resource.
  • the NSCF device sends the unsubscribed request of the subscribed resource to the NSMF device, which includes the identifier subId (for example, the above subId1 or subId2) of the subscribed resource allocated by the NSMF device previously received from the NSMF device.
  • the NSMF device includes the identifier subId (for example, the above subId1 or subId2) of the subscribed resource allocated by the NSMF device previously received from the NSMF device.
  • the subscription resource is the subscription resource described in steps 202, 409, and 509.
  • Step 703 The NSMF device obtains the data befArgData corresponding to the network slice performance index so far.
  • This step is similar to step 603.
  • Step 704 The NSMF device performs the unsubscribe operation.
  • the NSMF device may stop and delete the task previously created to obtain the data corresponding to the network slice performance indicator to reclaim the computing resources occupied by the task.
  • Step 705 The NSMF device sends an unsubscribe response message to the NSCF device, which contains the above subId and befArgData.
  • This step is similar to step 605.
  • Step 706 The NSMF device sends a notification to the NSCF device, which contains befArgData.
  • This step is similar to step 606.
  • Step 707 The NSCF device performs charging processing on the network slice instance based on befArgData.
  • This step is similar to step 607.
  • FIG. 8 is a hardware structure diagram of an NSCF device or an NSMF device provided by an embodiment of this application. All NSCF devices (for example, 101 in FIG. 1 and 301 in FIG. 3) and all NSMF devices (for example, 102 in FIG. 1 or 302 in FIG. 3) in the embodiments of the present application can adopt the FIG. 8
  • the illustrated general computer hardware includes a processor 801, a memory 802, a bus 803, an input device 804, an output device 805, and a network interface 806, where the input device 804 and the output device 805 are optional.
  • the memory 802 may include computer storage media in the form of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, such as read-only memory and / or random access memory.
  • the memory 802 may store an operating system, application programs, other program modules, executable codes, and program data.
  • the input device 804 can be used to input information, which is convenient for the system administrator to operate and manage the device, such as configuring default charging rules, default statistical time range, etc.
  • the input device 804 is a keyboard or pointing device, such as a mouse and trackball , Touch pad, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite TV antenna, scanner or similar device. These input devices may be connected to the processor 801 through the bus 803.
  • the output device 805 can be used to output information so that the system administrator can operate and manage the device. In addition to the monitor, the output device 805 can also provide other peripheral output devices, such as speakers and / or printing devices. The output device may also be connected to the processor 801 through the bus 803.
  • the NSCF device or NSMF device may be connected to the network through the network interface 806, for example, connected to a local area network (Local Area Network, LAN).
  • a local area network Local Area Network, LAN
  • computer-executed instructions stored in the device may be stored in a remote storage device, not limited to local storage.
  • the NSCF device when the processor 801 executes the executable code or application program stored in the memory 802, the NSCF device can perform the method steps corresponding to the NSCF device in all the above embodiments, such as steps 201, 205, 406 and 407, etc .; for the specific execution process, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.
  • the NSMF device when the processor 801 executes the executable code or application program stored in the memory 802, the NSMF device can perform the method steps corresponding to the NSMF device in all the above embodiments, such as steps 203, 208, 410 and 411, etc .; for the specific execution process, please refer to the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.
  • the NSCF device includes:
  • the -Determination module 901 used to determine the network slice performance index required for charging processing of the network slice instance, for example, the network slice performance index is determined according to customer order information or information pre-configured by the operator, and the specific execution process is described above In the embodiment, the steps of the NSCF device side are described, such as steps 201, 406, and 506.
  • -A sending module 902 used to include the identification of the network slice instance and the network slice performance index in the first message, and send the first message to the NSMF device, for example, create a subscription request message, and The identifier of the network slicing instance and the performance index of the network slicing are included in the subscription request message, and the subscription request message is sent to the NSMF device.
  • the specific execution process refer to the steps on the NSMF device side in the foregoing embodiment Instructions, such as steps 202, 408, and 508.
  • the -A receiving module 903 for receiving a second message from the NSMF device, the second message containing data corresponding to the network slice performance indicator, for example, receiving a subscription notification message from the NSMF device, the subscription notification message Contains data corresponding to the network slicing performance index.
  • the data may specifically be a sampling value of the network slicing performance index or a statistical value of the network slicing performance index.
  • -A charging processing module 904 configured to perform charging processing on the network slice instance based on the data corresponding to the network slice performance index, for example, if the data corresponding to the network slice performance index is a sample value, the The sample value is stored in the index sample value billing bill, and if the data corresponding to the network slice performance index is a statistical value, the usage cost of the network slice instance can be calculated based on the statistical value, or the statistical value can also be stored in the index The bill is charged based on the statistical value for subsequent calculation of the usage fee.
  • the steps on the NSCF device side such as steps 205, 413, and 512.
  • the NSCF device is presented in the form of a functional module.
  • Module here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other functions that can provide the above functions Device.
  • ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
  • the NSCF device may also take the form shown in FIG. 8.
  • the determining module 901, the sending module 902, the receiving module 903, and the charging processing module 904 can all be implemented by the processor 801 and the memory 802 in FIG.
  • the function of the billing processing module 904 to calculate the usage fee of the network slice instance can be implemented by the processor 801 executing the code stored in the memory 802.
  • the NSMF device includes:
  • the receiving module 1001 is configured to receive a first message from the NSCF device, where the first message includes the identifier of the network slice instance and the network slice performance index.
  • the first message includes the identifier of the network slice instance and the network slice performance index.
  • -An obtaining module 1002 configured to obtain data corresponding to the network slicing performance index according to the first message, wherein the sampling value of the network slicing performance index may be obtained, or the statistical value of the network slicing performance index may be obtained, If it is a statistical value, the statistical value of the network slice performance index can also be calculated according to the statistical time range and statistical method in the first message.
  • the specific execution process refer to the step description on the NSMF device side in the foregoing embodiment, as shown in step 203, 410, 411 and 510 etc.
  • -A sending module 1003 used to include the data corresponding to the network slicing performance index in a second message, and send the second message to the NSCF device, so that the NSCF device according to the network slicing performance index
  • the corresponding data performs charging processing on the network slice instance.
  • steps 204, 412, and 511 refer to the description of the steps on the NSMF device side in the foregoing embodiment, such as steps 204, 412, and 511.
  • the NSMF equipment is presented in the form of functional modules.
  • Module here can refer to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a circuit, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and / or other functions that can provide the above functions Device.
  • ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
  • the receiving module 1001, the acquiring module 1002, and the sending module 1003 can all be implemented by the processor 801 and the memory 802 in FIG.
  • the function of the acquisition module 1002 acquiring data corresponding to the network slice performance index may be implemented by the processor 801 executing the code stored in the memory 802.
  • the disclosed system, device, and method may be implemented in other ways.
  • the division of the units is only a division of logical functions. In actual implementation, there may be other divisions. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not. carried out.
  • the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices, or units, and may also be electrical, mechanical, or other forms of connection.
  • the units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments of the present application.
  • the functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.
  • the above integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional unit.
  • the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
  • the technical solution of the present application essentially or part of the contribution to the existing technology, or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product
  • the computer software product is stored in a storage medium
  • several instructions are included to enable a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application.
  • the foregoing storage media include various media that can store program codes, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

Abstract

一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法，该方法主要包括：确定对网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标，向网络切片管理设备订阅所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。该方法使得对客户计费的结果与运营商为网络切片实例的投入相匹配，有利于提高网络资源的使用效率，并满足行业客户的多样化网络服务需求。

Description

一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法、系统以及相关设备
本申请要求了2018年11月15日提交的、申请号为201811361400.X、发明名称为“一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法、系统以及相关设备”的中国申请的优先权，其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。
技术领域
本申请涉及通信领域，尤其涉及一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法、系统以及相关设备。
背景技术
5G(5th Generation，第五代)网络的主要应用场景包括eMBB(enhanced Mobile Broadband，增强移动宽带)、uRLLC(ultra High-Reliability and Low-Latency Communication，超高可靠性低时延通信)、mMTC(massive Machine Type Communication，大连接机器类通信)等。这些场景对网络特性的需求有很大的差异，例如：mMTC场景会有非常多的设备，但每个设备的吞吐量可能非常低，需要的带宽很小；而eMBB场景则需要几乎相反的特性，因为它将具有少得多的设备，但是每个设备都将发送或接收大量数据，需要的带宽很大；uRLLC场景则对端到端的时延要求很高，如自动驾驶，时延要求小于3毫秒。为满足上述不同应用场景的需求，可以在端到端的层面上对物理网络进行划分，以形成网络切片(Network Slice)，实现流量分组、隔离租户和宏观层面的资源配置。网络切片的本质是在共享的物理网络基础设施之上运行的虚拟网络，运营商可以根据不同的服务需求(比如时延、带宽、安全性和可靠性等)在物理网络基础上创建出满足相应服务需求的虚拟网络(对应一个网络切片实例)，以供有不同网络特性需求的客户使用，从而提高网络资源的利用率以及网络服务的服务质量。
现有技术中，对网络资源进行计费处理的方案是，由业务系统根据业务的开始、结束等业务事件触发计费系统进行计费，同时业务系统统计准确的业务信息(如业务使用的流量、业务使用的时长等)，上报给计费系统，以使计费系统据此进行批价和扣费。
发明人发现，假如仍然按照上述计费处理方案对网络切片实例进行计费处理，则将导致计费结果与运营商为相应网络切片实例的投入不匹配，从而不利于实施上述多样化应用场景，进而降低网络资源的使用效率或降低网络服务的服务质量。
发明内容
鉴于此，有必要提供一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法，以实现根据网络切片实例的服务等级满足程度进行计费处理，有助于提高运营商网络资源的利用率，同时也可以更好地满足不同客户的多样化网络需求。
第一方面，本申请实施例提供了一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法，该方法包括：网络切片计费功能NSCF设备向网络切片管理功能NSMF设备发送第一消息，所述第一消息包含网络切片实例的标识；所述NSCF设备从所述NSMF设备接收第二消息，所述第二消息包含所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，所述网络切片性能指标用 于描述所述网络切片实例的网络性能；所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
相对于传统上单纯基于终端业务数据(如流量或时长)的线性方式的计费方法而言，该方法可以基于网络切片性能指标对应的数据对网络切片实例进行计费处理，由于网络切片性能指标对应的数据既是客户所关心的数据，又能更好地体现运营商的投入，因此有助于提高计费结果与网络资源投入的匹配程度，有利于实施上述多样化应用场景，进而有助于提高网络资源的使用效率或提高网络服务的服务质量。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息还包含所述网络切片性能指标。
在一个可能的方案中，所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前，还确定所述网络切片性能指标。
在一个可能的方案中，所述确定所述网络切片性能指标，具体包括：基于客户订购所述网络切片实例的订购信息,确定所述网络切片性能指标。
在一个可能的方案中，所述订购信息包含所述网络切片实例的服务等级协议条款、网络切片类型、网络切片模板、订购时长中的任意一项或任意组合。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的值，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：将所述网络切片性能指标的值存入第一计费话单。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据还包含所述网络切片性能指标的时间，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体还包括：还将所述网络切片性能指标的时间存入所述第一计费话单。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据未包含所述网络切片性能指标的时间，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体还包括：还将接收到所述第二消息的时间作为所述网络切片性能指标的时间存入所述第一计费话单。
在一个可能的方案中，所述基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据进行所述网络切片实例的计费处理，具体还包括：确定所述网络切片性能指标的统计时间范围，以及确定所述网络切片性能指标的统计方法；使用所述统计方法，对所述第一计费话单中所述统计时间范围内的所述网络切片性能指标的值进行统计，得到所述网络切片性能指标的统计值；基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，进行所述网络切片实例的计费处理。
在一个可能的方案中，所述NSCF设备在向所述NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前，还确定所述网络切片性能指标的统计时间范围，所述统计时间范围用于指示所述NSMF设备统计所述统计时间范围内的所述网络切片性能指标的一个或多个值；所述第一消息还包含所述统计时间范围。
在上述可能的方案中，作为计费功能设备，NSCF设备收集了大量的关于网络切片实例的性能数据，有利于开展更丰富、灵活的计费服务，例如，针对大客户，可以在后期采用新的统计方法统计出新的统计值，并基于新的统计值和新的计费规则，计算网络切片实例的使用费用；作为网络切片管理设备，NSMF设备由于只需要负责收集/采集网络切片性能指标的值，而无需涉及与计费相关的统计操作，其计算负担可以有所降低。
在一个可能的方案中，所述NSCF设备在向所述NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前， 还确定所述网络切片性能指标的统计方法，所述统计方法用于指示所述NSMF设备使用所述统计方法统计所述统计范围内的所述网络切片性能指标的一个或多个值；所述第一消息还包含所述统计方法。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
在一个可能的方案中，所述基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：将所述网络切片性能指标的统计值存入第二计费话单。
在一个可能的方案中，所述基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体还包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。
在一个可能的方案中，所述基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用，具体包括：获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的计费规则，所述计费规则包含所述网络切片性能指标的统计值对应的费用计算方法；基于所述计费规则和所述网络切片性能指标的统计值计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。
在上述可能的方案中，实现由NSMF设备完成对网络切片性能指标的采样和统计、由NSCF设备完成根据统计值进行计费处理，其好处是无需在NSMF设备和NSCF设备之间频繁传递网络切片性能指标的采样值，从而可以减少对NSMF设备和NSCF设备之间的通信带宽的占用，并减少NSCF设备侧的计算负担。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标的统计值包括以下任意一项或任意组合：所述网络切片性能指标的平均值、最大值、最小值、达标程度、达标累计时长、达标累计次数、不达标累计时长和不达标累计次数。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息还包含间隔时间，所述间隔时间用于指示所述NSMF设备相邻两次获取所述网络切片性能指标的值的时间间隔。该方案中，所述NSCF设备可以向NSMF设备指示采样时间间隔，以更好地满足计费处理的需求，例如基于时间密度更高的采样值可以获得更精确的统计值，从而使得计费处理更精确。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息为订阅请求消息，所述第二消息为订阅通知消息，所述订阅请求消息用于请求所述NSMF设备为所述网络切片实例生成订阅资源，所述第一消息还包含接收数据的地址，以指示所述NSMF设备根据该地址向所述NSCF设备发送订阅通知消息。
在一个可能的方案中，所述方法还包括：所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送变更所述订阅资源的订阅更新请求消息，所述订阅更新请求消息包含目标统计时间范围、目标间隔时间、目标统计方法和目标网络切片性能指标中的任意一项或任意组合；所述NSCF设备从所述NSMF设备接收所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
在一个可能的方案中，所述方法还包括：所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送所述订阅资源的去订阅请求；所述NSCF设备从所述NSMF设备接收所述订阅资源的去订阅前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
在上述可能的方案中，采用订阅-通知机制，使得在NSMF设备和NSCF设备之间传递 所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据更及时。
第二方面，本申请实施例提供了一种对网络资源进行计费处理方法，该方法包括：网络切片管理功能NSMF设备从网络切片计费功能NSCF设备接收第一消息，所述第一消息包含网络切片实例的标识；所述NSMF设备根据所述第一消息获取所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，所述网络切片性能指标用于描述所述网络切片实例的网络性能；所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送第二消息，所述第二消息包含所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
该方法使得NSMF设备可以为NSCF设备提供网络切片性能指标对应的数据，使得NSCF设备可以基于网络切片性能指标对应的数据对网络切片实例进行计费处理，有助于提高计费结果与网络资源投入的匹配程度，有利于实施上述多样化应用场景，进而有助于提高网络资源的使用效率或提高网络服务的服务质量。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标为对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标，所述第一消息还包含所述网络切片性能指标；所述NSMF设备根据所述第一消息获取所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：获取所述第一消息中包含的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的值，所述NSMF设备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：获取所述网络切片性能指标的值。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据还包含所述网络切片性能指标的时间，所述NSMF设备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体还包括：获取所述网网络切片性能指标的时间。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息中还包含统计时间范围；所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的统计值；所述获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：在所述统计时间范围内获取所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，以及统计所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，得到所述网络切片性能指标的统计值。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息中还包含统计方法；所述统计所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，具体包括：使用所述统计方法统计所述网络切片性能指标的多个值。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息为订阅请求消息，所述第二消息为订阅通知消息，所述第一消息还包含接收数据的地址，且在收到所述订阅请求消息后，为所述网络切片实例生成订阅资源，并根据所述接收数据的地址向所述NSCF设备发送所述订阅通知消息。
在一个可能的方案中，所述方法还包括：所述NSMF设备从所述NSCF设备接收变更所述订阅资源的订阅更新请求消息，所述订阅更新请求消息包含目标统计时间范围、目标间隔时间、目标统计方法和目标网络切片性能指标中的任意一项或任意组合；所述NSMF设备根据所述订阅更新请求消息对所述订阅资源执行变更订阅操作；所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
在一个可能的方案中，所述方法还包括：所述NSMF设备从所述NSCF设备接收所述订阅资源的去订阅请求消息；所述NSMF设备根据所述去订阅请求消息对所述订阅资源执 行去订阅操作；所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送所述订阅资源去订阅前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息还包含间隔时间，所述方法还包括：根据所述间隔时间，确定相邻两次获取所述网络切片性能指标的值的时间间隔。该方案中，所述NSMF设备可以根据所述NSCF设备指示的采样时间间隔进行采样，可以更好地满足所述NSCF设备进行计费处理的需求。
第三方面，本申请实施例提供了一种网络切片计费功能设备，该设备包括处理器和存储器，其中：所述存储器，用于存储程序指令；所述处理器，用于调用并执行所述存储器中存储的程序指令，以使所述网络切片计费功能设备执行所述第一方面中的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法。
第四方面，本申请实施例提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，包括指令，当其在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行所述第一方面中的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法。
第五方面，本申请实施例提供了一种网络切片管理功能设备，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器，其中：所述存储器，用于存储程序指令；所述处理器，用于调用并执行所述存储器中存储的程序指令，以使所述网络切片管理设备执行所述第二方面中的对网络资源进行计费处理方法。
第六方面，本申请实施例提供了一种计算机可读存储介质，包括指令，当其在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行所述第二方面中的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法。
第七方面，本申请实施例提供了一种对网络资源进行计费处理的系统，包括：网络切片管理功能NSMF设备和网络切片计费功能NSCF设备，且其中：所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送第一消息，所述第一消息包含所述网络切片实例的标识；所述NSMF设备接收所述第一消息，并根据所述第一消息获取所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据,所述网络切片性能指标用于描述所述网络切片实例的网络性能；所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送第二消息，所述第二消息包含所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据；所述NSCF设备接收所述第二消息，并基于所述第二消息中的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标为对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标，所述第一消息还包含所述网络切片性能指标；所述NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前，还确定所述网络切片性能指标。
在一个可能的方案中，所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的值以及所述网络切片性能指标的时间；所述NSMF设备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：获取所述网络切片性能指标的值以及获取所述网络切片性能指标的时间；所述NSCF设备基于所述第二消息中的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的值以及所述网络切片性能指标的时间，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
在一个可能的方案中，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标的值以及所述网络切片性能指标的时间，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：将所述网络切片性能指标的值和所述网络切片性能指标的时间存入第一计费话单中。
在一个可能的方案中，所述第一消息还包含统计时间范围和统计方法；所述NSMF设 备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：获取所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片性能指标的值，以及使用所述统计方法统计所述统计时间范围内所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，得到所述网络切片性能指标的统计值；所述NSCF设备基于所述第二消息中的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，进行所述网络切片实例的计费处理。
在一个可能的方案中，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。
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图1为本申请实施例提供的计费系统架构图；
图2为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法流程图；
图3为本申请实施例提供的又一计费系统架构图；
图4为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的又一方法流程图；
图5为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的又一方法流程图；
图6为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的又一方法流程图；
图7为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的又一方法流程图；
图8为本申请实施例提供的NSCF设备或NSMF设备的硬件结构图；
图9为本申请实施例提供的NSCF设备的结构示意图；
图10为本申请实施例提供的NSMF设备的结构示意图。
具体实施方式
下面将结合本申请实施例中的附图，对本申请实施例中的技术方案进行描述。
图1为本申请实施例提供的计费系统架构图，其中包括网络切片计费功能(Network Slice Charging Function，NSCF)设备101、网络切片管理功能(Network Slice Management Function，NSMF)设备102等。为叙述方便本申请实施例将“网络切片计费功能设备”简称为“NSCF设备”，将“网络切片管理功能设备”简称为“NSMF设备”，其主要功能分别描述如下：
NSCF设备101：用于确定一个网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标，通过NSMF设备102提供的接口(Nnsmf为示例性的接口标识)向NSMF设备102订阅该网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，并基于该数据对网络切片实例进行计费处理。
所述网络切片性能指标用于描述所述网络切片实例的网络性能，既能在某个或某些侧面体现客户或用户在使用所述网络切片实例上的关注点，又能在某个或某些侧面体现运营商在所述网络切片实例上的投入，可以包括但不限于下述参数中的一个或多个：
-端到端时延：指数据包在网络切片实例的接入域、传输域和核心网域的传输时延。
-PDU(protocol data unit session，协议数据单元)会话数：指在网络切片实例上建立的PDU会话数量(即使用该网络切片实例的用户设备与该网络切片上数据网关之间建立的PDU会话的数量)。
-带宽：指网络切片实例所有并发PDU session所使用的带宽的总和。
-用户数：指实际使用过或者并发使用该网络切片实例的用户数量或者注册在该网络切片 实例上的用户的数量。
为叙述方便，本申请实施例中也将网络切片性能指标简称为“指标”。
应理解，一个网络切片实例可以具有一个或多个网络切片性能指标，本申请实施例对网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标的个数不作限定。
运营商与客户就网络切片实例约定SLA(Service Level Agreement，服务等级协议)时，可以约定网络切片性能指标的约束条件，例如，“时延超过5ms次数应在10次以内”，“带宽低于100G的累计时间不超过30小时”等。
在具体实现中，通过消息传递的网络切片性能指标可以用指标的参数名称或参数标识来表示，例如，用“E2EDelay”或“101”表示“时延”这个网络切片性能指标。本申请实施例对网络切片性能指标的表示方式不作限定。为叙述方便，本申请实施例以参数名称为例进行说明。
可选地，NSCF设备还将上述计费处理的结果发送给账单系统(图1未显示)，以使所述账单系统为客户生成计费账单。
应理解，本申请实施例对NSCF设备所部署的实际物理设备不作限定，例如，可以独立部署，也可以部署在融合计费功能服务器或者其他物理设备中。
NSMF设备102：用于向NSCF设备101提供网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，包括：接收关于网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据的订阅请求，获取网络切片性能指标对应的数据，通过订阅通知将该网络切片指标对应的数据发送给NSCF设备101。NSMF设备可以为跨域切片管理器或者核心网子域的切片管理器。
为便于理解本申请实例，下面进一步解释几个与网络切片性能指标有关的概念：
(1)网络切片性能指标的值：根据性能指标的不同，性能指标的值可以是指某一时刻、某一时隙或某一时间段内(如某一分钟内)，NSMF设备或其他设备针对所述网络切片性能指标进行检测、采样或通过其他方式获取到的具体值；为叙述方便，本申请实施例也称之为网络切片性能指标的采样值、瞬时值，甚至直接称之为采样值或瞬时值。
(2)网络切片性能指标的时间：是指检测、采样或通过其他方式获取到网络切片性能指标的具体值的时间点、时隙或时间段；为叙述方便，本申请实施例也称之为网络切片性能指标的采样时间或者网络切片性能指标的获取时间，甚至直接称之为采样时间或获取时间；应理解，所述网络切片性能指标的时间/采样时间/获取时间可以是一个具体时间点，也可以是一个具体时间段(如某一分钟)；例如，“并发会话数”的采样时间可以是“2018-10-26 23:58:52”，而“时延”的采样时间可以是“2018-09-26 13:46:00/2018-09-26 13:47:00”或者“2018-09-26 13:46”等。
(3)网络切片性能指标的约束条件：是指对某个统计时间范围内网络切片性能指标的值的量化约束或量化要求，通常用数值范围来表示，也可以用具体数值来表示。例如，“带宽”这个指标的约束条件可以为“月平均带宽＝100M”，也可以为“带宽小于100M的累计时长不超过30小时”，“时延”这个指标的约束条件可以为“时延超过50ms的次数小于10次”等；网络切片性能指标的约束条件通常是在客户订购网络切片实例过程中与运营商达成一致的结果。
(4)网络切片性能指标的统计值：是指按照一定的统计方法，对采样时间或获取时间落在某个统计时间范围内的网络切片性能指标的值进行统计得到的结果。所述统计方法，可以 是与约束条件无关的统计方法，例如求平均值、加权平均值等，也可以是与约束条件相关的统计方法，即根据约束条件中的参数确定的统计方法。下面结合几种网络切片性能指标的统计值的类型分别举例说明，参见表-1所示的情况。应理解，网络切片性能指标的统计值的类型并不限于表-1所列。
表-1
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000001
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000002
基于上述概念，上述网络切片性能指标对应的数据可以是所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，也可以是所述网络切片性能指标的采样值与相应采样时间的组合，或者说是所述网络切片性能指标的值与所述网络切片性能指标的时间的组合。所述统计值可以由NSMF设备102统计后发送给NSCF设备101，也可以由NSMF设备102将一个统计时间范围内多个时刻下或多个时间段内的采样值与采样时间的组合发送给NSCF设备101，再由NSCF设备101进行统计或计算，得到所述统计值。本申请后续实施例中将分别对两种情况进行进一步的说明。
应理解，本申请对NSMF设备部署的实际物理设备不作限定，例如，可以独立部署，也可以部署在具备其他功能的物理设备中。
NSCF设备101从NSMF设备102接收到上述网络切片性能指标对应的数据后，基于该数据对上述网络切片实例进行计费处理。具体的，所述计费处理可以包括：基于该数据生成网络切片计费话单，或者，基于该数据计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用，其中，基于该数据计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用的方法可以包括：获取上述网络切片实例相关的计费规则，并基于该数据及该计费规则，计算上述网络切片实例的使用费用。具体可以进一步参考本申请中的后续实施例。
图2为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法流程图，该方法流程基于图1架构实现，其中NSMF设备对应图1的NSMF设备102，NSCF设备对应图1的NSCF设备101。该方法流程具体包括如下步骤：
步骤201：NSCF设备确定对nsiId对应的网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标pfmArg。
该步骤为可选步骤，网络切片性能指标pfmArg可以在后续步骤中由NSMF设备确定或获取。
具体地，在需要对一个网络切片实例(假设其标识为nsiId)进行计费处理之前，NSCF设备可以确定出对该网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要使用的网络切片性能指标pfmArg。例如，NSCF设备可以从客户订购该网络切片实例相关的订购信息中获取该网络切片性能指标，也可以从运营商预设的配置信息中获取该网络切片性能指标，本申请实施例对NSCF设备获取网络切片性能指标的途径不作限定。
应理解，当客户订购或者使用了多个网络切片实例的情况下，NSCF设备可能需要对多个网络切片实例进行计费处理，则该步骤可以确定出多个网络切片实例的不同网络切片性能指标(考虑不同网络切片实例的类型可能不同，相应的网络切片性能指标也可能不同)，因此，本申请实施例不限定网络切片实例的个数，但为叙述方便，本申请实施例以单个网络切片实例为例进行说明。
还应理解，在以单个网络切片实例为例的情况下，根据客户或运营商的需求或者该单个网络切片实例的类型，针对该单个网络切片实例进行计费处理过程中可能仅需要单个网络切片性能指标，也可能需要多个网络切片性能指标，因此，本申请实施例不限定网络切片性能指标的个数，但为叙述方便，本申请实施例主要以单个网络切片性能指标为例进行说明。
步骤202：NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送第一消息，其中包含nsiId和pfmArg。
具体地，NSCF设备将网络切片实例的标识nsiId和网络切片性能指标pfmArg包含在第 一消息中，并向NSMF设备发送所述第一消息，以向NSMF设备请求提供所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片指标pfmArg对应的数据。其中，所述网络切片性能指标pfmArg为可选参数，可以是网络切片性能指标的名称，当所述第一消息不包含该参数时，将由NSMF设备来确定该参数；所述网络切片实例的标识nsiId可以是所述网络切片实例的s-NSSAI(Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information，单网络切片选择辅助信息),也可以是其他用于标识网络切片实例的信息，对此本申请实施例不作限定，为叙述方便，本申请实施例中均以s-NSSAI为例进行说明,后续不再赘述。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将接收数据的地址包含在所述第一消息中，以便后续NSMF设备可以根据该地址向NSCF设备发送所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片指标对应的数据。可选地，NSCF设备还可以将统计时间范围包含在所述第一消息中，以便NSMF设备统计该时间范围内的所述网络切片性能指标pfmArg的一个或多个值，得到所述网络切片性能指标的统计值；该统计时间范围可以根据客户的订购信息或者根据客户账户余额等信息确定。对此，本申请后续实施例将进一步分别描述。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将统计方法包含在所述第一消息中，以便NSMF设备使用该统计方法统计所述统计范围内的所述网络切片性能指标的一个或多个值，得到所述网络切片性能指标的统计值。
所述第一消息可以是订阅请求消息，所述订阅请求消息用于请求所述NSMF设备为所述网络切片实例创建订阅资源，该订阅资源用于管理一个订阅(包括查询、更新和删除该订阅)，该订阅资源有一个唯一标识，该标识可以是NSMF在接收到该订阅请求消息时，根据该订阅请求消息生成，也可以是NSCF生成后携带在该订阅请求消息中。所述NSMF根据所述订阅资源获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，生成并发送所述订阅通知消息。所述NSMF根据可以根据上述接收数据的地址向所述NSCF设备发送所述订阅通知消息。
应理解，当NSCF设备需要对多个网络切片实例进行计费处理的时候，可以在所述第一消息中包含多个网络切片实例标识，以及相应的单个或多个网络切片性能指标。
还应理解，当NSMF设备维护了客户与其网络切片实例的对应关系时，所述nsiId可以用客户标识代替，或者用客户标识与其相应的网络切片实例标识的组合代替。
步骤203：NSMF设备获取网络切片性能指标对应的数据pfmArgData。
具体地，NSMF设备收到所述第一消息后，根据所述第一消息中的nsiId和pfmArg，获取标识为nsiId的网络切片实例中的网络切片性能指标pfmArg对应的数据pfmArgData。如果所述第一消息中不包含所述pfmArg，则NSMF设备确定所述pfmArg，所述NSMF可以根据客户订的订购信息或者运营商预设的配置信息确定所述pfmArg。可选地，NSMF设备可以启动一个周期性运行或者持续运行的任务，以获取该数据。
pfmArgData可以是指标名称对应为pfmArg的网络切片性能指标的统计值，也可以是其采样值或者其采样值与采样时间的组合。对此，本申请后续实施例将进一步分别描述。
可选地，所述统计值可以是NSMF设备对上述统计时间范围内指标名称对应为pfmArg的网络切片性能指标的值进行统计的结果；所述统计值还可以是NSMF设备按照上述统计方法，对上述统计时间范围内指标名称对应为pfmArg的网络切片性能指标的值进行统计的结果。对此，本申请后续实施例将进一步描述。
应理解，NSMF在接收到所述第一消息后，对应的会返回所述第一消息的响应消息。
步骤204：NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送第二消息，其中包含pfmArgData。
具体地，NSMF设备将步骤203中获取的pfmArgData包含在第二消息中，并向NSCF设备发送所述第二消息。
可选地，NSMF设备可以根据步骤202中所述的接收数据的地址，向NSCF设备发送pfmArgData。
应理解，若所述第一消息为订阅消息，则所述第二消息是订阅通知消息。
步骤205：NSCF设备基于pfmArgData对nsiId对应的网络切片实例进行计费处理。
具体地，NSCF设备接收到所述第二消息后，基于NSMF设备提供的包含在所述第二消息中的网络切片性能指标对应的数据pfmArgData对标识为nsiId的网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体可以是：基于pfmArgData生成网络切片计费话单，或者，基于pfmArgData直接计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。其中pfmArgData可以为上述统计值，也可以是采样值或采样值与采样时间的组合。
当所述pfmArgData为pfmArg的采样值与采样时间的组合时，NSCF设备可以将每一组该采样值与采样时间的组合写入nsiId对应的网络切片实例的话单(第一计费话单)，后续基于所述第一话单进行费用计算；NSCF设备也可以进一步确定出相应的统计时间范围和统计方法，并按照该统计方法对从所述指标采样值计费话单中的多组采样值与采样时间的组合进行统计，得到pfmArg的统计值，进而使用该统计值计算nsiId对应的网络切片实例的使用费用。
当所述pfmArgData为pfmArg统计值时，NSCF设备可以将该统计值写入nsiId对应的网络切片实例的话单(第二计费话单)，后续基于所述第二话单进行费用计算；NSCF设备也可以使用该统计值直接计算nsiId对应的网络切片实例的使用费用。
表-2为上述计费处理过程及相应的示例性适用场景。
表-2
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000003
可选地，NSCF设备可以先获取相关计费规则，再基于所述计费规则和所述统计值计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。例如，假设运营商为该网络切片模板配置的计费规则为“累计端到端时延超过50ms达10次以上月租减半”，上述pfmArg为“时延”，其统计值为“11 次”，则对上述网络切片实例的使用按50％的费率进行收费。可选地，NSCF设备可以从客户订购信息中获取所述计费规则。关于计算使用费用，本申请后续实施例将进一步说明。
应理解，NSCF在接收到所述第二消息后，对应的会返回所述第二消息的响应消息。
步骤206：NSCF设备确定与pfmArg有关的变化因素。
该步骤为可选步骤。具体地，在接收到客户的订购变更信息等情况下，NSCF设备可以确定出与网络切片性能指标pfmArg有关的变化因素，其中包含但不限于：上述统计时间范围的变化、上述统计方法的变化、网络切片性能指标的变化等。
步骤207：NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送第三消息，其中包含变化因素。
该步骤是可选步骤。具体地，当确定出上述变化因素后，NSCF设备可将上述变化因素通过第三消息发送给NSMF设备，以使NSMF设备根据该第三消息进行相应的变更，以满足NSCF设备后续进行计费处理的需要。
应理解，若所述第一消息为订阅消息，则所述第三消息是订阅资源的订阅更新请求消息。所述订阅更新请求消息用以变更所述订阅资源。所述订阅更新请求消息包含目标统计时间范围、目标间隔时间、目标统计方法和目标网络切片性能指标中的任意一项或任意组合。
步骤208：NSMF设备执行变更操作。
该步骤是可选步骤。具体地，NSMF设备接收所述第三消息，并根据其中的变化因素，执行变更操作，例如调整统计时间范围、改变统计方法等。
在执行变更操作后，所述NSMF向NSCF设备发送所述变更操作前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
应理解，NSMF在接收到所述第三消息后，对应的会返回所述第三消息的响应消息。
若所述第一消息为订阅消息，则所述NSMF向NSCF设备发送所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。具体的，NSMF设备可以将所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据携带在所述订阅更新请求消息的响应消息中，或者，所述订阅更新请求消息的响应消息中未携带所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，而是在发送所述响应消息之后，所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送一个携带所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据的通知消息。
步骤209：NSCF设备确定不再需要pfmArg对应的数据。
该步骤是可选步骤。具体地，在确认客户的订购即将到期或已经到期等情况下，NSCF设备可以确定出不再需要pfmArg对应的数据。
步骤210：NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送第四消息。
该步骤是可选步骤。具体地，当确定出不再需要pfmArg对应的数据后，NSCF设备可以向NSMF设备发送第四消息，以向NSMF设备表明不再需要上述pfmArg对应的数据。
若所述第一消息为订阅消息，则所述第四消息是所述订阅资源的去订阅请求消息。
步骤211：NSMF设备执行取消操作。
该步骤是可选步骤。具体地，NSMF设备接收所述第四消息，执行取消操作，例如，停止或删除为获取pfmArg对应的数据而创建的任务。
应理解，NSMF在接收到所述第四消息后，对应的会返回所述第四消息的响应消息。
若所述第一消息为订阅消息，则所述NSMF向NSCF设备发送所述订阅资源去订阅前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。具体的，NSMF设备可以将所述订阅资源去订阅前的所述网 络切片性能指标对应的数据携带在所述去订阅请求消息的响应消息中，或者，所述去订阅请求消息的响应消息中未携带所述订阅资源去订阅前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，而是在发送所述响应消息之后，所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送一个携带所述订阅资源去订阅前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据的通知消息。
相对于传统上单纯基于终端业务数据(如流量或时长)的线性方式的计费方法而言，图2对应的对网络切片实例进行计费处理的方法，可以基于网络切片性能指标对应的数据对网络切片实例进行计费处理，由于网络切片性能指标对应的数据既是客户所关心的数据，又能更好地体现运营商的投入，因此有助于提高计费结果与网络资源投入的匹配程度，有利于实施上述多样化应用场景，进而有助于提高网络资源的使用效率或提高网络服务的服务质量。
图3为本申请实施例提供的又一计费系统架构图，包括NSCF设备301(与图1中NSCF设备101对应)、NSMF设备302(与图1中的NSMF设备102对应)和订购实体303，其简要功能分别描述如下：
NSCF设备301：部署于融合计费服务器中或独立部署。从订购实体303获取网络切片实例的信息和客户订购信息，根据该订购信息确定网络切片性能指标、统计时间范围和统计方法，向NSMF设备302订阅所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，基于该数据及该订购信息对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
应理解，NSMF可以通过订购实体发送网络切片实例的信息给所述NSCF，NSMF也可以直接向NSCF发送网络切片实例的信息，如：网络切片实例的标识、网络切片实例创建时间、网络切片实例的当前状态(如已创建、已激活等)等。
NSMF设备302：向NSCF设备301提供网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，包括指标的采样值或者统计值。
订购实体303：从客户接收网络切片订购请求，通知NSMF设备302开通网络切片实例，并将订购信息和网络切片实例的信息发送给NSCF设备301，以使其能对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。订购实体303是一个功能模块，可以部署在一个CRM(Customer Relationship Management，客户关系管理)服务器中，也可以部署在其他设备中。
图4为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的又一方法流程图，该方法流程基于图3所示的架构实现，其中NSMF设备对应图3中的NSMF设备302，NSCF设备对应图3中的NSCF设备301,订购实体对应图3中的订购实体303。该方法流程中，由NSMF设备负责统计并向NSCF设备传送网络切片性能指标的统计值，再由NSCF设备基于该统计值对网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括如下步骤：
步骤401：订购实体接收网络切片订购请求。
具体地，客户(假设其标识为“1381234567”)可以通过其终端(如手机终端、笔记本电脑等，可以通过浏览器，也可以通过其他渠道)向订购实体提交网络切片订购请求，所述订购请求包含所述客户对网络切片的网络性能的需求信息，所述需求信息可以包括网络切片类型、网络切片性能指标的要求等。
订购实体可以提供多种网络切片类型，使其显示在客户终端上供客户选择，例如，订购实体可以提供：eMBB类型(设备少但带宽要求大)、uRLLC类型(要求端到端时延极小)、mMTC类型(带宽小但设备数量极多)三种类型供客户选择。
客户订购网络切片实例时，可以进一步指定网络切片性能指标的约束条件(该值可以是一个具体的值也可以是一个范围值)。例如：客户选择eMBB类型的网络切片，则可以进一步指定该网络切片实例的带宽高于1000G；客户选择uRLLC类型的网络切片，则可以进一步指定该网络切片实例的最大时延低于5毫秒；客户选择eMTC类型的网络切片，则可以进一步指定该网络切片实例的并发PDU会话数量在100万以上。上述“带宽”、“最大时延”和“并发PDU会话数量”均为网络切片性能指标。
应理解，当需要通过多个指标描述网络切片的网络性能时，则客户可以分别指定每一个网络切片性能指标对应的约束条件。为叙述方便，本申请实施例以一个指标为例进行说明。
可选地，为提高客户体验，订购实体还可以提供网络切片模板供客户选择或者作为客户修改的基础。某一网络切片类型可以有多种网络切片模板，每个网络切片模板有预置的网络切片性能指标的约束条件。例如，一个网络切片模板可以是：
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000004
进一步地，客户确认该网络切片实例对应的计费规则。所述计费规则包含网络切片性能指标的统计值对应的计费方法。针对不同统计值，分别举例如下：
(1)统计值为达标程度的情况：例如，关于“带宽”这个网络切片性能指标，客户指定的其约束条件为“月平均带宽达到100M/s”，而其实际平均值为“88M/s”，则达标程度为88/100＝0.88，则0.88为“带宽”这个指标的达标程度；表-3为示例性的达标程度与计费方法的对应关系。
表-3
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000005
除了以上形式，达标程度与计费方法的对应关系还可以是表达式、公式或者函数的形式，但其实质上也是一种映射关系或者对应关系。
(2)统计值为不达标时长的情况：例如，关于端到端时延这个网络切片性能指标，客户指定的约束条件是“全程小于5ms”，而实际出现端到端时延大于5ms(不达标)的持续时间 累计达到100小时，则这100小时为不达标时长；不达标时长与计费方法的对应关系可以采用如表-4所示的方式。
表-4
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000006
类似的，不达标时长与计费方法的对应关系也可以是表达式、公式或者函数的形式。
(3)统计值为不达标累计次数的情况：例如，关于端到端时延这个网络切片性能指标，客户指定的约束条件应该是“全程小于5ms”，而实际出现端到端时延大于5ms的出现次数累计达到60次，则这60次为不达标累计次数；不达标累计次数与计费方法的对应关系可以与上述达标程度与计费方法的对应关系类似，不再赘述。
以上计费规则仅是示意性的，本申请实施例不排除其他基于网络切片性能指标的值进行计费的计费规则。
在客户确认计费规则、选择订购周期(即网络切片实例的使用时间范围或计费周期，通常是一个时间段)后，订购实体可以创建并存储网络切片订购信息，例如：
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000007
其中“计费规则”字段的值可以是上述计费规则(例如表-3的内容)经转化得到的文本字符串，该字符串可以是XML(Extensible Markup Language，可扩展标记语言)格式、JSON(JavaScript object notation,JavaScript对象表示法)格式或其他文本格式，也可以是计算机可执行脚本，还可以是上述计费规则(例如表-2的内容)经转化得到的二进制格式数据。对此，本申请实施例不作限定。
需要说明的是，本申请实施例所述的客户，可以是拥有很多用户设备的行业客户或企业客户，如共享单车企业、出租车公司等，也可以是自然人客户，为叙述方便，本申请实施例均称之为客户。
步骤402：订购实体通知NSMF设备开通网络切片服务。
具体地，订购实体可以向NSMF设备发送开通切片服务通知，所述开通切片服务通知可以包含上述网络切片订购信息中的切片类型和约束条件，以便NSMF设备创建满足客户要求的网络切片实例。
可选地，订购实体还可以将客户标识包含在所述切片服务开通通知中，以便NSMF设备后续建立所创建的网络切片实例与客户标识的对应关系。
步骤403：NSMF设备为该客户创建网络切片实例。
具体地，NSMF设备从订购实体接收上述开通网络切片通知，并根据所述通知中的网络切片类型和约束条件，创建出相应的网络切片实例，并为其分配唯一标识，即网络切片实例标识。
可选地，NSMF设备可以将该新创建的网络切片实例分配给上述客户，即建立所述网络切片实例标识与客户标识之间的对应关系。
应理解，NSMF设备也可以检查网络中是否已经存在能满足客户需求的网络切片实例，如果确定已经存在，并且该网络切片实例可分配给该客户，则NSMF设备可以直接将该已经存在的网络切片实例直接分配给上述客户，从而可以省去创建新的网络切片实例的过程。
可选地，NSMF设备可以从上述网络切片通知消息中获取上述客户标识。
步骤404：NSMF设备向订购实体返回网络切片实例的信息。
具体地，NSMF设备可以向订购实体返回开通网络切片响应，所述响应中可以包括网络切片创建成功的指示信息和上述网络切片实例的信息，该信息可以包括上述网络切片实例标识和上述网络切片实例的创建时间。
步骤405：订购实体向NSCF设备发送网络切片订购信息和网络切片实例的信息。
具体地，订购实体可以向NSCF设备发送订购信息通知，该通知中包括步骤401所述的网络切片订购信息和步骤404所述的网络切片实例的信息。
上述步骤404和步骤405可以理解为，NSMF设备可以通过订购实体发送网络切片实例的信息给所述NSCF设备。可选的，NSMF设备也可以直接向NSCF设备发送网络切片实例的信息，如：网络切片实例的标识、网络切片实例创建时间、网络切片实例的当前状态(如已创建、已激活等)等。
步骤406：NSCF设备确定网络切片性能指标pfmArg1。
具体地，NSCF设备接收到所述订购信息通知后，可以根据其中包含的切片类型和/或约束条件，确定所述网络切片性能指标pfmArg1。
例如，如果订购信息为：
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000008
其中计费规则的字段内容可以包含步骤401所述的指标满足情况对应的计费方法。
则NSCF设备可以根据该网络切片订购信息中的约束条件或计费规则确定计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标为“平均带宽”。
与步骤201类似，该步骤为可选步骤，订购指标pfmArg1也可以在后续步骤中由NSMF设 备采用与本步骤类似的方法确定。
步骤407：NSCF设备确定统计时间范围timRng1或统计方法staMtd1。
可选地，NSCF设备可以根据上述网络切片订购信息、网络切片实例的信息、运营商预先配置的信息和客户账户余额信息中的任意一项或任意组合，确定网络切片性能指标的统计时间范围timRng1和统计方法staMtd1。下面举例说明。
NSCF设备可以根据上述网络切片订购信息中的“网络切片实例创建时间”和“订购周期”字段，确定网络切片性能指标的统计时间范围timRng1，例如，可以根据“网络切片实例创建时间”和“订购周期”字段确定当前计费周期，然后以当前计费周期对应的时间范围作为所述统计时间范围，也可以以当前计费周期(如2018年一季度)中一部分时间范围(如2018年02月份)作为所述统计时间范围。NSCF设备也可以根据客户账户余额信息确定网络切片性能指标的统计时间范围timRng1，例如：根据客户账户余额信息，可以确定客户最多还可以使用其网络切片实例60天，则可以确定统计时间范围为从当前时间之后的60天内。NSCF设备也可以结合上述订购信息与上述余额信息，确定统计时间范围timRng1，例如，根据订购信息，可以确定统计时间范围为从当前时间之后的30天内，但由于客户的账户余额不足以使用30天，比如只够用15天，则上述统计时间范围timRng1可以确定为从当前时间之后的15天内。
NSCF设备也可以根据运营商为不同网络切片实例统一预先配置的计费周期(如自然月份的首末日期)，确定所述统计时间范围。
NSCF设备也可以根据此前确定的网络切片性能指标的名称，确定出所述统计方法staMtd1。以“平均带宽”这个指标为例，NSCF设备可以根据这个指标名称确定统计方法为“求平均值”，且以多次检测到或获取到的带宽值总和除以次数作为平均带宽值。
NSCF设备也可以根据运营商为每一个网络切片性能指标预先配置的与统计方法相关的参数，确定出所述统计方法。以“平均带宽”这个指标为例，运营商可以预先配置节假日带宽的权重，则NSCF设备可以确定统计方法为“求加权平均值”，且以多次检测到的带宽值的加权平均值作为带宽平均值。
以上确定统计时间范围、统计方法只是示意性的，本申请实施例对NSCF设备确定统计时间范围和统计方法的方式不作限定。
步骤408：NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送订阅请求，其中包含上述nsiId1、pfmArg1，还可以包含timRng1和staMtd1。
具体地，NSCF设备将上述nsiId1、pfmArg1、timRng1和staMtd1中的一个或多个包含在一个订阅请求中，并将所述订阅请求发送给NSMF设备。
参数nsiId1和pfmArg1分别用于指示NSMF设备需要获取nsiId1对应的网络切片实例的pfmArg1对应的网络切片性能指标的统计值。
参数timRng1和staMtd1为可选参数，分别用于指示对应的指标的统计时间范围和统计方法，以使NSMF设备在timRng1所指示的统计时间范围内对pfmArg1指标进行采样并对采样值按staMtd1所述的统计方法进行统计，以得到所述统计值；当不出现timRng1和staMtd1时，需要NSMF设备确定统计时间范围和统计方法。
可选地，统计方法staMtd1在订阅请求消息中的形式，可以是数字标识或字符标识的形式(例如，用“001”或“avrg”表示“求平均值”)，也可以是计算机可执行的脚本、代码 或者公式、函数等形式，对此本申请实施例不作限定，任何可以让NSMF设备明确所应采取的统计方法的形式都在本申请实施例方案的意思表示范围内。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将接收订阅通知的地址包含在所述订阅请求中，以便后续NSMF设备可以根据该地址向NSCF设备发送订阅通知。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将客户标识包含在所述订阅请求消息中，以便后续NSMF设备根据客户标识确定相应的网络切片实例的标识。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将发送通知的条件包含在所述订阅请求消息中，以便后续NSMF设备根据该条件向NSCF设备发送订阅通知，以满足计费处理的需要，所述发送通知的条件包括以下任意一项或任意组合：发送订阅通知的周期或间隔时间、发送订阅通知的具体时间点、由关键事件(比如：客户订购的网络切片实例的修改、异常中断等)触发等。
NSCF设备可以从网络注册功能(Network Register Function，NRF)设备查询到所述NSMF设备的地址，也可以从本地预先配置的信息中获取所述NSMF设备的地址，并向该地址发送上述订阅请求。
下面为一个示例性的上述订阅请求消息的结构：
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000009
步骤409：NSMF设备向NSCF设备返回订阅响应，其中包含subId1。
NSMF设备接收所述订阅请求后，生成订阅资源，并为该订阅资源分配标识subId1，并向NSCF设备返回订阅响应，以向NSCF设备表明订阅成功，NSMF设备将所述订阅标识subId1包含在所述订阅响应中，以便NSCF设备在后续的请求变更订阅、请求去订阅和查询订阅信息等过程中使用，具体可参考本申请中后续实施例。
针对该订阅请求，NSMF设备在指定的时间范围(timRng1)采用指定的统计方法(staMtd1)获取以nsiId1为标识的网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标pfmArg1的统计值。当所述订阅请求中不包含timRng1或staMtd1时，NSMF设备可以根据运营商预先配置的信息确定所述统计时间范围或所述统计方法。例如，所述预先配置的信息可以设置：默认统计时间范围为自然月的第一天到自然月的最后一天，默认的统计方法为多次采样求平均值。
步骤410：NSMF设备获取网络切片性能指标的采样值pfmArgSmp1和采样时间pfmArgTim1。
具体地，NSMF设备在时间范围timRng1内，以预设的时间间隔，对以nsiId1为标识的网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标pfmArg1的值进行多次采样，得到多组采样值pfmArgSmp1及相应的采样时间pfmArgTim1。
可选地，NSMF设备也可以从运营商预设的配置信息中获取上述时间范围timRng1，在此情况下，NSCF设备在步骤408中可以不提供timRng1。
可选地，在步骤408中，订阅请求消息中还可以包含一个间隔时间，从而，本步骤中可以用该间隔时间代替所述预设的时间间隔。
步骤411：NSMF设备计算网络切片性能指标的统计值pfmArgSta1。
具体地，NSMF设备可以按照步骤408中接收到的统计方法staMtd1,对步骤410得到的多组采样值pfmArgSmp1和采样时间pfmArgTim1进行统计，也可以基于自身确定出的统计方法进行上述统计(在此情况下，步骤408中NSCF设备可以不必提供staMtd1)，以得到所述统计值pfmArgSta1。例如，NSMF设备可以根据pfmArg1的名称，确定出所述统计方法，具体可以参考步骤407中NSCF设备确定统计方法的方式。
应理解，NSMF设备可以在上述统计时间范围的终点时刻执行上述统计操作,本申请实施例对NSMF设备统计操作的执行时刻不作限定。
步骤412：NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送订阅通知，其中包含pfmArgSta1。
具体地，NSMF设备将上述pfmArgSta1包含在一个订阅通知中，并将所述订阅通知发送给NSCF设备,NSMF设备可以根据NSCF发送的所述接收订阅通知的地址向NSCF设备发送订阅通知。
可选地，NSMF设备可以还将上述统计时间范围timRng1包含在所述订阅通知中，以使NSCF设备确定所述统计值pfmArgSta1是在时间范围timRng1内的统计结果。
步骤413：NSCF设备基于pfmArgSta1对网络切片实例进行计费处理。
具体地，NSCF设备从NSMF设备接收到所述订阅通知后，基于所述订阅通知中的pfmArgSta1对nsiId1对应的网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体可以是以下处理方式之一。
(方式一)：将pfmArgSta1写入话单。
具体地，NSCF设备可以为相应客户或者nsiId1对应的网络切片实例创建计费话单(如果已存在，则不必创建)，然后将pfmArgSta1写入该话单。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将nsiId1和/或相应客户的标识写入该话单。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将pfmArgSta1对应的统计时间范围与pfmArgSta1对应存储到所述话单中，如表-5所示，NSCF设备可以根据不同计费周期的不同计费因素(如优惠活动中提供的折扣)计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。NSCF设备可以从上述订阅通知中获取所述pfmArgSta1对应的统计时间范围，也可以根据接收到上述订阅通知的时间确定出所述pfmArgSta1对应的统计时间范围。
表-5为实例性的话单。
表-5存储指标统计值的话单
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000010
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000011
可选地，NSCF设备可以将所述话单传给负责计算费用的模块或网络实体，由该模块或网络实体计算nsiId1对应的网络切片实例的使用费用；其中，所述负责计算费用的模块或网络实体可以部署在NSCF设备中(相当于NSCF设备后续可进一步根据所述指标统计值计费话单计算网络切片实例的使用费用，具体可参见下面方式二)，也可以部署在NSCF设备之外。
(方式二)：基于pfmArgSta1计算网络切片实例的使用费用。
具体地，NSCF设备可以基于统计值pfmArgSta1计算nsiId1对应的网络切片实例的使用费用。
NSCF设备可以先获取nsiId1对应的网络切片实例对应的计费规则chgPol1，具体可以从上述步骤401中所述的网络切片订购信息中获得所述计费规则chgPol1，也可以从运营商预先配置的信息中获得所述计费规则chgPol1。本申请实施例不限定NSCF获取计费规则的途径。
基于pfmArgSta1和chgPol1，NSCF设备可以计算nsiId1对应网络切片实例的使用费用。例如，假设计费规则chgPol1为表-4所示，则NSCF设备可以根据pfmArgSta1的具体值在表-4中查找相应的计费方法或费率，从而可以计算所述使用费用。
图4对应的对网络资源进行计费处理方法，采用订阅-通知机制，实现由NSMF设备完成对网络切片性能指标的采样和统计、由NSCF设备完成根据统计值进行计费处理，其好处是无需在NSMF设备和NSCF设备之间频繁传递网络切片性能指标的采样值，从而可以减少对NSMF设备和NSCF设备之间的通信带宽的占用，并减少NSCF设备侧的计算负担。
图5为本申请实施例提供的对网络资源进行计费处理的又一方法流程图，该方法流程也基于图3所示的架构实现，其中NSMF设备对应图3中的NSMF设备302，NSCF设备对应图3中的NSCF设备301,订购实体对应图3中的订购实体303。该方法流程中，由NSMF设备向NSCF设备传送网络切片性能指标的采样值/采样时间(而不是统计值)，由NSCF设备基于该采样值/采样时间对网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括如下步骤：
步骤501-步骤506：与步骤401至步骤406类似，其中网络切片实例标识改为nsiId2、网络切片性能指标改为pfmArg2即可。
步骤507：NSCF设备确定统计时间范围timRng2、统计方法staMtd2、间隔时间intv。
其中，timRng2、staMtd2的确定方法与步骤407类似。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以确定间隔时间intv，并将intv包含在所述订阅请求中，所述间隔时间intv将用于指示NSMF设备对pfmArg2进行采样的时间间隔(即相邻两次对pfmArg2指标进行采样之间的时间间隔)。
可选地，NSCF设备也可以在后续步骤，如步骤512中确定timRng2、staMtd2、intv等。
步骤508：NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送订阅请求，其中包含上述nsiId2、pfmArg2。
可选的，该订阅请求还可以包括上述intv。
与步骤408类似，但订阅请求中包含的参数不同，即NSCF设备将网络切片实例标识nsiId2和网络切片性能指标pfmArg2包含在订阅标识中。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将步骤507确定的间隔时间intv包含在所述订阅请求中，以使NSMF设备可以确定对网络切片性能指标pfmArg2进行采样的时间间隔。
下面为一个示例性的上述订阅请求消息的结构：
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000012
步骤509：NSMF设备向NSCF设备返回订阅响应，其中包含subId2。
该步骤与步骤409类似。
步骤510：NSMF设备获取网络切片性能指标的采样值pfmArgSmp2和采样时间pfmArgTim2。
该步骤与步骤410类似。
可选地，NSMF设备记录采样值pfmArgSmp2对应的采样时间pfmArgSmpTim2，其值可以是一个具体时间点，也可以是一个时间段，具体参见本申请实施例中对网络性能指标的定义和举例。
步骤511：NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送订阅通知，其中包含pfmArgSmp2和pfmArgTim2。
具体地，NSMF设备将上述pfmArgSmp2包含在一个订阅通知中，并将所述订阅通知发送给NSCF设备，NSMF设备可以根据NSCF发送的所述接收订阅通知的地址向NSCF设备发送订阅通知。
可选地，NSMF设备可以将采样时间pfmArgTim2也包含在所述订阅通知中，以使NSCF设备确认每一个采样值pfmArgSmp2所对应的采样时间，以便进行统计。
步骤512：NSCF设备基于pfmArgSmp2和pfmArgTim2对网络切片实例进行计费处理。
具体地，NSCF设备从NSMF设备接收到上述订阅通知后，基于其中的网络切片性能指标pfmArg2的采样值pfmArgSmp2和网络切片性能指标pfmArg2的采样时间pfmArgTim2，对nsiId2对应的网络切片实例进行计费处理。如果所述订阅通知中不包含pfmArgTim2，则NSCF设备可以以接收到上述订阅通知的时间为采样时间pfmArgTim2。
NSCF设备对nsiId2对应的网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体可以是将pfmArgSmp2和pfmArgTim2写入话单。例如，NSCF设备可以为相应客户或者nsiId2对应的网络切片实例创建指标采样值计费话单(如果已存在，则不必创建)，然后将pfmArgSmp2和pfmArgTim2对应存储到该话单。NSCF设备将采样时间pfmArgTim2与pfmArgSmp2对应存储到话单，其好处在于，NSCF设备可以在后续确认每一个采样值pfmArgSmp2是否在统计时间范围timRng2内(或者计费周期内)。
可选地，NSCF设备还可以将nsiId2和/或相应客户的标识写入该话单。
作为示例，上述话单的形式可以如表-6所示。
可选地，NSCF设备可以将所述话单传给负责计算费用的模块或网络实体，由该模块或网 络实体计算nsiId2对应的网络切片实例的使用费用；其中，所述负责计算费用的模块或网络实体可以部署在NSCF设备中，也可以部署在NSCF设备之外。
表-6存储指标采样值的话单
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000013
NSCF设备后续可以从话单中读取统计时间范围timRng21内(或计费周期内)的采样值，并参照步骤411的做法，按照上述确定的统计方法staMtd2，计算网络切片性能指标pfmArg2的统计值，进而参照步骤413(方式二)的做法，计算对nsiId2对应的网络切片实例的使用费用。由此，上述步骤507中获取或确定统计时间范围timRng2和统计方法staMtd2的操作也可以延迟到该统计操作之前。
图5对应的对网络切片实例进行计费处理的方法中，作为计费功能设备，NSCF设备收集了大量的关于网络切片实例的性能数据，有利于开展更丰富、灵活的计费服务，例如，针对大客户，可以在后期采用新的统计方法统计出新的统计值，并基于新的统计值和新的计费规则，计算网络切片实例的使用费用；作为网络切片管理设备，NSMF设备由于只需要负责收集/采集网络切片性能指标的值，而无需涉及与计费相关的统计操作，其计算负担可以有所降低。
根据图2、图4和图5所示几种方法流程可知，NSCF设备可能需要NSMF设备提供网络切片性能指标的采样值，也可能需要NSMF设备提供网络切片性能指标的统计值，具体实现中可以选择其中一种实现，或者同时实现了这两种方法，并提供消息区分方法。具体的，同时实现了这两种方法时区分消息的方法包括：一种方法是可以通过消息中的参数进行区分，例如，如果NSMF设备收到NSCF设备发送的订阅消息中包含统计时间范围和/或统计方法，则可以据此确定NSCF设备需要自身提供网络切片性能指标的统计值。另一种方法可以在上述第一消息或者订阅消息中包含一个指示参数，例如argValType，用于指示NSCF设备需要NSMF设备提供网络切片性能指标的统计值还是采样值。
考虑客户的订购信息会随时发生变化等外在的变化因素，为了更好的满足计费处理的需求，应支持NSCF设备通知NSMF设备变更订阅资源。图6为本申请实施例提供的对网络切片实例进行计费处理的又一方法流程图，该方法流程也基于图3所示的架构实现，其中NSMF设备对应图3中的NSMF设备302，NSCF设备对应图3中的NSCF设备301。该方法流程中，NSCF设备可以根据客户订购的变更向NSMF设备请求变更订阅，具体包括如下步骤：
步骤601：NSCF设备确定需要通知NSMF设备变更的因素。
具体地，NSCF设备根据从订购实体接收到的客户订购信息的变化，或者客户账户余额的变化等因素，确定需要通知NSMF设备变更的因素，包括但不限于：网络切片性能指标、网络切片性能指标对应的统计时间范围、统计方法或采样间隔时间，进而根据这些变更因素，形成名称-值对列表namValPairs，每一个名称-值对中，“名称”用于向NSMF设备指示对应变 化什么，“值”用于向NSMF设备指示变化为什么。
例如，下面的名称-值对列表表示，将“统计方法”(对应“staMtd”)变为“求最大值”(对应“max”)、“统计时间范围”(对应“rngTim”)变为“20181001-20181015”
Figure PCTCN2019117105-appb-000014
再如，当NSCF设备需要临时进行计费处理(例如，因客户在计费周期的中间时间或未到出账时间临时请求查账、出账等而触发的计费处理)，可以通过在订阅更新请求中携带一个新的指示参数，例如：immediatelyReporting，以指示需要立即(而不用等到统计周期结束)上报网络切片性能指标对应的数据，或者，在订阅更新请求中不携带任何参数，以指示需要立即上报网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
步骤602：NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送订阅资源的订阅更新请求，其中包含subId和namValPairs。
具体地，NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送订阅更新请求，其中包括此前从NSMF设备接收到的NSMF设备分配的订阅标识subId(例如，上述subId1或subId2)和上一步骤中确定的namValPairs，其中namValPairs为可选参数。
步骤603：NSMF设备获取当前为止网络切片性能指标对应的数据befArgData。
具体地，NSMF设备接收到上述订阅更新请求后，先获取当前为止网络切片性能指标对应的数据：如果此前NSCF设备订阅的是网络切片性能指标的统计值(如图4对应方法流程)，则NSMF设备获取此前NSCF设备订阅的网络切片性能指标(如pfmArg1)当前为止的统计值befArgSta，其统计时间范围从先前统计时间范围(如timRng1)的其实时间点到当前为止；如果此前NSCF设备订阅的是网络切片性能指标的采样值(如图5对应方法流程)，则NSMF设备获取此前NSCF设备订阅的网络切片性能指标(如pfmArg2)当前应该采样并发送的采样值befArgSmp。如果当前时间附近的采样值已经发送，或者NSCF设备不再需要当前为止网络切片性能指标对应的数据，NSMF设备可以不执行本步骤。
步骤604：NSMF设备根据namValPairs执行所述订阅资源的订阅变更操作。
具体地，NSMF设备根据namValPairs中的每一个namValPair，对此前订阅中的参数进行变更，例如，将“统计方法”变为“求最大值”、“统计时间范围”变为“20181001-20181015”，以便此前创建的任务根据新的参数获取网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
步骤605：NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送订阅更新响应消息，其中包含上述subId和befArgData。
具体地，NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送订阅更新响应消息，其中包含上述subId和 befArgData，befArgData为可选的，其值可以为上述befArgSmp或befArgSta。
步骤606：NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送通知，其中包含befArgData。
该步骤是个可选步骤。当NSMF设备未通过上述订阅响应消息发送上述befArgData时，作为替代措施，也可以向NSCF设备发送一个通知，其中包含上述befArgData。
步骤607：NSCF设备基于befArgData对网络切片实例进行计费处理。
具体地，NSCF设备接收上述订阅响应消息或者通知消息后，根据其中的befArgData对网络切片实例进行计费处理，如果befArgData为上述befArgSta，可以参见上述步骤413的执行过程；如果befArgData为上述befArgSmp，则可以参见上述步骤512的执行过程。
考虑客户对网络切片的使用时间终止或者到期以后，可能不再需要NSMF设备提供网络切片实例中网络切片性能指标对应的数据，为此，应支持NSCF设备通知NSMF设备对所述订阅资源执行去订阅，以使NSMF设备及时回收此前为此而投入的计算资源。图7为本申请实施例提供的对网络切片实例进行计费处理的又一方法流程图，该方法流程也基于图3所示的架构实现，其中NSMF设备对应图3中的NSMF设备302，NSCF设备对应图3中的NSCF设备301。该方法流程中，NSCF设备可以根据客户订购信息或账户余额信息向NSMF设备请求所述订阅资源的去订阅，具体包括如下步骤：
步骤701：NSCF设备确定需要结束订阅。
具体地，NSCF设备根据客户订购信息，或者客户账户余额等因素，确定需要通知NSMF设备结束订阅。
步骤702：NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送所述订阅资源的去订阅请求，其中包含订阅资源的标识subId。
具体地，NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送所述订阅资源的去订阅请求，其中包括此前从NSMF设备接收到的NSMF设备分配的订阅资源的标识subId(例如，上述subId1或subId2)。
其中所述订阅资源为步骤202、409、509所述的订阅资源。
步骤703：NSMF设备获取当前为止网络切片性能指标对应的数据befArgData。
该步骤与步骤603类似。
步骤704：NSMF设备执行去订阅操作。
具体地，NSMF设备可以停止并删除此前为获取网络切片性能指标对应的数据而创建的任务，以回收该任务所占用的计算资源。
步骤705：NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送取消订阅响应消息，其中包含上述subId和befArgData。
该步骤与步骤605类似。
步骤706：NSMF设备向NSCF设备发送通知，其中包含befArgData。
该步骤与步骤606类似。
步骤707：NSCF设备基于befArgData对网络切片实例进行计费处理。
该步骤与步骤607类似。
图8为本申请实施例提供的NSCF设备或NSMF设备的硬件结构图。本申请实施例中的所有NSCF设备(例如，图1中的101和图3中的301)以及所有NSMF设备(例如，图1中的102或图3中的302)，均可以采用图8所示的通用的计算机硬件，其包括处理器801、存储 器802、总线803、输入设备804、输出设备805以及网络接口806，其中输入设备804与输出设备805为可选的。
具体的，存储器802可以包括以易失性和/或非易失性存储器形式的计算机存储媒体，如只读存储器和/或随机存取存储器。存储器802可以存储操作系统、应用程序、其他程序模块、可执行代码和程序数据。
输入设备804可以用于输入信息，便于系统管理员对所述设备进行操作和管理等，如配置默认计费规则、默认统计时间范围等，输入设备804如键盘或指向设备，如鼠标、轨迹球、触摸板、麦克风、操纵杆、游戏垫、卫星电视天线、扫描仪或类似设备。这些输入设备可以通过总线803连接至处理器801。
输出设备805可以用于输出信息，便于系统管理员对所述设备进行操作和管理等，除了监视器之外，输出设备805还可以为其他外围输出设各，如扬声器和/或打印设备，这些输出设备也可以通过总线803连接到处理器801。
所述NSCF设备或NSMF设备可以通过网络接口806连接到网络中，例如连接到局域网(Local Area Network，LAN)。在联网环境下，所述设备中存储的计算机执行指令可以存储在远程存储设备中，而不限于在本地存储。
对NSCF设备而言，当其中的处理器801执行存储器802中存储的可执行代码或应用程序时，NSCF设备可以执行以上所有实施例中与NSCF设备相对应的方法步骤，如步骤201、205、406和407等；具体执行过程均参见上述实施例，在此不再赘述。
对NSMF设备而言，当其中的处理器801执行存储器802中存储的可执行代码或应用程序时，NSMF设备可以执行以上所有实施例中与NSMF设备相对应的方法步骤，如步骤203、208、410和411等；具体执行过程均参见上述实施例，在此不再赘述。
图9为本申请实施例提供的NSCF设备的结构示意图，所述NSCF设备包括：
-确定模块901，用于确定对网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标，例如，根据客户订购信息或者运营商预先配置的信息确定所述网络切片性能指标，具体执行过程参见上述实施例中NSCF设备侧的步骤说明，如步骤201、406和506等。
-发送模块902，用于将所述网络切片实例的标识和所述网络切片性能指标包含在第一消息中，并向NSMF设备发送所述第一消息，例如，创建一个订阅请求消息，并将所述网络切片实例的标识和所述网络切片性能指标包含在所述订阅请求消息中，并将所述订阅请求消息发送给所述NSMF设备，具体执行过程参见上述实施例中NSMF设备侧的步骤说明，如步骤202、408和508等。
-接收模块903，用于从所述NSMF设备接收第二消息，所述第二消息包含所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，例如，从所述NSMF设备接收订阅通知消息，所述订阅通知消息中包含所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，该数据具体可以是网络切片性能指标的采样值，也可以是网络切片性能指标的统计值，具体执行过程参见上述实施例中NSCF设备侧的步骤说明，如步骤204、205、412和511等。
-计费处理模块904，用于基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，例如，如果所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据为采样值，则可以将该采样值存入指标采样值计费话单，而如果所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据为统计值，则可以基于该统计值计算网络切片实例的使用费用，也可以将该统计值存入指标统计值计费话单，以便后续计算使用费用，具体执行过程参见上述实施例中NSCF设备侧的步骤说明，如步骤205、413和512等。
在本实施例中，NSCF设备是以功能模块的形式来呈现。这里的“模块”可以指特定应用集成电路(application-specific integrated circuit，ASIC)，电路，执行一个或多个软件或固件程序的处理器和存储器，集成逻辑电路，和/或其他可以提供上述功能的器件。在一个简单的实施例中，本领域的技术人员可以想到NSCF设备也可以采用图8所示的形式。确定模块901、发送模块902、接收模块903和计费处理模块904都可以通过图8中的处理器801和存储器802来实现。例如，计费处理模块904计算网络切片实例的使用费用的功能可以通过由处理器801来执行存储器802中存储的代码来实现。
图10为本申请实施例提供的NSMF设备的结构示意图，所述NSMF设备包括：
-接收模块1001，用于从NSCF设备接收第一消息，所述第一消息包含网络切片实例的标识和网络切片性能指标，具体执行过程参见上述实施例中NSMF设备侧的步骤说明，如步骤202、408和508等。
-获取模块1002，用于根据所述第一消息，获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，其中，可以获取所述网络切片性能指标的采样值，也可以获取网络切片性能指标的统计值，如果是统计值，还可以根据所述第一消息中的统计时间范围和统计方法，计算网络切片性能指标的统计值，具体执行过程参见上述实施例中NSMF设备侧的步骤说明，如步骤203、410、411和510等。
-发送模块1003，用于将所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含在第二消息中，并向所述NSCF设备发送所述第二消息，以使所述NSCF设备根据所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体执行过程参见上述实施例中NSMF设备侧的步骤说明，如步骤204、412和511等。
在本实施例中，NSMF设备是以功能模块的形式来呈现。这里的“模块”可以指特定应用集成电路(application-specific integrated circuit，ASIC)，电路，执行一个或多个软件或固件程序的处理器和存储器，集成逻辑电路，和/或其他可以提供上述功能的器件。在一个简单的实施例中，本领域的技术人员可以想到NSMF设备也可以采用图8所示的形式。接收模块1001、获取模块1002和发送模块1003都可以通过图8中的处理器801和存储器802来实现。例如，获取模块1002获取网络切片性能指标对应的数据的功能可以通过由处理器801来执行存储器802中存储的代码来实现。
本领域普通技术人员可以意识到，结合本文中所公开的实施例描述的各示例的单元及算 法步骤，能够以电子硬件、计算机软件或者二者的结合来实现，为了清楚地说明硬件和软件的可互换性，在上述说明中已经按照功能一般性地描述了各示例的组成及步骤。这些功能究竟以硬件还是软件方式来执行，取决于技术方案的特定应用和设计约束条件。专业技术人员可以对每个特定的应用来使用不同方法来实现所描述的功能，但是这种实现不应认为超出本申请的范围。
本领域普通技术人员可以清楚地了解到，为了描述的方便和简洁，上述描述的系统、装置和单元的具体工作过程，可以参考前述方法实施例中的对应过程，在此不再赘述。
在本申请所提供的几个实施例中，应该理解到，所揭露的系统、装置和方法，可以通过其它的方式实现。例如，所述单元的划分，仅仅为一种逻辑功能划分，实际实现时可以有另外的划分方式，例如多个单元或组件可以结合或者可以集成到另一个系统，或一些特征可以忽略，或不执行。另外，所显示或讨论的相互之间的耦合或直接耦合或通信连接可以是通过一些接口、装置或单元的间接耦合或通信连接，也可以是电的，机械的或其它的形式连接。
所述作为分离部件说明的单元可以是或者也可以不是物理上分开的，作为单元显示的部件可以是或者也可以不是物理单元，即可以位于一个地方，或者也可以分布到多个网络单元上。可以根据实际的需要选择其中的部分或者全部单元来实现本申请实施例方案的目的。
另外，在本申请各个实施例中的各功能单元可以集成在一个处理单元中，也可以是各个单元单独物理存在，也可以是两个或两个以上单元集成在一个单元中。上述集成的单元既可以采用硬件的形式实现，也可以采用软件功能单元的形式实现。
所述集成的单元如果以软件功能单元的形式实现并作为独立的产品销售或使用时，可以存储在一个计算机可读取存储介质中。基于这样的理解，本申请的技术方案本质上或者说对现有技术做出贡献的部分，或者该技术方案的全部或部分可以以软件产品的形式体现出来，该计算机软件产品存储在一个存储介质中，包括若干指令用以使得一台计算机设备(可以是个人计算机，服务器，或者网络设备等)执行本申请各个实施例所述方法的全部或部分步骤。而前述的存储介质包括：U盘、移动硬盘、只读存储器、随机存取存储器、磁碟或者光盘等各种可以存储程序代码的介质。
以上所述，仅为本申请的具体实施方式，但本申请的保护范围并不局限于此，任何熟悉本技术领域的技术人员在本申请揭露的技术范围内，可轻易想到各种等效的修改或替换，这些修改或替换都应涵盖在本申请的保护范围之内。因此，本申请的保护范围应以权利要求的保护范围为准。

Claims (36)

  1. 一种对网络资源进行计费处理的方法，其特征在于，包括：
    网络切片计费功能NSCF设备向网络切片管理功能NSMF设备发送第一消息，所述第一消息包含网络切片实例的标识；
    所述NSCF设备从所述NSMF设备接收第二消息，所述第二消息包含所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，所述网络切片性能指标用于描述所述网络切片实例的网络性能；
    所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述第一消息还包含所述网络切片性能指标。
  3. 根据权利要求1或2所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前，还确定所述网络切片性能指标。
  4. 根据权利要求3所述的方法，其特征在于，所述确定所述网络切片性能指标，具体包括：
    基于客户订购所述网络切片实例的订购信息,确定所述网络切片性能指标。
  5. 根据权利要求4所述的方法，其特征在于，所述订购信息包含所述网络切片实例的服务等级协议条款、网络切片类型、网络切片模板、订购时长中的任意一项或任意组合。
  6. 根据权利要求1-5中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的值，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：将所述网络切片性能指标的值存入第一计费话单。
  7. 根据权利要求6所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据还包含所述网络切片性能指标的时间，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体还包括：还将所述网络切片性能指标的时间存入所述第一计费话单。
  8. 根据权利要求6所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据未包含所述网络切片性能指标的时间，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体还包括：还将接收到所述第二消息的时间作为所述网络切片性能指标的时间存入所述第一计费话单。
  9. 根据权利要求1-5中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述NSCF设备在向所述NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前，还确定所述网络切片性能指标的统计时间范围，所述统计时间范围用于指示所述NSMF设备统计所述统计时间范围内的所述网络切片性能指标的一个或多个值；
    所述第一消息还包含所述统计时间范围。
  10. 根据权利要求9所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述NSCF设备在向所述NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前，还确定所述网络切片性能指标的统计方法，所述统计方法用于指示所述NSMF设备使用所述统计方法统计所述统计范围内的所述网络切片性能指标的一个或多个值；
    所述第一消息还包含所述统计方法。
  11. 根据权利要求1-5及9-10中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
  12. 根据权利要求11所述的方法，其特征在于，所述基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：
    将所述网络切片性能指标的统计值存入第二计费话单。
  13. 根据权利要求11或12所述的方法，其特征在于，所述基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体还包括：
    基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。
  14. 根据权利要求13所述的方法，其特征在于，所述基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用，具体包括：
    获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的计费规则，所述计费规则包含所述网络切片性能指标的统计值对应的费用计算方法；
    基于所述计费规则和所述网络切片性能指标的统计值计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。
  15. 根据权利要求1-14中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一消息为订阅请求消息，所述第二消息为订阅通知消息，所述订阅请求消息用于请求所述NSMF设备为所述网络切片实例生成订阅资源，所述第一消息还包含接收数据的地址，以指示所述NSMF设备根据该地址向所述NSCF设备发送订阅通知消息。
  16. 根据权利要求15所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送变更所述订阅资源的订阅更新请求消息，所述订阅更新请求消息包含目标统计时间范围、目标间隔时间、目标统计方法和目标网络切片性能指标中的任意一项或任意组合；
    所述NSCF设备从所述NSMF设备接收所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
  17. 根据权利要求15或16所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送所述订阅资源的去订阅请求；
    所述NSCF设备从所述NSMF设备接收所述订阅资源的去订阅前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
  18. 一种对网络资源进行计费处理方法，其特征在于，包括：
    网络切片管理功能NSMF设备从网络切片计费功能NSCF设备接收第一消息，所述第一消息包含网络切片实例的标识；
    所述NSMF设备根据所述第一消息获取所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据，所述网络切片性能指标用于描述所述网络切片实例的网络性能；
    所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送第二消息，所述第二消息包含所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
  19. 根据权利要求18所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标为对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标，所述第一消息还包含所述网络切片性能指标；
    所述NSMF设备根据所述第一消息获取所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数 据，具体包括：获取所述第一消息中包含的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
  20. 根据权利要求18或19所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的值，所述NSMF设备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：获取所述网络切片性能指标的值。
  21. 根据权利要求20所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据还包含所述网络切片性能指标的时间，所述NSMF设备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体还包括：获取所述网网络切片性能指标的时间。
  22. 根据权利要求18或19所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述第一消息中还包含统计时间范围；
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的统计值；
    所述获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：在所述统计时间范围内获取所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，以及统计所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，得到所述网络切片性能指标的统计值。
  23. 根据权利要求22所述的方法，其特征在于：
    所述第一消息中还包含统计方法；
    所述统计所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，具体包括：使用所述统计方法统计所述网络切片性能指标的多个值。
  24. 根据权利要求18-23中任意一项所述的方法，其特征在于，所述第一消息为订阅请求消息，所述第二消息为订阅通知消息，所述第一消息还包含接收数据的地址，且在收到所述订阅请求消息后，为所述网络切片实例生成订阅资源，并根据所述接收数据的地址向所述NSCF设备发送所述订阅通知消息。
  25. 根据权利要求24所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述NSMF设备从所述NSCF设备接收变更所述订阅资源的订阅更新请求消息，所述订阅更新请求消息包含目标统计时间范围、目标间隔时间、目标统计方法和目标网络切片性能指标中的任意一项或任意组合；
    所述NSMF设备根据所述订阅更新请求消息对所述订阅资源执行变更订阅操作；
    所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送所述订阅资源变更前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
  26. 根据权利要求24或25所述的方法，其特征在于，所述方法还包括：
    所述NSMF设备从所述NSCF设备接收所述订阅资源的去订阅请求消息；
    所述NSMF设备根据所述去订阅请求消息对所述订阅资源执行去订阅操作；
    所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送所述订阅资源去订阅前的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据。
  27. 一种网络切片计费功能设备，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器，其中：
    所述存储器，用于存储程序指令；
    所述处理器，用于调用并执行所述存储器中存储的程序指令，以使所述网络切片计费功能设备执行权利要求1至17中任一项所述的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法。
  28. 一种计算机可读存储介质，包括指令，当其在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行权利要求1至17中任一项所述的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法。
  29. 一种网络切片管理功能设备，其特征在于，包括处理器和存储器，其中：
    所述存储器，用于存储程序指令；
    所述处理器，用于调用并执行所述存储器中存储的程序指令，以使所述网络切片管理设备执行权利要求18至26中任一项所述的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法。
  30. 一种计算机可读存储介质，包括指令，当其在计算机上运行时，使得所述计算机执行权利要求18至26中任一项所述的对网络资源进行计费处理的方法。
  31. 一种对网络资源进行计费处理的系统，包括：网络切片管理功能NSMF设备和网络切片计费功能NSCF设备，其特征在于：
    所述NSCF设备向所述NSMF设备发送第一消息，所述第一消息包含所述网络切片实例的标识；
    所述NSMF设备接收所述第一消息，并根据所述第一消息获取所述网络切片实例的网络切片性能指标对应的数据,所述网络切片性能指标用于描述所述网络切片实例的网络性能；
    所述NSMF设备向所述NSCF设备发送第二消息，所述第二消息包含所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据；
    所述NSCF设备接收所述第二消息，并基于所述第二消息中的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
  32. 根据权利要求31所述的系统，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标为对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理所需要的网络切片性能指标，所述第一消息还包含所述网络切片性能指标；
    所述NSCF设备向NSMF设备发送所述第一消息之前，还确定所述网络切片性能指标。
  33. 根据权利要求31所述的系统，其特征在于：
    所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据包含所述网络切片性能指标的值以及所述网络切片性能指标的时间；
    所述NSMF设备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：获取所述网络切片性能指标的值以及获取所述网络切片性能指标的时间；
    所述NSCF设备基于所述第二消息中的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的值以及所述网络切片性能指标的时间，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理。
  34. 根据权利要求33所述的系统，其特征在于，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标的值以及所述网络切片性能指标的时间，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：
    将所述网络切片性能指标的值和所述网络切片性能指标的时间存入第一计费话单中。
  35. 根据权利要求31所述的系统，其特征在于：
    所述第一消息还包含统计时间范围和统计方法；
    所述NSMF设备获取所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据，具体包括：获取所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片性能指标的值，以及使用所述统计方法统计所述统计时间范围内所述网络切片实例的所述网络切片性能指标的多个值，得到所述网络切片性能指标的统计值；
    所述NSCF设备基于所述第二消息中的所述网络切片性能指标对应的数据对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，进行所述网络切片实例的计费处理。
  36. 根据权利要求34所述的系统，其特征在于，所述NSCF设备基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，对所述网络切片实例进行计费处理，具体包括：
    基于所述网络切片性能指标的统计值，计算所述网络切片实例的使用费用。
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