Methods for VFL Configuration Coordination

A vertical federated learning (VFL) server, comprising a processor and a memory, the processor and memory configured to:

• send a discovery request to a network repository function (NRF), the discovery request comprising a VFL configuration identifier (ID), wherein a VFL configuration associated with the VFL configuration ID is supported by the VFL server, the discovery request indicating that the VFL server is configured to discover one or more VFL clients, wherein the one or more VFL clients support the VFL configuration ID;
• receive a discovery response, the discovery response comprising a list of one or more VFL clients that support the VFL configuration ID;
• select one or more VFL clients from the list of one or more VFL clients that support the VFL configuration ID and network function (NF) as a data source;
• and
• perform sample alignment on the selected one or more VFL clients.