Network capability exposure method, apparatus, and system

An apparatus, comprising:

• memory;
• and
• at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in the memory to enable the apparatus to:
• send a first request to a network exposure function network element, wherein the first request comprises an address of a target terminal device;
• and
• receive, from the network exposure function network element, a second identifier identifying the target terminal device outside a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) system, wherein the second identifier is used to expose an application programming interface corresponding to the second identifier.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a network exposure function network element, a first request from an application function network element, wherein the first request comprises an address of a target terminal device;
• sending, by the network exposure function network element, a second request to a first network element, wherein the second request comprises the address of the target terminal device, and the second request requests a first identifier identifying the target terminal device in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) system;
• receiving, by the first network element, the second request from the network exposure function network element, and sending the first identifier to the network exposure function network element;
• receiving, by the network exposure function network element, the first identifier from the first network element;
• determining, by the network exposure function network element based on the first identifier, a second identifier identifying the target terminal device outside the 3GPP system;
• and
• sending, by the network exposure function network element, the second identifier to the application function network element, wherein the second identifier is used to expose an application programming interface corresponding to the second identifier.

A system, comprising:

• a network exposure function network element;
• and
• a first network element;
• wherein the network exposure function network element is configured to:
• receive a first request from an application function network element, wherein the first request comprises an address of a target terminal device;
• send a second request to the first network element, wherein the second request comprises the address of the target terminal device, and the second request requests a first identifier identifying the target terminal device in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) system;
• receive the first identifier from the first network element;
• determine, based on the first identifier, a second identifier identifying the target terminal device outside the 3GPP system;
• and
• send the second identifier to the application function network element, wherein the second identifier is used to expose an application programming interface corresponding to the second identifier;
• and
• wherein the first network element is configured to:
• receive the second request from the network exposure function network element, and send the first identifier to the network exposure function network element.