Abstract: This application provides an information transmission method when a terminal device accesses a serving radio access network (RAN) device. The terminal device receives an identifier of a first cluster-data function (C-DF) associated with the serving RAN device from the serving RAN device, where the first C-DF is located in a radio access network and stores current data of the terminal device. When the terminal device camps on the serving RAN device longer than or equal to a first threshold, the terminal device stores the identifier of the first C-DF.

Abstract: A network slice instance processing method and apparatus, and a system, the method including receiving, by a first network device, a first message sent by a second network device, where the first message requests that the first network device modify a first network slice subnet instance (NSSI) managed by the first network device, and where the first NSSI is shared by a plurality of network slice instances (NSIs) managed by different network devices, determining, by the first network device, whether the first NSSI is allowed to be modified, and performing, by the first network device, subsequent processing according to a determination of whether the first NSSI is allowed to be modified.

Abstract: A configuration method and a corresponding apparatus are provided, to provide a mechanism for configuring, for a RAN, a network slice supported by the RAN. The configuration method includes: sending, by a first network management device, network slice configuration information to a second network management device, where the network slice configuration information includes information that indicates a network slice supported by the access network RAN, and the second network management device has a function of configuring the RAN; and receiving, by the first network management device, a message that is returned by the second network management device and that indicates that configuration the RAN is completed.

Abstract: This application provides an information transmission method when a terminal device accesses a serving radio access network (RAN) device. The terminal device receives an identifier of a first cluster-data function (C-DF) associated with the serving RAN device from the serving RAN device, where the first C-DF is located in a radio access network and stores current data of the terminal device. When the terminal device camps on the serving RAN device longer than or equal to a first threshold, the terminal device stores the identifier of the first C-DF.

Abstract: This application provides example methods and apparatuses for managing network slice subnet instances. An example method includes receiving, by a second device, a request message from a first device, where the request message is used to request to associate at least one first network slice subnet template with at least one first network slice subnet instance, and where the request message includes at least one identifier of the at least one first network slice subnet instance and at least one identifier of the at least one first network slice subnet template.

Abstract: A configuration method and a corresponding apparatus are provided, to provide a mechanism for configuring, for a RAN, a network slice supported by the RAN. The configuration method includes: sending, by a first network management device, network slice configuration information to a second network management device, where the network slice configuration information includes information that indicates a network slice supported by the access network RAN, and the second network management device has a function of configuring the RAN; and receiving, by the first network management device, a message that is returned by the second network management device and that indicates that configuration the RAN is completed.

Abstract: A network slice instance processing method and apparatus, and a system, the method including receiving, by a first network device, a first message sent by a second network device, where the first message requests that the first network device modify a first network slice subnet instance (NSSI) managed by the first network device, and where the first NSSI is shared by a plurality of network slice instances (NSIs) managed by different network devices, determining, by the first network device, whether the first NSSI is allowed to be modified, and performing, by the first network device, subsequent processing according to a determination of whether the first NSSI is allowed to be modified.