A communication method performed by a session management function, SMF, entity, the method comprising: receiving, by the SMF entity, a first request transmitted by a network function, NF, entity, the first request comprising a first identifier, ID, and a second ID, the first ID indicating an event, and the second ID indicating a type of the event; and transmitting, by the SMF entity, the first request to a user plane function, UPF, entity, wherein the first request is an UPF event subscription request, characterized by receiving, by the SMF entity, a first response transmitted by the UPF entity, the first response comprising the first ID, a third ID, and a fourth ID, the third ID indicating the NF entity, and the fourth ID indicating a request result of the event; and transmitting, by the SMF entity, the first response to the NF entity, wherein the first request further comprises a UPF ID and the third ID, the UPF ID indicates the UPF entity, and the first request further comprises one or more of an average value, a maximum value, an event start time, an event end time, and a quantity of event occurrences; or the first request further comprises a user equipment, UE, ID or a UE group ID, the first request further comprises at least one UPF ID and the third ID, and the first request further comprises one or more of the average value, the maximum value, the event start time, the event end time, and the quantity of event occurrences; or the first request further comprises the UE ID, the UPF ID, the third ID, and a session ID, and the first request further comprises one or more of the average value, the maximum value, the event start time, the event end time, and the quantity of event occurrences. receiving, by the SMF entity, a first request transmitted by a network function, NF, entity, the first request comprising a first identifier, ID, and a second ID, the first ID indicating an event, and the second ID indicating a type of the event; and transmitting, by the SMF entity, the first request to a user plane function, UPF, entity, wherein the first request is an UPF event subscription request, characterized by receiving, by the SMF entity, a first response transmitted by the UPF entity, the first response comprising the first ID, a third ID, and a fourth ID, the third ID indicating the NF entity, and the fourth ID indicating a request result of the event; and transmitting, by the SMF entity, the first response to the NF entity, wherein the first request further comprises a UPF ID and the third ID, the UPF ID indicates the UPF entity, and the first request further comprises one or more of an average value, a maximum value, an event start time, an event end time, and a quantity of event occurrences; or the first request further comprises a user equipment, UE, ID or a UE group ID, the first request further comprises at least one UPF ID and the third ID, and the first request further comprises one or more of the average value, the maximum value, the event start time, the event end time, and the quantity of event occurrences; or the first request further comprises the UE ID, the UPF ID, the third ID, and a session ID, and the first request further comprises one or more of the average value, the maximum value, the event start time, the event end time, and the quantity of event occurrences.