Communication method and communication device

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method and a communication device. In the method, a terminal device can determine configuration of target data allowed to be sent to a model training node of a third party according to indication information of a network device, and sends data to a first node according to the indication information. In another method, the terminal equipment can also determine the configuration of the target data which the network equipment agrees to assist the terminal equipment to send to the model training node of the third party according to another indication information of the network equipment, and send the data to the network equipment according to the another indication information, and the data is forwarded to the model training node of the third party by the network equipment. Therefore, the data received by the model training node of the third party are all under the supervision of the network equipment, so that the data acquired by the model training node of the third party can be prevented from comprising the data which cannot be sent out by a manufacturer or an operator of the network equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a communication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0002] When a communication device performs operations related to an AI model (such as training an AI model, performing an inference task according to the AI model, enhancing the AI model, etc.), data is required. This data can be collected by a terminal device or by a network device.

[0003] For example, one way of data collection is the data collected through air interface interaction between a terminal device and a network device. Another way of data collection is that the terminal device directly sends the collected data to a third-party model training node, such as an over the top (OTT) server. The data sent by the terminal device to the third-party model training node is usually invisible to the network device serving the terminal device. Therefore, the network device cannot determine which data the terminal device has sent to the third-party model training node. And the data collected by the terminal device may include data related to the network device side. For some of this part of the data, the manufacturer or operator of the network device may not want it to be obtained by the third-party model training node.

[0004] Therefore, how to ensure that the data obtained by the third-party model training node does not include the data that the manufacturer or operator of the network device deems not to be externally transmitted has become a technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method. This technical solution can enable the data obtained by the third-party model training node to be under the supervision of the network device, thereby avoiding the data obtained by the third-party model training node from including the data that the manufacturer or operator of the network device deems not to be externally transmitted.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by a terminal device or a chip applied to the terminal device. The method includes: receiving first indication information from a network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate the configuration of target data sent by the terminal device to a first node, the target data includes data related to the network device, the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0007] In this application, the first node may be a third-party model training node, such as an OTT server. This third-party model training node needs to collect data related to the network device obtained by the terminal device for training, inference, etc. of the AI model.

[0008] Based on the embodiments of the present application, a terminal device may receive first indication information from a network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate the configuration of target data related to the network device that the terminal device is allowed to send to a first node.

[0009] In this way, when the terminal device sends data related to the network device to a first node of a third party, it may send the data according to the first indication information of the network device. Thus, the terminal device may send the data under the supervision of the network device, thereby avoiding the terminal device sending some data related to network implementation to the first node without the network device being aware of it.

[0010] In one implementation, before receiving the first indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending first information to the network device, where the first information is used to query whether it is allowed to send the target data to the first node; and sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0011] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may actively send first information to the network device to query whether it is allowed to send the collected target data to the first node.

[0012] In one implementation, before receiving the first indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending second information to the network device, where the second information is used to query whether it is allowed to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; and the step of sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information includes: sending the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information; or sending partial data of the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0013] For example, the second information may include data types, ranges, data names, data volumes, data collection times, etc. of the data that specifically needs to be sent.

[0014] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the second information sent by the terminal device to the network device may indicate specific information about the data that the terminal device hopes to send to the first node, which is conducive to the network device clarifying which data the terminal device hopes to send externally. In addition, the terminal device may send the first target data or partial data of the first target data to the first node under the indication information of the network device, thereby avoiding some sensitive data on the network device side from being sent to the first node.

[0015] In some other examples, if the first target data includes multiple pieces of data, the first indication information may also be used to separately indicate whether each piece of data is allowed or not.

[0016] In one implementation, before receiving the first indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending third information to the network device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data; receiving the second target data or partial data of the second target data from the network device; and sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information includes: sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0017] In some cases, for some data related to the network device that the terminal device needs to send to the first node, the terminal device does not collect it. At this time, the terminal device needs to request this part of the data from the network device.

[0018] In this way, the terminal device can request some data from the network device, and the network device can send data to the terminal device according to the request of the terminal device, so that the terminal device can send the data allowed by the network device to the first node under the supervision of the network device.

[0019] In one implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following information: allowing the target data to be sent to the first node; the first target data allowed to be sent to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the target data; the identifier of the first node; or, the second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the target data, and the second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node.

[0020] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device can also actively send the first indication information to the terminal device to facilitate the terminal device to clarify which data can be sent to the first node.

[0021] In one implementation, the method further includes:

[0022] Sending indication information to the network device, where the indication information is used to indicate the result of the data sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0023] In this way, the terminal device can feedback the result of sending data to the network device, which is beneficial for the network device to determine which data the terminal device has sent.

[0024] Second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by a network device or a chip applied to the network device, and the method includes: determining first indication information for indicating a configuration for a terminal device to send target data to a first node, where the target data includes data related to the network device, and the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; and sending the first indication information to the terminal device.

[0025] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device may send first indication information to the terminal device to indicate a configuration of target data related to the network device that is allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0026] In this way, when the terminal device sends data related to the network device to the first node of a third party, it may send the data according to the first indication information of the network device. Thus, the terminal device may send the data under the supervision of the network device, thereby avoiding the situation that the terminal device sends some data related to network implementation to the first node without the network device being aware.

[0027] In one implementation, before determining the first indication information, the method further includes: receiving first information from the terminal device, where the first information is used to query whether to allow sending the target data to the first node; and determining the first indication information includes: determining the first indication information according to the first information, where the first indication information is used to indicate allowing sending the target data to the first node.

[0028] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device may determine the first indication information according to the request of the terminal device and indicate allowing the terminal device to send target data to the first node. Thus, the terminal device may send data to the first node under the indication of the network device.

[0029] In one implementation, before determining the first indication information, the method further includes: receiving second information from the terminal device, where the second information is used to query whether to allow sending first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; and determining the first indication information includes: determining the first indication information according to the second information, where the first indication information is used to indicate allowing sending the first target data to the first node; or determining the first indication information according to the second information, where the first indication information is used to indicate allowing sending partial data of the first target data to the first node.

[0030] In this way, the terminal device may send data to the first node under the indication of the network device, thereby avoiding some sensitive data on the network device side from being sent to the first node.

[0031] In one implementation, before determining the first indication information, the method further includes: receiving third information from the terminal device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data; determining the first indication information includes: determining the first indication information according to the third information, where the first indication information is used to indicate permission to send the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node.

[0032] After receiving the third information, the network device can determine whether the requested second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node. When the network device determines that it is allowed to send, the first indication information can be used to indicate permission to send the second target data to the first node. If the network device determines that some of the second target data is allowed to be sent and some is not allowed to be sent, the first indication information can be used to indicate permission to send partial data of the second target data to the first node. This can avoid some sensitive data on the network device side from being sent to the first node.

[0033] In one implementation, the method further includes: sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data.

[0034] In one implementation, the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: permission to send the target data to the first node; first target data allowed to be sent to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the target data; the identifier of the first node; or, second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the target data and the second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node.

[0035] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device can also actively send the first indication information to the terminal device to facilitate the terminal device to clarify which data can be sent to the first node.

[0036] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which is executed by a terminal device or a chip applied to the terminal device. The method includes: receiving second indication information from a network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate the configuration of target data that the network device can assist the terminal device to send to a first node, the target data includes data related to the network device, the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

[0037] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may receive second indication information from the network device, and send target data to the network device according to the second indication information, and the network device forwards the target data to the first node.

[0038] In this way, the terminal device can, under the indication of the network device, forward data related to the network device to the first node through the network device, thereby avoiding the first node from obtaining data that the manufacturer or operator of the network device does not want to send out.

[0039] In one implementation, before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending a first request information to the network device, where the first request information is used to request the network device to send the target data to the first node; sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

[0040] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can actively send the first request information to the network device, and send the target data to the first node through the network device under the indication of the network device, which can avoid sending data that the network device side does not want to send out to the first node.

[0041] In one implementation, before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending a second request information to the network device, where the second request information is used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; the sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information includes: sending the first target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

[0042] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can actively send the second request information to the network device, and send the first target data to the first node through the network device under the indication of the network device, which can avoid sending data that the network device side does not want to send out to the first node.

[0043] In one implementation, before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending third request information to the network device, where the third request information is used to request sending second target data to the terminal device, and the third request information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data; receiving the second target data or partial data of the second target data from the network device; and sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information includes: sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

[0044] Based on the embodiments of the present application, when the terminal device is unable to collect some data, it can request this part of the data from the network device. With the permission of the network device, this part of the data is forwarded to the first node as the data collected by the terminal device through the network device.

[0045] In one implementation, before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending third request information to the network device, where the third request information is used to request the network device to send second target data to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data.

[0046] Based on the embodiments of the present application, when the terminal device is unable to collect some data, it can request the network device to directly send this part of the data to the first node, thereby saving power consumption.

[0047] In one implementation, the method further includes: sending fourth request information to the network device, where the fourth request information is used to indicate the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

[0048] In this way, the first node can conveniently receive the corresponding data in the manner it expects to receive the data.

[0049] In one implementation, the method further includes: sending fifth request information to the network device, where the fifth request information is used to indicate the manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device.

[0050] In this way, the network device can clarify the manner in which the terminal device sends data.

[0051] In one implementation, the second indication information includes at least one of the following information: agreeing to send the target data to the first node; agreeing to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the target data; the identifier of the first node; second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the target data, or second target data that the network device can send to the first node; or, the manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device and the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

[0052] In one implementation, the method further includes: receiving third indication information from the network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate the result of the network device sending data to the first node. In this way, after the network device sends data to the first node, it can send the third indication information to the terminal device to feedback the result of sending the data to the terminal device, which is beneficial for the terminal device to determine which data the network device has forwarded.

[0053] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, which is executed by a network device or a chip applied to the network device. The method includes: determining second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the configuration for the network device to assist the terminal device in sending target data to a first node, the target data includes data related to the network device, the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; sending the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0054] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device can determine the second indication information that can assist the terminal device in sending to the first node and send the second indication information to the terminal device; the terminal device can send the target data to the network device according to the second indication information, and the network device forwards the target data to the first node.

[0055] In this way, the terminal device can, under the indication of the network device, forward data related to the network device to the first node through the network device, thereby avoiding the first node obtaining data that the manufacturer or operator of the network device does not want to send out.

[0056] In one implementation, before determining the second indication information, the method further includes: receiving first request information from the terminal device, where the first request information is used to request the network device to send the target data to the first node; the determining the second indication information includes: determining the second indication information according to the first request information, where the second indication information is used to indicate agreeing to send the target data to the first node.

[0057] In this way, the network device can determine the second indication information according to the first request information of the terminal device, and indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the target data to the first node. Thus, the terminal device can, under the indication of the network device, send the target data to the first node through the network device, which can avoid sending data that the network device does not want to send externally to the first node.

[0058] In one implementation, before determining the second indication information, the method further includes: receiving second request information from the terminal device, where the second request information is used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; the determining the second indication information includes: determining the second indication information according to the second request information, and the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the first target data to the first node.

[0059] In this way, the network device can determine the second indication information according to the second request information of the terminal device, and indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data to the first node. Thus, the terminal device can, under the indication of the network device, send the first target data to the first node through the network device, which can avoid sending data that the network device does not want to send externally to the first node.

[0060] In one implementation, before determining the second indication information, the method further includes: receiving third request information from the terminal device, where the third request information is used to request sending second target data to the terminal device, and the third request information is further used to indicate that the second target data needs to be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data; the determining the second indication information includes: determining the second indication information according to the third request information, and the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node.

[0061] When the terminal device is unable to collect the second target data that needs to be sent to the first node, it can actively send third request information for requesting the second target data to the network device. After receiving the third request information, the network device can determine whether the requested second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node. When the network device determines that it is allowed to send, the second indication information can be used to indicate consent to send the second target data to the terminal device. If the network device determines that part of the second target data is allowed to be sent and part is not allowed to be sent, the second indication information can be used to indicate consent to send part of the second target data to the terminal device.

[0062] In one implementation, the method further includes: sending the second target data or a part of the second target data to the terminal device.

[0063] In this way, when the terminal device is unable to collect some data, it can request this part of the data from the network device. With the permission of the network device, this part of the data is forwarded to the first node as the data collected by the terminal device through the network device.

[0064] In one implementation, the method further includes: receiving third request information from the terminal device, where the third request information is used to request the network device to send second target data to the first node, and the second target data includes a part of the target data; determining the second indication information, including: determining the second indication information according to the third request information, and the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the second target data or a part of the second target data to the first node.

[0065] In this way, when the terminal device requests the network device to send data to the first node, the network device determines whether it can send data to the first node, so that the data sent by the network device to the first node is all allowed to be sent by the manufacturer or operator, and some sensitive information can be avoided from being collected by the first node.

[0066] In one implementation, the method further includes: receiving fourth request information from the terminal device, where the fourth request information is used to indicate the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

[0067] In one implementation, the method further includes: receiving fifth request information from the terminal device, where the fifth request information is used to indicate the manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device.

[0068] In one implementation, the second indication information includes at least one of the following information: consent to send the target data to the first node; consent to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data is a part of the target data; the identifier of the first node; the second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is a part of the target data, or the second target data that the network device can send to the first node; or, the manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device, and the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

[0069] In one implementation, the method further includes: receiving the target data from the terminal device; sending the target data to the first node.

[0070] In this way, it is possible to avoid sending data that the network device does not want to send out to the first node.

[0071] In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by a terminal device or a chip applied to the terminal device, and the method includes: receiving fourth indication information from a network device, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate a configuration of first data that is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to a first node, the first data includes data related to the network device, the first data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; not sending the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0072] Alternatively, send data other than the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0073] Based on the embodiments of the present application, a terminal device can receive fourth indication information from a network device and determine a configuration of first data related to the network device that the network device does not allow the terminal device to send to a first node.

[0074] In this way, the terminal device can clearly identify which data cannot be sent to the first node, thereby avoiding the terminal device sending some data that the network device does not want to send out to the first node without the network device being aware of it.

[0075] In one implementation, before receiving the fourth indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending first information to the network device, where the first information is used to inquire whether it is allowed to send the first data to the first node; not sending the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0076] In this way, the terminal device can actively send first information to the network device to inquire whether it is allowed to send the collected data related to the network device to the first node, and not send the first data to the first node according to the indication information of the network device.

[0077] In one implementation, before receiving the fourth indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending second information to the network device, where the second information is used to inquire whether it is allowed to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the first data; not sending the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information includes: not sending the first target data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0078] In this case, the second information sent by the terminal device to the network device may indicate the specific information of the data that the terminal device hopes to send to the first node, which is conducive to the network device to clarify which data the terminal device hopes to send outwards.

[0079] In one implementation, the fourth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for not allowing the transmission of the first target data.

[0080] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can clarify the reason for not allowing the transmission of the first target data.

[0081] In one implementation, before receiving the fourth indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending third information to the network device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the first data; the not sending the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information includes: not sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0082] After receiving this third information, the network device can determine whether the requested second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node. When the network device determines that it is allowed to send, the first indication information can be used to indicate that it is allowed to send the second target data to the first node. If the network device determines that some of the second target data is allowed to be sent and some are not allowed to be sent, the first indication information can be used to indicate that it is allowed to send partial data of the second target data to the first node. Thus, some sensitive data on the network device side can be avoided from being sent to the first node.

[0083] In one implementation, the fourth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for not allowing the transmission of the second target data or partial data of the second target data.

[0084] In one implementation, the fourth indication information includes at least one of the following information: not allowing the transmission of the first data to the first node; the first target data not allowed to be sent to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the first data; the identifier of the first node; or, the second target data that the network device cannot send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the first data.

[0085] Sixth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by a network device or a chip applied to the network device, and the method includes: determining fourth indication information for indicating a configuration that does not allow a terminal device to send first data to a first node, where the first data includes data related to the network device and is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; and sending the fourth indication information to the terminal device.

[0086] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device may send fourth indication information to the terminal device to indicate a configuration of the first data related to the network device that is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0087] In this way, the terminal device can clearly identify which data cannot be sent to the first node, thereby avoiding the situation where the terminal device sends some data that the network device does not want to be externally sent to the first node without the network device being aware.

[0088] In one implementation, before determining the fourth indication information, the method further includes: receiving first information from the terminal device, where the first information is used to query whether it is allowed to send the first data to the first node; and determining the fourth indication information, including: determining the fourth indication information according to the first information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the first data to the first node.

[0089] In this way, the terminal device can actively send the first information to the network device to query whether it is allowed to send the data related to the network device collected by it to the first node, and not send the first data to the first node according to the indication information of the network device.

[0090] In one implementation, before determining the fourth indication information, the method further includes: receiving second information from the terminal device, where the second information is used to query whether it is allowed to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the first data; and determining the fourth indication information, including: determining the fourth indication information according to the second information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node; or determining the fourth indication information according to the second information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send partial data of the first target data to the first node.

[0091] In this way, the network device may determine the fourth indication information according to the second information of the terminal device to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node, thereby ensuring the data security of the network device and avoiding the leakage of key information.

[0092] In one implementation, the fourth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for not allowing the first target data or a part of the first target data to be sent to the first node.

[0093] In one implementation, before determining the fourth indication information, the method further includes: receiving third information from the terminal device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes a part of the first data; determining the fourth indication information includes: determining the fourth indication information according to the third information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the second target data or a part of the second target data to the first node.

[0094] In this way, the network device can indicate to the terminal device which data cannot be sent to the first node, avoiding information leakage of the network device.

[0095] In one implementation, the fourth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for not allowing the second target data or a part of the second target data to be sent to the first node.

[0096] In one implementation, the fourth indication information includes at least one of the following information: not allowing the first data to be sent to the first node; the first target data that is not allowed to be sent to the first node, where the first target data is a part of the first data; the identifier of the first node; or, the second target data that the network device is unable to send to the terminal device, where the second target data is a part of the first data.

[0097] In a seventh aspect, a communication method is provided, where the method is executed by a terminal device or a chip applied to the terminal device, and the method includes: receiving fifth indication information from a network device, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate a configuration that the network device is unable to assist the terminal device in sending first data to a first node, the first data includes data related to the network device, and the first data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; not sending the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information.

[0098] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can receive the fifth indication information and determine a configuration of the first data related to the network device that the network device does not agree to assist the terminal device in sending to the first node.

[0099] In this way, the terminal device can clearly identify which data cannot be sent to the first node, thereby avoiding the terminal device from sending data that cannot be forwarded to the first node to the network device, resulting in waste of resources and unnecessary power consumption.

[0100] In one implementation, before receiving the fifth indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending a first request message to the network device, where the first request message is used to request the network device to send the first data to the first node; not sending the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information.

[0101] In this way, the terminal device can actively send a first request message to the network device to request the network device to forward the first data related to the network device collected by the terminal device to the first node, and not send the first data to the network device after receiving the fifth indication information sent by the network device indicating disagreement to assist in forwarding the data, so as to avoid unnecessary power consumption.

[0102] In one implementation, before receiving the fifth indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending a second request message to the network device, where the second request message is used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the first data; not sending the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information includes: not sending the first target data to the network device according to the fifth indication information.

[0103] In this case, the specific information of the data that the terminal device hopes the network device to forward to the first node can be indicated in the second request message sent by the terminal device to the network device, which is conducive to the network device to clearly identify which data the terminal device hopes to send out.

[0104] In one implementation, before receiving the fifth indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending a third request message to the network device, where the third request message is used to request the network device to send second target data to the terminal device, and the third request message is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the first data; the fifth indication information is used to indicate disagreement to send the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node.

[0105] In one implementation, the fifth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for disagreeing to send the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node.

[0106] In one implementation, the fifth indication information includes at least one of the following information: not agreeing to send the first data to the first node; not agreeing to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the first data; the identifier of the first node; or, second target data that the network device is unable to send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the first data.

[0107] In an eighth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method is executed by a network device or a chip applied to the network device. The method includes: determining fifth indication information for indicating a configuration in which the network device is unable to assist a terminal device in sending first data to a first node, where the first data includes data related to the network device and is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; and sending the fifth indication information to the terminal device.

[0108] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device can send the fifth indication information to the terminal device to indicate a configuration of not agreeing to assist the terminal device in sending the first data related to the network device to the first node.

[0109] In this way, the terminal device can clearly identify which data cannot be sent to the first node, thereby avoiding the terminal device from sending data that cannot be forwarded to the first node to the network device, resulting in resource waste and unnecessary power consumption.

[0110] In one implementation, before determining the fifth indication information, the method further includes: receiving first request information from the terminal device, where the first request information is used to request the network device to send the first data to the first node; and determining the fifth indication information, including: determining the fifth indication information according to the first request information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate not agreeing to send the first data to the first node.

[0111] In this way, the network device can determine the fifth indication information according to the request of the terminal device to indicate not agreeing to assist the terminal device in sending the first data to the first node, thereby ensuring the data security of the network device and avoiding the leakage of key information.

[0112] In one implementation, before determining the fifth indication information, the method also includes: receiving second request information from a terminal device, the second request information being used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, the first target data including partial data of the first data; determining the fifth indication information includes: determining the fifth indication information based on the second request information, the fifth indication information being used to indicate that it is not agreed to send the first target data or partial data of the first target data to the first node.

[0113] In this way, the network device can determine the fifth indication information based on the second request information of the terminal device to indicate that it does not agree to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data or part of the first target data to the first node, thereby ensuring the data security of the network device and avoiding the leakage of key information.

[0114] In an implementation manner, the fifth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for not agreeing to send the first target data or part of the first target data to the first node.

[0115] In one implementation, before determining the fifth indication information, the method also includes: receiving third request information from a terminal device, the third request information is used to request sending second target data to the terminal device, and the third request information is also used to indicate that the second target data will be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes part of the first data; determining the fifth indication information includes: determining the fifth indication information based on the third request information, the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the second target data is not agreed to be sent to the first node.

[0116] In this way, the network device can instruct the terminal device which data cannot be sent to the first node, thereby avoiding information leakage of the network device.

[0117] In an implementation manner, the fifth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for not agreeing to send the second target data or part of the second target data to the first node.

[0118] In one implementation, the method also includes: receiving a fourth request information from a terminal device, the fourth request information being used to indicate a manner in which the network device sends the first data to the first node; and determining the fifth indication information includes: determining the fifth indication information based on the fourth request information, the fifth indication information being used to indicate that the first data is not agreed to be sent to the first node.

[0119] In one implementation, the method further includes: receiving fifth request information from a terminal device, where the fifth request information is used to indicate a manner in which the terminal device sends the first data to the network device; the determining the fifth indication information includes: determining the fifth indication information according to the fifth request information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate not to send the first data to the first node.

[0120] In one implementation, the fifth indication information includes at least one of the following information: not to send the first data to the first node; not to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the first data; an identifier of the first node; or, second target data that the network device cannot send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the first data.

[0121] In a ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, and the device is used to execute the methods provided in the first aspect to the eighth aspect above. Specifically, the device may include units and / or modules for executing the methods provided in any one of the above implementations of the first aspect to the eighth aspect, such as a processing unit and / or a communication unit.

[0122] In one implementation, the communication unit may be a transceiver, or an input / output interface; the processing unit may be at least one processor. Optionally, the transceiver may be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface may be an input / output circuit.

[0123] In another implementation, the device is a chip, a chip system or a circuit in a communication device. When the device is a chip, a chip system or a circuit for a terminal device, the communication unit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or a related circuit, etc. on the chip, the chip system or the circuit; the processing unit may be at least one processor, a processing circuit or a logic circuit, etc.

[0124] In a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided, including: at least one processor, configured to execute a computer program or instruction stored in a memory to execute the communication method in any one of the above implementations of the first aspect to the eighth aspect.

[0125] In an eleventh aspect, a processor is provided, configured to execute the methods provided in the above aspects.

[0126] In a twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, where the computer-readable medium stores program code for a device to execute, and the program code includes the method for executing any one of the above implementations of the first aspect to the eighth aspect.

[0127] In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product containing instructions, which, when the computer program product runs on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method provided by any one of the above implementations of the first aspect to the eighth aspect.

[0128] In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a chip, which includes a processor and a communication interface. The processor reads instructions stored in a memory through the communication interface and executes the method provided by any one of the above implementations of the first aspect to the eighth aspect.

[0129] Optionally, as an implementation, the chip further includes a memory, in which a computer program or instructions are stored. The processor is configured to execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory, and when the computer program or instructions are executed, the processor is configured to execute the method provided by any one of the above implementations.

[0130] In a fifteenth aspect, there is provided a communication system, which includes a terminal device for executing as in the first aspect, the third aspect, the fifth aspect, and the seventh aspect, and a network device for executing as in the second aspect, the fourth aspect, the sixth aspect, and the eighth aspect. Description of the Drawings

[0131] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0132] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a CU-DU architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0133] Figure 3 is a framework diagram of an AI application applicable to the present application in NR.

[0134] Figure 4 is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0135] Figure 5 is a schematic interaction diagram of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0136] Figure 6 is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0137] Figure 7 is a schematic interaction diagram of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0138] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0139] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0140] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0141] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following points are explained before introducing the embodiments of the present application.

[0142] First, in the embodiments of the present application, "indicating" may include direct indication and indirect indication, and may also include explicit indication and implicit indication. If the information indicated by a certain signal (such as the first indication information described below) is referred to as the information to be indicated, then in the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated. For example, but not limited to, the information to be indicated can be directly indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated, etc. It is also possible to indirectly indicate the information to be indicated by indicating other information, where there is an association relationship between the other information and the information to be indicated. It is also possible to only indicate a part of the information to be indicated, while the other parts of the information to be indicated are known or pre-agreed. For example, it is also possible to use the arrangement order of each piece of information pre-agreed (such as stipulated by a protocol) to implement the indication of specific information, thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent.

[0143] Second, "at least one" shown in the present application means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second" and various numerical numbers (such as "1", "2", etc.) are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The magnitudes of the serial numbers of the following processes do not mean the sequence of execution. The execution sequence of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the objects described in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so as to be able to describe the solutions other than the embodiments of the present application.

[0144] Third, the term "and / or" in this article is only a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after.

[0145] Fourth, in each embodiment of the present application, if there is no special description and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referred to. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0146] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0147] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 which is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 1 shown, the communication system 100 may include one or more network devices 110, one or more terminal devices 120, and one or more first nodes 130.

[0148] Among them, the terminal device 120 can communicate with one or more network devices 110. For example, the terminal device 120 and the network device 110 can communicate through the air interface (such as the Uu interface).

[0149] The terminal device 120 can also directly communicate with one or more first nodes 130, or the terminal device 120 can also communicate with the first node through the network device 110. For example, the terminal device 120 can send data to the network device 110, and the network device 110 forwards the data to the first node 130.

[0150] The network device 110 can also communicate with one or more first nodes 130.

[0151] The terminal device in this application is a device with wireless transceiver functions, which can refer to a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a user station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user device. The terminal device 120 can also be a satellite phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a wireless modem, a machine type communication device, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a handheld device with wireless communication functions, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a communication device carried on a high-altitude aircraft, a wearable device, a drone, a robot, a terminal in device-to-device (D2D) communication, a terminal in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, or a terminal device in a communication network evolved after 5G, etc., and this application does not make any restrictions.

[0152] The communication device for implementing the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device or a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement such functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the terminal device or used in matching with the terminal device. In this application, the chip system can be composed of chips or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0153] The network device in this application is a device with wireless transceiver functions, used for communicating with terminal devices. For example, the network device can be an access network device. The access network device can be a node in a radio access network (RAN), which can be called a base station or a RAN node. It can be an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in Long Term Evolution (LTE); or a base station in a 5G network such as a gNodeB (gNB), or a base station in a public land mobile network (PLMN) evolved after 5G, a broadband network gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch, or an access device of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), etc.

[0154] The above RAN can be configured as a RAN defined by the 3GPP protocol, an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), a Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN), etc. The access network device 110 can also include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), relay stations, transmitting and receiving points (TRPs), transmitting points (TPs), mobile switching centers, and devices that undertake the functions of base stations in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, access network devices in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), etc., without specific limitations.

[0155] The access network device may also include network elements or modules that implement some functions of the base station. For example, it may include one or more of the following: centralized unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), or radio unit (RU). Optionally, the CU may be further separated into CU-control plane (CP) and CU-user plane (UP). The functions of the CU and the DU may be implemented by different network elements, or simultaneously by the baseband unit (BBU) of the base station. The function of the RU may be implemented by the radio frequency device of the base station. For example, the radio frequency device of the base station may be a remote radio unit (RRU), a pico remote radio unit (pRRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or other units, modules, or devices with radio frequency processing functions. The communication interface protocol between the BBU and the radio frequency device may be a common public radio interface (CPRI) interface protocol, an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) interface protocol, or a fronthaul interface protocol between the DU and the RU in the O-RAN system, without limitation.

[0156] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, the CU may also be referred to as O-CU (open CU), the DU may also be referred to as O-DU, the CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, the CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP, and the RU may also be referred to as O-RU.

[0157] The CU and DU can be understood as the division of the base station from the perspective of logical functions. Among them, the CU and DU can be physically separated or deployed together, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this. One CU can be connected to one DU, or multiple DUs can share one CU, which can save costs and facilitate network expansion. The division of the CU and DU can be carried out according to the protocol stack. One possible way is to deploy the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers in the CU, and deploy the remaining radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical layer in the DU. The present application does not completely limit the above protocol stack division method, and there can be other division methods.

[0158] Figure 2 Fig. shows a schematic diagram of a CU-DU architecture, as Figure 2 shown. Among them, the CU and DU are connected through the F1 interface. The CU represents the gNB connected to the core network through the Ng interface. The network device in the embodiments of the present application can also refer to a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) node or a centralized unit user plane (CU-UP) node, or the network device can also be the CU-CP and CU-UP. Among them, the CU-CP is responsible for the control plane function, mainly including RRC and PDCP-C. PDCP-C is mainly responsible for the encryption, decryption, integrity protection, data transmission, etc. of the control plane data. The CU-UP is responsible for the user plane function, mainly including SDAP and PDCP-U. Among them, SDAP is mainly responsible for processing the data of the core network and mapping the flow to the bearer. PDCP-U is mainly responsible for the encryption, decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, data transmission, etc. of the data plane. Among them, the CU-CP and CU-UP are connected through the E1 interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB connected to the core network through the Ng interface. Connects to the DU through F1-C (control plane). The CU-UP is connected to the DU through F1-U (user plane). Of course, there is also a possible implementation where PDCP-C is also in the CU-UP.

[0159] The access network device mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be a device including a CU, or a DU, or a device including a CU and a DU, or a device including a control plane CU node (CU-CP node), a user plane CU node (CU-UP node), and a DU node.

[0160] The communication device for implementing the functions of the access network device may be the access network device or a device capable of supporting the access network device to implement such functions, such as a chip system. This device may be installed in the access network device or used in combination with the access network device. The chip system in the embodiments of the present application may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0161] The communication system 100 may also be the following systems: Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), 5G system, 6G system, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) systems such as inter-satellite communication and satellite communication. Among them, the satellite communication system includes a satellite base station and a terminal device. The satellite base station provides communication services for the terminal device. The satellite base station may also communicate with a terrestrial base station. The satellite may act as a base station or a terminal device. Among them, the satellite may refer to a non-terrestrial base station or non-terrestrial device such as a drone, a hot air balloon, a low-earth orbit satellite, a medium-earth orbit satellite, a geostationary orbit satellite, etc.

[0162] The communication system 100 may also be a terrestrial cellular communication system, a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) communication system, a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) system, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) system, a Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) communication system, etc., which is not limited herein.

[0163] It should be understood that Figure 1 This is only a simplified schematic diagram for easy understanding. The communication system 100 may also include other devices, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0164] To facilitate the understanding of the technical solutions provided in the present application, the following first gives a simple introduction to the professional terms involved in the present application. It can be understood that this introduction does not limit the present application.

[0165] 1. AI model

[0166] An AI model is a specific implementation of the functions of AI technology, which represents the mapping relationship between the input and output of the model. The types of AI models can be neural networks, linear regression models, decision tree models, support vector machines (SVMs), Bayesian networks, Q-learning models, or other machine learning (ML) models.

[0167] Depending on the specific methods and / or technologies for implementing artificial intelligence, an AI model can also be referred to as a machine learning model, a deep learning model, a reinforcement learning model, etc.

[0168] 2. Training and Inference of AI Models

[0169] Before an AI model is used to solve a specific technical problem, it needs to be trained. The training of an AI model refers to the process of using a specified initial model to calculate the training data, and adjusting the parameters in the initial model by a certain method according to the calculation results, so that the model gradually learns certain rules and has specific functions. An AI model with stable functions after training can be used for inference. The inference of an AI model is the process of using the trained AI model to calculate the input data and obtain the predicted inference results.

[0170] With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, AI has been widely used.

[0171] Exemplarily, Figure 3 is a framework diagram of an AI application applicable to this application in NR. As Figure 3 shown, data collection 310 can store data inputs from including gNB, gNB-CU, gNB-DU, UE, or other management entities as a database for AI model training and data analysis inference. Model training 320 analyzes the training data provided by data collection 310 to give the optimal AI model. Model inference 330 uses the AI model, based on the data provided by data collection 310, to give a reasonable AI-based prediction for network operation or to guide the network to make policy adjustments. The relevant policy adjustments are uniformly planned by the action entity 340 (actor) and sent to multiple network entities for operation. At the same time, after applying the relevant policies, the specific performance of the network will be input into the database and stored again.

[0172] Currently, 3GPP has designed several basic application scenarios for the application of AI on the RAN side from working groups such as RAN3 and RAN1. The scenarios discussed in RAN3 include energy saving, load balancing, and mobility optimization, etc. The scenarios discussed in RAN1 include enhanced channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) feedback, enhanced beam scanning, and enhanced positioning accuracy, etc. The following briefly introduces the basic principles of several examples respectively.

[0173] Energy saving: The base station collects the load, energy consumption, energy efficiency information of itself and neighboring cells, as well as the path information and measurement results of the UE, etc., predicts the trend of its own load, and combines with the cell usage, key performance indicator (KPI) requirements, etc. Without affecting network coverage and user access, energy-saving measures are taken timely and appropriately. The simplest energy-saving strategy includes directly deactivating the cell, and other energy-saving strategies include carrier shutdown, channel shutdown, time slot shutdown, transmit power reduction, etc. More complex energy-saving strategies also include combining the above energy-saving measures. When the network coverage is affected, or the UE access and service requirements cannot be met, the base station needs to modify the current energy-saving strategy, or directly return to the normal working state, and consider re-predicting the load or changing the used AI model for re-inference.

[0174] Load balancing: The base station collects the load, energy consumption, energy efficiency information of itself and neighboring cells, as well as the path information and measurement results of the UE, etc., predicts the trend of its own load, and combines with the cell usage, KPI requirements, etc., reasonably selects some UEs to switch to neighboring cells or receive UEs from neighboring cells, so that the load levels among the base stations in the entire network are close, reducing the situation where some base stations are overloaded and affect normal services while some base station resources are idle. However, due to the accuracy of prediction not being 100%, it may lead to unreasonable UE selection or unreasonable handover target cells, resulting in handover failures or UE services being affected, or inaccurate load prediction leading to poor load balancing effects, or temporary abnormal load changes making the original load balancing strategy no longer applicable. At this time, the base station needs to exit or modify the current load balancing strategy, and consider re-predicting the load or changing the used AI model for re-inference.

[0175] Mobility Optimization: By collecting the historical path information of the UE and combining it with the measurement information of the UE, predict the future path of the UE. Based on the predicted path, the base station pre-judges whether the UE will handover in advance, and issues the handover configuration in advance and notifies the target cell to prepare access resources, reducing the delay of the UE during the handover process and reducing the probability of handover and access failure. However, since the path prediction accuracy is not 100%, when the predicted path is incorrect, it will cause the UE handover to fail and the service to be interrupted. In response to this situation, the base station needs to consider re-training the AI model and reasoning in combination with abnormal situations, or consider replacing the AI model to avoid similar abnormal situations for subsequent UEs.

[0176] The main process of CSI-RS feedback enhancement is as follows:

[0177] 1. First, a dictionary is exchanged between the base station and the UE. Usually, the base station trains an AI model in advance according to the UE capabilities and its own requirements, and then issues an encoder and a quantizer tool to the UE.

[0178] 2. The UE compresses and quantizes the matrix to be fed back according to the measured channel matrix results and the existing dictionary, and transmits the result B to the base station.

[0179] 3. The base station reversely recovers the original channel matrix according to the dictionary and the data reported by the UE.

[0180] The main process of beam management enhancement is as follows:

[0181] 1. Generation of the initial model. The base station trains a sparse model representing the matrix of sparse scanning through the results of full-beam scanning of the synchronization signal block (SSB) by a certain number of UEs. Such a matrix is usually unique to each cell.

[0182] 2. The base station issues the sparse model to the UE (it can be through SIB messages, etc.), and the UE performs beam scanning in the P1 stage according to this matrix.

[0183] 3. Based on the sparse scanning results of the UE, the base station infers the optimal CSI-RS beam and starts P2 scanning of the UE, and the UE feeds back the optimal CSI-RS beam identifier.

[0184] The main process of positioning accuracy enhancement is as follows:

[0185] 1. Use a reference UE controlled by the operator to collect raw data.

[0186] 2. The LMF (Location Management Function, a non-RAN side node) and the gNB train models respectively. Through the model, the LMF can infer the final location (such as longitude and latitude, etc.), and through the model, the gNB can infer the line-of-sight (LOS) or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) judgment result.

[0187] The AI module is a module with machine learning computing capabilities. In a wireless communication system, the AI module can be located in the operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) node, or in the gNB (in a split architecture, it is located in the CU), or in some UEs, or can be a separate network entity. The main function of the AI module in the wireless communication system is to perform a series of AI calculations such as model establishment, training approximation, and reinforcement learning based on the input data (in the wireless communication system, the input data generally refers to the network operation data provided by the RAN side or monitored by the OAM, such as network load, channel quality, etc.). The trained model provided by the AI module has the function of predicting the changes in the RAN side network and can usually be used for load prediction, UE path prediction, etc. In addition, the AI module can also perform policy reasoning from the perspectives of network energy saving, mobility optimization, etc. based on the prediction results of the RAN network performance by the trained model to obtain reasonable and efficient energy saving policies, mobility optimization policies, etc. When the AI module is located in the OAM, its communication with the RAN side gNB can reuse the current northbound interface; when the AI module is located in the gNB or CU, it can reuse the current F1, Xn, Uu, etc. interfaces; when the AI module is an independent network entity, communication links to the OAM and the RAN side, etc. need to be re-established, such as based on wired links or wireless links. When the CP and UP of the CU are separated, usually the CP is responsible for receiving the AI model and the subsequent AI inference and policy generation functions. When the CU-CP is further split into CU-CP1 and CU-CP2, usually the CU-CP1 is responsible for receiving the model and the subsequent AI inference function and generating specific interaction signaling, and the CU-CP2 is responsible for sending it.

[0188] The communication device needs data to perform operations related to the AI model (such as training the AI model, performing inference tasks according to the AI model, enhancing the AI model, etc.), and this data can be collected by the terminal device or by the network device.

[0189] For example, one way of data collection is the data collected through the air interface interaction between the terminal device and the network device. Another way of data collection is that the terminal device directly sends the collected data to a third-party model training node, such as an over the top (OTT) server. The data sent by the terminal device to the third-party model training node is usually invisible to the network device serving the terminal device. Therefore, the network device cannot determine what data the terminal device has sent to the third-party model training node. The data collected by the terminal device may include data related to the network device side. For some of this data, the manufacturer or operator of the network device may not want it to be obtained by the third-party model training node.

[0190] Therefore, how to ensure that the data obtained by the third-party model training node does not include the data that the manufacturer or operator of the network device deems not to be externally transmitted has become a technical problem to be solved.

[0191] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and a communication device. This technical solution can enable the data obtained by the third-party model training node to be under the supervision of the network device, thereby avoiding the data obtained by the third-party model training node including the data that the manufacturer or operator of the network device deems not to be externally transmitted.

[0192] The following will be combined with Figures 4 - 7 to introduce the technical solution in the embodiment of the present application.

[0193] Figure 4 is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 4 shown, the method 400 may include steps 410 to 430.

[0194] 410. The network device determines first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the configuration of the target data sent by the terminal device to the first node. The target data includes data related to the network device, and the target data is used to train the AI model. The first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device.

[0195] In the present application, the first node may be other third-party nodes outside the 3GPP control range, such as an OTT server, which can also be understood as an application server. It mainly may include a terminal device server, and may also include a server of the chip manufacturer of the terminal device.

[0196] The target data may include data related to the network device. For example, the target data may be data related to network implementation, such as cell operating parameters, the number of transmit (TX) ports, the network-side models supported by the cell, the cell's SSB, and / or the beam pattern of CSI, etc.

[0197] The target data can be collected by the terminal device or received by the terminal device from a network device; alternatively, part of the target data is collected by the terminal device and part of the data is received from the network device.

[0198] The target data can be used to train an AI model. It can be understood that the target data can be used for the first node to train the AI model, or the target data can also be used for the terminal device to train the AI model. In other examples, the target data can also be used for inference tasks of the AI model, etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0199] It can be understood that the network device can determine the configuration of the target data allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node according to the configuration or design of the manufacturer or operator.

[0200] For example, the configuration can be pre-recorded in the network device or received by the network device from an OAM node or a core network (CN) node.

[0201] 420, the network device sends the first indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the first indication information.

[0202] The network device can send the first indication information through a control plane RRC message or a broadcast message, and can also send the first indication information through a non-access stratum (NAS) message or user plane data.

[0203] Exemplarily, if the network device is a gNB, the network device can send the first indication information through a control plane RRC message or a broadcast message. If the network device is a CN node, the network device can send the first indication information through a NAS message or user plane data. If the network device is an OAM node, the network device can send the first indication information through a NAS message or user plane data or other implementation-based methods.

[0204] 430, the terminal device sends the target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0205] After receiving the first indication information, the terminal device can determine according to the first indication information which data related to the network device collected can be sent to the first node. It should be understood that for the data related to the network device not indicated in the first indication information, the terminal device does not send it to the first node.

[0206] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device can send the first indication information to the terminal device to indicate the configuration of the target data related to the network device allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0207] In this way, when the terminal device sends data related to the network device to the first node of a third party, it can be sent according to the first indication information of the network device. Thus, the terminal device can send the data under the supervision of the network device, thereby avoiding the situation where the terminal device sends some data related to network implementation to the first node without the network device being aware of it.

[0208] In other examples, if the first indication information is used to indicate the configuration of the target data that is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node, the terminal device may also not send the target data to the first node according to the first indication information, or the terminal device sends data related to the network device other than the target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0209] In some examples, the network device may actively send the first indication information to the terminal device. Alternatively, the network device may also send the first indication information to the terminal device according to the request message after receiving the request message of the terminal device.

[0210] When the network device actively sends the first indication information to the terminal device, the content that the first indication information can indicate includes but is not limited to at least one of the following:

[0211] Permission to send target data to the first node;

[0212] The first target data allowed to be sent to the first node, where the first target data is part of the target data;

[0213] The identifier of the first node; or,

[0214] The second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is part of the target data and the second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node.

[0215] If the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is allowed to send target data to the first node, it can be understood that the network device allows the terminal device to send all the data related to the network device collected by the terminal device to the first node.

[0216] For example, the first indication information may be carried in the RRC message and represented by a bit value. A bit value of 1 indicates permission. In other examples, a bit value of 0 may indicate non - permission.

[0217] If the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is allowed to send the first target data to the first node, and the first target data is part of the target data, it can be understood that the network device allows the terminal device to send a part of the data related to the network device collected by the terminal device to the first node. The first indication information may also include the identifier of the first node.

[0218] For example, the first indication information is used to indicate the data type, data range, data name (such as the number of TX ports, operating parameters of the gNB, SSB measurement values, reference signal received power measurement values, etc.), data volume, start and end times when the data is collected by the terminal device, and data source (such as from which cells or PLMNs, which can be represented by cell global identifiers or PLMN lists) of the data allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0219] If the first indication information is used to indicate the identifier of the first node, it can be understood that the network device allows the terminal device to send the target data to the specific first node, and does not allow the terminal device to send the target data to other first nodes.

[0220] The identifier may be the internet protocol (IP) address or IP list of the first node.

[0221] If the first indication information is used to indicate the second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, the second target data is part of the target data, and the second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node, it can be understood that the network device can provide the second target data to the terminal device and allow the terminal device to send the second target data to the first node.

[0222] It should be understood that the second target data may be data that cannot be collected on the terminal device side. For example, the second target data may be the operating parameters of the cell, the number of TX ports, etc.

[0223] The second target data may include one or more of the data type, data source, start and end times when the data is collected on the network device side, etc.

[0224] It can be understood that the first indication information can be used to indicate one or more of the above-mentioned multiple contents.

[0225] In some cases, the network device may also send the first indication information to the terminal device according to the request message of the terminal device.

[0226] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the first indication information from the network device, the method 400 may further include:

[0227] The terminal device sends a first message to the network device, and the first message is used to inquire whether it is allowed to send the target data to the first node;

[0228] The terminal device sends the target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0229] Exemplarily, the first information may be carried in an RRC message. For example, the first information may be carried in one bit of the RRC message.

[0230] It should be understood that the first information may be used to inquire whether the terminal device is allowed to send target data to the first node, and the target data is all the data collected by the terminal device related to the network device.

[0231] In this way, the terminal device can actively send the first information to the network device to inquire whether it is allowed to send the collected target data to the first node.

[0232] Correspondingly, the network device receives the first information.

[0233] In some implementations, the network device determines first indication information, including:

[0234] Determining the first indication information according to the first information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that it is allowed to send the target data to the first node.

[0235] After the network device receives the first information, it may determine the first indication information according to the first information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is allowed to send the target data to the first node.

[0236] In this case, the terminal device may send all the data collected related to the network device to the first node.

[0237] In this way, the network device may determine the first indication information according to the request of the terminal device and indicate that the terminal device is allowed to send the target data to the first node, so that the terminal device may send data to the first node under the indication of the network device.

[0238] In some implementations, before the terminal device receives the first indication information from the network device, the method 400 may further include:

[0239] Sending second information to the network device, where the second information is used to inquire whether it is allowed to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data;

[0240] Sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information, including:

[0241] Sending the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information; or,

[0242] Sending partial data of the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0243] Exemplarily, the second information is used to inquire about the data type, data range, data name (such as the number of TX ports, operating parameters of the gNB, SSB measurement values, reference signal received power measurement values, etc.), data volume, start and end times when the data is collected by the terminal device, and data source (such as from which cells or PLMNs, which can be represented by cell global identifiers or PLMN lists) of the data allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0244] In this case, the second information sent by the terminal device to the network device may indicate the specific information of the data that the terminal device hopes to send to the first node, which is beneficial for the network device to clarify which data the terminal device hopes to send out.

[0245] When the first indication information is used to indicate that the first target data is allowed to be sent to the first node, the terminal device may send the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0246] Alternatively, if the network device determines that some of the data of the first target data is not allowed to be sent out by the terminal device, the first indication information may be used to indicate that the terminal device is allowed to send some of the data of the first target data to the first node. When the first indication information is used to indicate that some of the data of the first target data is allowed to be sent to the first node, the terminal device may send some of the data of the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0247] In this way, the terminal device can send data to the first node under the indication of the network device, thereby avoiding some sensitive data on the network device side from being sent to the first node.

[0248] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second information.

[0249] In some implementation manners, the network device determines the first indication information, including:

[0250] Determining the first indication information according to the second information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first target data is allowed to be sent to the first node; or,

[0251] Determining the first indication information according to the second information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that some of the data of the first target data is allowed to be sent to the first node.

[0252] After receiving the second information, the network device can determine whether to allow the terminal device to send the first target data to the first node. When it is determined that all the data in the first target data is allowed to be sent out, the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is allowed to send the first target data to the first node. Alternatively, if the network device determines that data 1 in the first target data is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node, the first indication information can be used to indicate data 2 of the first target data that the terminal device is allowed to send to the first node, where data 2 is the data in the first target data other than data 1.

[0253] In some other examples, if the first target data includes multiple pieces of data, the first indication information can also be used to individually indicate whether each piece of data is allowed or not.

[0254] In some other examples, if the network device determines that some data 3 in the first target data is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node, the network device can also modify the data type or range of data 3 and allow the terminal device to send the modified data 3 to the first node.

[0255] For example, the first target data requests to send the TX port numbers of cells 1 and 2 to the first node A and the first node B. The first indication information can be used to indicate that the terminal device is allowed to send the TX port number of cell 1 to the first node B.

[0256] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the first indication information from the network device, the method 400 may further include:

[0257] Sending third information to the network device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is also used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data;

[0258] Receiving the second target data or partial data of the second target data from the network device;

[0259] Sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information, including:

[0260] Sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

[0261] In some cases, for some data related to the network device that the terminal device needs to send to the first node, the terminal device has not collected it on its side. At this time, the terminal device needs to request this part of the data from the network device.

[0262] Exemplarily, the terminal device can send third information to the network device to request this part of the data.

[0263] In some implementations, before the network device determines the first indication information, method 400 further includes:

[0264] Receiving third information from the terminal device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data;

[0265] The network device determines the first indication information, including:

[0266] Determining the first indication information according to the third information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that it is allowed to send the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node.

[0267] After receiving the third information, the network device can determine whether the requested second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node. When the network device determines that it is allowed to send, the first indication information can be used to indicate that it is allowed to send the second target data to the first node. If the network device determines that partial data in the second target data is allowed to be sent and partial data is not allowed to be sent, the first indication information can be used to indicate that it is allowed to send partial data of the second target data to the first node.

[0268] In this application, the first indication information may further include an identifier of the first node, so as to only allow the terminal device to send data to the first node under the identifier.

[0269] In some implementations, method 400 further includes:

[0270] The network device sends the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second target data or partial data of the second target data.

[0271] For example, if the second target data requests to send the TX port numbers of cells 1 and 2 to the first node A and the first node B, the first indication information can be used to indicate the port number of cell 1, or the first indication information is used to indicate that it is allowed for the terminal device to send the TX port number of cell 1 to the first node A.

[0272] In this way, the terminal device can request some data from the network device, and the network device can send data to the terminal device according to the request of the terminal device, so that the terminal device can send the data allowed by the network device to the first node under the supervision of the network device.

[0273] In some implementations, method 400 may further include:

[0274] The terminal device sends indication information to the network device, and this indication information can be used to indicate that data has been successfully sent to the first node; alternatively, this indication information can also be used to indicate which data has been specifically sent to the first node and the identifier of the first node.

[0275] In this way, after the terminal device finishes transmitting data to the first node, it can feedback information of some data to the network device, which is conducive to the network device to clarify which data the terminal device has sent out.

[0276] It can be understood that the above first information, second information, and third information can exist alone or together. The above first information, second information, and third information can be carried in one message or in different messages.

[0277] In some cases, the network device can also be used to send a configuration of target data that is not allowed to be sent to the first node to the terminal device. The following will be combined with Figure 5 to introduce this technical solution.

[0278] Figure 5 It is a schematic interaction diagram of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 5 shown, this method 500 may include steps 510 to 530.

[0279] 510. The network device determines fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate a configuration of first data that is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node. The first data includes data related to the network device, and the first data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model. The first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device.

[0280] This first data can be collected by the terminal device or received by the terminal device from the network device; alternatively, part of this first data is collected by the terminal device and part of the data is received from the network device.

[0281] This first data can be used to train an AI model. It can be understood that this first data can be used for the first node to train an AI model, or this first data can also be used for the terminal device to train an AI model. In other examples, this first data can also be used for inference tasks of the AI model, etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0282] It can be understood that the network device can determine the configuration of the first data that is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node according to the configuration or design of the manufacturer or operator.

[0283] For example, this configuration can be pre-recorded in the network device or received by the network device from the OAM node or the CN node.

[0284] It can be understood that the fourth indication information can be the same as the first indication information or different from the first indication information.

[0285] 520. The network device sends the fourth indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the fourth indication information.

[0286] The network device can send the fourth indication information through a control plane RRC message or a broadcast message, and can also send the fourth indication information through a non-access stratum (NAS) message or user plane data.

[0287] Exemplarily, if the network device is a gNB, the network device can send the fourth indication information through a control plane RRC message or a broadcast message. If the network device is a CN node, the network device can send the fourth indication information through a NAS message or user plane data. If the network device is an OAM node, the network device can send the fourth indication information through a NAS message or user plane data or other implementation-based means.

[0288] 530. The terminal device does not send the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0289] This step 530 can also be understood as that the terminal device does not send the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information, or the terminal device sends data related to the network device other than the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0290] For example, the data related to the network device includes data A, data B, and data C, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to send data A and data B to the first node. Then the terminal device can send data C to the first node and does not send data A and data B.

[0291] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device can send the fourth indication information to the terminal device to indicate the configuration of the first data related to the network device that the terminal device is not allowed to send to the first node.

[0292] In this way, the terminal device can clarify which data cannot be sent to the first node, thereby avoiding the terminal device sending some data that the network device does not want to be sent externally to the first node without the network device being aware.

[0293] In some examples, the network device can actively send the fourth indication information to the terminal device. Or, the network device can also send the fourth indication information to the terminal device according to the request message after receiving the request message of the terminal device.

[0294] When the network device actively sends the fourth indication information to the terminal device, the content that the fourth indication information can indicate includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following:

[0295] Not allowing to send the first data to the first node;

[0296] The first target data not allowed to be sent to the first node, where the first target data is part of the first data;

[0297] The identifier of the first node; or,

[0298] The second target data that the network device cannot send to the terminal device, where the second target data is part of the first data.

[0299] If the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to send the target data to the first node, it can be understood that the network device does not allow the terminal device to send all the data collected by the terminal device related to the network device to the first node.

[0300] For example, the fourth indication information can be carried in the RRC message and represented by a bit value. A bit value of 0 can indicate not allowed.

[0301] If the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node, and the first target data is part of the first data, it can be understood that the network device does not allow the terminal device to send a part of the data collected by the terminal device related to the network device to the first node. The fourth indication information can also include the identifier of the first node.

[0302] In other examples, if the first target data includes multiple pieces of data, the fourth indication information can also be used to indicate for each piece of data that the terminal device is not allowed to send it to the first node. Or, the fourth indication information can also be used to indicate for some of the multiple pieces of data that the terminal device is not allowed to send them to the first node.

[0303] In other examples, the fourth indication information can also be used to indicate the reason why the terminal device is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node.

[0304] This is beneficial for the terminal device to clarify the reason why it is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node.

[0305] If the fourth indication information is used to indicate the identifier of the first node, it can be understood that the network device does not allow the terminal device to send the first data to the specific first node, but allows the terminal device to send the first data to other first nodes.

[0306] The identifier can be the IP address or IP list of the first node.

[0307] If the fourth indication information is used to indicate the second target data that the network device is unable to send to the terminal device, and the second target data is part of the first data, it can be understood that the network device is unable to provide the second target data to the terminal device.

[0308] The second target data may include one or more of the data type of the data, the source of the data, the start and end times when the data is collected on the network device side, and other contents.

[0309] It can be understood that the fourth indication information can also be used to indicate one or more of the above multiple contents.

[0310] In some cases, the network device can also send the fourth indication information to the terminal device according to the request message of the terminal device.

[0311] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the fourth indication information from the network device, the method 500 may further include:

[0312] The terminal device sends first information to the network device, and the first information is used to inquire whether it is allowed to send the first data to the first node;

[0313] The terminal device does not send the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0314] Exemplarily, the first information may be carried in an RRC message. The first information may be carried in one bit of the RRC message.

[0315] It should be understood that the first information can be used to inquire whether it is allowed for the terminal device to send the first data to the first node, and the first data may be all the data collected by the terminal device related to the network device.

[0316] In this way, the terminal device can actively send the first information to the network device to inquire whether it is allowed to send the data collected related to the network device to the first node, and does not send the first data to the first node according to the indication information of the network device.

[0317] Correspondingly, the network device receives the first information.

[0318] In some implementation manners, the network device determines the fourth indication information, including:

[0319] Determining the fourth indication information according to the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the first data to the first node.

[0320] For example, if the network device determines, based on the configuration of the manufacturer or operator, that all data related to the network device is not allowed to be sent to the first node, then after the network device receives the first information, it can determine fourth indication information according to the first information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to send the first data to the first node.

[0321] In this case, the terminal device cannot send all the data collected related to the network device to the first node.

[0322] In this way, the network device can determine the fourth indication information according to the request of the terminal device to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to send the first data to the first node, thereby ensuring the data security of the network device and avoiding the leakage of key information.

[0323] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the fourth indication information from the network device, the method 500 may further include:

[0324] The terminal device sends second information to the network device, and the second information is used to inquire whether it is allowed to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the first data;

[0325] Not sending the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information includes:

[0326] Not sending the first target data or partial data of the first target data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0327] In this case, the specific information of the data that the terminal device hopes to send to the first node can be indicated in the second information sent by the terminal device to the network device, which is conducive to the network device to clarify which data the terminal device hopes to send out.

[0328] When the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node, the terminal device can not send the first target data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0329] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second information.

[0330] In some implementation manners, the network device determines the fourth indication information, including:

[0331] Determining the fourth indication information according to the second information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node; or,

[0332] Determining the fourth indication information according to the second information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send partial data of the first target data to the first node.

[0333] After receiving the second information, the network device can determine whether to allow the terminal device to send the first target data to the first node. When it is determined that all the data in the first target data is not allowed to be sent out, the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first target data is not allowed to be sent to the first node. Alternatively, if the network device determines that data 1 in the first target data is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node, the fourth indication information can be used to indicate data 1 of the first target data that is not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0334] In some other examples, if the first target data includes multiple pieces of data, the fourth indication information can also be used to individually indicate whether each piece of data is allowed or not.

[0335] In this way, the network device can determine the fourth indication information according to the second information of the terminal device to indicate that the terminal device is not allowed to send the first target data to the first node, thereby ensuring the data security of the network device and avoiding the leakage of key information.

[0336] In other examples, the fourth indication information can also be used to indicate the reason for not allowing the first target data to be sent to the first node or the reason for not allowing some of the data of the first target data to be sent to the first node.

[0337] In some cases, for some data related to the network device that the terminal device needs to send to the first node, the terminal device has not collected it. At this time, the terminal device needs to request this part of the data from the network device.

[0338] Exemplarily, the terminal device can send the third information to the network device to request this part of the data.

[0339] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the fourth indication information from the network device, the method 500 may further include:

[0340] Sending the third information to the network device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send the second target data, and the third information is also used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes some data of the first data;

[0341] Not sending the first data to the first node according to the fourth indication information includes:

[0342] Not sending the second target data or some data of the second target data to the first node according to the fourth indication information.

[0343] Correspondingly, the network device receives the third information.

[0344] The network device determines the fourth indication information, including:

[0345] Determine a fourth indication information according to a third information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that it is not allowed to send a second target data or a partial data of the second target data to a first node.

[0346] After receiving the third information, the network device may determine whether the requested second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node. When the network device determines that it is not allowed to send, the fourth indication information may be used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the second target data to the first node. If the network device determines that a partial data 1 in the second target data is allowed to be sent and a partial data 2 is not allowed to be sent, the fourth indication information may be used to indicate that it is not allowed to send the partial data 2 of the second target data to the first node.

[0347] It should be understood that when the network device determines that the partial data 2 is not allowed to be sent to the first node, the network device may also not send the partial data 2 to the terminal device.

[0348] In this application, the fourth indication information may further include an identifier of the first node, so that the terminal device is not allowed to send data to the first node under the identifier.

[0349] In this way, the network device may indicate to the terminal device which data cannot be sent to the first node, avoiding information leakage of the network device.

[0350] In some implementation manners, the fourth indication information is further used to indicate a reason for not allowing to send the second target data or a partial data of the second target data.

[0351] In this way, it is beneficial for the terminal device to clarify the reason for not allowing to send the first target data to the first node.

[0352] In other examples, if the network device determines that the second target data is not allowed to be sent to the first node, the network device may also not give a reply. In this case, after a preset duration after the terminal device sends the third request information and the network device does not receive any feedback, the terminal device may determine that the network device does not allow the terminal device to send the second target data to the first node.

[0353] In some cases, method 400 may be used in combination with method 500 to form another embodiment. For example, the fourth indication information and the first indication information may be the same indication information, and the indication information may be used to indicate target data allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node and first data not allowed to be sent by the terminal device to the first node.

[0354] The above combination Figures 4 - 5 introduces a technical solution for the terminal device to send data or not send data to the first node according to the indication information of the network device. In some cases, the terminal device may also forward the collected data to the first node through the network device. The following will combine Figures 6 - 7Introduce this technical solution.

[0355] Figure 6 It is a schematic interaction diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of this application. As Figure 6 shown, the method 600 may include steps 610 to 640.

[0356] 610. The network device determines second indication information, which is used to indicate the configuration of the target data that the network device can assist the terminal device to send to the first node. The target data includes data related to the network device, and the target data is used to train the AI model. The first node is the upper-layer application node of the terminal device.

[0357] It should be understood that the relevant description of the target data can be referred to in the previous text.

[0358] It can be understood that the network device can determine which data can be sent to the first node through the configuration of the manufacturer or operator; or, the network device can also determine which data can be sent to the first node according to the information received from the OAM node or the CN node.

[0359] 620. The network device sends the second indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second indication information.

[0360] It should be understood that the manner in which the network device sends the second indication information to the terminal device can be the same as the manner of sending the first indication information in the previous text.

[0361] In this technical solution, the terminal device can forward data to the first node through the network device. The second indication information is used to indicate the configuration of the target data that the network device can assist the terminal device to send to the first node, so that the terminal device can determine which data can be forwarded.

[0362] 630. The terminal device sends the target data to the network device according to the second indication information. Correspondingly, the network device receives the target data.

[0363] After receiving the second indication information, the terminal device can clarify which data related to the network device collected can be forwarded by the network device to the first node according to the second indication information. It should be understood that for the data related to the network device not indicated in the second indication information, that is, it means that external transmission is not allowed, and the terminal device can not send this part of the data to the network device.

[0364] 640. The network device sends the target data to the first node. Correspondingly, the first node receives the target data.

[0365] Exemplarily, the network device may directly send the target data to the first node. Alternatively, the network device may first determine whether the target data is allowed to be sent, and after determining that the target data is allowed to be sent, send the target data to the first node. Alternatively, the network device may first determine whether the target data is allowed to be sent, and after determining that some of the target data is not allowed to be sent, send the data other than the data not allowed to be sent in the target data to the first node.

[0366] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device may determine second indication information that can assist the terminal device in sending to the first node, and send the second indication information to the terminal device; the terminal device may send the target data to the network device according to the second indication information, and the network device forwards the target data to the first node.

[0367] In this way, the terminal device can, under the indication of the network device, forward data related to the network device to the first node through the network device, thereby avoiding the first node from obtaining data that the manufacturer or operator of the network device does not want to send out.

[0368] In some examples, the network device may actively send the second indication information to the terminal device. Alternatively, the network device may also send the second indication information to the terminal device according to the request message after receiving the request message of the terminal device.

[0369] When the network device actively sends the second indication information to the terminal device, the content that the second indication information may indicate includes but is not limited to at least one of the following:

[0370] Agree to send the target data to the first node;

[0371] Agree to send the first target data to the first node, where the first target data is part of the target data;

[0372] The identifier of the first node;

[0373] The second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is part of the target data, or the second target data that the network device can send to the first node; or,

[0374] The manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device, and the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

[0375] If the second indication information is used to indicate that the network device agrees to send the target data to the first node, it can be understood that the network device agrees to assist the terminal device in sending all the data related to the network device collected by the terminal device to the first node.

[0376] For example, the second indication information may be carried in an RRC message and represented by a bit value. A bit value of 1 indicates consent. In other examples, a bit value of 0 may indicate non-consent.

[0377] If the second indication information is used to indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data to the first node, and the first target data is part of the target data, it can be understood that the network device consents to assist the terminal device in sending a part of the data related to the network device collected by the terminal device to the first node. The second indication information may further include the identifier of the first node.

[0378] For example, the second indication information is used to indicate the data type, data range, data name (such as the number of TX ports, operating parameters of the gNB, SSB measurement values, reference signal received power measurement values, etc.), data volume size, start and end times when the data is collected by the terminal device, and the source of the data (such as from which cells or PLMNs, which can be represented by cell global identifiers or PLMN lists) of the data that the terminal device is consented to assist in sending to the first node.

[0379] If the second indication information is used to indicate the identifier of the first node, it can be understood that the network device consents to assist the terminal device in sending the target data to the specific first node, and does not consent to assist the terminal device in sending the target data to other first nodes.

[0380] The identifier may be the IP address or IP list of the first node.

[0381] In some cases, part of the data is collected on the network device side and cannot be collected on the terminal device side. Therefore, the network device may send this part of the data to the terminal device, and subsequently receive this part of the data as the data received by the terminal device and forward it to the first node; or, the network device may also directly send this part of the data to the first node.

[0382] If the second indication information is used to indicate the second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is part of the target data, or the second target data that the network device can send to the first node.

[0383] The second indication information may be used to indicate one or more of the data type, data source, start and end times when the data is collected on the network device side, etc. of the data.

[0384] The second indication information may also be used to indicate the manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device, and the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

[0385] Exemplarily, the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the target data to the network device via an RRC message, an NAS message, or user plane data, and to instruct the network device to send the target data to the first node in the form of a bit stream via an IP tunnel. Further, the second indication information may also be used to indicate the identity of the first node. For example, the second indication information may further include an IP list of the first node that can forward.

[0386] In some cases, the network device may also send the second indication information to the terminal device according to the request message of the terminal device.

[0387] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the second indication information from the network device, the method 600 may further include:

[0388] Sending a first request message to the network device, where the first request message is used to request the network device to send the target data to the first node;

[0389] Sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

[0390] Correspondingly, the network device receives the first request message.

[0391] The network device determines the second indication information, including:

[0392] Determining the second indication information according to the first request information, where the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the target data to the first node.

[0393] Exemplarily, the first request information may be carried in an RRC message. The first request information may be carried in one bit of the RRC message.

[0394] It should be understood that the first request information may be used to inquire whether to consent to assist the terminal device in sending the target data to the first node, and the target data is all data collected by the terminal device related to the network device.

[0395] After receiving the first request information, the network device may determine the second indication information for indicating consent to send the target data to the first node.

[0396] In this way, the network device may determine the second indication information according to the first request information of the terminal device and indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the target data to the first node, so that the terminal device may send the target data to the first node via the network device under the indication of the network device, and it is possible to avoid sending data that the network device does not want to be sent externally to the first node.

[0397] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the second indication information from the network device, the method 600 may further include:

[0398] Send a second request message to the network device, where the second request message is used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data;

[0399] Sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information includes:

[0400] Send the first target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

[0401] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second request message,

[0402] The network device determines the second indication information, including:

[0403] Determine the second indication information according to the second request message, where the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the first target data to the first node.

[0404] After receiving the second request message, the network device can determine whether to agree to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data to the first node. When it is determined that all the data in the first target data is allowed to be sent out, the second indication information is used to indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data to the first node. Alternatively, if the network device determines that data 1 in the first target data is not allowed to be sent to the first node, the second indication information can be used to indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending data 2 of the first target data to the first node, where data 2 is the data in the first target data other than data 1.

[0405] In some other examples, if the first target data includes multiple pieces of data, the second indication information can also be used to separately indicate whether each piece of data is allowed or not.

[0406] In some other examples, if the network device determines that data 3 in the first target data is not allowed to be sent to the first node, the network device can also modify the data type or range of data 3 and indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the modified data 3 to the first node.

[0407] For example, the first target data requests to send the TX port numbers of cells 1 and 2 to the first node A and the first node B, and the second indication information can be used to indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the TX port number of cell 1 to the first node B.

[0408] In this way, the network device can determine the second indication information according to the second request message of the terminal device and indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data to the first node, so that the terminal device can send the first target data to the first node through the network device under the indication of the network device, and it is possible to avoid sending data that the network device does not want to send out to the first node.

[0409] In some implementations, the network device sends target data to the first node, including:

[0410] The network device sends the first target data or a partial data of the first target data to the first node.

[0411] Exemplarily, after the network device receives the first target data from the terminal device, if the network device determines that it can send the first target data to the first node, the network device may send the first target data to the first node. If the network device determines that it can send a partial data of the first target data to the first node, the network device may send the partial data of the first target data to the first node.

[0412] In some implementations, before the terminal device receives the second indication information from the network device, the method 600 may further include:

[0413] Sending a third request message to the network device, where the third request message is used to request to send second target data to the terminal device, and the third request message is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes a partial data of the target data;

[0414] Receiving the second target data or a partial data of the second target data from the network device;

[0415] Sending target data to the network device according to the second indication information, including:

[0416] Sending the second target data or a partial data of the second target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

[0417] Correspondingly, the network device receives the third request message.

[0418] The network device determines the second indication information, including:

[0419] Determining the second indication information according to the third request message, where the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the second target data or a partial data of the second target data to the first node.

[0420] When the terminal device is unable to collect the second target data that needs to be sent to the first node, it can actively send the third request information for requesting the second target data to the network device. After receiving the third request information, the network device can determine whether the requested second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node. When the network device determines that it is allowed to send, the second indication information can be used to indicate consent to send the second target data to the terminal device. If the network device determines that some of the second target data is allowed to be sent and some is not allowed to be sent, the second indication information can be used to indicate consent to send a part of the second target data to the terminal device.

[0421] In this case, the method 600 may further include:

[0422] The network device sends the second target data or a part of the second target data to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second target data or a part of the second target data.

[0423] In this way, when the terminal device is unable to collect some data, it can request this part of the data from the network device. With the permission of the network device, this part of the data is forwarded to the first node as the data collected by the terminal device through the network device.

[0424] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the second indication information from the network device, the method 600 may further include:

[0425] Sending the third request information to the network device, where the third request information is used to request the network device to send the second target data to the first node, and the second target data includes a part of the target data.

[0426] Correspondingly, the network device receives the third request information.

[0427] The method 600 further includes:

[0428] The network device sends the second target data or a part of the second target data to the first node.

[0429] After the network device receives the third request information, if it determines that all of the second target data can be sent to the first node, the network device can send the second target data to the first node. If the network device determines that some of the second target data is allowed to be sent and some is not allowed to be sent, the network device sends the part of the second target data that is allowed to be sent to the first node.

[0430] In this way, when the terminal device requests the network device to send data to the first node, the network device determines whether it can send data to the first node. As a result, the data sent by the network device to the first node are all allowed to be sent by the manufacturer or operator, which can prevent some sensitive information from being collected by the first node.

[0431] In some implementation manners, the method 600 may further include:

[0432] The terminal device sends fourth request information to the network device, where the fourth request information is used to indicate a manner in which the network device sends target data to the first node.

[0433] Exemplarily, the fourth request information may indicate that it is desired that the network device send the target data to the first node in the form of a bit stream through an IP channel. Further, the fourth request information may also be used to indicate an identifier of the first node. For example, the fourth request information may further include an IP list of the first node.

[0434] Alternatively, the fourth request information may further include a time or a time range for indicating that the terminal device desires the network device to complete the assisted forwarding. For example, the fourth request information is used to indicate that it is desired that the network device complete data forwarding within 10 s, or complete data forwarding at a preset time T.

[0435] In this way, the first node can conveniently receive corresponding data in a manner in which it desires to receive data.

[0436] In some implementation manners, the method 600 may further include:

[0437] The terminal device sends fifth request information to the network device, where the fifth request information is used to indicate a manner in which the terminal device sends target data to the network device.

[0438] Exemplarily, the fifth request information is used to indicate that the terminal device sends the target data to the network device through an RRC message or an NAS message or user plane data.

[0439] In this way, the network device can clarify the manner in which the terminal device sends data.

[0440] In some implementation manners, the method 600 may further include:

[0441] The network device sends third indication information to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to indicate a result of the network device sending data to the first node.

[0442] In this way, after sending data to the first node, the network device can send the third indication information to the terminal device to feed back the result of sending data to the terminal device, which is beneficial for the terminal device to determine which data the network device has forwarded.

[0443] In some examples, the third indication information can be used to indicate at least one of the following information:

[0444] Whether the data transmission to the first node is completed;

[0445] The data that has been sent to the first node and the data that has not been sent to the first node;

[0446] The identifier of the first node and the way of sending data to the first node;

[0447] The reason for the data that has not been sent to the first node; or,

[0448] The processing strategy for the data that has not been sent to the first node.

[0449] It should be understood that the reason that the third indication information indicates the data that has not been sent to the first node can be that the network device side has performed screening, or the reason can be that this part of the data belongs to the important parameters of the network device side and is not allowed to be sent to the first node, etc. Or, the reason can also be that due to communication link problems, the transmission of this part of the data to the first node has not been completed as required by the terminal device.

[0450] The processing strategy can be that the forwarding of this part of the data will not be performed subsequently; or, after a certain period of time, the network device attempts to re-forward this part of the data to the first node through other nodes, etc. Or, the network device re-attempts to continue forwarding this part of the data to the first node after a period of time.

[0451] It can be understood that the above first request information, second request information, third request information, fourth request information, and fifth request information can exist alone or together. For example, the above first request information to fifth request information can be carried in one message or in multiple messages.

[0452] In some cases, the network device can also be used to send a configuration to the terminal device that does not agree to assist the terminal device in sending data to the first node. The following will be combined with Figure 7 to introduce this technical solution.

[0453] Figure 7 is a schematic interaction diagram of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 7 shown, the method 700 may include steps 710 to 730.

[0454] 710. The network device determines fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate a configuration in which the network device cannot assist the terminal device in sending first data to the first node. The first data includes data related to the network device, and the first data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model. The first node is the upper-layer application node of the terminal device.

[0455] The first data can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing text.

[0456] It can be understood that the network device can determine the configuration of not agreeing to assist the terminal device in sending the first data to the first node according to the configuration or design of the manufacturer or operator.

[0457] For example, the configuration can be pre-recorded in the network device or received by the network device from the OAM node or the CN node.

[0458] It can be understood that the fifth indication information can be the same as the second indication information or different indication information.

[0459] 720. The network device sends the fifth indication information to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the fifth indication information.

[0460] It should be understood that the manner in which the network device sends the fifth indication information to the terminal device can be the same as the manner of sending the fourth indication information in the foregoing text. For the sake of brevity, it will not be elaborated here.

[0461] 730. The terminal device does not send the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information.

[0462] This step 730 can also be understood as that the terminal device does not send the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information, or the terminal device sends other data related to the network device other than the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information and requests the network device to forward the other data related to the network device other than the first data.

[0463] For example, the data related to the network device includes data A, data B, and data C, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending data A and data B to the first node. Then the terminal device can send data C to the network device, not send data A and data B, and request the network device to forward the data C to the first node.

[0464] Based on the embodiments of the present application, the network device can send the fifth indication information to the terminal device to indicate the configuration of not agreeing to assist the terminal device in sending the first data related to the network device to the first node.

[0465] In this way, the terminal device can clearly know which data cannot be sent to the first node, so as to avoid the terminal device sending data that cannot be forwarded to the first node to the network device, resulting in resource waste and unnecessary power consumption.

[0466] In some examples, the network device may actively send the fifth indication information to the terminal device. Alternatively, the network device may also send the fifth indication information to the terminal device according to the request message after receiving the request message from the terminal device.

[0467] When the network device actively sends the fifth indication information to the terminal device, the content that the fifth indication information may indicate includes but is not limited to at least one of the following:

[0468] Do not agree to send the first data to the first node;

[0469] Do not agree to send the first target data sent to the first node, where the first target data is part of the first data;

[0470] The identifier of the first node; or,

[0471] The second target data that the network device cannot send to the terminal device, where the second target data is part of the first data.

[0472] It can be understood that the relevant description of the fourth indication information in the previous text can be referred to for the fifth indication information.

[0473] In one implementation, before the terminal device receives the fifth indication information from the network device, the method 700 further includes:

[0474] The terminal device sends a first request message to the network device, and the first request message is used to request the network device to send the first data to the first node;

[0475] The terminal device does not send the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information.

[0476] The relevant description of the first request message can be referred to in the previous text.

[0477] In this way, the terminal device can actively send the first request message to the network device to request the network device to forward the first data collected by the terminal device related to the network device to the first node, and after receiving the fifth indication information sent by the network device indicating disagreement to assist in forwarding the data, the terminal device does not send the first data to the network device to avoid unnecessary power consumption.

[0478] Correspondingly, the network device receives the first request message.

[0479] In some implementations, the network device determines the fifth indication information, including:

[0480] Determine the fifth indication information according to the first request message, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first data to the first node.

[0481] For example, if the network device determines, based on the configuration of the manufacturer or operator, that all data related to the network device is not allowed to be sent to the first node, then after the network device receives the first request message, it may determine fifth indication information according to the first request message, and the fifth indication information is used to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first data to the first node.

[0482] In this case, the network device disagrees to forward all data related to the network device collected by the terminal device to the first node.

[0483] In this way, the network device can determine the fifth indication information according to the request of the terminal device to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first data to the first node, thereby ensuring the data security of the network device and avoiding the leakage of key information.

[0484] In some implementation manners, before the terminal device receives the fifth indication information from the network device, the method 700 may further include:

[0485] The terminal device sends a second request message to the network device, and the second request message is used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data includes partial data of the first data;

[0486] The terminal device does not send the first data to the network device according to the fifth indication information, including:

[0487] The terminal device does not send the first target data or partial data of the first target data to the network device according to the fifth indication information.

[0488] In this case, the specific information of the data that the terminal device hopes the network device to forward to the first node may be indicated in the second request message sent by the terminal device to the network device, which is beneficial for the network device to clarify which data the terminal device hopes to send out.

[0489] In the case where the fifth indication information indicates disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data or partial data of the first target data, the terminal device may not send the first target data or partial data of the first target data to the network device according to the fifth indication information.

[0490] Correspondingly, the network device receives the second request message.

[0491] In some implementation manners, the network device determines the fifth indication information, including:

[0492] Determining the fifth indication information according to the second request message, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data; or,

[0493] Determine a fifth indication message according to the second request message, where the fifth indication message is used to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending part of the first target data to the first node.

[0494] After receiving the second request message, the network device can determine whether to agree to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data to the first node. When it is determined that all the data in the first target data are not allowed to be sent out, the fifth indication message is used to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data to the first node. Alternatively, if the network device determines that data 1 in the first target data is not allowed to be sent to the first node, the fifth indication message can be used to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending data 1 of the first target data to the first node.

[0495] In some other examples, if the first target data includes multiple pieces of data, the fifth indication message can also be used to individually indicate permission or non - permission for each piece of data.

[0496] In this way, the network device can determine the fifth indication message according to the second request message of the terminal device, so as to indicate disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data or part of the first target data to the first node, thereby ensuring the data security of the network device and avoiding the leakage of key information.

[0497] In other examples, the fifth indication message can also be used to indicate the reason for disagreeing to assist the terminal device in sending the first target data or the reason for not allowing part of the first target data to be sent to the first node.

[0498] In some cases, for some data related to the network device that the terminal device needs the network device to assist in forwarding, the terminal device has not collected it. At this time, the terminal device needs to request this part of the data from the network device.

[0499] Exemplarily, the terminal device can send a third request message to the network device to request this part of the data.

[0500] Before the terminal device receives the fifth indication message from the network device, the method 700 may further include:

[0501] The terminal device sends a third request message to the network device. The third request message is used to request the network device to send second target data to the terminal device, and the third request message is also used to indicate that the second target data will be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes part of the data of the first data;

[0502] The network device determines the fifth indication message, including:

[0503] The network device determines fifth indication information according to the third request information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that it does not agree to send the second target data or part of the second target data to the first node.

[0504] After receiving the third request information, the network device can determine whether the second target data requested by it is allowed to be sent to the first node. When the network device determines that the sending is not allowed, the fifth indication information can be used to indicate that it does not agree to assist in sending the second target data to the first node. If the network device determines that part of the second target data 1 is allowed to be sent, and part of the second target data 2 is not allowed to be sent, the fifth indication information can be used to indicate that it does not agree to assist in sending part of the second target data 2 to the first node.

[0505] It should be understood that when the network device determines that part of the data 2 is not allowed to be sent to the first node, it is also possible not to send the part of the data 2 to the terminal device.

[0506] In the present application, the fifth indication information may also include an identifier of the first node, thereby indicating that it does not agree to assist the terminal device in sending data to the first node under the identifier.

[0507] In this way, the network device can instruct the terminal device which data cannot be sent to the first node, thereby avoiding information leakage of the network device.

[0508] In some implementations, the fifth indication information is further used to indicate the reason for not agreeing to assist the terminal device in sending the second target data or part of the second target data.

[0509] In this way, it is helpful for the terminal device to clearly understand the reason why the first target data is not allowed to be forwarded to the first node.

[0510] In other examples, if the network device determines that the second target data is not allowed to be sent to the first node, it may not reply. In this case, if the terminal device does not receive any feedback from the network device after a preset time after sending the third request information, it can be determined that the network device does not agree to send the second target data to the terminal device.

[0511] In some examples, before the terminal device receives the fifth indication information from the network device, the method 700 may further include:

[0512] The terminal device sends fourth request information to the network device, where the fourth request information is used to instruct the network device on a manner in which the network device sends the first data to the first node;

[0513] The network device determines fifth indication information, including:

[0514] Fifth indication information is determined according to the fourth request information, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first data is not agreed to be sent to the first node.

[0515] In the embodiment of the present application, after the network device receives the fourth request message, if it is determined that data cannot be sent to the first node, the fifth indication message is used to indicate that the first data is not intended to be sent to the first node.

[0516] In some examples, before the terminal device receives the fifth indication message from the network device, the method 700 may further include:

[0517] The terminal device sends a fifth request message to the network device, and the fifth request message is used to indicate the manner in which the terminal device sends the first data to the network device;

[0518] The network device determines the fifth indication message, including:

[0519] Determining the fifth indication message according to the fifth request message, and the fifth indication message is used to indicate that the first data is not intended to be sent to the first node.

[0520] In the embodiment of the present application, after the network device receives the fifth request message, if it is determined that data cannot be sent to the first node, the fifth indication message is used to indicate that the first data is not intended to be sent to the first node.

[0521] It can be understood that the above first request message, second request message, third request message, fourth request message, and fifth request message may exist alone or together. For example, the above first request message to fifth request message may be carried in one message or in multiple messages.

[0522] In some cases, the method 600 and the method 700 may be used in combination to form another embodiment. For example, the fifth indication message and the second indication message may be the same indication message, and this indication message may be used to indicate consent to assist the terminal device in sending the target data to the first node and disagreement to assist the terminal device in sending the first data to the first node.

[0523] It can be understood that the various embodiments described in the present application may be independent solutions or may be combined according to internal logic, and these solutions all fall within the protection scope of the present application. And the explanations or descriptions of the various terms appearing in the embodiments may be referred to or explained with each other in the various embodiments, and no limitation is made thereto.

[0524] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 8 shown, the communication device 800 may include: a transceiver unit 810 and a processing unit 820.

[0525] The communication device 800 may be the terminal device in the above method embodiments, or a chip for implementing the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments. It should be understood that the communication device 800 may correspond to the terminal device in the method 400, method 500, method 600, and method 700 according to the embodiments of the present application, and the communication device 800 may execute the steps corresponding to the terminal device in the method 400, method 500, method 600, and method 700 of the embodiments of the present application.

[0526] In a possible design, the transceiver unit 810 may be used to receive the first indication information and the second indication information from the network device; the transceiver unit 810 is further used to send target data to the first node.

[0527] In a possible design, the transceiver unit 810 may be used to receive the fourth indication information and the fifth indication information from the network device.

[0528] The communication device 800 may be the network device in the above method embodiments, or a chip for implementing the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments. It should be understood that the communication device 800 may correspond to the network device in the method 400, method 500, method 600, and method 700 according to the embodiments of the present application, and the communication device 800 may execute the steps corresponding to the network device in the method 400, method 500, method 600, and method 700 of the embodiments of the present application.

[0529] In a possible design, the processing unit 820 is used to determine the first indication information; the transceiver unit 810 is used to send the first indication information to the terminal device.

[0530] In a possible design, the processing unit 820 is used to determine the second indication information; the transceiver unit 810 is used to send the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0531] In a possible design, the processing unit 820 is used to determine the fourth indication information and the fifth indication information; the transceiver unit 810 is used to send the fourth indication information and the fifth indication information to the terminal device.

[0532] It should also be understood that the communication device 800 is embodied in the form of functional units here. The term "unit" here may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (such as a shared processor, a dedicated processor, or a group of processors, etc.) for executing one or more software or firmware programs, and a memory, a combined logic circuit, and / or other suitable components that support the described functions.

[0533] The communication device 800 in each of the above solutions has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the terminal device or the network device in the above method. This function can be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions; for example, the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the sending unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as the processing unit, can be replaced by a processor, respectively performing the transceiver operations and related processing operations in each method embodiment.

[0534] In addition, the above transceiver unit 810 can also be a transceiver circuit (for example, it can include a receiving circuit and a sending circuit), and the processing unit 820 can be a processing circuit.

[0535] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 9 shown, the communication device 900 may include: at least one processor 920. The processor 920 is coupled to the memory and is used to execute instructions stored in the memory to send signals and / or receive signals. Optionally, the communication device 900 further includes a memory 930 for storing instructions. Optionally, the communication device 900 further includes a transceiver 910, and the processor 920 controls the transceiver 910 to send signals and / or receive signals.

[0536] It should be understood that the above processor 920 and memory 930 can be integrated into a processing device, and the processor 920 is used to execute program code stored in the memory 930 to implement the above functions. Specifically, in implementation, the memory 930 can also be integrated in the processor 920 or independent of the processor 920.

[0537] It should also be understood that the transceiver 910 may include a transceiver (or, a receiver) and a transmitter (or, a transmitter). The transceiver 910 may further include antennas, and the number of antennas may be one or more. The transceiver 910 may be a communication interface or an interface circuit.

[0538] Exemplarily, the communication device 900 can be used to implement the operations performed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

[0539] In a possible design, the transceiver 910 can be used to receive first indication information and second indication information from a network device; the transceiver 910 is also used to send target data to a first node.

[0540] In a possible design, the transceiver 910 can be used to receive fourth indication information and fifth indication information from a network device.

[0541] Exemplarily, the communication device 900 can also be used to implement the operations performed by the network device in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0542] In a possible design, the processor 920 is configured to determine first indication information; the transceiver 910 is configured to send the first indication information to the terminal device.

[0543] In a possible design, the processor 920 is configured to determine second indication information; the transceiver 910 is configured to send the second indication information to the terminal device.

[0544] In a possible design, the processor 920 is configured to determine fourth indication information and fifth indication information; the transceiver 910 is configured to send the fourth indication information and the fifth indication information to the terminal device.

[0545] It should be understood that the specific processes of the respective transceivers and processors performing the above corresponding steps have been described in detail in the foregoing method embodiments. For the sake of brevity, they will not be elaborated here.

[0546] An embodiment of the present application further provides a processor, which is configured to execute a computer program or instruction stored in a memory, or read data / signaling stored in the memory, so as to execute the methods in the foregoing method embodiments. Optionally, the processor is one or more.

[0547] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, including a processor and a communication interface. The processor reads instructions stored on a memory through the communication interface and executes the methods provided in the foregoing embodiments.

[0548] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which computer instructions for implementing the methods executed by the device in the foregoing method embodiments are stored.

[0549] For example, when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the methods executed by the terminal device or the network device in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0550] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, including instructions, which when executed by a computer, implement the methods executed by the terminal device or the network device in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0551] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, including the terminal device and the network device described in any of the foregoing embodiments. Further, the communication system may further include the first node described in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0552] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are executed in a hardware or software manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0553] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and conciseness of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be elaborated herein.

[0554] In several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the displayed or discussed mutual coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection can be through some interfaces. The indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units can be in an electrical, mechanical, or other form.

[0555] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated. The components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place, or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0556] In addition, the functional units in each embodiment of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically alone, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0557] When the above-mentioned functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of this technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in various embodiments of this application. The foregoing storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as USB flash drives, mobile hard disks, read-only memories, random access memories, magnetic disks, or optical discs.

[0558] As described above, the above are only specific implementation manners of this application, but the protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by this application can easily think of changes or substitutions, and all of them should be covered by the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, the method is executed by a terminal device or a chip applied to the terminal device, and the method includes: receiving first indication information from a network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate the configuration of target data sent by the terminal device to a first node, the target data includes data related to the network device, the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, before receiving the first indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending first information to the network device, where the first information is used to inquire whether permission is granted to send the target data to the first node; sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, before receiving the first indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending second information to the network device, where the second information is used to inquire whether permission is granted to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; the sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information includes: sending the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information; or, sending partial data of the first target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, before receiving the first indication information from the network device, the method further includes: sending third information to the network device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data; receiving the second target data or partial data of the second target data from the network device; the sending the target data to the first node according to the first indication information includes: sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node according to the first indication information.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following information: permission to send the target data to the first node; permission to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the target data; the identifier of the first node; or, second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the target data, and the second target data is permitted to be sent to the first node.

6. A communication method, characterized in that, the method is executed by a network device or a chip applied to the network device, and the method includes: Determine first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the configuration for the terminal device to send target data to a first node. The target data includes data related to the network device, and the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model. The first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; Send the first indication information to the terminal device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, Before determining the first indication information, the method further includes: Receiving first information from the terminal device, where the first information is used to inquire whether to allow sending the target data to the first node; The determining of the first indication information includes: Determining the first indication information according to the first information, where the first indication information is used to indicate permission to send the target data to the first node.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, Before determining the first indication information, the method further includes: Receiving second information from the terminal device, where the second information is used to inquire whether to allow sending first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; The determining of the first indication information includes: Determining the first indication information according to the second information, where the first indication information is used to indicate permission to send the first target data to the first node; or, Determining the first indication information according to the second information, where the first indication information is used to indicate permission to send partial data of the first target data to the first node.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6-8, wherein, Before determining the first indication information, the method further includes: Receiving third information from the terminal device, where the third information is used to request the network device to send second target data, and the third information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent to the first node. The second target data includes partial data of the target data; The determining of the first indication information includes: Determining the first indication information according to the third information, where the first indication information is used to indicate permission to send the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the first node.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The method further includes: Sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: Permission to send the target data to the first node; First target data allowed to be sent to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the target data; The identifier of the first node; Or, Second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the target data, and the second target data is allowed to be sent to the first node.

12. A communication method, wherein, The method is executed by a terminal device or a chip applied to the terminal device, and the method includes: Receiving second indication information from a network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate the configuration of target data that the network device can assist the terminal device in sending to a first node, the target data includes data related to the network device, the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; Sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, Before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: Sending a first request information to the network device, where the first request information is used to request the network device to send the target data to the first node; Sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, Before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: Sending a second request information to the network device, where the second request information is used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; The step of sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information includes: Sending the first target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein, Before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: Sending a third request information to the network device, where the third request information is used to request to send second target data to the terminal device, and the third request information is further used to indicate that the second target data will be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data; Receiving the second target data or partial data of the second target data from the network device; The step of sending the target data to the network device according to the second indication information includes: Sending the second target data or partial data of the second target data to the network device according to the second indication information.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein, Before receiving the second indication information from the network device, the method further includes: Sending a third request information to the network device, where the third request information is used to request the network device to send second target data to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12-16, wherein, The method further includes: Sending a fourth request information to the network device, where the fourth request information is used to indicate the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node; Send a fifth request message to the network device, where the fifth request message is used to indicate the manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein, the second indication information includes at least one of the following information: Agree to send the target data to the first node; Agree to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data is partial data of the target data; The identifier of the first node; Second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is partial data of the target data, or second target data that the network device can send to the first node; or, The manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device, and the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

19. A communication method, wherein, the method is executed by a network device or a chip applied to the network device, and the method includes: Determine second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the configuration in which the network device can assist the terminal device in sending target data to a first node, the target data includes data related to the network device, the target data is used to train an artificial intelligence AI model, and the first node is an upper-layer application node of the terminal device; Send the second indication information to the terminal device.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, before determining the second indication information, the method further includes: Receive a first request message from the terminal device, where the first request message is used to request the network device to send the target data to the first node; The determining of the second indication information includes: Determine the second indication information according to the first request message, where the second indication information is used to indicate agreement to send the target data to the first node.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein, before determining the second indication information, the method further includes: Receive a second request message from the terminal device, where the second request message is used to request the network device to send first target data to the first node, and the first target data includes partial data of the target data; The determining of the second indication information includes: Determine the second indication information according to the second request message, where the second indication information is used to indicate agreement to send the first target data to the first node.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein, before determining the second indication information, the method further includes: Receive a third request message from the terminal device, where the third request message is used to request to send second target data to the terminal device, and the third request message is further used to indicate that the second target data needs to be sent by the network device to the first node, and the second target data includes partial data of the target data; The determining of the second indication information includes: Determine the second indication information according to the third request information, where the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the second target data or a part of the second target data to the first node.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein, the method further includes: Sending the second target data or a part of the second target data to the terminal device.

24. The method according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein, the method further includes: Receiving third request information from a terminal device, where the third request information is used to request the network device to send second target data to the first node, and the second target data includes a part of the target data; The determining the second indication information includes: Determine the second indication information according to the third request information, where the second indication information is used to indicate consent to send the second target data or a part of the second target data to the first node.

25. The method according to any one of claims 19-24, wherein, the method further includes: Receiving fourth request information from a terminal device, where the fourth request information is used to indicate the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node; Receiving fifth request information from a terminal device, where the fifth request information is used to indicate the manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The second indication information includes at least one of the following information: Consent to send the target data to the first node; Consent to send first target data to the first node, where the first target data is a part of the target data; The identifier of the first node; The second target data that the network device can send to the terminal device, where the second target data is a part of the target data, or the second target data that the network device can send to the first node; or, The manner in which the terminal device sends the target data to the network device, and the manner in which the network device sends the target data to the first node.

27. The method according to any one of claims 19-26, wherein, the method further includes: Receiving target data from the terminal device; Sending target data to the first node.

28. A communication device, wherein, The communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store computer programs or instructions, and the processor is used to execute the computer programs or instructions in the memory, so that the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is executed, or, so that the method according to any one of claims 6 to 11 is executed, or, so that the method according to any one of claims 12 to 18 is executed, or, so that the method according to any one of claims 19 to 27 is executed.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, A computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program runs on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1-27 is caused to be executed.

30. A communication system, characterized in that the communication system includes a terminal device and a network device; wherein, the terminal device is configured to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1-5, or, the terminal device is configured to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 12-18; the network device is configured to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 6-11, or, the network device is configured to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 19-27.

Images