Information transmission method and apparatus, communication device, and readable storage medium

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications, and discloses an information transmission method and apparatus, a communication device, and a readable storage medium. The information transmission method of embodiments of the present application comprises: a first communication device receives a first request message from a second communication device, the first request message being used for requesting at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device matching the capability information related to second VFL; and the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, the first response message being used for responding to the first request message.

Description

Information transmission method, device, communication equipment and readable storage medium

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410165869.5 filed in China on February 5, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application belongs to the field of communication technology, and specifically relates to an information transmission method, apparatus, communication equipment and readable storage medium. Background Art

[0004] With the development of artificial intelligence (AI), AI is now widely used in various fields. In the field of AI, the essence of vertical federated learning (VFL) is the union of features, which is suitable for scenarios with high user overlap and low feature overlap. For example, in the communications field, the core network (CN) domain and the radio access network (RAN) domain serve different services (such as mobility management (MM) and session management (SM) services, i.e., different features) for the same user (such as terminal, i.e., the same samples). By combining the different feature data of the common samples of the participating parties, vertical federated training increases the feature dimensions of the AI ​​model training samples, thereby training a better AI model. However, current communication systems lack registration and search related to VFL, making it difficult to identify and find VFL-related communication devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide an information transmission method, apparatus, communication device, and readable storage medium, which can solve the problem that the current communication system lacks VFL-related registration and search, making it difficult to determine and find VFL-related communication devices.

[0006] In a first aspect, a method for transmitting information is provided, comprising:

[0007] A first communication device receives a first request message from a second communication device; the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL;

[0008] The first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0009] In a second aspect, an information transmission method is provided, comprising:

[0010] The second communication device sends a first request message to the first communication device, where the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL;

[0011] The second communication device receives a first response message sent by the first communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0012] In a third aspect, an information transmission method is provided, comprising:

[0013] The fourth communication device receives the first request message sent by the second communication device, and sends the first request message to the first communication device, where the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL;

[0014] The fourth communication device receives a first response message sent by the first communication device, and sends the first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0015] In a fourth aspect, an information transmission device is provided, comprising:

[0016] A first receiving module is configured to receive a first request message from a second communication device; the first request message is configured to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, or searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL;

[0017] The first sending module is configured to send a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0018] In a fifth aspect, an information transmission device is provided, comprising:

[0019] a second sending module, configured to send a first request message to the first communication device, wherein the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the apparatus, and searching for a communication device matching capability information related to the second VFL;

[0020] The second receiving module is configured to receive a first response message sent by the first communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0021] In a sixth aspect, an information transmission device is provided, comprising:

[0022] A first transmission module is configured to receive a first request message sent by a second communication device and send the first request message to the first communication device, where the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL;

[0023] The second transmission module is configured to receive a first response message sent by the first communication device and send the first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0024] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a program or instruction that can be run on the processor, and when the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the steps of the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect are implemented.

[0025] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and a communication interface, wherein the communication device is a first communication device, and the communication interface is configured to receive a first request message from a second communication device; the first request message is configured to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; and sending a first response message to the second communication device, the first response message being configured to respond to the first request message;

[0026] Alternatively, the communication device is a second communication device, and the communication interface is used to send a first request message to the first communication device, where the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; and receiving a first response message sent by the first communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message;

[0027] Alternatively, the communication device is a fourth communication device, and the communication interface is used to receive a first request message sent by a second communication device, and send the first request message to the first communication device, wherein the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; and receiving a first response message sent by the first communication device, and sending the first response message to the second communication device, wherein the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0028] In the ninth aspect, a readable storage medium is provided, on which a program or instruction is stored. When the program or instruction is executed by a processor, the steps of the method described in the first aspect are implemented, or the steps of the method described in the second aspect are implemented, or the steps of the method described in the third aspect are implemented.

[0029] In the tenth aspect, a wireless communication system is provided, comprising: a first communication device, a second communication device and a fourth communication device, wherein the first communication device can be used to execute the steps of the method described in the first aspect, the second communication device can be used to execute the steps of the method described in the second aspect, and the fourth communication device can be used to execute the steps of the method described in the third aspect.

[0030] In the eleventh aspect, a chip is provided, which includes a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface and the processor are coupled, and the processor is used to run programs or instructions to implement the method as described in the first aspect, or the method as described in the second aspect, or the method as described in the third aspect.

[0031] In the twelfth aspect, a computer program / program product is provided, which is stored in a storage medium and is executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the method described in the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

[0032] In an embodiment of the present application, a first communication device receives a first request message from a second communication device, the first request message being used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device in response to the first request message. Furthermore, the embodiment of the present application clarifies how to register and search for communication devices related to the VFL in a communication system, thereby facilitating rapid locating of communication devices related to the VFL and facilitating VFL interaction between communication devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG1a is a block diagram of a wireless communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application;

[0034] FIG1b is a flow chart of network element registration in the related art;

[0035] FIG1c is a flowchart of network element search in the related art;

[0036] FIG2 is a flowchart of an information transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG3 is a second flowchart of an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG4 is a third flowchart of an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG5a is a fourth flowchart of an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG5b is a fifth flowchart of an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG6 is a structural diagram of an information transmission device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG7 is a second structural diagram of an information transmission device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG8 is a third structural diagram of an information transmission device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG9 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG10 is a structural diagram of a network-side device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0047] The terms "first", "second", etc. in this application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this way are interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first" and "second" are generally of the same type, and do not limit the number of objects, for example, the first object can be one or more. In addition, "or" in this application represents at least one of the connected objects. For example, "A or B" covers three options, namely, Option 1: including A but not including B; Option 2: including B but not including A; Option 3: including both A and B. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0048] The term "indication" in this application can be either a direct indication (or explicit indication) or an indirect indication (or implicit indication). A direct indication can be understood as the sender explicitly informing the receiver of specific information, the operation to be performed, or the requested result, etc. in the instruction sent; an indirect indication can be understood as the receiver determining the corresponding information based on the instruction sent by the sender, or making a judgment and determining the operation to be performed or the requested result, etc. based on the judgment result.

[0049] It is worth noting that the technology described in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) / LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system, but can also be used in other wireless communication systems, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single-carrier Frequency-Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) or other systems. The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application are often used interchangeably, and the technology described can be used for the systems and radio technologies mentioned above, as well as for other systems and radio technologies. The following description describes a New Radio (NR) system for illustrative purposes, and NR terminology is used in most of the following description, but these technologies can also be applied to systems other than NR systems, such as 6th generation (6G) systems. thGeneration, 6G) communication system.

[0050] FIG1a shows a block diagram of a wireless communication system applicable to an embodiment of the present application. The wireless communication system includes a terminal 11 and a network-side device 12. The terminal 11 may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Tablet Personal Computer), a laptop computer (Laptop Computer), a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a netbook, an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), a mobile internet device (MID), an augmented reality (AR), a virtual reality (VR) device, a robot, a wearable device (Wearable Device), an aircraft (flight vehicle), a vehicle user equipment (VUE), a ship-borne device, a pedestrian user equipment (PUE), a smart home (home appliances with wireless communication capabilities, such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, or furniture), a game console, a personal computer (PC), an ATM, or a self-service machine, or other terminal-side devices. Wearable devices include: smart watches, smart bracelets, smart headphones, smart glasses, smart jewelry (smart bracelets, smart bracelets, smart rings, smart necklaces, smart anklets, smart anklets, etc.), smart wristbands, smart clothing, etc. Among them, the vehicle-mounted device can also be called a vehicle-mounted terminal, a vehicle-mounted controller, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle-mounted component, a vehicle-mounted chip or a vehicle-mounted unit, etc. It should be noted that the specific type of the terminal 11 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The network side device 12 may include an access network device or a core network device, wherein the access network device may also be called a radio access network (Radio Access Network, RAN) device, a radio access network function or a radio access network unit. The access network device may include a base station, a wireless local area network (Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN) access point (Access Point, AP) or a wireless fidelity (Wireless Fidelity, WiFi) node, etc.Among them, the base station can be referred to as Node B (NB), Evolved Node B (eNB), the next generation Node B (gNB), New Radio Node B (NR Node B), access point, Relay Base Station (RBS), Serving Base Station (SBS), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), radio base station, radio transceiver, Basic Service Set (BSS), Extended Service Set (ESS), Home Node B (HNB), Home Evolved Node B (home evolved Node B), Transmission Reception Point (TRP) or other appropriate terms in the field. As long as the same technical effect is achieved, the base station is not limited to specific technical vocabulary. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, only the base station in the NR system is used as an example for introduction, and the specific type of the base station is not limited.

[0051] The core network equipment may include but is not limited to at least one of the following: core network node, core network function, mobility management entity (MME), access mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), user plane function (UPF), policy control function (PCF), policy and charging rules function unit (PCRF), edge application service discovery function (EASDF), unified data management (UDM), unified data repository (UDR), home user server (HSS), centralized network configuration (CNC), network storage function (NRF), network exposure function (NEF), local NEF (L-NEF), binding support function (BSF), application function ( Function, AF), Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF), etc. It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, only the core network device in the NR system is introduced as an example, and the specific type of the core network device is not limited.

[0052] For better understanding, the relevant concepts and principles that may be involved in the embodiments of this application are explained below.

[0053] Vertical Federated Learning (VFL):

[0054] The essence of VFL is feature federation, suitable for scenarios with high user overlap and low feature overlap. For example, in the communications field, different services (such as MM and SM services, with different features) may be provided to the same user (e.g., user equipment (UE) with the same sample) in the CN and RAN domains. By combining the different feature data of the common samples of the participating parties, vertical federated learning increases the feature dimensionality of the training samples, thereby training a better AI model.

[0055] Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI Models:

[0056] AI is currently widely used in various fields. AI models can be implemented using a variety of algorithms, such as neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, and Bayesian classifiers. This application uses neural networks as an example, but does not limit the specific type of AI module.

[0057] A neural network consists of inputs and outputs, as well as numerous neurons used to perform calculations. The input layer, hidden layer, and output layer composed of these numerous neurons constitute a neural network. The number of hidden layers and the number of neurons in each layer are the "network structure" of the neural network.

[0058] In actual use, an AI model refers to a file containing elements such as network structure and parameter information. The trained AI model can be directly reused by its framework platform without the need for repeated construction or learning, and can directly perform intelligent functions such as judgment and recognition.

[0059] Online registration process:

[0060] NRF is mainly responsible for service discovery and maintaining the Network Function (NF) profile. The NF profile records the NF's identity and simple capability information, including:

[0061] NF instance ID;

[0062] NF type (type);

[0063] PLMN ID in Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), PLMN ID and Network ID (NID) in Stand-alone Non-Public Network (SNPN);

[0064] Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) or Internet Protocol (IP) address of the NF;

[0065] NF capacity information.

[0066] Among them, NF registration and deregistration will use the Nnrf_NFManagement service; NF discovery can be achieved through the Nnrf_NFDiscovery service.

[0067] Refer to Figure 1b. Network registration to NRF includes the following process:

[0068] 1. The NE (NF service consumer) sends a registration request message (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister Request message) to the NRF to request NE registration.

[0069] 2. The NRF stores the NF profile of NF service consumer and marks the NF service consumer available.

[0070] 3. The NRF sends a response message to the NF service consumer via the registration response message (Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister response), confirming that the NF service consumer's registration request is accepted (The NRF acknowledge NF Registration is accepted via Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister response).

[0071] Referring to Figure 1c, the process of searching for a network element device includes the following steps:

[0072] 1. The NE (NF service consumer) sends a discovery request (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request) to the NRF.

[0073] 2. NRF determines whether to allow the NF service consumer to discover the required NF entity based on the NF service consumer type and the required NF service profile;

[0074] 3. If allowed, the NRF determines a set of NF entities that match the discovery request and sends a discovery request response (Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request Response) message to the NF service consumer, carrying the NF profiles of the determined matching NF entities.

[0075] The current communication system lacks VFL-related registration and search, which makes it difficult to determine and find VFL-related communication devices.

[0076] The following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes in detail the information transmission method, apparatus, communication equipment, etc. provided in the embodiments of the present application through some embodiments and their application scenarios.

[0077] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a flowchart of a method for transmitting information provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the method is applied to a first communication device. As shown in Figure 2, the method includes the following steps:

[0078] Step 201: A first communication device receives a first request message from a second communication device.

[0079] The first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL.

[0080] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL; or,

[0081] In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

[0082] It should be noted that the first communication device may be a network element or device with a storage function, such as NRF, UDM, etc., and may also be other network elements or devices with a storage function.

[0083] Optionally, when the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, the second communication device may be a network element, device, etc. with intelligent capabilities, such as a network element, device, etc. that can perform AI model training and reasoning. For example, the second communication device may be a network element, device, etc. with intelligent capabilities, such as a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF), AF, or NEF, or a newly defined network element or device.

[0084] Exemplarily, the second communication device sends a first request message to the first communication device, requesting registration or update of capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device. That is, the second communication device requests the first communication device to register or update its own capability information related to the VFL. The first request message carries capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, such as VFL capability information and supported VFL types supported by the second communication device. Furthermore, the registration / update result can be fed back to the second communication device.

[0085] Optionally, in the case where the first request message is used to request a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, the second communication device may be a network element, device, etc. that wants to interact with a network element with intelligent capabilities (such as NWDAF, AF, NEF, etc.), such as performing VFL interaction with network elements such as NWDAF, etc. The second communication device may be a network element, device such as NEF, AF, NWDAF, etc., or a newly defined network element or device, etc.

[0086] Exemplarily, the second communication device sends a first request message to the first communication device, requesting to search for a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL, wherein the first request message carries the capability information associated with the second VFL. It should be noted that the first communication device may store the capability information associated with the VFL of the communication device registered by the communication device, and then the first communication device can search for a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL carried in the first request message in the stored VFL capability information according to the first request message, and can feed back the search result to the second communication device.

[0087] Step 202: The first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0088] For example, in the case where the first request message is used to request registration of capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, the first communication device may store the capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device and send a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to indicate that the capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device has been successfully registered, and the first communication device then notifies the second communication device of the successful registration through the first response message. Alternatively, in the case where the first request message is used to request an update of capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, the first communication device may update the capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device and send a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to indicate that the capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device has been successfully updated.

[0089] It can be understood that the first communication device may also fail to register or update the first VFL-related capability information of the second communication device. In this case, the first response message fed back by the first communication device to the second communication device is used to indicate the unsuccessful registration or update, thereby ensuring that the second communication device can promptly know the registration status or update status of its VFL-related capability information, which helps the second communication device to initiate the first request message again to register or update the VFL-related capability information.

[0090] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, including any one of the following:

[0091] The first communication device determines a target communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, and sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message carries the capability information related to the VFL of the target communication device;

[0092] If the first communication device fails to find a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL, the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to indicate that no communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL is found.

[0093] It is understandable that if a first communication device receives a first request message from a communication device requesting to search for capability information related to a second VFL, the first communication device may determine, based on the stored VFL-related capability information of each communication device, a target communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL carried in the first request message. For example, the capability information related to the second VFL carried in the first request message includes a VFL type, which is used to indicate the VFL type that the communication device requesting the search needs to support. The first communication device may search for a target communication device that matches the VFL type from its stored VFL-related capability information, and the VFL type corresponding to the target communication device matches the VFL type carried in the first request message, for example, the same VFL type. Of course, the above explanation is only based on the VFL type as an example. The capability information related to the second VFL may also be other information parameters. The method for determining a matching target communication device is similar and will not be described in detail here. When the first communication device determines the target communication device, the first communication device feeds back a first response message to the second communication device. The first response message carries the VFL-related capability information of the target communication device, so that the second communication device can also learn about the target communication device based on the first response message, thereby realizing interaction between the second communication device and the target communication device, such as VFL interaction.

[0094] Alternatively, if the first communication device fails to find a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, the first response message sent by the first communication device to the second communication device is used to indicate that no communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL is found, so that the second communication device can promptly know the search results of the first communication device.

[0095] In an embodiment of the present application, a first communication device receives a first request message from a second communication device, the first request message being used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device in response to the first request message. Furthermore, the embodiment of the present application clarifies how to register and search for communication devices related to the VFL in a communication system, thereby facilitating rapid locating of communication devices related to the VFL and facilitating VFL interaction between communication devices.

[0096] Optionally, before the first communication device receives the first request message from the second communication device, the method further includes:

[0097] The first communication device receives a registration message from a third communication device, where the registration message carries capability information related to a third VFL of the third communication device, and the registration message is used to request registration of capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device.

[0098] It can be understood that the registration message may also be an update message for updating capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device.

[0099] In an embodiment of the present application, a first communication device receives a registration message from a third communication device, where the registration message carries capability information related to a third VFL of the third communication device. Thus, the first communication device can store the capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device based on the registration message. In some embodiments, when the first request message is used to request registration of capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message can also be understood as a registration message.

[0100] It should be noted that the third communication device may be the same as or a different communication device from the second communication device. It is understandable that the first communication device is capable of receiving first request messages or registration messages sent by different communication devices (i.e., multiple communication devices) to request registration of capability information related to the VFL of the communication device. Furthermore, the first communication device is capable of storing the capability information related to the VFL corresponding to the different communication devices, thereby facilitating the first communication device to search for communication devices related to the VFL.

[0101] In an optional embodiment, the first communication device first receives a registration message from the third communication device, and stores the capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device based on the registration message. Furthermore, the first communication device receives a first request message from the second communication device, wherein the first request message is used to request a search for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, and the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL. In this case, the first communication device determines the target communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL. For example, if the first request message indicates that the VFL type that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support is an encrypted VFL, and the VFL type supported by the third communication device is also an encrypted VFL, then the third communication device can be considered as a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, and the third communication device can be determined as the target communication device. Of course, the above is only an example of using the VFL type as the capability information related to the VFL. The capability information related to the VFL can also be other possible situations, which are not listed here. Optionally, the first communication device determines the target communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, including:

[0102] The first communication device determines, based on the first request message and the registration message, a target communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL.

[0103] Exemplarily, the first communication device first receives a registration message sent by the third communication device, and then the first communication device can store the capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device, such as the VFL type supported by the third communication device. When the first communication device receives a first request message from the second communication device for requesting to search for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, and the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL, such as the VFL type, the first communication device can search for a communication device that matches it based on the VFL type. Assuming that the VFL type supported by the third communication device matches the VFL type carried in the first request message, that is, the VFL type supported by the third communication device matches the VFL type that the communication device requested to be searched for in the first request message needs to support, the third communication device is determined as the target communication device, and a first response message is fed back to the second communication device. The first response message is used to indicate that the third communication device is a matching target communication device and can carry the capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device, so that the second communication device can perform VFL interaction with the third communication device.

[0104] It should be noted that the above-mentioned match may refer to the same or support corresponding capability information, that is, the registered communication device (including the target communication device determined by the first communication device) supports the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support as indicated in the first request message, etc. For example, when the communication device requested to be searched by the second communication device is a communication device that needs to support a certain VFL type, the first communication device determines that the third communication device is the target communication device, which means that the VFL type supported by the third communication device corresponds to the VFL type that the communication device requested to be searched in the first request message needs to support, that is, the third communication device supports the VFL type, etc. In this embodiment of the present application, when the first communication device receives a registration message and a first request message for requesting to search for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the VFL, it can search for the target communication device based on the first request message and the registration message, thereby facilitating rapid search for communication devices related to the VFL and facilitating VFL interaction between communication devices.

[0105] Optionally, in this embodiment of the present application, the capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, and the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0106] A1. Indication information of supporting VFL capability. The indication information of supporting VFL capability may be indication information indicating support for VFL capability, for example, the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device (e.g., the second communication device or the third communication device) can perform VFL-related operations, such as organizing or participating in VFL, performing VFL sample alignment, transmitting VFL-related data or intermediate results, etc.;

[0107] A2. VFL capability information, i.e., VFL capability types supported by the communication device (e.g., the second communication device or the third communication device), or roles in the VFL. The VFL capability information may be specific to each task, and the VFL capability information supported by the communication device may vary depending on the task.

[0108] A3. Information indicating supported VFL types; This information is used to indicate the VFL type supported by the communication device (e.g., the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search), or the VFL algorithm and method, etc.; It should be noted that the VFL type may be specific to each task, and the VFL capability information supported by the communication device may vary depending on the task;

[0109] A4. Information indicating supported VFL objects; This information is used to indicate that the communication device (eg, a second communication device or a third communication device) supports VFL objects, ie, objects that can interact, or exchangeable objects, interactive indication information, etc.;

[0110] A5 indicates the filter information of the supported VFL tasks, or may be referred to as VFL task limitation information, etc., used to describe the specific VFL tasks;

[0111] A6. Indicates the identifier (ID) information of the supported VFL task, which is used to indicate that the communication device (eg, the second communication device or the third communication device) supports a certain type or a certain VFL task, which may be a predefined identifier, such as an analytics ID;

[0112] A7. Information indicating supported VFL sample ID types. This information indicates a type of sample identifier, which can also be a device identifier, i.e., identification information corresponding to data that can be used for VFL training and / or inference, such as the Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) and the Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI). This can be used to perform communication device lookup related to sample alignment.

[0113] A8. Information indicating the data source type of the supported VFL. This information is used to indicate a type of data source, such as network element, network element type, terminal, terminal type, etc. It can also indicate the data source type that can be collected for model training or as input data;

[0114] A9. Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL is used to indicate the specific data source, such as the network element instance identifier, terminal identifier, etc. It can also indicate the data source that can be collected for model training or as input data.

[0115] It should be noted that the information indicating the supported XX can also be understood as the indication information of the supported XX, or the information of the supported XX. For example, the information indicating the supported VFL type can also be understood as the indication information of the supported VFL type or the information of the supported VFL type, that is, it is used to indicate the VFL type supported by the second communication device. The above is only explained by taking the information indicating the supported VFL type as an example. The above other information and similar expressions involved in the subsequent description can also be understood with reference to this, and will not be described in detail later.

[0116] Optionally, the capability information related to the third VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the third communication device, and the capability information supported by the third communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0117] Indication information of supporting VFL capability;

[0118] VFL capability information;

[0119] Information indicating supported VFL types;

[0120] Indicates information about supported VFL objects;

[0121] Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks;

[0122] Indicates the ID information of the supported VFL tasks;

[0123] Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs;

[0124] Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL;

[0125] Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

[0126] It should be noted that the specific interpretation of each of the above information can refer to the specific interpretation of each of the information in the capability information related to the first VFL, which will not be repeated here.

[0127] Optionally, the capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following:

[0128] A11. Information indicating the need to support VFL capabilities. It is understood that the information indicating the need to support VFL capabilities may be information indicating the need to support VFL capabilities, which is used to indicate that the communication device requesting the search needs to support VFL capabilities or can perform VFL-related operations, such as organizing or participating in VFL, performing VFL sample alignment, and transmitting VFL-related data or intermediate results.

[0129] A12. VFL capability information, which indicates the type of VFL capability that the communication device requesting the search needs to support, or the role in the VFL; the VFL capability information may be specific to each task, and the VFL capability information supported by the communication device may vary depending on the task;

[0130] A13 indicates the type of VFL information that needs to be supported; This information is used to indicate the type of VFL that the communication device that needs to be found requests to support, or VFL algorithms and methods, etc.; It should be noted that the VFL type can be specific to each task, and depending on the task, the VFL capability information supported by the communication device may be different;

[0131] A14 indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported; This information is used to indicate the VFL object that the communication device that needs to be found requests to support, that is, the object that can interact, or it can be exchanged, interactive indication information, etc.;

[0132] A15 indicates the need to support the VFL task filter information (filter information), or can also be called VFL task limit information, etc., used to describe the specific VFL task;

[0133] A16 indicates the identifier (ID) of the VFL task that needs to be supported. This information is used to indicate that the communication device requesting the search needs to be able to support a certain type or a certain VFL task. It can be a pre-defined identifier, such as an analytics ID;

[0134] A17. Information indicating the sample ID types that require support for VFL. This information is used to indicate a type of sample identifier, which can also be a device identifier, i.e., identification information corresponding to data that can be used for VFL training and / or inference, such as the Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) and the Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI). This information can be used to perform communication device lookup related to sample alignment.

[0135] A18. Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported. This information is used to indicate a type of data source, such as network element, network element type, terminal, terminal type, etc. It can also indicate the data source type that can be collected for model training or as input data;

[0136] A19. Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported, used to indicate the specific data source, such as the network element instance identifier, terminal identifier, etc. It can also indicate the data source that can be collected for model training or as input data;

[0137] A20. First information for identifying the second communication device.

[0138] Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0139] NF type: This is used to determine whether the found NF supports interaction with NFs of the corresponding type, such as VFL.

[0140] NF instance ID, used to determine whether the found NF supports interaction with the NF instance ID, such as VFL.

[0141] The vendor ID is used to help determine whether the communication device found supports interaction with the communication device corresponding to the vendor ID, such as VFL.

[0142] It should be noted that the above tasks represent data analysis, analytics, data analysis identifiers, analytics IDs, etc., and of course they can also refer to other AI-related tasks, such as model training, model inference tasks, model information, etc. For example, VFL-related model information filtering information.

[0143] It should be noted that the above VFL-related capability information is for each task, and the VFL-related capability information supported by the communication device may be different depending on the task.

[0144] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, there is a mapping relationship between data analysis identification information (or task identification) and capability information related to vertical federated learning, and the mapping relationship can be one-to-one, many-to-one, or one-to-many; wherein, when the mapping relationship is one-to-one, the capability information related to vertical federated learning is also different for different data analysis identification information (or task identification).

[0145] Optionally, the VFL capability includes at least one of the following:

[0146] a. Coordinator capability, that is, the communication device (such as the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search) can participate in the VFL as a coordinator, that is, it can act as a coordinator in the VFL or a VFL server, etc.

[0147] Optionally, the coordinator capability includes at least one of the following:

[0148] The ability to distribute keys;

[0149] The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key;

[0150] Ability to maintain VFL;

[0151] the ability to select VFL clients or participants;

[0152] Ability to perform sample alignment.

[0153] That is, the coordinator's capability may include at least one of the following: the ability to distribute keys (such as public keys or private keys), or to prepare to distribute keys, the ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to keys, the ability to maintain VFL, the ability to select VFL clients / participants, and the ability to perform sample alignment.

[0154] b. Participant capability, that is, a communication device (such as a second communication device or a third communication device or a communication device requesting a search) can participate in the VFL as a participant, that is, can serve as a participant in the VFL, or can also be a VFL client, etc.

[0155] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0156] Ability to participate in VFL;

[0157] The ability to calculate intermediate data;

[0158] The ability to encrypt data;

[0159] The ability to pass intermediate data.

[0160] That is, the participant's capability can be at least one of the following: the ability to participate in VFL, the ability to calculate intermediate data, the ability to encrypt data, and the ability to transmit intermediate data (such as encrypted data). For example, a participant's participation in VFL can be by collecting / determining input data, output data, label data, etc. related to VFL training / inference, and exchanging them during the training / inference process, or by encrypting the data before exchanging them. The intermediate data can be the output of the model based on local data, the loss value of the model, the gradient of the model, etc.

[0161] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0162] b-1. Active Participant capability, used to indicate that a communication device (e.g., a second communication device, a third communication device, or a communication device requesting a search) can participate in the VFL as an active participant or active client, that is, the communication device can act as an active participant or active client in the VFL. The active participant capability includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the aforementioned participant capabilities, the ability to provide tag data, the ability to maintain the VFL, the ability to distribute keys, the ability to decrypt, the ability to select VFL participants, the ability to perform sample alignment, and the like.

[0163] It should be noted that the above-mentioned sample alignment includes aligning tissue samples or determining the intersection (such as cross data) between multiple samples.

[0164] It should be noted that in VFL without coordinator participation, the capabilities of the active participant are similar to the above coordinator capabilities, and you can refer to the above description.

[0165] b-2. Passive Participants capability, used to indicate that a communication device (e.g., a second communication device, a third communication device, or a communication device requesting a search) can participate in the VFL as a passive participant or passive client. This means that the communication device can act as a passive participant or passive client in the VFL. The passive participant capability includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the aforementioned participant capabilities.

[0166] It should be noted that in VFL without coordinator participation, the capabilities of the passive participant are similar to those of the above participants, and you can refer to the above description.

[0167] Optionally, in a case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for AI training; or,

[0168] In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

[0169] It should be noted that the VFL capability information and whether there is tag data can be distinguished for each task or each analytics ID, that is, each task or each analytics ID can have corresponding VFL capability information or tag data.

[0170] Optionally, the VFL type includes at least one of the following:

[0171] B1. Encrypted VFL, that is, the VFL supported by the communication device (eg, the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search) has encryption or decryption operations and / or interactions;

[0172] B2. Non-encrypted VFL, that is, the VFL supported by the communication device (e.g., the second communication device or the third communication device) does not have encryption or decryption operations and / or interactions, or the communication device requesting the search needs to meet the requirements of its supported VFL without encryption or decryption operations and / or interactions;

[0173] B3. A VFL with coordinator participation, which can also be understood as a three-party VFL, means that the VFL supported by a communication device (e.g., a second communication device or a third communication device) is a VFL in which two or more communication devices participate, or a VFL with coordinator participation, i.e., a VFL in which a communication device with coordinator capabilities participates; or a VFL in which the requested communication device must meet its support requirements, i.e., a VFL in which two or more communication devices participate, or a VFL with coordinator participation, i.e., a VFL in which a communication device with coordinator capabilities participates.

[0174] B4. A VFL without a coordinator can also be understood as a two-party VFL, that is, a VFL supported by a communication device (e.g., a second communication device or a third communication device) is a two-party VFL (even if there are multiple participants), or a VFL without a coordinator, that is, a VFL in which no communication device with coordinator capabilities participates, or a VFL supported by a communication device that is requested to be searched is a two-party VFL (even if there are multiple participants), or a VFL without a coordinator, that is, a VFL in which no communication device with coordinator capabilities participates.

[0175] B5. VFL within the core network domain, such as the VFL between NWDAF and NWDAF, where NWDAF can also be other intelligent network elements in other core network domains, such as SMF (containing Model Training Logical Function (MTLF)), AMF (containing MTLF), UPF (containing MTLF), etc.;

[0176] B6. VFL outside the core network domain, or VFL assisted by the core network, such as VFL between AFs. This means that network elements within the core network domain (especially network elements such as NWDAF) do not provide VFL for data, but can provide assistance. For example, network elements within the core network domain (such as NWDAF or NEF) act as coordinators to provide key and decryption operations.

[0177] B7. VFL between the core network domain and outside the core network domain (or VFL between the core network domain and AF), such as VFL between NWDAF-AF, where NWDAF can also be other intelligent network elements in other core network domains.

[0178] It should be noted that the above-mentioned VFL can be understood as a VFL type, or a VFL algorithm, etc.

[0179] Optionally, the VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following:

[0180] C1. Communication device ID (e.g., NF instance ID), i.e., the ID of a communication device capable of VFL interaction, such as the ID of the second communication device, the third communication device, or the communication device requested for search. This ID may be represented in the form of a list, i.e., the list may include one or more identifications of communication devices capable of VFL interaction.

[0181] C2. Vendor ID, i.e., a vendor identifier of a communication device (e.g., a second communication device or a third communication device or a communication device requesting a search) that can perform VFL interaction, which may be represented in the form of a list, i.e., the list may include one or more vendor IDs;

[0182] C3. The communication device type (e.g., NF type), that is, the type of communication device that can perform VFL interaction (e.g., the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requested to be searched) can be represented in the form of a list, that is, the list can include one or more communication device types, such as NWDAF, NEF, AF, etc.

[0183] Optionally, the VFL task filtering information includes at least one of the following:

[0184] The time period corresponding to the VFL, that is, the time period during which the communication device (such as the second communication device or the third communication device) supports the VFL (Time interval supporting VFL) or the time period during which the communication device requesting the search needs to support the VFL. The time period corresponding to the VFL can be a time interval or multiple time points, etc.;

[0185] The data type corresponding to the VFL, that is, the data type that the communication device (such as the second communication device or the third communication device) can provide (used in the VFL), or the data type that the communication device requesting the search needs to provide (used in the VFL), such as network element load, network element status, etc.;

[0186] The data range corresponding to the VFL, that is, the data range that the communication device (such as the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search) can provide (used in the VFL), or the data range that the communication device requesting the search needs to provide (used in the VFL), and the data range can be, for example, an area range, a time range, etc.

[0187] It should be noted that, in the case where the first request message is used to request a search for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL. The capability information related to the second VFL can be understood as the VFL capability information that the communication device requested to be searched by the first request message needs to satisfy, that is, the VFL-related capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to satisfy or support, such as the VFL type supported by the communication device satisfies the VFL type indicated in the capability information related to the second VFL, the time period corresponding to the VFL supported by the communication device satisfies the time period corresponding to the VFL indicated in the capability information related to the second VFL, etc. The satisfaction of other capability information related to the second VFL can also be referred to the description here and will not be explained one by one here.

[0188] It should be noted that the above-mentioned information that needs to be provided or supported may also refer to information of interest, such as a time period of interest to the second communication device, etc. The same applies to other information and will not be described in detail.

[0189] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, when the second communication device is an untrusted communication device, the first communication device receiving the first request message sent by the second communication device includes:

[0190] The first communication device receives a first request message from the second communication device through the fourth communication device;

[0191] The first communication device sending a first response message to the second communication device includes:

[0192] The first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device through the fourth communication device.

[0193] Exemplarily, if the second communication device is an untrusted communication device, the second communication device sends a first request message to the fourth communication device, which then sends the first request message to the first communication device, thereby requesting the first communication device to register or update the capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, or requesting the first communication device to search for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL carried in the first request message. Furthermore, the first communication device responds to the first request message and sends a first response message to the fourth communication device, which then sends the first response message to the second communication device, so that the second communication device can learn the response result of the first request message, such as whether the registration or update is successful, or whether a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL is found. In this way, the VFL-related search, registration, or update process for untrusted communication devices in the communication system is defined, thereby ensuring that untrusted communication devices can also quickly perform VFL-related searches, registrations, or updates.

[0194] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a second flow chart of an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application, wherein the method is applied to a second communication device. As shown in Figure 3, the method includes the following steps:

[0195] Step 301: A second communication device sends a first request message to a first communication device.

[0196] The first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL.

[0197] Step 302: The second communication device receives a first response message sent by the first communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0198] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL;

[0199] In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to a second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL.

[0200] Optionally, the capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, and the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0201] Indication information of supporting VFL capability;

[0202] VFL capability information;

[0203] Information indicating supported VFL types;

[0204] Indicates information about supported VFL objects;

[0205] Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks;

[0206] Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks;

[0207] Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs;

[0208] Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL;

[0209] Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

[0210] Optionally, the capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following:

[0211] Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported;

[0212] VFL capability information;

[0213] Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported;

[0214] Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported;

[0215] Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported;

[0216] Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported;

[0217] Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0218] Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0219] Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0220] First information used to identify the second communication device.

[0221] Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0222] Type of communication equipment;

[0223] Communication device ID;

[0224] Vendor ID.

[0225] Optionally, the VFL capability includes at least one of the following:

[0226] Coordinator skills;

[0227] Participant capabilities.

[0228] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0229] Active participant capabilities;

[0230] Passive participant capabilities.

[0231] Optionally, in a case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for AI training; or,

[0232] In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

[0233] Optionally, the coordinator capability includes at least one of the following:

[0234] The ability to distribute keys;

[0235] The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key;

[0236] Ability to maintain VFL;

[0237] the ability to select VFL clients or participants;

[0238] Ability to perform sample alignment.

[0239] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0240] Ability to participate in VFL;

[0241] The ability to calculate intermediate data;

[0242] The ability to encrypt data;

[0243] The ability to pass intermediate data.

[0244] Optionally, the VFL type includes at least one of the following:

[0245] Encrypted VFL;

[0246] Non-encrypted VFL;

[0247] VFL with coordinator participation;

[0248] VFL without coordinator involvement;

[0249] VFL in the core network domain;

[0250] VFL outside the core network domain;

[0251] VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

[0252] Optionally, the VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following:

[0253] Communication device ID;

[0254] Supplier ID;

[0255] Communication device type.

[0256] Optionally, the filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following:

[0257] The time period corresponding to VFL;

[0258] The data type corresponding to VFL;

[0259] The data range corresponding to VFL;

[0260] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request searching for a communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL, the first response message carries capability information associated with the VFL of a target communication device, and the target communication device is a communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL; or,

[0261] The first response message is used to indicate that no communication device matching the capability information related to the second VFL is found.

[0262] Optionally, in a case where the second communication device is an untrusted communication device, the second communication device sending a first request message to the first communication device includes:

[0263] The second communication device sends a first request message to a fourth communication device, and the fourth communication device is configured to send the first request message to the first communication device;

[0264] The second communication device receiving the first response message sent by the first communication device includes:

[0265] The second communication device receives a first response message sent by the fourth communication device, where the first response message is sent by the first communication device to the fourth communication device.

[0266] It should be noted that the information transmission method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied to the second communication device, which corresponds to the above-mentioned information transmission method applied to the first communication device. The relevant concepts and specific processes involved in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to the description in the method embodiment of Figure 2 above, and will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0267] The embodiments of the present application clarify how to register and search for communication devices related to VFL in a communication system, thereby facilitating rapid search for communication devices related to VFL and facilitating VFL interaction between communication devices.

[0268] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flowchart of a third method for information transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application, and the method is applied to a fourth communication device. As shown in Figure 4, the method includes the following steps:

[0269] Step 401: The fourth communication device receives a first request message sent by the second communication device, and sends the first request message to the first communication device.

[0270] The first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL.

[0271] Step 402: The fourth communication device receives a first response message sent by the first communication device, and sends the first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0272] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL;

[0273] In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

[0274] Optionally, the capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, and the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0275] Indication information of supporting VFL capability;

[0276] VFL capability information;

[0277] Information indicating supported VFL types;

[0278] Indicates information about supported VFL objects;

[0279] Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks;

[0280] Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks;

[0281] Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs;

[0282] Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL;

[0283] Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

[0284] Optionally, the capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following:

[0285] Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported;

[0286] VFL capability information;

[0287] Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported;

[0288] Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported;

[0289] Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported;

[0290] Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported;

[0291] Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0292] Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0293] Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0294] First information used to identify the second communication device.

[0295] Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0296] Type of communication equipment;

[0297] Communication device ID;

[0298] Vendor ID.

[0299] Optionally, the VFL capability includes at least one of the following:

[0300] Coordinator skills;

[0301] Participant capabilities.

[0302] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0303] Active participant capabilities;

[0304] Passive participant capabilities.

[0305] Optionally, in a case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for AI training; or,

[0306] In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

[0307] Optionally, the coordinator capability includes at least one of the following:

[0308] The ability to distribute keys;

[0309] The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key;

[0310] Ability to maintain VFL;

[0311] the ability to select VFL clients or participants;

[0312] Ability to perform sample alignment.

[0313] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0314] Ability to participate in VFL;

[0315] The ability to calculate intermediate data;

[0316] The ability to encrypt data;

[0317] The ability to pass intermediate data.

[0318] Optionally, the VFL type includes at least one of the following:

[0319] Encrypted VFL;

[0320] Non-encrypted VFL;

[0321] VFL with coordinator participation;

[0322] VFL without coordinator involvement;

[0323] VFL in the core network domain;

[0324] VFL outside the core network domain;

[0325] VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

[0326] Optionally, the VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following:

[0327] Communication device ID;

[0328] Supplier ID;

[0329] Communication device type.

[0330] Optionally, the filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following:

[0331] The time period corresponding to VFL;

[0332] The data type corresponding to VFL;

[0333] The data range corresponding to VFL;

[0334] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request searching for a communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL, the first response message carries capability information associated with the VFL of a target communication device, and the target communication device is a communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL; or,

[0335] The first response message is used to indicate that no communication device matching the capability information related to the second VFL is found.

[0336] It should be noted that the information transmission method provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied to the fourth communication device, which corresponds to the above-mentioned information transmission method applied to the first communication device and the second communication device. The relevant concepts and specific processes involved in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to the description in the method embodiment of Figure 2 above, and will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0337] The embodiments of the present application clarify how to register and search for communication devices related to VFL in a communication system, thereby facilitating rapid search for communication devices related to VFL and facilitating VFL interaction between communication devices.

[0338] In order to better understand the technical solution of the present application, the technical solution of the present application is described below through several specific embodiments.

[0339] Example 1:

[0340] Please refer to FIG5a, which is a fourth flow chart of an information transmission method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5a, the method includes the following steps:

[0341] Step 511. The intelligent network element (e.g., NWDAF, trusted AF, or NEF, which can be understood as the third communication device or the second communication device) sends a first message to a capability storage network element (e.g., NRF, which can be understood as the first communication device). The first message carries capability information related to the VFL of the intelligent network element. The first message can be a registration message requesting registration of capability information related to the VLF, such as through an Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister Request message. Alternatively, the first message is used to update the VLF-related capability information of the intelligent network element. Specifically, when the intelligent network element sends a registration message to the NRF, in addition to its own identification information (e.g., NF instance ID, FQDN or IP address of NF, network element instance identification information), NF type, network element type, etc., it can also carry capability information related to the network element's VFL.

[0342] The VFL-related capability information includes at least one of the following:

[0343] (1) VFL capability support indication information, used to indicate that the network element (i.e., intelligent network element, which will not be described in detail later) can perform VFL-related operations, such as organizing / participating in VFL, performing VFL sample alignment, and transmitting VFL data / intermediate results.

[0344] (2) Supported VFL capability information (i.e., supported VFL capability types, or roles in VFL), including at least one of the following:

[0345] -Support VFL coordinator capability, indicating that the network element can participate in VFL as a coordinator; that is, it can serve as a coordinator in VFL or a VFL server, etc.; it can have the ability to distribute keys; or be prepared to distribute keys; or it can also indicate that it has the ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to the key.

[0346] -Support VFL participant capability, indicating that the network element can participate in VFL as a participant; that is, it can be a participant in VFL or a VFL client, etc.; it can also indicate that the device can encrypt data and transmit intermediate data (such as encrypted data).

[0347] Among them, supporting VFL participant capabilities includes at least one of the following:

[0348] --Support VFL Active Participant capability, indicating that the network element can participate in VFL as an Active participant / active client; that is, it can act as an Active participant / active client in VFL, indicating that the network element has tag data;

[0349] --Support VFL Passive Participants capability, indicating that the network element can participate in VFL as a Passive participant / passive client; that is, it can act as a Passive participant / passive client in VFL, indicating that the network element does not have tag data.

[0350] (3) Supported VFL types, including at least one of the following:

[0351] -Encrypted or non-encrypted VFL; used to indicate whether the supported VFL has encryption or decryption operations and / or interactions, etc.;

[0352] - Two-party or three-party VFL; used to indicate whether the supported VFL is participated by two parties or two or more network elements / communication devices; in other words, used to indicate whether the supported VFL is participated by a VFL coordinator. If a coordinator is participated in, it is a three-party VFL; if not, it is a two-party VFL (even if there may be multiple participants).

[0353] - VFL between NWDAF and NWDAF, or between AF and NWDAF, or between AF and AF; used to indicate which VFL connection / architecture mode is supported; for example, at least one of the following: VFL between NWDAF and NWDAF, or VFL within the core network domain, where NWDAF may also be other intelligent network elements in other core network domains, such as SMF (containing MTLF), AMF (containing MTLF), UPF (containing MTLF), etc.; VFL between AF and NWDAF, or VFL between the inside and outside of the core network domain (or VFL between the core network domain and AF), where NWDAF may also be other intelligent network elements in other core network domains; VFL between AF and AF may also be VFL between outside the core network (or VFL assisted by the core network);

[0354] (4) Supported VFL objects, indicated by at least one of the following:

[0355] -NF instance ID, including the NF instance ID of the network element that can perform VFL interaction, which can be in the form of a list, that is, one or more network element instance identifiers;

[0356] - Vendor ID, including the vendor IDs with which the network element can interact with VFL, which can be in the form of a list, i.e. one or more vendor IDs;

[0357] -NF type, including the network element types that the network element can interact with via VFL. It can be in the form of a list, that is, one or more network element types, such as NWDAF, NEF, AF, etc.

[0358] (5) Supported VFL task filter information (or qualification information, etc., used to describe specific VFL tasks, etc.), including at least one of the following:

[0359] -Time interval supporting VFL, which is used to indicate the time interval supporting vertical federated learning, etc. It can be a time interval or multiple time points;

[0360] -Supported data types, used to indicate the data types that can be provided (used in VFL), such as network element load, network element status, etc.;

[0361] -Supported data range, used to indicate the range of data that can be provided (used in VFL), such as region range, time range, etc.

[0362] (6) Supported VFL task identifiers, used to indicate a certain type (item) of VFL tasks, such as pre-defined identifiers, such as analytics IDs. It should be noted that the above-mentioned supported VFL capability information is per-task, that is, the supported VFL capability information may be inconsistent depending on different tasks.

[0363] (7) Sample ID types supported by VFL;

[0364] (8) Data source type of VFL;

[0365] (9) Data sources of VFL.

[0366] It should be noted that the above-mentioned network elements and communication devices have similar meanings and both represent communication devices in a communication network.

[0367] It should be noted that the above tasks represent data analysis, analytic, etc.

[0368] Step 512: The NRF receives the request message from the intelligent network element and stores the capability information related to the network element VFL.

[0369] Step 513: The NRF sends a successful storage response message to the intelligent network element. For example, when the intelligent network element sends network element capability information via a registration message, the NRF stores the intelligent network element's network element registration information (such as VFL-related capability information) after receiving the registration message and sends a response message (for example, via the Nnrf_NFManagement_NFRegister response message) to notify the intelligent network element of the successful registration.

[0370] Step 514. The Consumer (e.g., NWDAF, trusted AF, or NEF, which can be understood as the second communication device) sends a network element search request to the NRF, requesting to search for an intelligent network element that meets the conditions; for example, the search request can be sent through the Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request service, etc.; the search request must carry the network element type (used to indicate the type of network element to be searched, such as NWDAF network element, etc.), area information (used to indicate the service range of the network element to be searched, etc.), and at least one of the following:

[0371] (1) Indication information that requires support for VFL capabilities is used to indicate the network elements that need to support VFL capabilities; that is, the network elements to be found need to be able to perform VFL-related operations, such as organizing / participating in VFL, performing VFL sample alignment, and performing VFL data / intermediate result transmission.

[0372] (2) Required VFL capability information (capability type, or role in VFL), including at least one of the following:

[0373] -Required VFL coordinator capability indicates that a network element is required that can participate in VFL as a coordinator; that is, it can serve as a coordinator in VFL or a VFL server, etc.; it can have the ability to distribute keys; or be prepared to distribute keys; or it can indicate the ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to the key.

[0374] -Required VFL participant capability indicates that a network element is required to be able to participate in VFL as a participant; that is, it can be a participant in VFL or a VFL client, etc.; it can also indicate that the device can encrypt data and transmit intermediate data (such as encrypted data).

[0375] The VFL participant capabilities required include at least one of the following:

[0376] --Requirement of VFL Active Participant, indicating that a network element that can participate in VFL as an Active participant / active client is required; that is, it can be an Active participant / active client in VFL, indicating that the network element has tag data;

[0377] --Require VFL Passive Participants, indicating that a network element that can participate in VFL as a Passive participant / passive client is required; that is, a network element that can act as a Passive participant / passive client in VFL does not have tag data;

[0378] (3) Required VFL type, including at least one of the following:

[0379] -Requires encrypted or non-encrypted VFL; used to indicate whether the required VFL has encryption or decryption operations and / or interactions;

[0380] --Requires a two-party or three-party VFL; indicates whether the required VFL involves two parties or two or more network elements / communication devices; or, in other words, indicates whether the required VFL has a VFL coordinator. If a coordinator is involved, it is a three-party VFL; if not, it is a two-party VFL (even if there may be multiple participants).

[0381] --Requirement of VFL between NWDAF-NWDAF or AF-NWDAF or AF-AF; used to indicate the required VFL connection / architecture mode; for example, at least one of the following: VFL between NWDAF-NWDAF, or VFL within the core network domain, where NWDAF can also be other intelligent network elements in other core network domains, such as SMF (containing MTLF), AMF (containing MTLF), UPF (containing MTLF), etc.; VFL between AF-NWDAF, or VFL between the inside and outside of the core network domain (or VFL between the core network domain and AF), where NWDAF can also be other intelligent network elements in other core network domains; VFL between AF-AF can also be VFL between outside the core network (or VFL assisted by the core network).

[0382] (4) The required VFL object, indicated by at least one of the following:

[0383] -NF instance ID, including the required NF instance ID, which can be in the form of a list of one or more network element instance identifiers;

[0384] -vendor ID, including the required vendor ID, can be in the form of a list, that is, one or more vendor IDs;

[0385] -NF type, including the required network element type, can be in the form of a List, that is, one or more network element types, such as NWDAF, NEF, AF, etc.

[0386] (5) The required VFL task identifier is used to indicate a certain type (item) of VFL tasks, such as a pre-defined identifier, such as an analytics ID. It should be noted that the above-mentioned supported VFL capability information is per-task, that is, the supported VFL capability information may be inconsistent depending on the task.

[0387] (6) Required VFL task filter information (or qualification information, etc., used to describe specific VFL tasks, etc.), including at least one of the following:

[0388] -Time period for requiring vertical federation, time period of interest, time period of VFL of interest, used to indicate the time interval for which vertical federated learning is required, etc., which can be a time interval or multiple time points, etc.

[0389] -Data type, used to indicate the required data type (used in VFL), such as network element load, network element status, etc.

[0390] -Data range, used to indicate the range of required data (used in VFL), such as area range, time range, etc.

[0391] (7) First information: used to help determine whether the found network element supports interaction with the network element corresponding to the information, such as VFL. The first information includes at least one of the following:

[0392] - NF type, used to help determine whether the found NE supports NE interaction with the corresponding NE type, such as VFL;

[0393] -NF instance ID, used to help determine whether the found NE supports NE interaction with the NE instance ID, such as VFL.

[0394] -vendor ID, etc.; used to help determine whether the found network element supports interaction with the network element corresponding to the vendor ID, such as VFL.

[0395] (8) The sample ID type of the required VFL;

[0396] (9) The data source type of the required VFL;

[0397] (10) The data source of the required VFL.

[0398] It should be noted that most of the information in the search request corresponds to the information in the capability information related to the VFL.

[0399] It should be noted that this step may be triggered by the consumer receiving a model request message and, if its own data cannot train a model that meets the conditions, interacting with the NRF to determine the network elements / communication devices that can perform VFL.

[0400] It should be noted that another triggering method may be that the consumer determines to perform a network element search based on internal logic;

[0401] Step 515. The NRF determines and feeds back the network element information of the intelligent network element that meets the conditions, such as the network element instance identification information (NF instance ID), address information (IP address of NF) or network element domain name (Fully qualified domain name, FQDN), etc., and may also include the network element VFL-related capability information, such as at least one item of the VFL-related capability information described in step 511.

[0402] Optionally, NRF can provide feedback through services such as Nnrf_NFDiscovery_Request response.

[0403] Specifically, the NRF determines a target network element according to the search request, and the capability information related to the VFL of the target network element matches the requirement information in the search request.

[0404] Exemplarily, the NRF may compare the information in the network element search request sent by the consumer in step 514 with the network element registration information, thereby determining at least one intelligent network element that meets the conditions and determining it as the target network element.

[0405] Specifically, the NRF determines the target NE based on the VFL capability information requested in the lookup request, where the target NE supports the requested VFL capability information. For example, the NRF determines the target NE based on the requested VFL type information, where the target NE supports the VFL type corresponding to the requested VFL type information. Other VFL-related capability information matching methods are similar and will not be detailed here.

[0406] It should be noted that when the NRF search fails, such as not finding a network element that meets the conditions, the NRF may feed back a search failure response message to the consumer.

[0407] Step 516: After receiving the message from the NRF, the Consumer sends a message to the target intelligent network element based on the fed-back network element information to perform VFL interaction.

[0408] Example 2:

[0409] Please refer to FIG5b, which is a flowchart of a fifth method for information transmission provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5b, the method includes the following steps:

[0410] Step 521: The untrusted AF sends a registration request to the NRF via the NEF (which can be understood as the fourth communication device mentioned above). Specifically, the AF sends the VFL-related capability information to the NEF through OAM configuration, etc., and the NEF then sends this information to the NRF. The registration request carries the network element's VFL-related capability information.

[0411] Step 522: The NRF stores the capability information related to the network element VFL.

[0412] Step 523: The NRF feeds back a storage success response message to the NEF.

[0413] Step 524: When the consumer is an untrusted AF, the consumer sends a network element search request to the NRF through the NEF, requesting to search for an intelligent network element that meets the conditions.

[0414] It should be noted that this step may be triggered by the consumer receiving a model request message and, if its own data cannot train a model that meets the conditions, interacting with the NRF to determine the network elements / communication devices that can perform VFL.

[0415] It should be noted that another triggering method may be that the consumer determines to perform a network element search based on internal logic;

[0416] Step 525: The NRF feeds back the target NE information that meets the conditions (carrying the capability information related to the target NE VFL) to the consumer through the NEF.

[0417] Step 526: The Consumer performs VFL interaction with the target NE based on the fed-back information of the target NE. If the consumer is an untrusted AF, the consumer can perform VFL interaction with the target NE through the NEF.

[0418] The relevant information involved in this embodiment 2 can refer to the specific description in embodiment 1, and will not be repeated in this embodiment. The relevant concepts and specific processes involved in the above embodiments 1 and 2 can be combined with the description in the method embodiment described in Figure 2, and will not be repeated here.

[0419] The information transmission method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be executed by an information transmission device. In the embodiment of the present application, the information transmission device provided in the embodiment of the present application is described by taking the information transmission method executed by the information transmission device as an example.

[0420] Please refer to FIG. 6 , which is one of the structural diagrams of an information transmission apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus may be applied to a first communication device. As shown in FIG. 6 , the information transmission apparatus 600 includes:

[0421] The first receiving module 601 is configured to receive a first request message from a second communication device; the first request message is configured to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, or searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL;

[0422] The first sending module 602 is configured to send a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0423] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL; or,

[0424] In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

[0425] Optionally, the first receiving module 601 is further configured to:

[0426] A registration message is received from a third communication device, where the registration message carries capability information related to a third VFL of the third communication device, and the registration message is used to request registration of capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device.

[0427] Optionally, the capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, and the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0428] Indication information of supporting VFL capability;

[0429] VFL capability information;

[0430] Information indicating supported VFL types;

[0431] Indicates information about supported VFL objects;

[0432] Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks;

[0433] Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks;

[0434] Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs;

[0435] Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL;

[0436] Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

[0437] Optionally, the capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following:

[0438] Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported;

[0439] VFL capability information;

[0440] Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported;

[0441] Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported;

[0442] Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported;

[0443] Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported;

[0444] Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0445] Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0446] Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0447] First information used to identify the second communication device.

[0448] Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0449] Type of communication equipment;

[0450] Communication device ID;

[0451] Vendor ID.

[0452] Optionally, the capability information related to the third VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the third communication device, and the capability information supported by the third communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0453] Indication information of supporting VFL capability;

[0454] VFL capability information;

[0455] Information indicating supported VFL types;

[0456] Indicates information about supported VFL objects;

[0457] Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks;

[0458] Indicates the ID information of the supported VFL tasks;

[0459] Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs;

[0460] Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL;

[0461] Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

[0462] Optionally, the VFL capability includes at least one of the following:

[0463] Coordinator skills;

[0464] Participant capabilities.

[0465] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0466] Active participant capabilities;

[0467] Passive participant capabilities.

[0468] Optionally, when the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for artificial intelligence AI training; or,

[0469] In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

[0470] Optionally, the coordinator capability includes at least one of the following:

[0471] The ability to distribute keys;

[0472] The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key;

[0473] Ability to maintain VFL;

[0474] the ability to select VFL clients or participants;

[0475] Ability to perform sample alignment.

[0476] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0477] Ability to participate in VFL;

[0478] The ability to calculate intermediate data;

[0479] The ability to encrypt data;

[0480] The ability to pass intermediate data.

[0481] Optionally, the VFL type includes at least one of the following:

[0482] Encrypted VFL;

[0483] Non-encrypted VFL;

[0484] VFL with coordinator participation;

[0485] VFL without coordinator involvement;

[0486] VFL in the core network domain;

[0487] VFL outside the core network domain;

[0488] VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

[0489] Optionally, the VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following:

[0490] Communication device ID;

[0491] Supplier ID;

[0492] Communication device type.

[0493] Optionally, the filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following:

[0494] The time period corresponding to VFL;

[0495] The data type corresponding to VFL;

[0496] The data range corresponding to VFL.

[0497] Optionally, when the first request message is used to request searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first sending module 602 is further configured to perform any of the following:

[0498] The first communication device determines a target communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, and sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message carries the capability information related to the VFL of the target communication device;

[0499] If the first communication device fails to find a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL, the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to indicate that no communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL is found.

[0500] Optionally, the first sending module 602 is further configured to:

[0501] A target communication device matching capability information associated with the VFL is determined based on the first request message and the registration message.

[0502] Optionally, when the second communication device is an untrusted communication device, the first receiving module 601 is further configured to:

[0503] receiving, through a fourth communication device, a first request message from the second communication device;

[0504] The first sending module 602 is further configured to:

[0505] A first response message is sent to the second communication device through the fourth communication device.

[0506] The information transmission device 600 provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement each process implemented by the first communication device in the method embodiment of Figure 2 and achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0507] Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a second structural diagram of an information transmission apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus may be applied to a second communication device. As shown in FIG. 7 , the information transmission apparatus 700 includes:

[0508] The second sending module 701 is configured to send a first request message to a first communication device, wherein the first request message is configured to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the apparatus, and searching for a communication device matching capability information related to a second VFL;

[0509] The second receiving module 702 is configured to receive a first response message sent by the first communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0510] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update of capability information related to a first VFL of the device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL;

[0511] In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

[0512] Optionally, the capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the apparatus (or second communication device), and the capability information supported by the apparatus includes at least one of the following:

[0513] Indication information of supporting VFL capability;

[0514] VFL capability information;

[0515] Information indicating supported VFL types;

[0516] Indicates information about supported VFL objects;

[0517] Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks;

[0518] Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks;

[0519] Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs;

[0520] Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL;

[0521] Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

[0522] Optionally, the capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following:

[0523] Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported;

[0524] VFL capability information;

[0525] Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported;

[0526] Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported;

[0527] Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported;

[0528] Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported;

[0529] Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0530] Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0531] Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0532] First information used to identify the second communication device.

[0533] Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0534] Type of communication equipment;

[0535] Communication device ID;

[0536] Vendor ID.

[0537] Optionally, the VFL capability includes at least one of the following:

[0538] Coordinator skills;

[0539] Participant capabilities.

[0540] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0541] Active participant capabilities;

[0542] Passive participant capabilities.

[0543] Optionally, in a case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the apparatus or the communication device requesting the search has label data for AI training; or,

[0544] In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the apparatus or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

[0545] Optionally, the coordinator capability includes at least one of the following:

[0546] The ability to distribute keys;

[0547] The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key;

[0548] Ability to maintain VFL;

[0549] the ability to select VFL clients or participants;

[0550] Ability to perform sample alignment.

[0551] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0552] Ability to participate in VFL;

[0553] The ability to calculate intermediate data;

[0554] The ability to encrypt data;

[0555] The ability to pass intermediate data.

[0556] Optionally, the VFL type includes at least one of the following:

[0557] Encrypted VFL;

[0558] Non-encrypted VFL;

[0559] VFL with coordinator participation;

[0560] VFL without coordinator involvement;

[0561] VFL in the core network domain;

[0562] VFL outside the core network domain;

[0563] VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

[0564] Optionally, the VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following:

[0565] Communication device ID;

[0566] Supplier ID;

[0567] Communication device type.

[0568] Optionally, the filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following:

[0569] The time period corresponding to VFL;

[0570] The data type corresponding to VFL;

[0571] The data range corresponding to VFL;

[0572] In a case where the first request message is used to request a search for a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL, the first response message carries the capability information associated with the VFL of the target communication device, and the target communication device is the communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL; or

[0573] The first response message is used to indicate that no communication device matching the capability information related to the second VFL is found.

[0574] Optionally, when the apparatus is an untrusted communication device, the second sending module 701 is further configured to:

[0575] Sending a first request message to a fourth communication device, where the fourth communication device is configured to send the first request message to the first communication device;

[0576] The second receiving module 702 is further configured to:

[0577] A first response message sent by the fourth communication device is received, where the first response message is sent by the first communication device to the fourth communication device.

[0578] The information transmission device 700 provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement each process implemented by the second communication device in the method embodiment of Figure 3 and achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be described here.

[0579] Please refer to FIG8 , which is a third structural diagram of an information transmission device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The device can be applied to a fourth communication device. As shown in FIG8 , the information transmission device 800 includes:

[0580] A first transmission module 801 is configured to receive a first request message sent by a second communication device and send the first request message to the first communication device, where the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL;

[0581] The second transmission module 802 is configured to receive a first response message sent by the first communication device and send the first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

[0582] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL;

[0583] In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

[0584] Optionally, the capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, and the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following:

[0585] Indication information of supporting VFL capability;

[0586] VFL capability information;

[0587] Information indicating supported VFL types;

[0588] Indicates information about supported VFL objects;

[0589] Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks;

[0590] Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks;

[0591] Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs;

[0592] Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL;

[0593] Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

[0594] Optionally, the capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following:

[0595] Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported;

[0596] VFL capability information;

[0597] Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported;

[0598] Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported;

[0599] Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported;

[0600] Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported;

[0601] Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0602] Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0603] Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported;

[0604] First information used to identify the second communication device.

[0605] Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following:

[0606] Type of communication equipment;

[0607] Communication device ID;

[0608] Vendor ID.

[0609] Optionally, the VFL capability includes at least one of the following:

[0610] Coordinator skills;

[0611] Participant capabilities.

[0612] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0613] Active participant capabilities;

[0614] Passive participant capabilities.

[0615] Optionally, in a case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for AI training; or,

[0616] In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

[0617] Optionally, the coordinator capability includes at least one of the following:

[0618] The ability to distribute keys;

[0619] The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key;

[0620] Ability to maintain VFL;

[0621] the ability to select VFL clients or participants;

[0622] Ability to perform sample alignment.

[0623] Optionally, the participant capabilities include at least one of the following:

[0624] Ability to participate in VFL;

[0625] The ability to calculate intermediate data;

[0626] The ability to encrypt data;

[0627] The ability to pass intermediate data.

[0628] Optionally, the VFL type includes at least one of the following:

[0629] Encrypted VFL;

[0630] Non-encrypted VFL;

[0631] VFL with coordinator participation;

[0632] VFL without coordinator involvement;

[0633] VFL in the core network domain;

[0634] VFL outside the core network domain;

[0635] VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

[0636] Optionally, the VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following:

[0637] Communication device ID;

[0638] Supplier ID;

[0639] Communication device type.

[0640] Optionally, the filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following:

[0641] The time period corresponding to VFL;

[0642] The data type corresponding to VFL;

[0643] The data range corresponding to VFL;

[0644] Optionally, in a case where the first request message is used to request searching for a communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL, the first response message carries capability information associated with the VFL of a target communication device, and the target communication device is a communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL; or,

[0645] The first response message is used to indicate that no communication device matching the capability information related to the second VFL is found.

[0646] The information transmission device 800 provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement each process implemented by the fourth communication device in the method embodiment of Figure 3 and achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be described here.

[0647] As shown in Figure 9, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device 900, including a processor 901 and a memory 902, and the memory 902 stores a program or instruction that can be run on the processor 901. When the program or instruction is executed by the processor 901, it implements the various steps of the information transmission method embodiment described in Figure 2 or Figure 3 or Figure 4 above, and can achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0648] The embodiment of the present application further provides a network side device. As shown in FIG10 , the network side device 1000 includes: a processor 1001, a network interface 1002, and a memory 1003. The network interface 1002 is, for example, a common public radio interface (CPRI).

[0649] Specifically, the network side device 1000 of the embodiment of the present application also includes: instructions or programs stored in the memory 1003 and can be run on the processor 1001. The processor 1001 calls the instructions or programs in the memory 1003 to execute the methods executed by the modules shown in Figure 6 or 7 or Figure 8, and achieves the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0650] An embodiment of the present application also provides a readable storage medium, on which a program or instruction is stored. When the program or instruction is executed by a processor, the various processes of the above-mentioned information transmission method embodiment are implemented and the same technical effect can be achieved. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0651] The processor is the processor in the terminal described in the above embodiment. The readable storage medium includes a computer-readable storage medium, such as a computer read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. In some examples, the readable storage medium may be a non-transitory readable storage medium.

[0652] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which includes a processor and a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to the processor, and the processor is used to run programs or instructions to implement the various processes of the above-mentioned information transmission method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0653] It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can also be called a system-level chip, a system chip, a chip system or a system-on-chip chip, etc.

[0654] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program / program product, which is stored in a storage medium. The computer program / program product is executed by at least one processor to implement the various processes of the above-mentioned information transmission method embodiment and can achieve the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0655] An embodiment of the present application also provides a wireless communication system, including: a first communication device, a second communication device, and a fourth communication device. The first communication device can be used to execute the various processes of the information transmission method embodiment as described in Figure 2, the second communication device can be used to execute the various processes of the information transmission method embodiment as described in Figure 3, and the fourth communication device can be used to execute the various processes of the information transmission method embodiment as described in Figure 4, and can achieve the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, they will not be repeated here.

[0656] The present application also provides a wireless communication system, including: a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device. The first communication device may be used to perform each process of the information transmission method embodiment described in FIG2 , and the second communication device may be used to perform each process of the information transmission method embodiment described in FIG3 , and can achieve the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, they are not described here. The third communication device may implement the following steps:

[0657] The third communication device sends a registration message to the first communication device, where the registration message carries capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device, and the registration message is used to request registration of capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device.

[0658] The capability information related to the third VFL may be the specific description in the method embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2 , which will not be repeated here.

[0659] It should be noted that, in this article, the terms "comprise", "include" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprises a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device comprising the element. In addition, it should be pointed out that the scope of the methods and devices in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, and may also include performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in the opposite order according to the functions involved. For example, the described method may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may also be added, omitted or combined. In addition, the features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

[0660] Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the above-mentioned embodiment methods can be implemented by means of a computer software product plus a necessary general-purpose hardware platform, or of course, by hardware. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM, RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc.) and includes a number of instructions for enabling a terminal or network-side device to execute the methods described in each embodiment of the present application.

[0661] The embodiments of the present application are described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific implementation methods. The above-mentioned specific implementation methods are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Under the guidance of this application, ordinary technicians in this field can also make many forms of implementation methods without departing from the purpose of this application and the scope of protection of the claims. These implementation methods are all within the protection of this application.

Claims

1. An information transmission method, comprising: The first communication device receives a first request message from the second communication device; The first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first vertical federated learning VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL; The first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein In a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL; or, In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Before the first communication device receives the first request message from the second communication device, the method further includes: The first communication device receives a registration message from a third communication device, where the registration message carries capability information related to a third VFL of the third communication device, and the registration message is used to request registration of capability information related to the third VFL of the third communication device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, where the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following: Indication information indicating support for VFL capability; VFL capability information; Information indicating supported VFL types; Indicates information about supported VFL objects; Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks; Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks; Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs; Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL; Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The VFL capability information or the information indicating supported VFL types is for each task.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following: Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported; VFL capability information; Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported; Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported; Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported; Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported; Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported; First information used to identify the second communication device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The first information includes at least one of the following: Type of communication equipment; Communication device ID; Vendor ID.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The capability information related to the third VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the third communication device, and the capability information supported by the third communication device includes at least one of the following: Indication information of supporting VFL capability; VFL capability information; Information indicating supported VFL types; Indicates information about supported VFL objects; Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks; Indicates the ID information of the supported VFL tasks; Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs; Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL; Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

9. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein The VFL capability includes at least one of the following: Coordinator skills; Participant capabilities.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The participant capabilities include at least one of the following: Active participant capabilities; Passive participant capabilities.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: In the case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for artificial intelligence AI training; or In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the third communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein The coordinator capabilities include at least one of the following: The ability to distribute keys; The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key; Ability to maintain VFL; the ability to select VFL clients or participants; Ability to perform sample alignment.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The participant capabilities include at least one of the following: Ability to participate in VFL; The ability to calculate intermediate data; The ability to encrypt data; The ability to pass intermediate data.

14. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein: The VFL type includes at least one of the following: Encrypted VFL; Non-encrypted VFL; VFL with coordinator participation; VFL without coordinator involvement; VFL in the core network domain; VFL outside the core network domain; VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

15. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein: The VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following: Communication device ID; Supplier ID; Communication device type.

16. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein: The filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following: The time period corresponding to VFL; The data type corresponding to VFL; The data range corresponding to VFL.

17. The method according to claim 3, wherein: In a case where the first request message is used to request searching for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, including any one of the following: The first communication device determines a target communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL, and sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message carries the capability information related to the VFL of the target communication device; If the first communication device fails to find a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL, the first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to indicate that no communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL is found.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein The first communication device determines a target communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, including: The first communication device determines, based on the first request message and the registration message, a target communication device that matches capability information associated with the second VFL.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein In a case where the second communication device is an untrusted communication device, the first communication device receiving a first request message sent by the second communication device includes: The first communication device receives a first request message from the second communication device through the fourth communication device; The first communication device sending a first response message to the second communication device includes: The first communication device sends a first response message to the second communication device through the fourth communication device.

20. An information transmission method, comprising: The second communication device sends a first request message to the first communication device, where the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; The second communication device receives a first response message sent by the first communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein In a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL; In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein The capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, where the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following: Indication information of supporting VFL capability; VFL capability information; Information indicating supported VFL types; Indicates information about supported VFL objects; Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks; Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks; Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs; Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL; Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

23. The method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein The capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following: Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported; VFL capability information; Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported; Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported; Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported; Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported; Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported; First information used to identify the second communication device.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein The first information includes at least one of the following: Type of communication equipment; Communication device ID; Vendor ID.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein The VFL capability includes at least one of the following: Coordinator skills; Participant capabilities.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein The participant capabilities include at least one of the following: Active participant capabilities; Passive participant capabilities.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein In the case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for AI training; or In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein The coordinator capabilities include at least one of the following: the ability to distribute keys; The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key; Ability to maintain VFL; the ability to select VFL clients or participants; Ability to perform sample alignment.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein The participant capabilities include at least one of the following: Ability to participate in VFL; The ability to calculate intermediate data; The ability to encrypt data; The ability to pass intermediate data.

30. The method according to any one of claims 22-23, wherein The VFL type includes at least one of the following: Encrypted VFL; Non-encrypted VFL; VFL with coordinator participation; VFL without coordinator involvement; VFL in the core network domain; VFL outside the core network domain; VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

31. The method according to any one of claims 22-23, wherein The VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following: Communication device ID; Supplier ID; Communication device type.

32. The method according to any one of claims 22-23, wherein The filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following: The time period corresponding to VFL; The data type corresponding to VFL; The data range corresponding to VFL.

33. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 32, wherein In a case where the first request message is used to request a search for a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL, the first response message carries the capability information associated with the VFL of a target communication device, and the target communication device is the communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL; or The first response message is used to indicate that no communication device matching the capability information related to the second VFL is found.

34. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 28, wherein In a case where the second communication device is an untrusted communication device, the second communication device sending a first request message to the first communication device includes: The second communication device sends a first request message to a fourth communication device, and the fourth communication device is configured to send the first request message to the first communication device; The second communication device receiving the first response message sent by the first communication device includes: The second communication device receives a first response message sent by the fourth communication device, where the first response message is sent by the first communication device to the fourth communication device.

35. An information transmission method, comprising: The fourth communication device receives the first request message sent by the second communication device, and sends the first request message to the first communication device, where the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; The fourth communication device receives a first response message sent by the first communication device, and sends the first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein In a case where the first request message is used to request registration or update capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, the first request message carries the capability information related to the first VFL; In a case where the first request message is used to search for a communication device that matches capability information related to the second VFL, the first request message carries the capability information related to the second VFL.

37. The method according to claim 35 or 36, wherein The capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, where the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following: Indication information of supporting VFL capability; VFL capability information; Information indicating supported VFL types; Indicates information about supported VFL objects; Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks; Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks; Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs; Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL; Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

38. The method according to claim 35 or 36, wherein The capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following: Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported; VFL capability information; Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported; Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported; Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported; Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported; Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported; First information used to identify the second communication device.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein The first information includes at least one of the following: Type of communication equipment; Communication device ID; Vendor ID.

40. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein The VFL capability includes at least one of the following: Coordinator skills; Participant capabilities.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein The participant capabilities include at least one of the following: Active participant capabilities; Passive participant capabilities.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein In the case where the VFL capability includes an active participant capability, the active participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search has label data for AI training; or In a case where the VFL capability includes a passive participant capability, the passive participant capability is used to indicate that the second communication device or the communication device requesting the search does not have label data for AI training.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein: The coordinator capabilities include at least one of the following: the ability to distribute keys; The ability to decrypt encrypted data corresponding to a key; Ability to maintain VFL; the ability to select VFL clients or participants; Ability to perform sample alignment.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein The participant capabilities include at least one of the following: Ability to participate in VFL; The ability to calculate intermediate data; The ability to encrypt data; The ability to pass intermediate data.

45. The method according to any one of claims 37-38, wherein The VFL type includes at least one of the following: Encrypted VFL; Non-encrypted VFL; VFL with coordinator participation; VFL without coordinator involvement; VFL in the core network domain; VFL outside the core network domain; VFL between the core network domain and the network outside the core domain.

46. The method according to any one of claims 37-38, wherein The VFL object is indicated by at least one of the following: Communication device ID; Supplier ID; Communication device type.

47. The method according to any one of claims 37-38, wherein The filtering information of the VFL task includes at least one of the following: The time period corresponding to VFL; The data type corresponding to VFL; The data range corresponding to VFL.

48. The method according to any one of claims 35 to 47, wherein In a case where the first request message is used to request a search for a communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL, the first response message carries the capability information associated with the VFL of a target communication device, and the target communication device is the communication device that matches the capability information associated with the second VFL; or The first response message is used to indicate that no communication device matching the capability information related to the second VFL is found.

49. An information transmission device comprising: A first receiving module, configured to receive a first request message from a second communication device; The first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; The first sending module is configured to send a first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein The capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, where the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following: Indication information of supporting VFL capability; VFL capability information; Information indicating supported VFL types; Indicates information about supported VFL objects; Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks; Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks; Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs; Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL; Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

51. The apparatus according to claim 49 or 50, wherein In the case where the second communication device is an untrusted communication device, the first receiving module is further configured to: receiving, through a fourth communication device, a first request message from the second communication device; The first sending module is further configured to: A first response message is sent to the second communication device through the fourth communication device.

52. An information transmission device comprising: a second sending module, configured to send a first request message to the first communication device, wherein the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to the first VFL of the apparatus, and searching for a communication device matching capability information related to the second VFL; The second receiving module is configured to receive a first response message sent by the first communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein: The capability information related to the second VFL is used to indicate capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support, and the capability information that the communication device requested to be searched needs to support includes at least one of the following: Indication that VFL capability needs to be supported; VFL capability information; Information indicating the VFL types that need to be supported; Indicates the information of the VFL object that needs to be supported; Indicates the filtering information of the VFL tasks that need to be supported; Indicates the ID information of the VFL task that needs to be supported; Information indicating the sample ID type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source type of the VFL that needs to be supported; Information indicating the data source of the VFL that needs to be supported; First information for identifying the device.

54. The apparatus according to claim 52 or 53, wherein In the case where the apparatus is an untrusted communication device, the second sending module is configured to: Sending a first request message to a fourth communication device, where the fourth communication device is configured to send the first request message to the first communication device; The second receiving module is used for: A first response message sent by the fourth communication device is received, where the first response message is sent by the first communication device to the fourth communication device.

55. An information transmission device comprising: a first transmission module, configured to receive a first request message sent by a second communication device, and send the first request message to the first communication device, wherein the first request message is used to request at least one of the following: registering or updating capability information related to a first VFL of the second communication device, and searching for a communication device that matches the capability information related to the second VFL; The second transmission module is configured to receive a first response message sent by the first communication device and send the first response message to the second communication device, where the first response message is used to respond to the first request message.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein: The capability information related to the first VFL is used to indicate capability information supported by the second communication device, where the capability information supported by the second communication device includes at least one of the following: Indication information of supporting VFL capability; VFL capability information; Information indicating supported VFL types; Indicates information about supported VFL objects; Indicates the filtering information of supported VFL tasks; Indicates the identification ID information of the supported VFL tasks; Information indicating the sample ID types of supported VFLs; Information indicating the data source types supported by VFL; Information indicating the data source of the supported VFL.

57. A communication device comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a program or instruction that can be run on the processor, and when the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the steps of the information transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 48 are implemented.

58. A readable storage medium storing a program or instruction, wherein the program or instruction, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the information transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 48.

59. A computer program product, wherein the computer program product is stored in a storage medium, and wherein the program product is executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the information transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 48.

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