Ai / ML functionality information interaction method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide an AI / ML functionality information interaction method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first network device sends first configuration information to a terminal device, wherein the first configuration information instructs the terminal device to send, to the first network device, AI / ML location function information supported by the terminal device; and the first network device receives first information sent by the terminal device, wherein the first information indicates the AI / ML location function information supported by the terminal device.

Description

Method and apparatus for interaction of AI / ML function information TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the commercialization of 5G (5th Generation Mobile Communication Technology) and the large-scale development of the industrial Internet industry, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the field of wireless communication has sprung up, among which the AI / ML model management based on machine learning (ML), especially deep learning (DL) or reinforcement learning technology is particularly important in various wireless AI applications.

[0003] In the current 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standardization discussion, the concept of functionality is introduced to manage the AI / ML model deployed in the terminal or network device and the AI / ML life cycle. Due to the particularity of wireless communication, even if the AI / ML model is only deployed on the terminal side, the terminal side and the network side need to jointly manage the function. Therefore, it is necessary for the terminal side to report all the functions that can be supported on the terminal side to the network side, so that the network side has the basic information of the terminal side function / model, and can further select the function, judge the availability, and activate the use.

[0004] It should be noted that the above introduction to the technical background is only to facilitate the clear and complete description of the technical solutions of the present application, and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art. The above technical solutions cannot be considered as known to those skilled in the art merely because they are described in the background section of the present application.

[0005] SUMMARY

[0006] The inventors found that the above method is applicable to all AI / ML functions in wireless communication, and in the existing 3GPP standardization discussion, other use cases (such as channel state information feedback, beam management, etc.) can realize the interaction of the above terminal side AI / ML function information (support / capability information) through the RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling (such as UE Capability) between gNB and UE, and gNB and UE will maintain connection at any time and can exchange UE capabilities such as AI / ML function information more dynamically.

[0007] However, for the use case of AI / ML wireless positioning, the AI / ML positioning function at the terminal side is managed by the LMF (Location Management Function), and the connection between the LMF and the terminal (UE) needs to be triggered by the high-layer location service request issued by the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), and is disconnected after the location service is completed, so it cannot be analogized to the AI / ML support function information interaction through the UE capability (UE Capability) and other RRC signaling in other use cases. Secondly, in the current 3GPP standard, for the legacy non-AI / ML positioning method, there are some signaling and processes for the interaction of different levels and different granularity of capability information between the LMF and the UE, and the interaction of other auxiliary information, how to integrate the AI / ML support function interaction with the signaling process of the existing legacy positioning method is also one of the problems to be solved by the present application.

[0008] To solve at least one of the above problems or other similar problems, the embodiments of the present application provide an AI / ML function information interaction method and device.

[0009] According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an AI / ML function information interaction device is provided, configured in a first network device, the device comprising:

[0010] a sending unit configured to send first configuration information to a terminal device, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device;

[0011] a receiving unit configured to receive first information sent by the terminal device, the first information indicating AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0012] According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an AI / ML function information interaction device is provided, configured in a terminal device, the device comprising:

[0013] a receiving unit configured to receive first configuration information sent by a first network device, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device;

[0014] a sending unit configured to send first information to the first network device, the first information indicating AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0015] According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an AI / ML function information interaction device configured in a second network device is provided, the device comprises:

[0016] a sending unit configured to send a location service request to a first network device; the first network device sends first configuration information to a terminal device after receiving the location service request, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device; the terminal device sends first information to the first network device after receiving the first configuration information, the first information indicating the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0017] One of the beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application is that according to the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device and the first network device (for example, LMF) interact AI / ML positioning function information, and the first network device can obtain the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device and the change of the AI / ML positioning function.

[0018] Specific embodiments of the application are disclosed herein, and yet other embodiments will be apparent and / or readily inferred to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein. It is contemplated that the embodiments of the application as described and / or shown herein can be used in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, the applications described and / or shown herein. It is further contemplated that the embodiments of the application as described and / or shown herein can be used in any combination of applications, including, but not limited to, the applications described and / or shown herein.

[0019] Features described and / or illustrated with respect to one implementation can be used in one or more other implementations in the same or similar manner, in combination with or in place of features in the other implementations.

[0020] It is emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Elements and features depicted in one drawing or implementation of the embodiments of the present application can be combined with elements and features depicted in one or more other drawings or implementations. Also, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and can be used to designate corresponding parts in more than one implementation.

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the application and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the application and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the application. It is apparent that the accompanying drawings are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can be obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative labor based on these drawings. In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction method of an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 5 is yet another schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 6 is still another schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 7 is yet another schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of information interaction between a first network device and a second network device according to the above-mentioned embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 9 is another schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction method of an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG. 10 is yet another schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction method of an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction device of an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG. 12 is another schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction device of an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG. 13 is yet another schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction device of an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of the system structure of a network device of an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Fig. 15 is a schematic block diagram of a system configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The foregoing and other features of the present application will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description of specific embodiments of the application, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the description of embodiments of the application, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the application is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. A detailed description of specific embodiments of the application is provided herein.

[0039] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", and the like are used to distinguish different elements from one another, but do not indicate spatial arrangement or temporal order of the elements, and the elements should not be limited by these terms. The term "and / or" includes any one and all combinations of the associated listed terms. The terms "comprise", "include", "have", and the like, mean the presence of stated features, elements, components, or assemblies, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, or assemblies.

[0040] In the embodiments of the present application, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term "said" should be interpreted to mean "one or more" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, the term "according to" should be interpreted as "based, at least in part on", and the term "based on" should be interpreted as "based, at least in part on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0041] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "communication network" or "wireless communication network" can refer to a network that complies with any communication standard, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), and the like.

[0042] Communication between devices in a communication system can be in accordance with any phase of a communication protocol, such as can include, but is not limited to, the following communication protocols: 1G (generation), 2G, 2.5G, 2.75G, 3G, 4G, 4.5G, and future 5G, New Radio (NR), and the like, and / or other communication protocols that are currently known or will be developed in the future.

[0043] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "network device" refers to, for example, a device that accesses a terminal device to a communication network and provides services for the terminal device in a communication system. The network device can include, but is not limited to, the following devices: base station (BS), core network (CN), operation administration and maintenance device (OAM), OTT (Over The Top) server device, access point (AP), transmission reception point (TRP), broadcast transmitter, mobile management entity (MME), gateway, server, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), and the like.

[0044] The base station can include, but is not limited to, the following devices: node B (NodeB or NB), evolved node B (eNodeB or eNB), and 5G base station (gNB), IAB donor, and the like, and can further include a remote radio head (RRH), a remote radio unit (RRU), a relay, or a low-power node (such as a femto, a pico, and the like). In addition, the term "base station" can include some or all functions thereof, and each base station can provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area. The term "cell" can refer to a base station and / or its coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0045] The core network can include, but is not limited to, the following devices: MSC (Mobile Service Center), SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node), GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node), MME (Mobile Management Entity), SGW (Serving Gateway), PGW (PDN Gateway), 5GC (5G Core Network). In addition, the term "core network" can include some or all functions thereof.

[0046] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "user equipment" (UE) refers to a device that accesses a communication network through a network device and receives network services, which can also be referred to as "terminal equipment" (TE). The terminal equipment can be fixed or mobile, and can also be referred to as a mobile station (MS), a terminal, a user, a subscriber station (SS), an access terminal (AT), a station, and the like.

[0047] The terminal equipment can include, but is not limited to, the following devices: a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a machine type communication device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a smart phone, a smart watch, a digital camera, and the like.

[0048] For another example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario or the like, the terminal equipment can also be a machine or device that performs monitoring or measurement, which can include, but is not limited to, the following devices: a machine type communication (MTC) terminal, a vehicle-mounted communication terminal, a device-to-device (D2D) terminal, a machine-to-machine (M2M) terminal, and the like.

[0049] The following describes the scenarios of the embodiments of the present application by way of examples, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0050] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application, which schematically illustrates a case taking a terminal equipment and a network equipment as examples. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 can include a network equipment 101, terminal equipments 102 and 103. For simplicity, FIG. 1 only takes two terminal equipments and one network equipment as examples for illustration, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0051] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device 101 and the terminal devices 102 and 103 can perform existing services or future implementable service transmission. For example, the services can include, but are not limited to, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC), and ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC), etc.

[0052] It is worth noting that FIG. 1 shows that the terminal devices 102 and 103 are in the coverage of the network device 101, but the present application is not limited thereto. The terminal devices 102 and 103 can not be in the coverage of the network device 101.

[0053] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device 101 can be, for example, a gNB, or an entity of a core network (such as a location management function (LMF) or an access and mobility management function (AMF)), or an entity of a high-level network (such as an operation administration and maintenance (OAM), or an over the top server (OTT-server), or can also be a part of the function or entity of any of the above devices.

[0054] The present application is applicable to the application scenarios of deploying AI / ML functions / models on the terminal side, including but not limited to wireless positioning terminal-side direct-type model (Case 1) and terminal-side auxiliary-type model (Case 2a). The embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the wireless positioning terminal-side direct-type AI / ML function / model (Case 1) and the terminal-side auxiliary-type AI / ML function / model (Case 2a) as examples.

[0055] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the meanings of “when”, “if” and “in the case of” are the same and can be interchangeable.

[0056] Embodiments of the first aspect

[0057] The embodiment of the present application provides an AI / ML function information interaction method, taking an AI / ML positioning function as an example, and the method is described from the side of a first network device. The first network device may, for example, be an LMF serving as a network-side positioning function management network element, and the AI / ML function information is interacted with a terminal device. In addition, the first network device may also interact with a second network device, and the second network device may, for example, be an AMF serving as a network-side management network element. The present application is not limited thereto, and the first network device and the second network device may also be other network elements, depending on the implementation scenario.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the AI / ML function information interaction method according to the embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 2, the method comprises the following steps.

[0059] 210. The first network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device, and the first configuration information indicates that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device.

[0060] 220. The first network device receives first information sent by the terminal device, and the first information indicates AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0061] It is worth noting that the above FIG. 2 only schematically illustrates the embodiment of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the execution order between the operations can be appropriately adjusted, and in addition, some operations can be added or some operations can be reduced. Those skilled in the art can make appropriate modifications according to the above description, and the present application is not limited to the above FIG. 2.

[0062] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above embodiment, and shows the case that the LMF is the first network device and the UE is the terminal device.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 3, in 310, the LMF sends first configuration information to the UE, and the first configuration information indicates that the UE sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the UE to the LMF; in 320, after receiving the first configuration information, the UE may, according to the content of the first configuration information, send first information to the LMF, and the first information indicates AI / ML positioning function information supported by the UE.

[0064] In the above embodiments, the LMF and the UE can interact the above information through LPP signaling, for example, the LMF sends the above first configuration information to the UE through LPPCapabilityRequet signaling, and the UE sends the above first information to the LMF through LPPCapabilityProvide signaling. The present application is not limited thereto, and the LMF and the UE can also interact the above AI / ML positioning function information through other LPP signaling.

[0065] According to the above embodiments, the terminal device and the first network device interact the AI / ML positioning function information, and the first network device can obtain the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device and the change of the AI / ML positioning function.

[0066] In some embodiments, high-layer common signaling can be used to interact the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal.

[0067] For example, the above first configuration information and the above first information can be sent using high-layer common LPP signaling, which can be used for both existing positioning methods and the AI / ML positioning method of the present application, that is, the LPP signaling used to send the above first configuration information and the above first information can not be limited to a specific positioning method.

[0068] In some possible implementations, the signaling used to send the first configuration information is, for example, LPP signaling RequestCapabilities, and correspondingly, the signaling used to send the first information is, for example, LPP signaling ProvideCapabilities. The LPP signaling RequestCapabilities and the LPP signaling ProvideCapabilities can also be used for existing positioning methods.

[0069] In another possible implementation, the signaling used to send the first configuration information is, for example, LPP signaling ProvideCapabilities, and correspondingly, the signaling used to send the first information is, for example, LPP signaling CommonIEsProvideCapabilities. The LPP signaling ProvideCapabilities and the LPP signaling CommonIEsProvideCapabilities can also be used for existing positioning methods.

[0070] The above is only an example, and the present application does not limit the specific LPP signaling used to send the above first configuration information and the above first information.

[0071] In the above embodiments, the first configuration information can not explicitly specify the reporting content of the first information, i.e., the terminal device freely selects the reported content according to its own capability and / or predetermined strategy, such as AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device and / or sub-use cases under the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device, etc.

[0072] In the above embodiments, the first configuration information can also explicitly specify the reporting content of the first information, i.e., the first network device configures the content that needs to be reported by the terminal device, and the terminal device reports the corresponding content according to the configuration of the first network device.

[0073] In the above embodiments, since the information of the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device can be multi-level and multi-granularity, the first information can not contain all the content that the network side hopes to obtain, therefore, in some optional embodiments, the first network device can also send second configuration information to the terminal device, the second configuration information indicating the terminal device to report additional information of the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device, thereby the terminal device can send second information to the first network device, the second information including the additional information of the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device.

[0074] For example, after receiving the first information, the first network device can choose to send at least second configuration information to continue instructing the terminal device to report additional information of the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device, and after receiving the second configuration information, the terminal device sends the second information to the first network device to further report the related information of the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device.

[0075] In the above example, the additional information is, for example, the AI / ML positioning function preferred by the network device, and the terminal device can selectively report the information related to the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device according to the additional information. The application is not limited thereto.

[0076] In the above example, the second configuration information can use the same signaling as the first configuration information, or use different signaling from the first configuration information; similarly, the signaling used by the second information can be the same as the signaling used by the first information, or different.

[0077] In the above embodiments, after obtaining the information related to the AI / ML positioning support functions on the terminal side, the first network device can also perform at least one of the following processing:

[0078] reporting the collected information to a second network device (such as AMF);

[0079] initiating a function availability information interaction process;

[0080] sending other configuration information to the terminal device.

[0081] By reporting the collected information to the AMF, the AMF can learn the capabilities of the terminal. By initiating the function availability information interaction process, the subsequent implementation of the AI / ML positioning function process is facilitated; by sending other configuration information to the terminal device, the subsequent implementation of the AI / ML positioning function process is facilitated, such as AI / ML positioning function availability judgment and / or activation, etc.

[0082] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiments, showing the case where the LMF is taken as the first network device and the UE is taken as the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 4, the method comprises:

[0083] 410: The LMF sends first configuration information to the UE, configuring and requesting the UE to report supported AI / ML positioning function information;

[0084] 420: The UE sends first information to the LMF, reporting its supported AI / ML positioning function information;

[0085] 430: The LMF sends second configuration information to the UE, requesting the UE to report additional information of the supported AI / ML positioning function;

[0086] 440: The UE sends second information to the LMF, reporting additional information of the supported AI / ML positioning function.

[0087] In the above-mentioned embodiments, after obtaining the AI / ML positioning function related information supported by the UE side, the LMF can report the collected information to the AMF, can initiate the function availability information interaction process, and can also send other configuration information to the UE.

[0088] The meaning of the above-mentioned additional information is the same as the foregoing, which will not be repeated here.

[0089] According to the above-mentioned embodiments, a general LPP signaling is used for AI / ML positioning function information interaction, which can not only be used for AI / ML positioning function information interaction, but also be used for information interaction in other existing positioning methods, has little impact on the standard, and solves the problem that the LMF cannot obtain the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the UE side in the AI / ML positioning method.

[0090] In other embodiments, the signaling used by the existing positioning method can be enhanced to realize the interaction of the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal side.

[0091] In the above embodiments, since many AI / ML positioning methods are designed based on the underlying logic of the legacy positioning methods, the first configuration information can also be implemented by enhancing the signaling used by the LPP legacy positioning method. For example, the first configuration information can be the capability request information used by the LPP legacy positioning method, or an enhancement to the capability request information used by the LPP legacy positioning method, or the first configuration information is contained in the capability request information used by the LPP legacy positioning method.

[0092] In some possible implementation manners, the LPP legacy positioning method is, for example, a TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) method, and the capability request information is a TDOA-Request-Capability used by the TDOA method. The present application is not limited thereto, and the LPP legacy positioning method can also be other positioning methods, and accordingly, the capability request information is signaling used by the other positioning methods.

[0093] In the above embodiments, the first network device can explicitly or implicitly configure the terminal device to report the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device through the first configuration information.

[0094] In some possible implementation manners, the first configuration information specifies the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device, that is, the first network device explicitly configures the terminal device to report the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device through the first configuration information.

[0095] Still taking the TDOA method as an example, the first configuration information is TDOA related and / or function request signaling (such as TDOA-Request-Capability), and the first configuration information can specify the implementation manner for the TDOA method through different domains contained in the signaling.

[0096] Taking the signaling TDOA-Request-Capability as an example, for example, the above TDOA-Request-Capability includes the following optional domains to interact the functions of the UE-based AI / ML method, the UE-assisted AI / ML method, the UE-based non-AI / ML method, the UE-assisted non-AI / ML method, and the like:

[0097] {AI / ML-UE-based{supported}

[0098] AI / ML-UE-assisted{supported}

[0099] Non-AI / ML-UE-based{supported}

[0100] Non-AI / ML-UE-assisted{supported}

[0101] Others

[0102] …}

[0103] The optional field can specify supported UE-based AI / ML positioning functions, supported UE-assisted AI / ML positioning functions, supported UE-based non-AI / ML positioning functions, supported UE-assisted AI / ML positioning functions, and the like. In addition, the name of the optional field is only illustrative, and other names can be used in actual implementation as long as they can be used to interact with the above functions and / or capabilities.

[0104] In some possible implementation manners, the first configuration information does not specify the requested AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device, and the terminal device autonomously decides the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device according to its own conditions and / or predetermined strategies.

[0105] According to the above embodiments, the AI / ML positioning method of the present application is supported by enhancing the signaling used by the existing positioning method, which saves signaling, is simple to implement, has small changes compared to the existing standard, and can achieve the effect of obtaining the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal side by the network side.

[0106] In some embodiments, the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal side can be interacted using a dedicated signaling independent of the existing positioning method.

[0107] In the above embodiments, due to the particularity of the AI / ML positioning method, for example, only AI / ML has the need for function management, therefore, the signaling for AI / ML positioning function information interaction can be used as a parallel and independent framework from the signaling for other traditional positioning methods.

[0108] In the above embodiments, the first configuration information and the first information are respectively sent through AI / ML dedicated signaling.

[0109] Still taking FIG. 4 as an example, the LMF can send the first configuration information through AI / ML dedicated signaling, and correspondingly, the UE receives the first configuration information through AI / ML dedicated signaling, and sends the first information to the LMF through AI / ML dedicated signaling.

[0110] The implementation of the AI / ML dedicated signaling is not limited in the present application.

[0111] According to the above embodiment, the interaction of the terminal-side supported AI / ML positioning function information is performed using dedicated signaling, which does not affect the traditional positioning method, is simple to implement, and can achieve the effect of the network side obtaining the terminal-side supported AI / ML positioning function.

[0112] In some embodiments, the first network device can interact with the terminal device for the terminal-side supported AI / ML positioning function information after receiving the location service request sent by the second network device. For example, when the LMF receives the location service request sent by the upper layer (such as the AMF), the first configuration information is sent to the UE, and the AI / ML positioning support function information interaction for the location service request is initiated to the UE. In this way, the network side can master the terminal-side supported AI / ML positioning function.

[0113] The present application is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, the terminal device can report the change to the first network device when the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes, and then the first network device interacts with the terminal device for the terminal-side supported AI / ML positioning function information as needed.

[0114] In the above embodiment, since the AI / ML positioning function is deployed on the terminal side, when the terminal device monitors that the AI / ML positioning function changes this time, the network side cannot obtain this information. According to the above embodiment, the terminal device reports the change to the first network device when the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes, which solves this problem.

[0115] In some possible implementations, the network side can configure the terminal device to report the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device.

[0116] For example, the first network device or the second network device sends third configuration information to the terminal device, and the third configuration information indicates that the terminal device reports the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device.

[0117] In the above embodiment, when or after the terminal device receives the above-mentioned third configuration information, the terminal device can perform corresponding processing as needed.

[0118] For example, if the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device does not change, the terminal device does not respond, and if the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes, the terminal device explicitly or implicitly notifies the network side.

[0119] For another example, the terminal device can send second information to the first network device, the second information indicating whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes. The present application does not limit the implementation of the second information, and in a possible implementation, the second information can indicate whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes through a 1-bit value, for example, when the change occurs, the 1-bit value is 1, and when there is no change, the 1-bit value is 0, and the like. In addition, the present application does not limit the sending manner of the second information or the signaling used.

[0120] For another example, the terminal device can indicate whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes to the first network device through other manners. For example, whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes can be indicated by adding confidence information in the location information reporting content.

[0121] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above-mentioned embodiments, showing the case where the LMF is taken as the first network device and the UE is taken as the terminal device. In the example of FIG. 5, the information requesting the terminal device to report whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes can also be initiated by a higher layer (for example, the second network device (AMF)), so in the example of FIG. 5, the network elements LMF and AMF on the network side are shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the method comprises:

[0122] 510: The LMF / AMF periodically sends third configuration information to the UE, indicating that the UE reports the change of the AI / ML positioning function on the side;

[0123] 520: The UE sends second information to the LMF / AMF on demand to indicate whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the UE changes;

[0124] 530: The LMF receives the second information and sends the first configuration information to the UE on demand to initiate the AI / ML positioning function information interaction process supported by the terminal side.

[0125] In the above-mentioned embodiments, in operation 530, the AI / ML positioning function information interaction process supported is described in detail in the previous embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0126] According to the above-mentioned embodiments, the network side configures the terminal device to report the change when the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes, and then interacts with the terminal device on demand to support the AI / ML positioning function on the terminal side, which helps the network side to master the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal side.

[0127] In some possible implementation, the terminal device can report the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device to the network side in a case where the predetermined event is met.

[0128] For example, the first network device and the terminal device align the predetermined event, and the terminal device sends second information to the first network device in a case where a trigger condition of the predetermined event is met, and the second information indicates whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device associated with the predetermined event changes.

[0129] In the above embodiment, the predetermined event is, for example, a specific AI / ML positioning function and / or a sub-use case under the supported AI / ML positioning function, and the like.

[0130] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above embodiment, and shows a case where the LMF is taken as the first network device and the UE is taken as the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes:

[0131] 610: The LMF and the UE align the predetermined event;

[0132] 620: The UE monitors the predetermined event and sends second information to the LMF;

[0133] 630: The LMF receives the second information and sends first configuration information to the UE as needed to initiate the AI / ML positioning function information interaction process supported by the terminal side.

[0134] In operation 610, the LMF can send configuration signaling to the UE to inform the UE of the AI / ML positioning function and / or the sub-use case under the AI / ML positioning function, and the like, which the UE is interested in, and the specific configuration signaling is not limited in the present application. In operation 620, the UE sends the above-mentioned second information to the LMF when the trigger condition of the above-mentioned predetermined event is met. In operation 630, the AI / ML positioning function information interaction process is described in detail in the above embodiments of FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, and will not be described here.

[0135] According to the above embodiment, the terminal device monitors the predetermined event aligned with the first network device, and sends second information to the first network device in a case where a trigger condition of the predetermined event is met, and reports whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device associated with the predetermined event changes. Therefore, the network side can master the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal side.

[0136] In yet some possible implementation, the terminal device can actively report the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device to the network side.

[0137] For example, the terminal device actively sends second information to the first network device when detecting that the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes, and the first network device confirms the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal side when receiving the second information.

[0138] In the above embodiments, the second information can indicate at least one of the following:

[0139] The AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes;

[0140] The AI / ML positioning function currently supported by the terminal device;

[0141] The terminal device requests the first network device to reconfigure the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device.

[0142] The above is only an example, and the application is not limited thereto. The second information can also indicate other content to report relevant content to the first network device or request the first network device to perform corresponding processing, etc. In addition, the application does not limit the sending manner of the second information or the signaling used.

[0143] In the above embodiments, optionally, after receiving the above second information, the first network device can also send response information to the terminal device, and the response information can indicate at least one of the following:

[0144] Indicating the terminal device to report the AI / ML positioning function currently supported by the terminal device;

[0145] Indicating the terminal device to switch to other AI / ML positioning functions that have been judged to be available.

[0146] Indicating the terminal device to fall back to a non-AI / ML positioning method.

[0147] The above is only an example, and the application is not limited thereto. The response information can also indicate other content to indicate the terminal device to report relevant content or indicate the terminal device to perform corresponding processing, etc. In addition, the application does not limit the sending manner of the response information or the signaling used.

[0148] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of AI / ML positioning function information interaction between a first network device and a terminal device according to the above embodiments, showing the case where the LMF is used as the first network device and the UE is used as the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 7, the method comprises:

[0149] 710: The UE sends second information to the LMF when detecting that the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device changes;

[0150] 720: The LMF receives the second information and sends response information to the UE;

[0151] 730: The LMF sends first configuration information to the UE on demand to initiate the AI / ML positioning function information interaction process supported by the terminal side.

[0152] In operation 710, the UE can send the second information to the LMF through LPP Assistance Data signaling, but the present application is not limited thereto, and the UE can also send the above-mentioned second information to the LMF through other signaling. In operation 720, the LMF can feed back through LPP Assistance Data signaling, but the present application is not limited thereto, and the LMF can also feed back to the UE through other signaling, and operation 720 is optional, and in some possible implementation manners, the LMF can also not feed back. In operation 730, the supported AI / ML positioning function information interaction process is described in detail in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 4, and will not be described here.

[0153] According to the above-mentioned embodiments, the terminal device actively reports the change when the AI / ML positioning supported by the terminal device changes. Thus, the network side can master the change of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal side.

[0154] In the embodiments of the present application, the first network device itself supports the AI / ML positioning function. The second network device can also confirm whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function when selecting the first network device.

[0155] For example, the second network device sends fourth configuration information to the first network device, and the fourth configuration information requests the first network device to confirm whether it supports the AI / ML positioning function; the first network device sends third information to the second network device according to the fourth configuration information, and the third information indicates whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function.

[0156] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the first network device is, for example, the LMF, and the second network device is, for example, the AMF, but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the second network device can also be other network elements at a higher layer.

[0157] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of information interaction between the first network device and the second network device according to the above-mentioned embodiments, showing the case that the LMF is taken as the first network device and the AMF is taken as the second network device. As shown in FIG. 8, the method comprises:

[0158] 810: The AMF starts LMF selection;

[0159] 820: The AMF sends fourth configuration information to the LMF, requesting the LMF to report whether it supports the AI / ML positioning function;

[0160] 830: The LMF sends third information to the AMF, reporting whether it supports the AI / ML positioning function;

[0161] 840: The AMF completes the LMF selection.

[0162] In the above embodiment, the AMF initiates the LMF selection process, sends the fourth configuration information described above to the LMF, and the LMF receiving the fourth configuration information sends third information to the AMF according to the content of the fourth configuration information, to feedback the support situation of the AI / ML positioning function. Thus, the AMF completes the LMF selection process.

[0163] According to the above embodiment, the AMF can confirm the situation that the LMF supports the AI / ML positioning function, so as to select a suitable LMF.

[0164] The above various embodiments only exemplarily illustrate the embodiments of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified on the basis of the above various embodiments. For example, the above various embodiments can be used alone, or one or more of the above various embodiments can be combined.

[0165] According to the embodiments of the present application, the interaction of the supported AI / ML positioning function information or the interaction of other AI / ML function information can be realized.

[0166] Embodiments of the second aspect

[0167] The embodiments of the present application provide an AI / ML function information interaction method, which is described from the side of a terminal device, and the same content as the embodiments of the first aspect will not be repeatedly described.

[0168] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, the method includes:

[0169] 910: The terminal device receives first configuration information sent by a first network device, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device;

[0170] 920: The terminal device sends first information to the first network device, the first information indicating the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0171] It is worth noting that the above FIG. 9 only exemplarily illustrates the embodiments of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the execution order between the various operations can be appropriately adjusted, and in addition, some operations can be added or some operations can be reduced. Those skilled in the art can appropriately modify the above content, and the present application is not limited to the description of the above FIG. 9.

[0172] According to the above embodiment, the terminal device and the first network device interact AI / ML positioning function information, and the first network device can obtain AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device and changes of the AI / ML positioning functions.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first configuration information and the first information are sent through general signaling. The general signaling can not only be used in the embodiments of the present application to complete the interaction of the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal side, but also be used in the traditional positioning method to perform information interaction in the traditional positioning method.

[0174] In the above embodiment, the first configuration information can specify the reporting content of the first information, and the terminal device reports accordingly according to the configuration of the first configuration information; or the first configuration information can also not specify the reporting content of the first information, and the terminal device reports accordingly according to its own situation / predetermined strategy.

[0175] In the above embodiment, the terminal device can also receive second configuration information sent by the first network device, the second configuration information indicating the terminal device to report additional information of the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device; and the terminal device sends second information to the first network device, the second information including the additional information of the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device.

[0176] In the above embodiment, the signaling used to send the second configuration information and the signaling used to send the first configuration information can be the same or different; similarly, the signaling used to send the second information and the signaling used to send the first information can be the same or different.

[0177] In some embodiments, after obtaining the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal side, the first network device can also perform at least one of the following processing:

[0178] reporting the collected information to a second network device;

[0179] initiating a function availability information interaction process;

[0180] sending other configuration information to the terminal device.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first configuration information and the first information are sent through signaling used in the traditional positioning method. For example, the signaling used in the traditional positioning method can be enhanced to support the sending of the above first configuration information and the above first information.

[0182] In the above embodiments, the first configuration information can be capability request information used by a traditional positioning method, or an enhancement to the capability request information, or the first configuration information is included in the capability request information used by the traditional positioning method.

[0183] In the above embodiments, the capability request information can specify the requested AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device, so that the terminal device can report accordingly according to the capability request information; or the capability request information can also not specify the requested AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device, and the terminal device autonomously decides the AI / ML positioning function it supports to report.

[0184] In some embodiments, the first configuration information and the first information are sent through AI / ML dedicated signaling.

[0185] In the above embodiments, the first network device and the terminal device use signaling independent of or parallel to that used by the traditional positioning method to send the first configuration information and the first information, which is more flexible.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device after receiving a location service request from a second network device. That is, the first network device initiates the interaction of AI / ML positioning function information for the location service request when it receives a location server request from a higher layer.

[0187] In other embodiments, the terminal device initiates the interaction of AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal side when it detects a change in the AI / ML positioning function it supports.

[0188] In some possible implementations, the first network device configures the terminal device to report changes in the AI / ML positioning function it supports.

[0189] For example, the terminal device receives third configuration information sent by the first network device, which indicates that the terminal device reports changes in the AI / ML positioning function it supports.

[0190] In the above example, optionally, the terminal device can also send second information to the first network device, which indicates whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device has changed.

[0191] In the above example, when the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal side does not change, the terminal device can not respond, and when the AI / ML positioning function it supports changes, it explicitly or implicitly notifies the first network device.

[0192] In the above examples, the terminal device can also notify the first network device of the change in the AI / ML positioning function it supports in other manners, and the application does not limit the specific notification manner.

[0193] In some possible implementation manners, the terminal device can report the change in the AI / ML positioning function it supports according to whether a predetermined event is met.

[0194] For example, the terminal device and the first network device align the predetermined event; and the terminal device reports second information to the first network device when a trigger condition of the predetermined event is met, the second information indicating that the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device associated with the predetermined event has changed.

[0195] Regarding the implementation manner of the second information, the foregoing is the same, and details are not repeated here.

[0196] In some possible implementation manners, the terminal device actively reports the change in the AI / ML positioning function it supports to the network side.

[0197] For example, the terminal device sends second information to the first network device when it detects that the AI / ML positioning function it supports has changed.

[0198] In the above examples, the second information can indicate at least one of the following:

[0199] The AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device has changed;

[0200] The AI / ML positioning function currently supported by the terminal device;

[0201] The terminal device requests the first network device to reconfigure the AI / ML positioning function it supports.

[0202] Regarding the implementation manner of the second information, the foregoing is the same, and details are not repeated here.

[0203] In the above examples, the first network device can also send response information to the terminal device, and thus the terminal device receives the response information sent by the first network device. The response information can indicate at least one of the following:

[0204] Indicating the terminal device to report the AI / ML positioning function it currently supports;

[0205] Indicating the terminal device to switch to other AI / ML positioning functions that have passed the availability judgment.

[0206] Indicating the terminal device to fall back to a non-AI / ML positioning method.

[0207] In some embodiments, the second network device can confirm whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function when selecting the first network device.

[0208] For example, the second network device can send fourth configuration information to the first network device, the fourth configuration information requesting the first network device to confirm whether it supports the AI / ML positioning function; the first network device sends third information to the second network device according to the fourth configuration information, the third information indicating whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function.

[0209] The above embodiments are only exemplary, and the present application is not limited thereto. The above embodiments can be appropriately modified on the basis of the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments can be used alone or in combination.

[0210] According to the embodiments of the present application, the interaction of the supported AI / ML positioning function information or other AI / ML function information can be realized.

[0211] Embodiments of the third aspect

[0212] The embodiments of the present application also provide an AI / ML function information interaction method, which is described from the side of the second network device. The same content as the embodiments of the first aspect and the second aspect will not be repeated.

[0213] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 10, the method comprises:

[0214] 1010: The second network device sends a location service request to the first network device; the first network device sends first configuration information to the terminal device after receiving the location service request, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device; the terminal device sends first information to the first network device after receiving the first configuration information, the first information indicating the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0215] In some embodiments, the second network device sends fourth configuration information to the first network device, the fourth configuration information requesting the first network device to confirm whether it supports the AI / ML positioning function; the second network device receives third information sent by the first network device, the third information indicating whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function.

[0216] In the embodiments of the present application, the behaviors of the first network device and the terminal device are described in detail in the embodiments of the first aspect and the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0217] According to the embodiments of the present application, the interaction of supported AI / ML positioning function information or the interaction of other AI / ML function information can be realized.

[0218] Embodiments of the fourth aspect

[0219] The embodiments of the present application provide an AI / ML function information interaction apparatus, which may, for example, be a network device, or some component or assembly configured in a network device. Since the apparatus solves the same problem as the method of the embodiments of the first aspect, the specific implementation can refer to the embodiments of the first aspect, and the same content will not be repeated.

[0220] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11, the apparatus 1100 includes:

[0221] The sending unit 1110 sends first configuration information to the terminal device, where the first configuration information indicates that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device.

[0222] The receiving unit 1120 receives the first information sent by the terminal device, where the first information indicates the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0223] In some embodiments, the first configuration information specifies the reporting content of the first information, and in some embodiments, the first configuration information does not specify the reporting content of the first information.

[0224] In some embodiments, the sending unit 1110 sends second configuration information to the terminal device, where the second configuration information indicates that the terminal device reports additional information of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device; and the receiving unit 1120 receives the second information sent by the terminal device, where the second information includes the additional information of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device.

[0225] In the above embodiments, the signaling for sending the second configuration information and the signaling for sending the first configuration information are the same or different; and the signaling for sending the second information and the signaling for sending the first information are the same or different.

[0226] In some embodiments, the sending unit 1110 further performs at least one of the following processes:

[0227] reporting the collected information to the second network device;

[0228] initiating a function availability information interaction process;

[0229] sending other configuration information to the terminal device.

[0230] In some embodiments, the first configuration information is capability request information, or is an enhancement of the capability request information, or is contained in the capability request information. The capability request information is signaling used by a traditional positioning method.

[0231] In the above embodiments, the capability request information can specify AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device that are requested, and the terminal device reports accordingly according to the indication of the capability request information.

[0232] In the above embodiments, the capability request information can also not specify AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device that are requested, and the terminal device autonomously decides AI / ML positioning functions supported by it to report.

[0233] In some embodiments, the first configuration information and the first information are respectively sent through AI / ML dedicated signaling.

[0234] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1120 further receives a location service request sent by a second network device; and the sending unit 1110 sends the above first configuration information to the terminal device after receiving the location service request.

[0235] In some embodiments, the sending unit 1110 sends third configuration information to the terminal device, the third configuration information indicating that the terminal device reports changes in AI / ML positioning functions supported by it.

[0236] In the above embodiments, the receiving unit 1120 can further receive second information sent by the terminal device, the second information indicating whether changes have occurred in AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device.

[0237] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the apparatus 1100 further includes a processing unit 1130.

[0238] In some embodiments, the processing unit 1130 and the terminal device align a predetermined event; and the receiving unit 1120 receives second information reported by the terminal device when a triggering condition of the predetermined event is met, the second information indicating that AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device associated with the predetermined event have changed.

[0239] In some embodiments, the processing unit 1130 receives second information sent by the terminal device when it detects that changes have occurred in AI / ML positioning functions supported by it.

[0240] In the above embodiments, the second information indicates at least one of the following:

[0241] Changes have occurred in AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device;

[0242] AI / ML positioning functions currently supported by the terminal device;

[0243] The terminal device requests the first network device to reconfigure the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device.

[0244] In the above embodiments, optionally, the sending unit 1110 can also send response information to the terminal device. The response information can indicate at least one of the following:

[0245] Indicating the terminal device to report the AI / ML positioning functions currently supported by the terminal device;

[0246] Indicating the terminal device to switch to other AI / ML positioning functions that have passed the availability judgment.

[0247] Indicating the terminal device to fall back to a non-AI / ML positioning method.

[0248] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1120 receives fourth configuration information sent by the second network device, the fourth configuration information requesting the first network device to confirm whether it supports the AI / ML positioning function; the sending unit 1110 sends third information to the second network device according to the fourth configuration information, the third information indicating whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function.

[0249] The embodiments of the application also provide an AI / ML function information interaction device. The device may, for example, be a terminal device, or some component or assembly configured in the terminal device. Since the device solves the same problem as the method of the embodiments of the second aspect, the specific implementation can refer to the embodiments of the second aspect, and the same content will not be described again.

[0250] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction device according to an embodiment of the application. As shown in FIG. 12, the device 1200 includes:

[0251] The receiving unit 1210 receives first configuration information sent by the first network device, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device;

[0252] The sending unit 1220 sends first information to the first network device, the first information indicating the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0253] In some embodiments, the first configuration information specifies the reporting content of the first information, and in some embodiments, the first configuration information does not specify the reporting content of the first information.

[0254] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1210 receives second configuration information sent by the first network device, the second configuration information indicating additional information of AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device; and the sending unit 1220 sends second information to the first network device, the second information including the additional information of AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device.

[0255] In the above embodiments, the signaling for sending the second configuration information and the signaling for sending the first configuration information are the same or different; and the signaling for sending the second information and the signaling for sending the first information are the same or different.

[0256] In some embodiments, the first network device further performs at least one of the following processes:

[0257] reporting the collected information to the second network device;

[0258] initiating a function availability information interaction process;

[0259] sending other configuration information to the terminal device.

[0260] In some embodiments, the first configuration information is capability request information, or is an enhancement of the capability request information, or the first configuration information is included in the capability request information. The capability request information is signaling used by a traditional positioning method.

[0261] In the above embodiments, the capability request information can specify AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device requested, and the terminal device reports the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device according to the indication of the capability request information; or the capability request information does not specify AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device requested, and the terminal device decides to report the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device autonomously.

[0262] In some embodiments, the first configuration information and the first information are sent through AI / ML dedicated signaling respectively.

[0263] In some embodiments, the first network device further receives a location service request sent by the second network device; and the first network device sends the first configuration information to the terminal device after receiving the location service request.

[0264] In some embodiments, the receiving unit 1210 receives third configuration information sent by the first network device, the third configuration information indicating changes of AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device.

[0265] In the above embodiments, optionally, the sending unit 1220 sends second information to the first network device, the second information indicating whether the AI / ML positioning functions supported by the terminal device have changed.

[0266] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus 1200 further includes: a processing unit 1230.

[0267] In some embodiments, the processing unit 1230 and the first network device align a predetermined event; the sending unit 1220 reports second information to the first network device when a trigger condition of the predetermined event is met, the second information indicating that an AI / ML positioning function supported by a terminal device associated with the predetermined event has changed.

[0268] In some embodiments, the sending unit 1220 sends second information to the first network device when the terminal device detects that an AI / ML positioning function it supports has changed. The second information indicates at least one of the following:

[0269] The AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device has changed;

[0270] The AI / ML positioning function currently supported by the terminal device;

[0271] The terminal device requests the first network device to reconfigure the AI / ML positioning function it supports.

[0272] In the above embodiments, the receiving unit 1210 can also receive response information sent by the first network device. The response information indicates at least one of the following:

[0273] Indicating the terminal device to report the AI / ML positioning function it currently supports;

[0274] Indicating the terminal device to switch to other AI / ML positioning functions that have passed the availability judgment.

[0275] Indicating the terminal device to fall back to a non-AI / ML positioning method.

[0276] In some embodiments, the first network device also receives fourth configuration information sent by the second network device, the fourth configuration information requesting the first network device to confirm whether it supports an AI / ML positioning function; the first network device sends third information to the second network device according to the fourth configuration information, the third information indicating whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function.

[0277] The embodiments of the present application provide an AI / ML function information interaction apparatus. The apparatus may, for example, be a network device, or some component or assembly configured in a network device. Since the apparatus solves the same problem as the method of the embodiments of the third aspect, the specific implementation can refer to the embodiments of the third aspect, and the same content will not be described again.

[0278] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an AI / ML function information interaction device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 13, the device 1300 includes:

[0279] a sending unit 1310 configured to send a location service request to a first network device; the first network device is configured to send first configuration information to the terminal device after receiving the location service request, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device; and the terminal device is configured to send first information to the first network device after receiving the first configuration information, the first information indicating the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0280] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, the device 1300 further includes a receiving unit 1320.

[0281] In some embodiments, the sending unit 1310 sends fourth configuration information to the first network device, the fourth configuration information requesting the first network device to confirm whether it supports the AI / ML positioning function; and the receiving unit 1320 receives third information sent by the first network device, the third information indicating whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function.

[0282] It is worth noting that the above FIGS. 11-13 only schematically illustrate the embodiments of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, other modules or components can be appropriately added or some of the modules or components can be appropriately reduced. Those skilled in the art can make appropriate modifications based on the above description, and the description is not limited to the above FIGS. 7.

[0283] In addition, for simplicity, only the connection relationship or signal path between the components or modules is exemplarily shown in FIGS. 11-13, but those skilled in the art should understand that various related technologies such as bus connection can be used. The above components or modules can be realized by hardware facilities such as processors, memories, transmitters, receivers, etc.; the present application is not limited thereto.

[0284] The above embodiments only exemplarily illustrate the embodiments of the present application, but the present application is not limited thereto, and appropriate modifications can be made on the basis of the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments can be used alone, or one or more of the above embodiments can be combined.

[0285] According to the embodiments of the present application, the AI / ML positioning function information interaction or other AI / ML function information interaction can be realized.

[0286] Embodiments of the fifth aspect

[0287] The embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which can refer to FIG. 1, and the same content as the embodiment of the first aspect to the third aspect will not be repeated.

[0288] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 can at least include the network device 101 and the terminal device 102 and 103, in some embodiments, the network device 101 performs the function of the first network device in the embodiment of the first aspect or the function of the second network device in the embodiment of the third aspect, and correspondingly, the terminal device 102 and 103 performs the function of the terminal device in the embodiment of the second aspect. Since the functions of the first network device, the second network device and the terminal device have been described in the embodiments of the first aspect to the third aspect, the content is incorporated herein, and will not be repeated here.

[0289] The embodiment of the present application further provides a network device.

[0290] FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a system structure of the network device according to the embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 14, the network device 1400 can include a processor 1410 and a memory 1420, and the memory 1420 is coupled to the processor 1410. The memory 1420 can store various data, and further store a program 1430 for information processing, and execute the program 1430 under the control of the processor 1410.

[0291] In one embodiment, the network device 1400 serves as the first network device in the embodiment of the first aspect, and contains the function of the apparatus 1100 in the embodiment of the fourth aspect, which can be integrated into the processor 1410 or configured separately from the processor 1410, for example, the apparatus 1100 can be configured as a chip connected with the processor 1410, and the function of the apparatus is realized through the control of the processor 1410.

[0292] In another embodiment, the network device 1400 serves as the second network device in the embodiment of the third aspect, and contains the function of the apparatus 1300 in the embodiment of the fourth aspect, which can be integrated into the processor 1410 or configured separately from the processor 1410, for example, the apparatus 1300 can be configured as a chip connected with the processor 1410, and the function of the apparatus is realized through the control of the processor 1410.

[0293] In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the network device 1400 can further include a transceiver 1440, an antenna 1450 and the like; wherein the functions of the above components are similar to those of the prior art, and will not be repeated here. It is worth noting that the network device 1400 does not necessarily include all the components shown in FIG. 14; in addition, the network device 1400 can also include components not shown in FIG. 14, which can refer to the prior art.

[0294] The embodiment of the present application further provides a terminal device.

[0295] Fig. 15 is a schematic block diagram of a system structure of the terminal device according to the embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 15, the terminal device 1500 can include a processor 1510 and a memory 1520; the memory 1520 is coupled to the processor 1510. It is worth noting that this figure is exemplary; other types of structures can also be used to supplement or replace this structure to achieve telecommunication functions or other functions.

[0296] In one embodiment, the terminal device 1500 as the terminal device in the embodiment of the second aspect contains the functions of the apparatus 1200 in the embodiment of the fourth aspect, which can be integrated into the processor 1510 or configured separately from the processor 1510, for example, the apparatus 1200 can be configured as a chip connected with the processor 1510 to realize the functions of the above apparatus through the control of the processor 1510.

[0297] As shown in Fig. 15, the terminal device 1500 can further include a communication module 1530, an input unit 1540, a display 1550, and a power supply 1560. It is worth noting that the terminal device 1500 does not necessarily include all the components shown in Fig. 15; in addition, the terminal device 1500 can also include components not shown in Fig. 15, which can be referred to related technologies.

[0298] As shown in Fig. 15, the processor 1510, also known as a controller or an operation control, can include a microprocessor or other processor device and / or a logic device, which receives input and controls the operation of each component of the terminal device 1500.

[0299] The memory 1520, for example, can be one or more of a buffer, a flash memory, a hard drive, a removable media, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, or other suitable device. Various data can be stored, and programs for performing related information can also be stored. The processor 1510 can execute the programs stored in the memory 1520 to achieve information storage or processing, etc. The functions of other components are similar to the existing ones, which will not be described here. The components of the terminal device 1500 can be realized by dedicated hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof without departing from the scope of the present application.

[0300] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable program, wherein when the program is executed in a network device, the program causes the computer to execute the method according to the embodiment of the first aspect or the third aspect in the network device.

[0301] The embodiments of the present application further provide a storage medium storing a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program causes a computer to execute the method in the network device according to the embodiments of the first aspect or the third aspect.

[0302] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable program, wherein the program causes a computer to execute the method in the terminal device according to the embodiments of the second aspect when the program is executed in the terminal device.

[0303] The embodiments of the present application further provide a storage medium storing a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program causes a computer to execute the method in the terminal device according to the embodiments of the second aspect.

[0304] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product comprising a computer program, wherein the computer program is executed by a processor to implement the method according to the embodiments of the first aspect or the second aspect or the third aspect.

[0305] The apparatus and method described above can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware in combination with software. The present application relates to a computer readable program which, when executed by a logic component, causes the logic component to implement the apparatus or component described above, or causes the logic component to implement the various methods or steps described above. The logic component is, for example, a field programmable logic component, a microprocessor, a processor used in a computer, etc. The present application also relates to a storage medium for storing the above program, such as a hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a DVD, a flash memory, etc.

[0306] The method / apparatus described in combination with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as hardware, a software module executed by a processor, or a combination of the two. For example, one or more of the functional block diagrams shown in the figures and / or a combination of one or more of the functional block diagrams can correspond to each software module of the computer program flow, or can correspond to each hardware module. The software modules can respectively correspond to each step shown in the figures. These hardware modules can be implemented by, for example, fixing the software modules using a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0307] The software modules can reside in a RAM (random access memory), flash memory, ROM (read-only memory), EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium known in the art. The storage medium can be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. The software modules can be stored in a memory of the mobile terminal, or in a memory card that can be inserted into the mobile terminal. For example, if the device (e.g., mobile terminal) employs a MEGA-SIM card or a flash memory device with a large capacity, the software modules can be stored in the MEGA-SIM card or the flash memory device.

[0308] One or more of the functional blocks described in the accompanying drawings and / or one or more combinations of the functional blocks can be implemented as a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any appropriate combination thereof for performing the functions described in this application. One or more of the functional blocks described in the accompanying drawings and / or one or more combinations of the functional blocks can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core or any other such configuration.

[0309] The application has been described in connection with certain embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize from the disclosure herein that changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present application. Accordingly, nothing in the present application should be construed as a limitation on the scope of the present application, but is intended to cover all possible modifications and equivalents.

[0310] In addition to the above embodiments disclosed in the present embodiment, the following notes are also disclosed:

[0311] 1. An AI / ML function information interaction method applied to a second network device, wherein the method comprises:

[0312] The second network device sends a location service request to a first network device; the first network device sends first configuration information to a terminal device after receiving the location service request, the first configuration information indicating that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device; and the terminal device sends first information to the first network device after receiving the first configuration information, the first information indicating the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0313] 2. The method of clause 1, further comprising:

[0314] sending, by the second network device, fourth configuration information to the first network device, the fourth configuration information requesting the first network device to confirm whether it supports AI / ML positioning functions;

[0315] receiving, by the second network device, third information sent by the first network device, the third information indicating whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning functions.

[0316] 3. A network device comprising a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, the processor configured to execute the computer program to implement a method comprising:

[0317] sending, to a terminal device, first configuration information indicating the terminal device to send AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device;

[0318] receiving first information sent by the terminal device, the first information indicating AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0319] 4. A terminal device comprising a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, the processor configured to execute the computer program to implement a method comprising:

[0320] receiving first configuration information sent by a first network device, the first configuration information indicating the terminal device to send AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device;

[0321] sending, to the first network device, first information indicating AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

[0322] 5. A network device comprising a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, the processor configured to execute the computer program to implement a method comprising:

[0323] sending, to a first network device, a location service request; the first network device sending, to a terminal device, first configuration information indicating the terminal device to send AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device, after receiving the location service request; the terminal device sending, to the first network device, first information indicating AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device, after receiving the first configuration information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interaction of AI / ML function information, configured in a first network device, wherein, The apparatus comprises: a sending unit configured to send first configuration information to a terminal device, the first configuration information indicating the terminal device to send AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device; a receiving unit configured to receive first information sent by the terminal device, the first information indicating the AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first configuration information specifies the reporting content of the first information, or the first configuration information does not specify the reporting content of the first information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send second configuration information to the terminal device, the second configuration information indicating the terminal device to report additional information of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device; the receiving unit is further configured to receive second information sent by the terminal device, the second information comprising the additional information of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the signaling for sending the second configuration information is the same as or different from the signaling for sending the first configuration information; the signaling for sending the second information is the same as or different from the signaling for sending the first information.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, The sending unit further performs at least one of the following processes: reporting the collected information to a second network device; initiating a function availability information interaction process; sending other configuration information to the terminal device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first configuration information is capability request information, or is an enhancement of the capability request information, or is contained in the capability request information.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the capability request information specifies the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device requested, and the terminal device performs corresponding reporting according to the capability request information; or the capability request information does not specify the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device requested, and the terminal device autonomously decides the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device to report.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first configuration information and the first information are respectively sent through AI / ML dedicated signaling.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive a location service request sent by a second network device; the sending unit is configured to send the first configuration information to the terminal device after the receiving unit receives the location service request.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send third configuration information to the terminal device, the third configuration information indicating the terminal device to report changes of the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive second information sent by the terminal device, the second information indicating whether the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device has changed. The apparatus further comprises a processing unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, ​ The processing unit and the terminal device align the predetermined event; The receiving unit further receives second information reported by the terminal device when a triggering condition of the predetermined event is met, and the second information indicates that an AI / ML positioning function associated with the predetermined event supported by the terminal device has changed.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The receiving unit further receives second information sent by the terminal device when it detects that the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device has changed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, The second information indicates at least one of: The AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device has changed; The AI / ML positioning function currently supported by the terminal device; The terminal device requests the first network device to reconfigure the AI / ML positioning function supported by the terminal device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, The sending unit further sends response information to the terminal device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein, The response information indicates at least one of: Indicating the terminal device to report the AI / ML positioning function currently supported by the terminal device; Indicating the terminal device to switch to other AI / ML positioning functions that have passed the availability judgment; Indicating the terminal device to fall back to a non-AI / ML positioning device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The receiving unit further receives fourth configuration information sent by a second network device, and the fourth configuration information requests the first network device to confirm whether it supports an AI / ML positioning function; The sending unit further sends third information to the second network device according to the fourth configuration information, and the third information indicates whether the first network device supports the AI / ML positioning function. 18.An apparatus for interaction of AI / ML function information, configured in a terminal device, wherein, The apparatus comprises: A receiving unit that receives first configuration information sent by a first network device, and the first configuration information indicates that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device; A sending unit that sends first information to the first network device, and the first information indicates AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device.

19. A communication system comprising a first network device and a terminal device, wherein, The first network device comprises a memory and a processor, the memory stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the following method: Send first configuration information to the terminal device, and the first configuration information indicates that the terminal device sends AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device to the first network device; and Receive first information sent by the terminal device, and the first information indicates AI / ML positioning function information supported by the terminal device; The terminal device comprises a memory and a processor, the memory stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to implement the following method: Receive the first configuration information sent by the first network device; Send the first information to the first network device.

20. The system according to clause 19, wherein, The system further comprises a second network device, the second network device comprising a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor being configured to execute the computer program to implement the following method: sending a location service request to the first network device; and the first network device sending the first configuration information to the terminal device after receiving the location service request.

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