Method, apparatus and computer program

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus comprising a method, apparatus, and computer program for causing the following to be performed: obtaining, from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration; determining a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection.

Description

METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments of this disclosure relate to a method, apparatus,and computer program and in particular but not exclusively to data collection.BACKGROUND

[0002] A communication network can be seen as a facility that enables communications between two or more communication devices, or provides communication devices access to a data network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network. A communication device may be provided with a service by an application server.

[0003] Such communication networks operate in according with standards such as those provided by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) or ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). Examples of standards are the so-called 5G (5th Generation) standards and 6G (6th Generation) standards provided by 3GPP. SUMMARY

[0004] Some example embodiments of this disclosure will be described with respect to certain aspects. These aspects are not intended to indicate key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor are they intended to be used to limit the scope of thereof. Other features, aspects, and elements will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art in view of this disclosure.

[0005] According to a first aspect, there is provided a first apparatus comprising means for: obtaining, from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration; determining a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection.

[0006] According to a second aspect, there is provided a first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the first apparatus to perform: obtaining, from asecond apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration; determining a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection.

[0007] According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for a first apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining, from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration; determining a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a first apparatus comprising: obtaining circuitry for obtaining, from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing circuitry for performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration; determining circuitry for determining a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing circuitry for providing an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection.

[0009] The following may apply in respect of any (e.g., one or more, including all) of the above first to fourth aspects.

[0010] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: obtaining, from the second apparatus, at least part of a first tracking configuration for tracking a status of the data collection, wherein the first tracking configuration configures the first apparatus with at least one of: a target data collection rate; a target reporting frequency of said indication of the first status; an indication of information that is be provided in the first status; an indication of information that to be provided in the first status; or an indication of whether the first apparatus is allowed to request changes to one or more parameters of the first data collection configuration.

[0011] The providing the indication of the first status may be performed in accordance with the target reporting frequency.

[0012] The first apparatus may be caused to perform, after providing the indication of the first status to the second apparatus: obtaining a second tracking configuration from the second apparatus; applying the second tracking configuration instead of the first tracking configuration; and providing an indication of a second status of the data collection to the second apparatus based on the second tracking configuration.

[0013] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: after providing the indication of the first status to the second apparatus: obtaining a second data collection configuration from the second apparatus, wherein the second data collection configuration is a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration; and applying the second data collection configuration instead of the first data collection configuration to further perform said data collection.

[0014] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: providing to the second apparatus a request for a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration, wherein the second data collection configuration is obtained based on the request for the reconfigured version.

[0015] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: providing, to the second apparatus, an indication indicating data collection, based on the first data collection configuration and / or the second data collection configuration, has ceased.

[0016] According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a second apparatus comprising means for: providing, to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; obtaining, from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection; and determining whether to reconfigure the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status.

[0017] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the second apparatus to perform: providing, to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; obtaining, from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection; and determining whether to reconfigure the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status.

[0018] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a method for a second apparatus, the method comprising: providing, to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; obtaining, from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection; and determining whether to reconfigure the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status.

[0019] According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a second apparatus comprising: providing circuitry for providing, to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; obtaining circuitry for obtaining, from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection; and determining circuitry for determining whether to reconfigure the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status.

[0020] The following may apply in respect of any (e.g., one or more, including all) of the above fifth to eighth aspects.

[0021] The second apparatus may be caused to perform: determining a first tracking configuration for tracking a status of the data collection, wherein the first tracking configuration is for configuring the first apparatus with at least one of: a target data collection rate; a target reporting frequency of said indication of the first status; an indication of information that is be provided in the first status; an indication of information that may be provided in the first status; or an indication of whether the first apparatus is allowed to request changes to one or more parameters of the first data collection configuration; and providing the first tracking configuration to the first apparatus.

[0022] The obtaining the indication of the first status may be performed in accordance with the target reporting frequency and / or the indication of the first status may indicate a status of the data collection with respect to the target data collection rate.

[0023] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: determining the first tracking configuration comprises by determining at least one of: a current radio network access signal quality, a current reference signal transmission configuration, or a purpose for the data collection.

[0024] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: reconfiguring the first tracking configuration based on the indication of the first status to form a second tracking configuration; and providing the second tracking configuration to the first apparatus.

[0025] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: reconfiguring the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status to form a second data collection configuration; and providing the second data collection configuration to the first apparatus.

[0026] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: obtaining, from the first apparatus, a request for a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration, wherein the first data collection configuration is reconfigured to form the second data collection configuration based on the request for the reconfigured version.

[0027] The first apparatus may be caused to perform: obtaining, from the first apparatus, an indication that data collection according to the first data collection configuration and / or the second data collection configuration has ceased.

[0028] The following may apply in respect of any (e.g., one or more, including all) of the above first to eighth aspects.

[0029] The indication of the first status may comprise a further indication of at least one of: a request to reconfigure a total duration of time allocated for the data collection; an amount of the data collection that has been completed; or any interruptions to the data collection.

[0030] The indication of the first status may comprise information that provides context for the further indication.

[0031] The indication of the first status may comprise at least the indication of any interruptions, and the context may comprise an indication of at least one of: one or more reasons for said interruption, a time at which the first apparatus will pause the data collection, a time at which the first apparatus will be available for performing data collection, or a time at which the first apparatus will not be available for performing data collection.

[0032] The indication of the first status may comprise at least the indication of the amount of the data collection that has been completed, and the context may comprise an indication of a reason why the amount of the data collection that has been completed is different to a target amount of the data collection that should have been completed when the status was obtained.

[0033] The data collection configuration may comprise an indication of a reference signal configuration on which measurements are to be performed.

[0034] The second apparatus may be comprised in a core network function, an operations and management function, and / or a network access node.

[0035] The core network function may comprise a location management function and / or an access and mobility function.

[0036] The first apparatus may comprise a user equipment and / or a network access node.

[0037] The data collection may be for performing at least one of: determining a position of the first apparatus, for beam management for the first apparatus, or channel state information prediction or channel state information compression.

[0038] The data collection may be for training an artificial intelligence and / or machine learning model, and / or for monitoring of an artificial intelligence and / or machine learning model.

[0039] According to an aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method according to any of the preceding aspects.

[0040] In the above, many different embodiments have been described. It should beappreciated that further embodiments may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the embodiments described above. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0041] Some example embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting and illustrative example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

[0042] Figures 1A and 1B shows a representation of a communication system;

[0043] Figure 2 shows a representation of an apparatus for the communication system of Figures 1A and 1B according to some example embodiments;

[0044] Figure 3 shows a representation of an apparatus according to some example embodiments;

[0045] Figure 4 illustrates example signalling; and

[0046] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate methods that may be performed by example apparatus.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In general, the following relates to an apparatus that determines a status of datacollection that is being performed in accordance with a data collection configuration.An indication of the determined status of data collection may be reported to anotherentity while the apparatus is performing data collection in accordance with the data configuration.

[0048] The another entity may use this indication of the determined status to determine whether the data collection configuration should be changed (e.g., whether the data collection configuration should be reconfigured). The determination of whether the data collection configuration should be reconfigured may be made based on a current progress rate of the data collection (which may be indicated by the data collection status).

[0049] Similarly, the another entity may use this indication of the determined status to determine whether a tracking configuration used to determine the data collectionstatus should be changed. The determination of whether the tracking configurationshould be reconfigured may be made based on a current progress rate of the data collection (which may be indicated by the data collection status).

[0050] Although these concepts will be illustrated more fully below, the following provides an example of a communication environment in which the presently described techniques may be deployed. It is understood that this communication environment is not limiting, and is merely being used to provide at least one example for describing where such techniques may be deployed.

[0051] Stated differently, in the following various example embodiments are explained with reference to communication devices capable of communication with a communication system. Before explaining in detail the embodiments of the methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure, a 5thgeneration communication system (5GS), an access network and a core network (5GC) thereof, and communication devices are briefly explained with reference to Figures 1A, 1B, 2 and 3.

[0052] Figure 1A shows a schematic representation of a 5G communication system (5GS). The 5GS may comprise a terminal (e.g., a user equipment (UE)), an access network such as a 5G radio access network (5G-RAN) or next generation radio access network (NG-RAN), a 5G core network (5GC), and one or more application functions. An application function may be deployed in the 5GS as trusted application function or may be deployed or host on one or more application servers of the data network. Suchapplication functions are untrusted application functions. The 5GS connects the terminal to a data network the access network and the 5GC (e.g., a UPF of the 5GC).

[0053] The 5G-RAN may comprise one or more radio access nodes, such as gNodeB (gNB). A gNB may include one or more gNodeB distributed units connected to one or more gNodeB centralized units. The 5G-RAN may be as illustrated below in Figure 1B.

[0054] The 5GC may comprise the following network functions: Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF); Network Exposure Function; Network Repository Function(NRF); Policy Control Function (PCF); a location management function (LMF); aNetwork Data Analytics Function (NWDAF); a Model Training Logical Function(MLTF), which may be a function of the NWDAF; Unified Data Management (UDM);Application Function (AF); Authentication Server Function (AUSF); an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF); and Session Management Function (SMF), and a user plane function (UPF). Figure 1A also shows the various interfaces (N1, N2 etc.) that may be implemented between at least some of the various elements of the system.

[0055] The term “terminal” and / or “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a mobile device, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT), and these terms are used interchangeably herein. The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle- mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop- embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smartdevices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), a machine-typecommunications (MTC) device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a watch or otherwearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a data consumer electronics device, a device operatingon commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user device”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0056] As used herein, the term “network device” is used interchangeably with “network access node”, and refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0057] In some example embodiments, a link from the network device 120 to the userdevice 110 or 115 is referred to as a DL, while a link from the user device 110 or 115 to the network device 120 is referred to as a UL. Links are also referred to herein as “channels”. In DL, the network device 120 is a Tx device (or a transmitter), and the user device 110 or 115 is a Rx device (or a receiver). In UL, the user device 110 or 115 is a Tx device (or a transmitter), and the network device 120 is a Rx device (or a receiver). A link between the user device 110 and another user device (not shown) is referred to as a sidelink (SL). In SL, one of the user devices is a Tx device (or a transmitter), and the other of the user devices is a Rx device (or a receiver).

[0058] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocolssuch as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to bedeveloped in the future.

[0059] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a control apparatus 200 for controlling a function of the access network (e.g., a 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B) illustrated on Figures 1A and 1B. The control apparatus 200 may comprise at least one random access memory (RAM) 211a, at least on read only memory (ROM) 211b, at least one processor 212, 213 and a network interface 214. The at least one processor 212, 213 may be coupled to the RAM 211a and the ROM 211b. The at least one processor 212, 213 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 215. Execution of the software code 215 may for example may cause the apparatus to perform operations for controlling a function of the access network. The software code 215 may be stored in the ROM 211b. The control apparatus 200 may be interconnected with another control apparatus 200 for controlling another function of the 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN. In some embodiments, each function of the 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN is deployed or hosted on a control apparatus 200. In alternative embodiments, two or more functions of the 5G-RAN or the NG-RAN may share a control apparatus.

[0060] Figure 3 illustrates an example of a communication device 300, such as the UE illustrated on Figures 1A and 1B. The communication device 300 may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples of a communication device 300 comprise a user equipment, a mobile station (MS) or mobile device such as a mobile phone or what is known as a ’smart phone’, a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility (e.g., USB dongle), a personal data assistant (PDA) or a tablet provided with wireless communication capabilities, a machine-type communications (MTC) device, an Internet of things (IoT) type communication device or any combinations of these or the like. The communication device 300 may comprise a transceiver for transmittingand / or receiving, for example, wireless signals carrying communications, for example radio signals. The communications may be one or more of voice, electronic mail (email), text messages, multimedia data, machine data and so on.

[0061] The communication device 300 may receive wireless signals (e.g., radio signals) over an air or radio interface 307 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit wireless signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals. In Figure 3 transceiver is designated schematically by block 306. The transceiver 306 may comprise, for example, a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the mobile device and may comprise one or more antenna elements. The antenna arrangement may be a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antenna.

[0062] The communication device 300 may be provided with at least one processor301, memory 302 comprising at least one memory ROM 302a, at least one RAM 302band other possible components 303 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access networks (e.g., the 5G-RAN or NG-RAN illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B) and other communication devices. The at least one processor 301 is coupled to the RAM 302b and the ROM 302a. The at least one processor 301 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 308. The software code 308 may for example allow to perform one or more operations of the communication device. The software code 308 may be stored in the ROM 302a.

[0063] The processor, the ROM, and the RAM, the transceiver and other circuitry of the communication device (e.g., a modem) can be provided on a circuit board, in chipsets, or in a system on chip. The circuit board, chipsets or system on chip is denoted by reference 304. The communication device 300 may optionally have a user interface such as keypad 305, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like. Optionally one or more of a display, a speaker and a microphone may be provided depending on the type of communication device.

[0064] For clarity and brevity in the following, it is understood that the terms artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are used interchangeably and synonymously.

[0065] The following relates to features associated with data collection for an AI / ML model. It is understood that although the following considers such AI / ML models inconnection with 3GPP networks, that this is not limiting, and the presently described techniques may be applied to non-3GPP networks.

[0066] 3GPP has considered how AI / ML models may be used for facilitating differentmethods within 3GPP entities.

[0067] For example, a 3GPP Release 19 work item on AI / ML for the new radio air interface (e.g., the interface between a UE and a network access node, such as abase station) focused on providing a general AI / ML framework for AI / ML model usagein 3GPP. A 3GPP AI / ML model may be used for any of a plurality of differentoperations in a 3GPP network. Some of the currently listed use cases for AI / ML models include beam management, channel state information compression, channel state information prediction, and positioning (e.g., for location management purposes).

[0068] AI / ML models utilise an input of one or more values that correspond to datacollected by an apparatus. The collected data may be retrieved from memory and / orobtained by performing measurements.

[0069] A 3GPP release 18 study item (see, for example, technical report 38.843)considered data collection to be a process of collecting data by the network nodes,management entity, or UE for the purpose of AI / ML model training, data analytics, and / or inference.

[0070] Stated differently, data collection may be considered to be a function that provides one or more of: ^Training Data (e.g., data used as input for an AI / ML Model Training function);^ Monitoring Data (e.g., data used as input for the management of AI / ML modelsor AI / ML functionalities); or ^Inference Data (e.g., data used as input for the AI / ML Inference function).

[0071] The data collection may be based on measurements performed on signalsand / or, based on data obtained from another entity, and / or based on data stored atthe apparatus configured to execute the AI / ML model. For example, beam management-related AI / ML models may utilise signal quality measurement values as an input (e.g., reference signal received power measurement values and / or signal-to-interference and noise ratio measurement values). As another example, positioning-related AI / ML models may use information indicative of locations of fixed location entities (which may be solicited from those fixed location entities or configured at theapparatus configured to execute the AI / ML model) and / or values obtained based on round trip time measurements as an input.

[0072] 3GPP TR 38.813 provides example data types that may be collected for positioning use cases.

[0073] There are several issues that may arise during data collection.

[0074] For example, in order to collect data for training AI / ML models such as channelmeasurements, a UE requires the transmission of reference signals by the network(NW) such as downlink positioning reference signals (PRS) for performing at least oneof: positioning related timing measurements, power measurements, phasemeasurements, or angle measurements. For this, a UE may request any desiredconfigurations or parameter settings for the configuration of the PRS transmissions,as described in prior art. However, the network may have limited resources forperforming such transmissions, and so (as it may be up to the network to determinethe final configuration for data collection and to transmit necessary reference signals),the network may configure the PRS transmissions may not always be on.

[0075] Further, even if the PRS transmissions are active, the receiving UE may not beutilizing them at all times. Stated differently, the UE may not conduct anymeasurements on all transmitted PRS. This may be, for example, due to a UE’sinternal conditions (e.g., low battery, unavailability of the related AI / ML model, etc.),and / or radio conditions (e.g., low link quality, etc.). Under such conditions, thenetwork’s energy and radio resources for performing PRS transmission are wasted.

[0076] To address at least one of the above-mentioned issues, the following providesat least one method for enabling a network entity to track a progress of data collectionperformed at another entity. In an example, this may assist the network entity indetermining whether UE is actually using the configured reference signals or not forAI / ML data collection purposes, and / or for reconfiguring such reference signals.

[0077] In more detail, and as highlighted above, the following relates to an apparatusthat determines a status of data collection that is being performed in accordance with a data collection configuration. The apparatus may report an indication of a determined status of the data collection to another entity while the apparatus is performing data collection in accordance with the data configuration. The another entity may use this indication of the determined status to determine whether the data collection configuration should be changed (e.g., whether the data collection configuration should be reconfigured). The determination of whether the data collectionconfiguration should be reconfigured may be made based on a current progress rate of the data collection (which may be indicated by the data collection status).

[0078] Similarly, the another entity may use this indication of the determined status to determine whether a tracking configuration used to determine the data collection status should be changed. The determination of whether the tracking configuration should be reconfigured may be made based on a current progress rate of the data collection (which may be indicated by the data collection status).

[0079] This, and other example features, are illustrated in the examples of Figures 4to 6. Figure 4 illustrates an example signalling diagram between various apparatusdescribed herein, while Figures 5 and 6 highlight methods that may be performed by various apparatus described herein.

[0080] Figure 4 illustrates signalling that may be performed between a UE 401 and a network node 402.

[0081] It is understood that although a UE and a network node are referenced in Figure4, that the presently described techniques may not be limited to such apparatus.

[0082] For example, depending on the AI / ML model for which data is being collected, the UE of Figure 4 may be a network access node (e.g., a gNB). Stated differently, although Figure 4 illustrates signalling that may be performed by a UE 401, the signalling of UE 401 may instead be performed by a network access node. In such a case, the network node 402 may comprise a core network entity (e.g., one or more of an LMF, AMF, NWDAF, an MTLF, etc.), and / or another network entity (e.g., an operations and management function (OAM))

[0083] Further, the identity of the network node may be dependent on the AI / ML model that is configured to input data collected during the below method. For example, when the AI / ML model is for providing a location, the network node may comprise a core network function, such as, for example, a location management function (LMF), anNWDAF, an MTLF, or some other network function that provides a location services.In another example, when the AI / ML model is for beam management purposes, thenetwork node may comprise an access network node (e.g., a gNB). For clarity andbrevity in the following, the example of the AI / ML model being for providing a location of an entity, and will consequently use terminology related to such an example. However, it is understood that the presently described techniques may be applied in respect of an AI / ML model configured to be used for any other purpose.

[0084] During 401, the UE 401 signals the network node 402. This signalling may comprise a request for data collection. For example, when the data to be collected relates to a location of the UE 401, the request for data collection may comprise a request for transmission of reference signals for positioning (e.g., downlink positioningreference signals (PRS) for a positioning use case AI / ML model). It is understood thatalthough this signalling is shown as being triggered by the UE 401, that the network node may instead trigger data collection autonomously (e.g., without any request fromthe UE, whether implicit or explicit), and data collection could be also triggered by thenetwork, without any explicit or implicit request from UE.

[0085] In a positioning use case example, the request could be sent as a part of oneor more of the following signalling messages: mobile originated-location request (MO-LR), location positioning protocol (LPP) On-demand positioning reference signal(PRS) request, LPP Request Assistance Data. It is understood that some other (and / ora new) LPP or non-access stratum (NAS) protocol and / or message, e.g., LPP RequestAssistance Data for Data Collection may be used for providing the request of 401 tothe network node 402.

[0086] In an example, a UE may indicate any desired parameters for the referencesignal configuration (e.g., for the requested DL PRS) as in the legacy On-demand PRSrequest. For example, when the network node has provided pre-defined On-DemandPRS configurations to the UE, the UE is allowed to request On-Demand PRS parameters based on pre-defined PRS configuration identifiers (e.g., using an index- based request) or explicit parameter requests that is within the scope of the received pre-defined On-Demand PRS configurations. Otherwise, the UE may blindly request On-Demand PRS parameters via an explicit request within the scope of the allowed parameter list, as specified in TS 37.355.

[0087] In a beam management use case example, the request of 401 may be sent viaradio resource control (RRC) or medium access control (MAC) signalling to thenetwork node 402, for transmission of a reference signal (e.g., for transmission of achannel state indicator-reference signal (CSI RS)).

[0088] In such an example, the UE 401 may indicate to the network node 402 anydesired parameters for other network-side conditions or additional conditions.

[0089] As an example, this may be, for example, via indicating a preferred (list of)associated network identifiers of one or more cells that should be the subject of datacollection for an AI / ML model. Stated differently, the any desired parameters maycomprise an indication of respective identifiers for one or more cells that are to be measured.

[0090] As other examples, the UE 401 may indicate to the network node 402 at leastone of: a desired start time of reference signal transmission, a desired stop time ofreference signal transmission, a duration of reference signal transmission, or apurpose of the data collection being requested (e.g., for training an AI / ML functionalityor model).

[0091] The UE 401 may indicate to the network node 402 an amount of data to becollected. The amount of data may be expressed in, for example, at least one of a size(e.g., in memory storage units, such as megabytes), a number of samples, or a numberof measurements.

[0092] Stated differently, the any desired parameters may comprise at least one of: an indication of respective identifiers for one or more cells that are to be measured, a desired start time of reference signal transmission, a desired stop time of reference signal transmission, a duration of reference signal transmission, an amount of data to be collected, or a purpose of the data collection being requested.

[0093] During 4002, the network node 402 determines a data collection configurationthat may be used for performing the requested data collection. The data collectionconfiguration may be as described above. This data collection configuration may beas described below in relation to the first data collection configuration of any of Figures 4 or 5.

[0094] When the data collection relates to measurements to be performed by the UE401, the data collection configuration may comprise a measurement configuration forobtaining those measurements. When the data collection relates to measurements to be performed by a UE on one or more reference signals, the measurement configuration may comprise an indication of a configuration of those reference signals so that the UE is aware of where measurements may be performed. In an example, the data collection configuration may further comprise a reporting configuration that indicates how the UE 401 is to report the data collection to the network of the network node (although it is understood that the UE 401 may not be configured to perform any such reporting).

[0095] For example, as part of determining the data collection configuration, thenetwork node may determine a configuration of reference signals (e.g., downlink PRS)to be transmitted, a measurement configuration for configuring how the UE is toperform measurements, and / or a reporting configuration for configuring how the UE401 is to report any measurement results to the network node 402. At least one of these configurations may be determined based on information comprised in therequest(s) coming from UE during 401.

[0096] In a positioning use-case deployment, the network node 402 (e.g., an LMF)may determine a superset of a PRS values requested by different UEs. For example,a first UE (UE1) may request the transmission of PRS with {100 MHz bandwidth, 20ms periodicity} and a second UE (UE2) may request transmission of PRS with {200MHz bandwidth, 100 ms periodicity}. The network node may combine the requestedtransmissions in some way (e.g., so that the minimum requirements for all requestingUE are fulfilled, such as to configure PRS with {200 MHz bandwidth, 20 msperiodicity}).

[0097] The network node (e.g., an LMF, NWDAF, MTLF, etc.) may coordinate with oneor more network access nodes (e.g., gNBs) in order to determine and / or configure thedownlink PRS configuration at the network access node.

[0098] During 4003, the network node 402 signals the UE 401. This signalling mayconfigure the UE with at least one of the determined data collection configurations of4002. For example, this signalling may configure the UE 401 with a measurement configuration (e.g., so that the UE 401 knows what resources to perform measurements on and / or how to perform such measurements) and / or a reporting configuration (e.g., so that the UE 401 knows what and / or how to report the measurements performed). This may be as described below in relation to 501 of Figure 5, and / or 601 of Figure 6.

[0099] Although not shown, the network node 402 may further cause the determinedsignals to be measured to be transmitted (e.g., by transmitting the determineddownlink PRS signals).

[0100] During 4004, the network node 402 determines a configuration for tracking theprogress of data collection (also referred to herein as a “tracking configuration”). Thetracking configuration of 4004 may be as described below in relation to the first tracking configuration of any of Figures 5 and 6.

[0101] The tracking configuration may comprise one or more of the following fourinformation examples.

[0102] In a first example, the tracking configuration comprises an indication of anexpected or target data collection progress. For example, the tracking configurationmay comprise an indication of a time duration and / or time limit by which the UE 401should finish at least part of the data collection. For example, the tracking configurationmay indicate that the UE should complete 50% of data collection within 30 minutes,and / or by a certain time (where the certain time is indicated by a predetermined timingscale, e.g., by 05:00 GMT).

[0103] In a second example, the tracking configuration comprises an indication of howoften the UE 401 should update the network node 402 about the UE’s data collectionprogress. For example, the tracking configuration may comprise an indication that the UE should report its measurement progress with a certain periodicity (e.g., everyminute) or upon completion of certain percentage of data collection (e.g., at every 10%increment in completion).

[0104] In a third example, the tracking configuration comprises an indication of whethermodifications to the configured data collection is allowed or not. For example, when the indication indicates that the UE is allowed to modify the configured data collection,the UE may request, from the network node 402, one or more change to themeasurement configuration and / or reference signal configuration after the UE has already initiated data collection. The change may relate to, for example, changing theduration of a reference signal transmission (e.g., a longer or shorter duration ofreference signal transmission), or any other configuration parameters for referencesignal transmission.

[0105] In a fourth example, the tracking configuration may relate to a data collectionrequest(s) already received by the network node and / or data collection that will takeplace in the future.

[0106] During 4005, the network node 402 signals the UE 401. This signalling may comprise, for example, the tracking configuration determined during 4004.

[0107] It is understood that although 4004 and 4005 are illustrated separately from4002 and 4003, that this is merely an example and that these steps may instead beperformed as part of the same operations. For example, 4004 may be performed during 4002. Analogously, 4005 may be performed during 4003.

[0108] It is further understood that although the present example illustrates the trackingconfiguration being determined by the network node 402, at least part of the tracking configuration may be configured at the UE 401 by an operator (e.g., via an operations and management function) and / or be otherwise defined by a communication protocol specification, such as a 3GPP specification. For example, an entity other than thenetwork node 402 may configure with UE with a default tracking configuration for a particular operation (e.g., for monitoring an AI / ML model for positioning, or for training an AI / ML model for beam management, etc.). The default tracking configuration may comprise one or more parameter values that may be advantageously optimised and / or otherwise updated by the network node 402 based on dynamically determined networkconditions (e.g., based on network conditions that are determined by the network nodeas being dynamic (e.g., specific to a time and / or location)).

[0109] The dynamically determined network conditions may comprise, for example,the actual configured reference signal transmission rate. For example, when morereference signals are configured to be transmitted within a predetermined time than was assumed by the default tracking configuration, then it would be expected that the UE would be more likely to complete performing data collection in accordance with the data collection configuration sooner than assumed by the default. Consequently, it may be useful to reconfigure when the UE reports its progress relative to the default configuration. In such a case, the network node may determine the part of the trackingconfiguration related to the frequency of reporting in order that the reporting of theprogress (e.g., status) of the data collection performed more frequently.

[0110] As another example, the dynamically determined network conditions maycomprise current radio access network conditions. For example, when the radio access network conditions are currently poor, fewer reference signals may be successfully received by the UE 401 than assumed than the default tracking configuration, which may mean that the UE will take longer to obtain all of themeasurements than assumed by the default tracking configuration. In such a case, thenetwork node may determine the part of the tracking configuration related to the frequency of reporting in order that the reporting of the progress (e.g., status) of the data collection performed less frequently.

[0111] During 4006, the UE 401 starts performing data collection in accordance withthe data collection configuration of 4003. This may be as described below in relation to 502 of Figure 5.

[0112] When the data collection configuration comprises a measurement configuration (which may comprise values for parameters for one or more of time-related measurements, power-related measurements, phase-related measurements, or anglemeasurements on a downlink reference signal), the UE may store and / or reportmeasurements to the network node 402 in accordance with any reporting configurationconfigured during 4003.

[0113] For example, for training data collection of AI / ML model based positioning usecases, the data collection may comprise values corresponding to one or more of the following parameters: ^channel measurement^ quality indicator of channel measurement^ time stamp of channel measurement^ ground truth label (or its approximation)^ quality indicator of label^ time stamp of label

[0114] During 4007, the UE 401 signals the network node 402. This signalling of 4007 may update the network node 402 with respect to the progress of the data collectionperformed during 4006. Stated differently, during 4007, the UE 401 may provide thenetwork node 402 with an indication of a first status of data collection. This indication of the first status (e.g., this signalling of an indication of the progress of the data collection performed during 4006) may be as described below in relation to the firststatus of data collection described below in relation to any of Figures 5 to 6. Stateddifferently, the signalling of 4007 may be as described in relation to any of 504 of Figure 5, and / or 602 of Figure 6.

[0115] The signalling of 4007 is performed before the UE 401 has completed data collection in accordance with the data collection configuration of 4003. The reporting of 4007 may be performed in accordance with the tracking configuration of 4005. The signalling of 4007 may be performed, for example, periodically.

[0116] For example, during 4007, the UE 401 may signal the network node 402 toindicate how much percent of the data collection the UE 401 has (or has not)completed, over time (e.g., 50%, 65%, etc.). It is understood that the percent may beindicated as an absolute percentage or ratio, and / or as a range of percent or ratio (e.g., 65%-70%, or 70-85%, etc.). When the percentage is indicated as a range, it is understood that different ranges may be the same length, or different lengths.

[0117] As an example, during 4007, the UE 401 may signal the network node 402information indicative of any unexpected changes in the progress compared to anexpected progress according to the tracking progress (e.g., any interruption, earlycompletion, expected delay, etc.).

[0118] In an example, during 4007, the UE 401 may signal the network node 402information indicative of one or more reasons for the unexpected progress. Forexample, the signalling of 4007 may indicate that the UE 401 has completed less ofthe data collection than expected in a preconfigured time frame as a result of at leastone of: a low UE power, a model unavailability, or insufficient reference signalreception at the UE. As another example, the signalling of 4007 may indicate that theUE 401 has completed more of the data collection than expected in the preconfigured time frame as a result of at least one of: processing resources being available at theUE 401 or better than expected reference signal reception at the UE 401. Stateddifferently, the signalling of 4007 may comprise an indication of one or more reasons for early and / or late fulfilment of a progress of data collection. In an example, the signalling of 4007 may comprise an indication of a reasons for early and / or late completion of the data collection. In this latter case, the network node may use this information for determining a future data collection configuration for another data collection process (e.g., the network node may use the indicated reason during 4002 for determining the data collection configuration).

[0119] In an example, during 4007, the UE 401 may signal, to the network node 402an indication of a time when: the UE 401 will pause data collection, a time the modelwill not be available, and / or a time that the model will be available again.

[0120] During 4008, the UE 401 signals the network node 402. This signalling of 4008 may comprise a request that requests that the network node 402 changes the datacollection configuration. It is understood that although 4008 is shown separately from4007, that the signalling of 4007 and 4008 may be performed contemporaneously.

[0121] The signalling of 4008 may comprise, for example, a request to change the measurement configuration and / or the reference signal configuration.

[0122] The signalling of 4008 may comprise, for example, at least one of: a request to extend the duration of the reference signal transmission for data collection, a request to curtail the duration of the reference signal transmission for data collection, a request to abort reference signal transmission, or a request to change the reference signal configuration.

[0123] During 4009, the network node 402 determines whether any modifications areto be made to the data collection configuration. This may be as described below inrelation to 603 of Figure 6. This determination may be made based on the signallingof 4007 and / or 4008. Stated differently, during 4009, the network node 402 determines whether any modifications are to be made to the measurement configuration and / orthe reference signal configuration. This determination may be made based on at leastone network condition (e.g., as described above in relation to 4002).

[0124] 4010 may be performed when the determination of 4009 determines that amodification should be made to the data collection configuration. In this case, a newdata collection configuration (referred to in Figures 5 and 6 as the second dataconfiguration) is determined for the same data collection purpose as the data collectionconfiguration of 4002. The modified data collection configuration may be for completing at least part of the data collection process that was originally started by the data collection configuration of 4003.

[0125] During 4010, the network node 402 signals the UE 401. This signalling mayprovide the UE with an indication of parameters of the new data collectionconfiguration. Stated differently, during 4010, the network node 402 provides the UE 401 with information for configuring the UE with the new data collection configuration.

[0126] During 4011, the UE performs data collection in accordance with the new datacollection configuration. This may be as discussed above in respect of the datacollection configuration.

[0127] It is understood that 4006 to 4011 may be performed in respect of the new datacollection configuration multiple times (e.g., one or more than one) until data collection has been completed, or until data collection has been otherwise been stopped (e.g., ceased, halted, or aborted).

[0128] During 4012, the UE 401 signals the network node 402. This signalling mayindicate to the network node 402 that data collection has been completed and / orceased.

[0129] During 4013, the UE 401 utilizes the collected data for providing an input to anAI / ML model. For example, during 4013, the UE 401 uses at least part of the collected data as an input for training an AI / ML model, for monitoring of an AI / ML model, and / or obtaining an inference from an AI / ML model.

[0130] Although not illustrated in the above example of Figure 4, it is further understood that the tracking configuration may be modified in an analogous way to the data collection configuration modification. For example, the network node may use the reported data collection status to determine whether a tracking configuration used todetermine the data collection status should be changed to a modified trackingconfiguration (referred to in Figures 5 and 6 as the second tracking configuration). Thedetermination of whether the tracking configuration is to be reconfigured may be madebased on a current progress rate of the data collection (which may be indicated by thereported data collection status). The second tracking indication may result in a secondstatus of data collection being reported to the network node in accordance with the modified tracking configuration, where the second status may be as described above in relation to the first status of data collection (except in respect of the modified tracking configuration) and / or as described below in relation to the second status of data collection of any of Figures 5 to 6.

[0131] Further, in the example of Figure 4, instead of and / or in addition to downlink PRS, other reference signals can be transmitted (e.g., for purposes of channel sounding or channel state information, synchronization, demodulation, etc.). Other example reference signals may comprise, for example, channel state information- reference signal (CSI-RS), demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), sounding reference signal (SRS), primary synchronisation signal (PSS) and / or secondary synchronisation signal (SSS). Such alternative reference signals may be useful for those AI / ML model use cases other than the positioning use case.

[0132] Further, signalling between a network node and a UE for the above procedures may take place via different signalling protocols. For example, example signalling maybe performed using the long term evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP, betweenan LMF and a UE), a radio resource control (RRC) signalling protocol (e.g., between a gNB and a UE), a medium access control signalling protocol (e.g., between gNB and UE), etc.

[0133] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate methods that may be performed by apparatus described herein. It is understood that at least some of the below mentioned features may be further understood and / or provided more context from the example of Figure 4. Stated differently, Figure 4 illustrates an implementation example of the method(s) of Figures 5 and / or 6.

[0134] Figure 5 illustrates a method that may be performed by a first apparatus. The first apparatus may be as described above in connection with any of Figures 2 to 3. For example, the first apparatus may comprise (or be comprised in) a network node.The network node may comprise at least one of: a network access node (e.g., a radioaccess network node, such as a gNB, base station, or the like), a core network function, or a general network function. As another example, the first apparatus may comprise (or be comprised in) a UE (e.g., an apparatus as described in Figure 3).

[0135] During 501, the first apparatus obtains, from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data.

[0136] The second apparatus of 501 may correspond to the second apparatus of Figure 6.

[0137] The first data collection configuration may be a data collection configuration as described above. Stated differently, the first data collection configuration may be a configuration for causing the first apparatus to perform data collection.

[0138] During 502, the first apparatus performs data collection according to the firstdata collection configuration.

[0139] The data collection may comprise retrieving information stored at the first apparatus and / or at another apparatus. The data collection may be for collecting data to be used for training an AI / ML model, for collecting data to obtain an inference (e.g., a prediction and / or output) from an AI / ML model, and / or for monitoring the performance of an AI / ML model.

[0140] During 503, the first apparatus determines a first status of data collection whilethe first apparatus is performing said data collection.

[0141] During 504, the first apparatus provides an indication of the first status of thedata collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection.

[0142] The first status may be determined in accordance with a tracking configuration. The tracking configuration may be as described herein. The first status may provide an indication of a progress of the data collection at a first time instance relative to an expected end state of the data collection. Stated differently, the first apparatus may obtain, from the second apparatus, at least part of a first tracking configuration fortracking a status (e.g., the first status, and / or any other later determined status) of thedata collection. The first tracking configuration may configure the first apparatus withat least one of: a target data collection rate; a target reporting frequency of said indication of the first status; an indication of information that is be provided in the first status; an indication of information that to be provided in the first status; or an indicationof whether the first apparatus is allowed to request changes to one or more parametersof the first data collection configuration.

[0143] The providing the indication of the first status may be performed in accordancewith the target reporting frequency. Stated differently, 504 may be performed at at least one time instance configured by the tracking configuration.

[0144] As discussed above, the first apparatus may change how the status is determined while the data collection is being performed. Stated differently, the first apparatus may be configured to apply different tracking configurations for determining said status of data collection at different times.

[0145] Stated differently, after providing the indication of the first status to the secondapparatus (e.g., after 504), the first apparatus may obtain a second trackingconfiguration from the second apparatus. The first apparatus may apply the secondtracking configuration instead of the first tracking configuration. Stated differently, the first apparatus may be configured to determine a first status of the data collection (e.g.,the data collection according to the data collection configuration of 501) at a first timein accordance with (e.g., using) the first tracking configuration, and to determine a second status of the same data collection at a second (e.g., a different) time inaccordance with the second tracking configuration. The apparatus may provide anindication of a second status of the data collection to the second apparatus based on the second tracking configuration.

[0146] Also as discussed above, the first apparatus may change how the data collection is performed. This may be, for example, to either speed up the data collection when the status indicates that the data collection is being performed belowa first expected rate (e.g., not being performed at a configured rate according to thefirst tracking configuration and / or the first data collection configuration), or to slow down the data collection when the status indicates that data collection is being performed above a second expected rate.

[0147] Data collection may be sped up by either changing the reference signal configuration (e.g., by causing more reference signals to be transmitted and / or by reconfiguring the transmission parameters (e.g., time of transmission, modulation and coding scheme for transmission, etc.) for transmitting the reference signals to make it more likely that the reference signals will be received by the first apparatus), or by commissioning more first apparatus to perform data collection.

[0148] With respect to slowing down the rate of data collection, the second apparatus may configure a plurality of first apparatus (e.g., first apparatus that operate asdescribed above in relation to Figure 5) with respective data collection configurationsfor a same purpose. When the data collection is indicated via first status to be beingperformed at a faster than expected rate, the second data apparatus may cause some (e.g., less than all) of the plurality of the first apparatus to cease data collection and / orcause fewer first apparatus to be configured with a data collection configuration duringa later time instance. This is because it is expected that enough data will be collectedby the remaining first apparatuses for the purpose of the data collection if thoseremaining first apparatuses continue to perform data collection at the same rate.

[0149] The first and second expected rates may be the same rates. Alternatively, thefirst and second expected rates may be different to each other, with the second expected rate being faster than the first expected rate.

[0150] Stated differently, after providing the indication of the first status to the second apparatus, the first apparatus may obtain a second data collection configuration from the second apparatus, wherein the second data collection configuration is areconfigured version of the first data collection configuration, and apply the seconddata collection configuration instead of the first data collection configuration to further perform said data collection.

[0151] The second data collection configuration may be obtained by the first apparatus from the second apparatus in response to the first apparatus sending a request for the second data collection to the second apparatus. Stated differently, the first apparatusmay provide to the second apparatus a request for a reconfigured version of the firstdata collection configuration, wherein the second data collection configuration isobtained based on (e.g., in response to) the request for the reconfigured version. It isunderstood that the second apparatus may provide the second data collection configuration to the first apparatus autonomously (e.g., without receiving a request forthe reconfigured version from the first apparatus). The second data collectionconfiguration may be configured to be a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration, as both the first and second data collection configuration may correspond to the same data collection operation. Stated differently, data collected during both the first and second data collection configuration may be used for the same data collection purpose (e.g., both used for a same AI / ML model training process, a same AI / ML model monitoring process, and / or a same AI / ML model inference).

[0152] The first apparatus may provide, to the second apparatus, an indication indicating data collection, based on the first data collection configuration and / or thesecond data collection configuration, has ceased. Stated differently, the first apparatusmay send an indication to the second apparatus to indicate that the data collection has been completed (e.g., 100% completed), aborted (e.g., below 100% completion of data collection according to the first and / or second data collection configuration), or otherwise stopped by the first data collection configuration. In an example, where the data collection completion is less than 100%, the first apparatus may further comprise an indication of an amount of the data collection that has been completed (e.g., 75%, 63%, etc.).

[0153] Figure 6 illustrates a method that may be performed by a second apparatus. The second apparatus may correspond to the second apparatus of Figure 5. The second apparatus may comprise, for example, a network node. The network node may comprise, for example, a network access node (e.g., at least one of a gNB, base station, etc.), and / or a core network function (e.g., any of a location managementfunction, an access and mobility function, an MTLF, an NWDAF, etc.), and / or anothernetwork entity (e.g., an operations and management function).

[0154] During 601, the second apparatus provides, to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data.

[0155] The first apparatus of 601 may correspond to the first apparatus of Figure 5.

[0156] The first data collection configuration may be as described above in relation to Figure 5.

[0157] During 602, the apparatus obtains, from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection.

[0158] The first status may be as described above in relation to Figure 5.

[0159] During 603, the apparatus determines whether to reconfigure the first datacollection configuration based on the indication of the first status.

[0160] Based on the determination of 603, the apparatus may abstain from reconfiguring the first data collection configuration. Based on the determination of 603, the apparatus may cause the first data collection configuration to be reconfigured to a second data collection configuration (as described further below). Data collected in accordance with the second data collection configuration and data collected in accordance with the first data collection configuration may both be used for the same purpose and / or operation (e.g., both used as an input to a same AI / ML model training process, both used as an input to a same AI / ML model monitoring process, and / or both used as an input to a same AI / ML model inference output).

[0161] The second apparatus may determine a first tracking configuration for trackinga status of the data collection, wherein the first tracking configuration is for configuring the first apparatus with at least one of: a target data collection rate; a target reporting frequency of said indication of the first status; an indication of information that is be provided in the first status; an indication of information that may be provided in the first status; or an indication of whether the first apparatus is allowed to request changes to one or more parameters of the first data collection configuration. The second apparatus may provide the first tracking configuration to the first apparatus. The first tracking configuration may be as described above in connection with Figure 5.

[0162] The obtaining the indication of the first status may be performed in accordancewith the target reporting frequency (as described above in connection with Figure 5).The indication of the first status may indicate a status of the data collection with respectto the target data collection rate. Stated differently, the indication of the first status mayprovide an indication of a relative amount of data that has been collected inaccordance with the first data collection configuration relative to a total amount of datathat is to be collected for the purpose of the first data collection configuration.

[0163] The determining the first tracking configuration may comprise determining atleast one of: a current radio network access signal quality, a current reference signal transmission configuration, or a purpose for the data collection. Stated differently, determining the first tracking configuration may comprise determining an expected rate of the data collection based on current and / or expected network conditions, andconfiguring the first tracking configuration using the expected rate of data collection byconfiguring at least one parameter in the first tracking configuration to track theprogress of the data collection while data collection is expected to be performed (inaccordance with the expected rate of data collection).

[0164] The second apparatus may reconfigure the first tracking configuration basedon the indication of the first status to form a second tracking configuration, and providethe second tracking configuration to the first apparatus. The reconfiguration of the firsttracking configuration may be performed based on the indication of the first status, as described above in relation to Figure 5.

[0165] The second apparatus may reconfigure the first data collection configurationbased on the indication of the first status to form a second data collection configuration(e.g., as described above in relation to Figure 5), and provide the second datacollection configuration to the first apparatus.

[0166] Also as discussed above in relation to Figure 5, the second apparatus may obtain, from the first apparatus, a request for a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration, wherein the first data collection configuration is reconfigured to form the second data collection configuration based on the request for thereconfigured version.

[0167] The second apparatus may obtain, from the first apparatus, an indication that data collection according to the first data collection configuration and / or the seconddata collection configuration has ceased. This may be as described above in relationto Figure 5.

[0168] The following features may apply in respect of any (e.g., one or more, including all) of the examples of Figures 5 and 6.

[0169] The indication of the first status may comprise a further indication of at leastone of: a request to reconfigure a total duration of time allocated for the data collection;an amount of the data collection that has been completed; or any interruptions to thedata collection.

[0170] The indication of the first status may comprise information that provides contextfor the further indication.

[0171] For example, when the indication of the first status comprises at least theindication of any interruptions, the context may comprise an indication of at least oneof: one or more reasons for said interruption, a time at which the first apparatus will pause the data collection, a time at which the first apparatus will be available for performing data collection, or a time at which the first apparatus will not be available for performing data collection.

[0172] As another example, when the indication of the first status comprises at leastthe indication of the amount of the data collection that has been completed, the contextmay comprise an indication of a reason why the amount of the data collection that hasbeen completed is different to a target amount of the data collection that should have been completed when the status was obtained.

[0173] The data collection configuration may comprise an indication of a referencesignal configuration on which measurements are to be performed.

[0174] The purpose for the data collection of the first and / or second data collection configuration may be at least one or a plurality of different purposes. For example, the data collection may be for AI / ML model training, AI / ML model inference, and / or AI / MLmodel monitoring, where the AI / ML model is for one or more of: determining a positionof the first apparatus, beam management for the first apparatus, or channel state information prediction or compression.

[0175] It is understood that references in the above to various network functions (e.g.,to an AMF, an SMF, TNF, etc.) may comprise apparatus that perform at least some ofthe functionality associated with those network functions. Further, an apparatus comprising a network function may comprise a virtual network function instance of that network function.

[0176] It should be understood that the apparatuses may comprise or be coupled toother units or modules etc., such as radio parts or radio heads, used in or for transmission and / or reception. Although the apparatuses have been described as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

[0177] It is noted that whilst some embodiments have been described in relation to 5Gnetworks, similar principles can be applied in relation to other networks and communication systems. Therefore, although certain embodiments were described above by way of example with reference to certain example architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

[0178] It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments,there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0179] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0180] In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware orspecial purpose circuitry, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the disclosure is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the disclosure may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software,firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0181] As used herein, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analogand / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) withsoftware / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.”

[0182] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term herein, including in any claims. As a further example, as used herein, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0183] The embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or program, also called program product, including software routines, applets and / or macros, may be stored in any apparatus-readable data storage medium and they comprise program instructions to perform particular tasks. A computer program product may comprise one or more computer-executable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it.

[0184] Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the Figures may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks andfunctions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD. The physical media is a non-transitory media.

[0185] The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0186] The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and maycomprise one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers,microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

[0187] Various example embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

[0188] The scope of protection sought for various example embodiments of the disclosure is set out by the independent claims. The example embodiments and features thereof, if any, described in this disclosure that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various example embodiments of the disclosure.

[0189] The foregoing description has provided, by way of non-limiting and illustrative examples, a full and informative description of the various example embodiments of this disclosure. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings will still fall within the various example embodiments of the disclosure as set forth in the claims. By way of non-limiting andillustrative example, there is a further example embodiment comprising a combination of one or more example embodiments with any of the other example embodiments previously discussed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1) A first apparatus comprising means for:obtaining, from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration; determining a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection. 2) A first apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for:obtaining, from the second apparatus, at least part of a first tracking configuration for tracking a status of the data collection, wherein the first tracking configuration configures the first apparatus with at least one of: a target data collection rate; a target reporting frequency of said indication of the first status; an indication of information that is be provided in the first status; an indication of information that to be provided in the first status; or an indication of whether the first apparatus is allowed to request changes to one or more parameters of the first data collection configuration. 3) A first apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the providing the indicationof the first status is performed in accordance with the target reporting frequency. 4) A first apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 3, further comprising meansfor, after providing the indication of the first status to the second apparatus: obtaining a second tracking configuration from the second apparatus; applying the second tracking configuration instead of the first tracking configuration; and providing an indication of a second status of the data collection to the second apparatus based on the second tracking configuration.5) A first apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising meansfor, after providing the indication of the first status to the second apparatus: obtaining a second data collection configuration from the second apparatus, wherein the second data collection configuration is a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration; and applying the second data collection configuration instead of the first data collection configuration to further perform said data collection.6) A first apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for providingto the second apparatus a request for a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration, wherein the second data collection configuration is obtained based on the request for the reconfigured version.7) A first apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, comprising means forproviding, to the second apparatus, an indication indicating data collection, based on the first data collection configuration and / or the second data collection configuration, has ceased.8) A second apparatus comprising means for:providing, to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; obtaining, from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection; and determining whether to reconfigure the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status.9) A second apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for:determining a first tracking configuration for tracking a status of the data collection, wherein the first tracking configuration is for configuring the first apparatus with at least one of: a target data collection rate; a target reporting frequency of said indication of the first status; an indication of information that is be provided in the first status; an indication of information that may be provided in the first status; or an indication of whether the first apparatus isallowed to request changes to one or more parameters of the first data collection configuration; and providing the first tracking configuration to the first apparatus. 10)A second apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the obtaining the indication of the first status is performed in accordance with the target reporting frequency and / or wherein the indication of the first status indicates a status of the data collection with respect to the target data collection rate. 11)A second apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 10, wherein the means for determining the first tracking configuration comprises means for determining at least one of: a current radio network access signal quality, a current reference signal transmission configuration, or a purpose for the data collection. 12)A second apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, comprising means for: reconfiguring the first tracking configuration based on the indication of the first status to form a second tracking configuration; and providing the second tracking configuration to the first apparatus. 13)A second apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12 preceding claim, comprising means for: reconfiguring the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status to form a second data collection configuration; and providing the second data collection configuration to the first apparatus. 14)A second apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for obtaining, from the first apparatus, a request for a reconfigured version of the first data collection configuration, wherein the first data collection configuration is reconfigured to form the second data collection configuration based on the request for the reconfigured version.5)A second apparatus as claimed in any of claims 7 to 14, comprising means for: obtaining, from the first apparatus, an indication that data collection according to the first data collection configuration and / or the second data collection configuration has ceased. 6)An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the indication of the first status comprises a further indication of at least one of: a request to reconfigure a total duration of time allocated for the data collection; an amount of the data collection that has been completed; or any interruptions to the data collection. 7)An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the indication of the first status comprises information that provides context for the further indication. 8)A method comprising: obtaining, at a first apparatus from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing, at the first apparatus, data collection according to the first data collection configuration; determining, by the first apparatus, a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing, by the first apparatus, an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection. 9)A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer of a first apparatus, causes the first apparatus to carry out: obtaining, from a second apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration;determining a first status of data collection while the first apparatus is performing said data collection; and providing an indication of the first status of the data collection to the second apparatus while the first apparatus is performing said data collection. 20)A method comprising: providing, by a second apparatus to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; obtaining, by the second apparatus from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection; and determining by the second apparatus whether to reconfigure the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status. 21)A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer of a second apparatus, causes the first apparatus to carry out: providing, to a first apparatus, a first data collection configuration for configuring the first apparatus to collect data; obtaining, from the first apparatus while the first apparatus is performing data collection according to the first data collection configuration, an indication of a first status of the data collection; and determining whether to reconfigure the first data collection configuration based on the indication of the first status.

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