NEURAL NETWORK OBTAINING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Embodiments of this application provide a neural network obtaining method and apparatus for use by both a transmitter and a receiver in a communication system. The method includes: determining, based on a standardized reference data set, at least one standardized reference neural network, and a standardized performance determining criterion, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition; outputting the target neural network when an output condition is satisfied; and optimizing the target neural network when the output condition is not satisfied until the output condition is satisfied, where the target neural network may be a transmitting-end target neural network used in a transmitter or a receiving-end target neural network used in a receiver.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of this application relate generally to the field of artificial intelligence, and more specifically, to a neural network obtaining method and apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In a communication system, a transmitter is configured to send a signal, and a receiver is configured to receive a signal sent by the transmitter. A neural network can be used in the transmitter and the receiver to jointly optimize communication at both the transmitting and receiving ends, so as to improve overall performance. Channel state information (CSI) compression and reconstruction are used as examples. The transmitter may compress CSI based on the neural network, to generate air interface information. The receiver may parse the air interface information based on the neural network, to reconstruct a channel. In an implementation, a design of combining a transmitting end-neural network and a receiving-end neural network may be used to implement joint optimization, to obtain optimal compression and reconstruction algorithms.

However, in an actual commercial system, receivers and transmitters are usually provided by different vendors. For example, a transmitter is provided by vendor A, and a receiver is provided by vendor B. To implement joint optimization, a transmitter and a receiver separately download a neural network structure and parameter information that match a current usage scenario, and then separately perform processing at the receiving end and the transmitting end based on the downloaded neural network. Such implementation causes huge air interface overheads and is greatly limited in actual use.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this application provide a neural network obtaining method and apparatus that reduces huge air interface overheads caused when a transmitter and a receiver download a neural network structure, parameter information, and the like.

According to a first aspect, a neural network obtaining method is provided. The method includes: determining, based on a standardized reference data set, one or more reference neural networks, and a performance determining criterion, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition; and outputting the target neural network when the output condition is satisfied, where the output target neural network is a transmitting-end target neural network used in a transmitter or a receiving-end target neural network used in a receiver.

Based on the foregoing technical solution, the standardized reference data set, the standardized reference neural network, and the standardized performance determining criterion are introduced, so that an obtaining device can evaluate the target neural network based on the existing standardized reference neural network, and output the target neural network for use only when the target neural network satisfies the output condition. The output target neural network may be used in the transmitter or the receiver. Therefore, overheads of downloading, by the transmitter or the receiver, a neural network structure and parameter information through an air interface are reduced. In addition, interconnection between products of different vendors can be ensured. On top of the basic functionalities, different designs and product competitiveness of different vendors can be further showcased. Therefore, on the whole, the feasibility of implementing a dual network is greatly improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: when the output condition is not satisfied, continuing to optimize the target neural network until an obtained target neural network satisfies the output condition.

In other words, when the output condition is not satisfied, the target neural network may continue to be optimized. The optimization may include but is not limited to adjusting a neural network structure design, adjusting the reference data set, adjusting a neural network training method, adjusting a definition of a cost function, a loss function, or an objective function, changing a neural network initialization method, changing a constraint condition of a neural network parameter, changing a definition of an activation function of the neural network, and the like.

Through optimization of the target neural network, the obtained optimized target neural network may continue to be evaluated based on the foregoing performance determining criterion. In this way, the optimized target neural network is output when the optimized target neural network satisfies the output condition.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, the transmitting-end target neural network is used for constellation modulation, channel coding, precoding, or channel information extraction and compression; and the receiving-end target neural network is used for constellation demodulation, channel decoding, detection reception, or channel information reconstruction.

In other words, the target neural network may be used in various phases of communication. The transmitting-end target neural network and the receiving-end target neural network may be coupled to each other and work cooperatively. For example, the transmitting-end target neural network and the receiving-end target neural network that work cooperatively may be respectively used for constellation modulation and demodulation, channel coding and decoding, precoding and detection reception, or channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: determining, in at least one set of standardized configurations, a configuration applicable to a current application scenario of the target neural network, where each set of standardized configurations includes one or more of the following: the standardized reference data set, the standardized reference neural network, a standardized data structure, a standardized performance measurement function, the standardized performance determining criterion, or a standardized implementable capability measurement value, where

the reference neural network includes a receiving-end reference neural network used in the receiver and/or a transmitting-end reference neural network used in the transmitter; the data structure is used to generate and/or parse air interface information; the performance measurement function is used to generate a performance measurement value; the performance determining criterion includes a performance indicator and the output condition of the target neural network, where the performance determining criterion is used to determine, based on the performance measurement value and the performance indicator, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition; and the implementable capability measurement value is used to select a matching neural network and/or a matching performance indicator.

It should be understood that the matching neural network herein may mean that the neural network can be used in the transmitter or the receiver under a given constraint, and the given constraint may include implementation complexity and/or air interface overheads. The matching performance indicator may be a performance indicator used to evaluate the neural network in a phase of obtaining the neural network.

Different standardized configurations can be defined for different application scenarios. For example, in different application scenarios, performance determining criteria may be different or reference neural networks may be different. Based on the designs disclosed herein, the output target neural network can match different application scenarios so that good system performance can be attained.

Optionally, the performance measurement function includes one or more of the following: a mean square error, a normalized mean square error, a mean absolute error, a maximum absolute error, a correlation coefficient, a cross entropy, mutual information, a bit error rate, or a frame error rate.

The performance measurement functions listed above are merely examples and shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. One or more of the performance measurement functions may be used simultaneously for evaluating the target neural network. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

Optionally, the performance indicator includes one or more performance indicators, and the performance determining criterion includes determining, by comparing the performance measurement value with the one or more performance indicators, whether the output condition is satisfied.

It should be understood that there may be one or more performance indicators. There may also be one or more upper bounds and/or lower bounds of the corresponding one or more performance indicators.

The following shows several examples in which the target neural network is evaluated with reference to the foregoing performance determining criterion to determine whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition.

In a possible design, the target neural network is the transmitting-end target neural network, and the one or more reference neural networks are one or more receiving-end reference neural networks; and the determining, based on a standardized reference data set, one or more reference neural networks, and a performance determining criterion, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition includes: inputting, into the transmitting-end target neural network, transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set, where the transmitting-end target neural network is configured to process the transmitting-end data based on a predefined data structure, to generate air interface information to be sent to the one or more receiving-end reference neural networks; obtaining one or more output results from the one or more receiving-end reference neural networks, where the one or more output results are obtained separately by the one or more receiving-end reference neural networks based on the received air interface information; using the one or more output results and the transmitting-end data as input into the performance measurement function, to obtain one or more performance measurement values; and determining, based on the one or more performance measurement values and the performance determining criterion, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition.

That is, the transmitting-end target neural network and the receiving-end reference neural network are cascaded to evaluate the receiving-end target neural network.

In another possible design, the target neural network is the transmitting-end target neural network, and the one or more reference neural networks are one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks; and the determining, based on a standardized reference data set, one or more reference neural networks, and a performance determining criterion, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition includes: inputting, into the transmitting-end target neural network, transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set, where the transmitting-end target neural network is configured to process the transmitting-end data based on a predefined data structure, to generate target air interface information; inputting the transmitting-end data into the one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks, where the one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks are configured to process the transmitting-end data based on the predefined data structure to generate one or more pieces of reference air interface information; using the one or more pieces of reference air interface information and the target air interface information as input into the performance measurement function, to obtain one or more performance measurement values; and determining, based on the one or more performance measurement values and the performance determining criterion, whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies the output condition.

That is, the transmitting-end reference neural network is used as a reference to evaluate the transmitting-end target neural network.

In still another possible design, the target neural network is the receiving-end target neural network, and the one or more reference neural networks are one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks; and the determining, based on a standardized reference data set, one or more reference neural networks, and a performance determining criterion, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition includes: inputting transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set into the one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks, where the one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks are configured to process the transmitting-end data based on a predefined data structure, to obtain one or more pieces of air interface information to be sent to the receiving-end target neural network; obtaining one or more output results from the receiving-end target neural network, where the one or more output results are output results separately generated by the receiving-end target neural network based on the received one or more pieces of air interface information; using the one or more output results and the transmitting-end data as input into the performance measurement function, to obtain one or more performance measurement values; and determining, based on the one or more performance measurement values and the performance determining criterion, whether the receiving-end target neural network satisfies the output condition.

That is, the receiving-end target neural network and the transmitting-end reference neural network are cascaded to evaluate the receiving-end target neural network.

In still another possible design, the target neural network is the receiving-end target neural network, and the one or more reference neural networks include one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks and one or more receiving-end reference neural networks; and the determining, based on a standardized reference data set, one or more reference neural networks, and a performance determining criterion, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition includes: inputting transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set into the one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks, where the one or more transmitting-end reference neural networks are configured to process the transmitting-end data based on a predefined data structure, to obtain one or more pieces of air interface information to be sent to the receiving-end target neural network and the one or more receiving-end reference neural networks; obtaining one or more target output results from the receiving-end target neural network, where the one or more target output results are output results separately generated by the receiving-end target neural network based on the received one or more pieces of air interface information; obtaining one or more reference output results from the one or more receiving-end reference neural networks, where the one or more reference output results are output results generated by the one or more receiving-end reference neural networks respectively based on the received one or more pieces of air interface information; using the one or more target output results and the one or more reference output results as input into the performance measurement function, to obtain one or more performance measurement values; and determining, based on the one or more performance measurement values and the performance determining criterion, whether the receiving-end target neural network satisfies the output condition.

That is, the receiving-end target neural network and the transmitting-end reference neural network are cascaded, and the receiving-end reference neural network is used as a reference to evaluate the receiving-end target neural network.

With reference to the first aspect, in some possible implementations of the first aspect, the implementable capability measurement value includes one or more of the following: air interface information overheads, an amount of computation required for implementing the neural network, a quantity of parameters stored for implementing the neural network, or computation precision required for implementing the neural network.

Therefore, based on the implementation complexity of different applications, a matching neural network may be selected, or a matching performance indicator may be selected for evaluation.

According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method includes: a first device determines a scenario mode based on an air interface transmission condition between the first device and a second device, where the scenario mode is used to determine a neural network usable in the current air interface transmission condition, the neural network is selected in a plurality of neural networks designed in advance, and each of the plurality of neural networks matches one or more scenario modes; and the first device sends indication information of the scenario mode to the second device.

Based on the foregoing method, the first device may select an appropriate scenario mode based on a current air interface transmission condition between the first device and the second device, and indicate the scenario mode to the second device, so that the first device and the second device determine, based on a same scenario mode, a neural network to be used. In this way, performance is improved.

With reference to the second aspect, in some possible implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first device receives acknowledgment information from the second device, where the acknowledgment information indicates that the indication information of the scenario mode is successfully received.

The second device may send the acknowledgment information to the first device based on successful reception of the indication information, so that the first device performs a subsequent procedure based on a reception status of the indication information. For example, when the indication information is successfully received, the neural network matching the scenario mode is used; or when the indication information is not successfully received, the indication information of the scenario mode is resent. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

With reference to the second aspect, in some possible implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first device communicates with the second device by using the neural network that matches the scenario mode.

Based on the successful reception of the indication information by the second device, the first device may use the neural network matching the scenario mode. Alternatively, based on the successful reception of the indication information, the second device may determine and use the neural network matching the indicated scenario mode, so that two mutually coupled neural networks can work cooperatively. Therefore, system performance is improved.

According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided. The method includes: a second device receives indication information of a scenario mode from a first device, where the scenario mode is used to determine a neural network usable in a current air interface transmission condition, the neural network is determined in a plurality of neural networks designed in advance, and each of the plurality of neural networks matches one or more scenario modes; the second device determines the scenario mode based on the indication information of the scenario mode; and the second device selects, based on the scenario mode, the neural network usable in the air interface transmission condition.

Based on the foregoing method, the first device may select an appropriate scenario mode based on a current air interface transmission condition between the first device and the second device, and indicate the scenario mode to the second device, so that the first device and the second device determine, based on a same scenario mode, a neural network to be used. In this way, performance is improved.

With reference to the third aspect, in some possible implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the second device sends acknowledgment information to the first device, where the acknowledgment information indicates that the indication information of the scenario mode is successfully received.

The second device may send the acknowledgment information to the first device based on successful reception of the indication information, so that the first device performs a subsequent procedure based on a reception status of the indication information. For example, when the indication information is successfully received, the neural network matching the scenario mode is used; or when the indication information is not successfully received, the indication information of the scenario mode is resent. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

With reference to the third aspect, in some possible implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the second device communicates with the first device by using the neural network matching the scenario mode.

Based on successful reception of the indication information by the second device, the first device may use the neural network matching the scenario mode. Alternatively, based on successful reception of the indication information, the second device may determine and use the neural network matching the indicated scenario mode, so that two mutually coupled neural networks can work cooperatively. Therefore, system performance is improved.

With reference to the second aspect or the third aspect, in some possible implementations, each of the plurality of neural networks is a neural network obtained based on a standardized reference data set, a standardized reference neural network, and a standardized performance determining criterion.

In other words, the neural network used in the first device and the second device may be the target neural network obtained according to the method in the first aspect.

With reference to the second aspect or the third aspect, in some possible implementations, the first device is a network device, and the second device is a terminal device; or the first device is a terminal device, and the second device is a network device.

That is, the determining of the air interface transmission condition and the selection of the scenario mode may be performed by the network device, or may be performed by the terminal device. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

It should be understood that the methods in the second aspect and the third aspect may be used in combination with the method in the first aspect, or may be used independently. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

It should be further understood that, in the foregoing example, the neural network matching the scenario mode is determined between the first device and the second device by using the indication information of the scenario mode. However, this shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. In another possible implementation method, the determining of the air interface transmission condition and the selection of the scenario mode may not be indicated by using signaling interaction. For example, the network device and the terminal device may separately perform neural network adaptation based on a preset matching relationship between a neural network and a combination of an air interface transmission condition and scenario mode selection. This is also not limited in embodiments of this application.

According to a fourth aspect, a neural network obtaining apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes modules or units configured to perform the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect, a neural network obtaining apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and may be configured to execute instructions or data in the memory, to implement the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect. Optionally, the apparatus further includes the memory. Optionally, the apparatus further includes an input/output interface, and the processor is coupled to the input/output interface.

According to a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes modules or units configured to perform the method in any possible implementation of the second aspect.

According to a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and may be configured to execute instructions or data in the memory, to implement the method in any possible implementation of the second aspect. Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes the memory. Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

In an implementation, the communication apparatus is a terminal device. When the communication apparatus is the terminal device, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input/output interface.

In another implementation, the communication apparatus is a chip configured in a terminal device. When the communication apparatus is the chip configured in the terminal device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface.

According to an eighth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes modules or units configured to perform the method in any possible implementation of the third aspect.

According to a ninth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory and may be configured to execute instructions or data in the memory, to implement the method in any possible implementation of the third aspect. Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes the memory. Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface.

In an implementation, the communication apparatus is a network device. When the communication apparatus is the network device, the communication interface may be a transceiver or an input/output interface.

In another implementation, the communication apparatus is a chip configured in a network device. When the communication apparatus is the chip configured in the network device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface.

According to a tenth aspect, a processor is provided. The processor includes an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to: receive a signal through the input circuit; and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that the processor performs the method according to any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect.

According to an eleventh aspect, a processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to: read instructions stored in the memory, receive a signal through a receiver, and transmit a signal through a transmitter, to perform the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect.

In a specific implementation process, the memory may be a non-transitory memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM). The memory and the processor may be integrated into one chip or may be separately disposed on different chips. A type of the memory and a manner in which the memory and the processor are disposed are not limited in this embodiment of this application.

It should be understood that, a related data exchange process such as sending of indication information may be a process of outputting the indication information from the processor, and receiving of capability information may be a process of receiving the input capability information by the processor. Specifically, data output by the processor may be output to the transmitter, and input data received by the processor may be from the receiver. The transmitter and the receiver may be collectively referred to as a transceiver.

The processing apparatus in the eleventh aspect may be one or more chips. The processor in the processing apparatus may be implemented by hardware or may be implemented by software. When the processor is implemented by hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or the like. When the processor is implemented by software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, and is implemented by reading software code stored in the memory. The memory may be integrated into the processor or may be located outside the processor and exist independently.

According to a twelfth aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is run, a computer is enabled to perform the method in any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect to the third aspect.

According to a thirteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions). When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect to the third aspect.

According to a fourteenth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes the foregoing network device and terminal device, where the foregoing target neural network may be separately configured for the network device and the terminal device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes technical solutions of embodiments of this application with reference to accompanying drawings.

A communication method provided in embodiments of this application may be applied to various communication systems, such as a long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a future fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, or a new radio access technology (NR) system. The 5G mobile communication system may include a non-standalone (NSA) communication system and/or a standalone (SA) communication system.

The communication method provided in embodiments of this application may be further applied to machine type communication (MTC), long term evolution-machine (LTE-M), a device to device (D2D) network, a machine to machine (M2M) network, an internet of things (IoT) network, or another network. The IoT network may include, for example, an internet of vehicles. Communication modes in an internet of vehicles system are collectively referred to as vehicle to X (V2X, where X may represent anything). For example, V2X may include vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) communication, vehicle to pedestrian (V2P) communication, or vehicle to network (V2N) communication.

The communication method provided in embodiments of this application may be further applicable to a future communication system, for example, a 6th generation mobile communication system. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

In embodiments of this application, a network device may be any device having a wireless transceiver function. The network device includes but is not limited to an evolved NodeB (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a NodeB (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (for example, a home evolved NodeB, or a home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP), a transmission and reception point (TRP), or the like. Alternatively, the network device may be a gNB or a transmission point (TRP or TP) in a 5G system such as an NR system, may be one antenna panel or a group (including a plurality of antenna panels) of antenna panels of a gNB in a 5G system, or may be a network node, such as a baseband unit (BBU) or a distributed unit (DU), that constitutes a gNB or a transmission point.

The network device serves a cell, and a terminal device communicates with the cell by using a transmission resource (for example, a frequency domain resource or a spectrum resource) allocated by the network device. The cell may belong to a macro base station (for example, a macro eNB or a macro gNB), or may belong to a base station corresponding to a small cell. The small cell herein may include a metro cell, a micro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, and the like. These small cells have features of small coverage and low transmit power, and are usable for providing a high-rate data transmission service.

In embodiments of this application, the terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user apparatus.

The terminal device may be a device that provides a voice/data connectivity for a user, for example, a handheld device having a wireless connection function or a vehicle-mounted device. Currently, some examples of the terminal device may be: a mobile phone, a tablet computer (pad), a computer (for example, a notebook computer or a palmtop computer) having a wireless transceiver function, a mobile internet device (MID), a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device or a computing device having a wireless communication function, another processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN).

The wearable device may also be referred to as a wearable intelligent device, and is a general term for wearable devices such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothes, and shoes that are developed by applying wearable technologies to intelligent designs of daily wear. The wearable device is a portable device that can be directly worn on the body or integrated into clothes or an accessory of a user. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also implements a powerful function through software support, data exchange, and cloud interaction. Generalized wearable intelligent devices include full-featured and large-size devices that can implement complete or partial functions without depending on smartphones, such as smart watches or smart glasses, and devices that focus on only one type of application and need to work with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bands or smart jewelry for monitoring physical signs.

In addition, the terminal device may alternatively be a terminal device in an internet of things (IoT) system. IoT is an important part in future development of information technologies. A main technical feature of the IoT is to connect things to a network by using a communication technology, to implement an intelligent network for human-machine interconnection and thing-thing interconnection. An IoT technology can achieve massive connections, deep coverage, and terminal power saving by using, for example, a narrow band (NB) technology.

In addition, the terminal device may alternatively include sensors such as an intelligent printer, a train detector, and a gas station, and main functions include: collecting data (for some terminal devices), receiving control information and downlink data of a network device, sending an electromagnetic wave, and transmitting uplink data to the network device.

To facilitate understanding of embodiments of this application, a communication system usable in the communication method provided in embodiments of this application is first described in detail with reference toFIG.1. As shown inFIG.1, the communication system100may include at least one network device such as a network device101shown inFIG.1. The communication system100may further include at least one terminal device such as terminal devices102to107shown inFIG.1. The terminal devices102to107may be mobile or fixed. The network device101may communicate with one or more of the terminal devices102to107through a radio link. Each network device may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area, and may communicate with a terminal device located in the coverage area. For example, the network device may send configuration information to the terminal device, and the terminal device may send uplink data to the network device based on the configuration information. For another example, the network device may send downlink data to the terminal device. Therefore, a communication system includes the network device101and the terminal devices102to107inFIG.1.

Optionally, the terminal devices may directly communicate with each other. For example, the direct communication between the terminal devices may be implemented by using a D2D technology. As shown in the figure, the terminal devices105and106may directly communicate with each other by using the D2D technology, and the terminal devices105and107may directly communicate with each other by using the D2D technology. The terminal devices106and107may separately or simultaneously communicate with the terminal device105.

The terminal devices105to107may further communicate with the network device101separately. For example, direct communication with the network device101may be implemented. For example, the terminal devices105and106may directly communicate with the network device101in the figure. Alternatively, indirect communication with the network device101may be implemented. For example, the terminal device107communicates with the network device101through the terminal device105in the figure.

It should be understood that, by way of example,FIG.1shows one network device, a plurality of terminal devices, and communication links between the communication devices. Optionally, the communication system100may include a plurality of network devices, and the coverage of each network device may include different quantity of terminal devices, for example, more or fewer terminal devices. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

A plurality of antennas may be configured for each of the foregoing communication devices, for example, the network device101and the terminal devices102to107inFIG.1. The plurality of antennas may include at least one transmit antenna configured to send a signal and at least one receive antenna configured to receive a signal. In addition, each communication device additionally includes a transmitter and a receiver. A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that the transmitter and the receiver each may include a plurality of components related to signal transmitting and receiving (for example, a processor, a modulator, a multiplexer, a demodulator, a demultiplexer, or an antenna). Therefore, the network device and the terminal device may communicate with each other by using a multiple-antenna technology.

Optionally, the communication system100may further include another type of network entity, for example, a network controller or a mobility management entity. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

It should be understood that in the communication system100shown inFIG.1, any one of the network device101and the terminal devices102to107may be used in the following plurality of possible scenarios: modulation and demodulation, coding and decoding, precoding and detection reception, channel information extraction and compression, channel information reconstruction, and the like. It should be understood that the foregoing listed scenarios are merely examples, and should not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. Embodiments of this application include but are not limited thereto.

Specifically, the transmitter in the network device may be configured to modulate a signal, and the receiver in the terminal device may be configured to demodulate a modulated signal. The transmitter in the network device may be configured to encode a signal, and the receiver in the terminal device may be configured to decode an encoded signal. The transmitter in the network device may be configured to precode a signal, and the receiver in the terminal device may be configured to detect a precoded signal. The transmitter in the terminal device may be configured to compress channel information, and the receiver in the network device may be configured to reconstruct a channel based on compressed channel information.

In the communication method provided in embodiments of this application, both the network device and the terminal device may operate by using a neural network. The neural network used in the network device and the terminal device may be obtained based on a neural network obtaining method provided in embodiments of this application. For example, a transmitting-end neural network obtained by using the neural network obtaining method provided in embodiments of this application is used in the transmitter of the network device, and a receiving-end neural network obtained by using the neural network obtaining method provided in embodiments of this application is used in the receiver of the terminal device; and/or a transmitting-end neural network obtained by using the neural network obtaining method provided in embodiments of this application is used in the receiver of the terminal device, and a receiving-end neural network obtained by using the neural network obtaining method provided in embodiments of this application is used in the transmitter of the network device.

Therefore, the transmitter in the network device and the receiver in the terminal device may be jointly optimized based on the neural networks, or the transmitter in the terminal device and the receiver in the network device may be jointly optimized based on the neural networks. Therefore, performance of the communication system can be improved.

FIG.2shows a signal processing process performed by a transmitter and a receiver for which a neural network is configured.FIG.2shows a signal processing process of a transmitter using a neural network and a receiver using the neural network, by using channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction as examples.

As shown inFIG.2, a transmitting-end neural network configured to extract and compress channel information may include a pre-processing module, an information extraction module, and a post-processing module. However, this shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. The transmitting-end neural network configured to extract and compress channel information may not include the pre-processing module, but include the information extraction module and the post-processing module; or may not include the pre-processing module and the post-processing module, but include the information extraction module. It should be understood that modules included in the transmitting-end neural network may be defined based on different designs. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

A receiving-end neural network configured to reconstruct the channel information may include an inverse pre-processing module, an inverse information extraction module, and an inverse post-processing module. However, this shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. The receiving-end neural network configured to reconstruct the channel information may not include the inverse pre-processing module, but may include the inverse information extraction module and the inverse post-processing module; or may not include the inverse pre-processing module and the inverse post-processing module, but include the inverse information extraction module. It should be understood that modules included in the receiving-end neural network may be defined based on different designs. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

Several possible structures of the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network are listed below.

A first possible structure of the transmitting-end neural network configured to extract and compress the channel information is that the transmitting-end neural network includes the pre-processing module, the information extraction module, and the post-processing module. The pre-processing module may be configured to pre-process, based on a standardized data structure, original data input into the transmitting-end target neural network. The information extraction module may be configured to extract information from pre-processed data, so as to compress the pre-processed data to obtain compressed data. The post-processing module may be configured to perform quantization and bit mapping on the compressed data based on the standardized data structure, to generate air interface information.

A second possible structure of the transmitting-end neural network configured to extract and compress the channel information is that the transmitting-end neural network includes the information extraction module and the post-processing module. In other words, the transmitting-end target neural network may not include the pre-processing module. The pre-processing module may be configured in the transmitter, and may be configured to pre-process, based on the standardized data structure, original data input into the transmitter. Pre-processed data is input into the transmitting-end neural network. The information extraction module in the transmitting-end neural network may be configured to extract information from the pre-processed data, so as to compress the pre-processed data to obtain compressed data. The post-processing module may be configured to perform quantization and bit mapping on the compressed data based on the standardized data structure, to generate air interface information.

A third possible structure of the transmitting-end neural network configured to extract and compress the channel information is that the transmitting-end neural network includes the information extraction module. In other words, the transmitting-end neural network may not include the pre-processing module and the post-processing module. The pre-processing module and the post-processing module may be configured in the transmitter. The pre-processing module may be configured to pre-process, based on the standardized data structure, original data input into the transmitter. Pre-processed data is input into the transmitting-end neural network. The information extraction module in the transmitting-end neural network is configured to extract information from the pre-processed data, so as to compress the pre-processed data to obtain compressed data. The compressed data may be input into the post-processing module, and the post-processing module may be configured to perform quantization and bit mapping on the compressed data based on the standardized data structure, to generate air interface information. A first possible structure of the receiving-end neural network configured to reconstruct the channel information is that the receiving-end neural network includes the inverse post-processing module, the inverse information extraction module, and the inverse pre-processing module. The inverse post-processing module may be configured to parse, based on the standardized data structure, the air interface information input into the receiving-end target neural network, to obtain compressed data. The inverse information extraction module may be configured to decompress the compressed data. The inverse pre-processing module may be configured to process the decompressed data, to obtain the original data.

A second possible structure of the receiving-end neural network configured to reconstruct the channel information is that the receiving-end neural network includes the inverse information extraction module and the inverse post-processing module. In other words, the receiving-end neural network may not include the inverse pre-processing module. The inverse pre-processing module may be configured in the receiver. The inverse post-processing module in the receiving-end neural network may be configured to parse, based on the standardized data structure, the air interface information input into the receiving-end target neural network, to obtain compressed data. The inverse information extraction module may be configured to decompress the compressed data. The data before being compressed may be input into the inverse pre-processing module, and the inverse pre-processing module may be configured to process the decompressed data, to obtain the original data.

A third possible structure of the receiving-end target neural network configured to reconstruct the channel information is that the receiving-end target neural network includes the inverse information extraction module. In other words, the receiving-end neural network may not include the inverse pre-processing module and the inverse post-processing module. The inverse pre-processing module and the inverse post-processing module may be configured in the receiver. The inverse post-processing module may be configured to parse, based on the standardized data structure, the air interface information input into the receiver to obtain compressed data. The compressed data may be input into the receiving-end neural network. The inverse information extraction module in the receiving-end neural network may be configured to process the compressed data, to obtain the data before being compressed. The compressed data may be obtained by processing the received air interface information based on the standardized data structure. The data before being compressed may be input into the inverse pre-processing module, and the inverse pre-processing module may be configured to process the data before being compressed, to obtain the original data.

It should be understood that the foregoing listed several possible structures are merely examples, and should not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application.

It should be understood that the pre-processing, information processing, and post-processing need to be performed based on the standardized data structure. Correspondingly, the inverse post-processing, inverse information extraction, and inverse pre-processing also need to be performed based on the standardized data structure consistent with that at the transmitting end, so as to ensure that the receiving end provides reliable parsing of the air interface information.

The inverse pre-processing module may be considered as an inverse processing module of the pre-processing module, the inverse information extraction module may be considered as an inverse processing module of the information extraction module, and the inverse post-processing module may be considered as an inverse processing module of the post-processing module. In other words, behaviors of the modules in the transmitter and the modules in the receiver are inverse.

It should be further understood that the modules included in the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network listed above are named only for ease of understanding, and shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. For example, the pre-processing module may also be referred to as a pre-conditioning module, and the post-processing module may also be referred to as a quantization module.

FIG.2is a schematic diagram of channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction. Channel information shown inFIG.2is referred to as a channel H. After obtaining the channel H, the transmitter may first input the channel H into the pre-processing module, and the pre-processing module performs pre-processing on the channel H to obtain pre-processed channel feature information V. For example, singular value decomposition is performed on the channel H to obtain an eigenvector, or space-frequency domain transformation is performed on the channel H to obtain an angle-delay spectrum. V may be understood as a channel obtained after the pre-processing. The pre-processed channel feature information V is input into the information extraction module, and the information extraction module may extract information from the channel feature information V based on a pre-designed algorithm, to obtain a compressed channel feature information V′. For example, the compressed channel feature information V′ is obtained based on a function ƒen(V, Θen). The compressed channel feature information V′ is input into the post-processing module, and the post-processing module may perform quantization and bit mapping on the compressed channel feature information V′ based on a predefined data structure, to generate air interface information S.

After receiving the air interface information S, the receiver may input the air interface information S into the inverse post-processing module in the receiver. The inverse post-processing module may process the air interface information S based on the predefined data structure to restore compressed channel feature information {tilde over (V)}′. The compressed channel feature information {tilde over (V)}′ is input into the inverse information extraction module, and the inverse information extraction module may process the channel feature information {tilde over (V)}′ based on an algorithm corresponding to the information extraction module in the transmitter, so as to restore channel feature information {tilde over (V)} before being compressed. For example, the channel feature information {tilde over (V)} is restored based on a function ƒde(ƒen(V, Θen), Θde) The channel feature information {tilde over (V)} is input into the inverse pre-processing module, and the inverse pre-processing module may restore a channel {tilde over (H)} after processing the channel feature information {tilde over (V)}. It should be understood that the restored channel {tilde over (H)} is an estimated value of the channel H input into the transmitter. As shown in the figure, processing performed by the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network on the input data may be expressed by using the following function: {tilde over (V)}=ƒ(V, Θ)=ƒde(ƒen(ƒen(V, Θen), Θde) where Θ={Θen, Θde}.

It should be noted that in the foregoing process, the pre-processing module and the inverse pre-processing module need to operate based on a consistent rule, the information extraction module and the inverse information extraction module need to operate based on a consistent rule, and the post-processing module and the inverse post-processing module need to operate based on a consistent rule, to ensure that the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network can work cooperatively. “Consistent” herein means that two parties may be designed based on a consistent rule, but does not mean that the two parties use a same algorithm, a same data structure, or the like to process data. “Operate based on a consistent rule” aims to emphasize that algorithms and data structures used by both parties correspond with each other.

For example, the post-processing module in the transmitter performs quantization and bit mapping on the compressed channel V′ based on a specific data structure, to generate the air interface information S; and the inverse post-processing module in the receiver needs to restore the channel feature information {tilde over (V)}′ to the maximum extent based on the air interface information S and a corresponding data structure.

For another example, the information extraction module in the transmitter compresses the channel feature information V based on a specific algorithm, to obtain the compressed channel feature information V′; and the inverse information extraction module in the receiver needs to process the compressed channel feature information V′ based on a corresponding algorithm, to restore, to the maximum extent, the channel feature information {tilde over (V)} before being compressed.

It should be understood that, as an example of the channel information, the channel H shown inFIG.2is merely an example for ease of understanding, and should not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. Both the channel H and the channel feature information V listed above may be used as examples of the channel information. Due to different designs of the modules included in the neural network, channel information input into the transmitting-end neural network may be the channel H, or may be the channel feature information V. Output of the transmitting-end neural network may be the compressed channel feature information V′, or may be the air interface information S. Input of the receiving-end neural network may be the air interface information S, or may be the compressed channel feature information {tilde over (V)}′ that is restored based on the air interface information S. Channel information output from the receiving-end neural network may be the restored channel feature information {tilde over (V)}, or may be the restored channel {tilde over (H)}. In addition, because structures of the receiving-end neural network and the transmitting-end neural network are not necessarily completely symmetric, definitions of the channel information may also be different. For example, channel information input into the transmitting-end neural network may be the channel H, and channel information output by the receiving-end neural network may be the restored channel feature information {tilde over (V)}.

Based on different channel information, corresponding variations may be made to the function {tilde over (V)}=ƒ(V, Θ)=ƒde(ƒen(V, Θen), Θde) described above with reference toFIG.2. For example, a function may be expressed as Y=ƒ(X, Θ)=ƒde(ƒen(X, Θen), Θde). X represents channel information input into the transmitting-end neural network, and Y represents channel information output by the receiving-end neural network. For example, X may be H or V, and Y may be {tilde over (H)} or {tilde over (V)}.

It should be further understood that the transmitting-end neural network described above with reference toFIG.2is a neural network configured to extract and compress channel information, and the modules included in the transmitting-end neural network are related to channel information extraction and compression processes. The receiving-end neural network described above with reference toFIG.2is a neural network used to reconstruct channel information, and the modules included in the receiving-end neural network are also related to a channel information reconstruction process. Modules included in the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network may be different in other signal processing phases, such as coding and decoding, constellation modulation and demodulation, precoding, and detection reception. For brevity, examples are not listed one by one herein.

In actual commercial use, the transmitter and the receiver may be provided by different vendors. To satisfy the foregoing requirements, the transmitter or the receiver may need to download, from a peer end, a neural network structure and parameter information that match a current scenario; or the transmitter and the receiver download, from a network virtual processing node, a neural network structure and parameter information that match a current scenario. For example, a rule for generating and parsing air interface information is downloaded. For another example, parameter and structure descriptions of the neural network used in the transmitter to extract and compress information on the channel H are downloaded. This may cause high air interface signaling overheads.

In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a neural network obtaining method in a communication system that reduces huge air interface overheads caused when a transmitter and a receiver download a neural network structure and parameter information.

To better understand embodiments of this application, the following briefly describes terms used in this specification.

1. Neural network (NN): As an important branch of artificial intelligence, the neural network is a network structure that imitates an animal neural network behavior feature to perform information processing. A neural network structure includes a large quantity of nodes (or referred to as neurons) connected to each other. Input information is learned and trained based on a specific operation model to process information. One neural network includes an input layer, a hidden layer, and an output layer. The input layer is responsible for receiving an input signal. The output layer is responsible for outputting a calculation result of the neural network. The hidden layer is responsible for complex functions such as feature expression, and a function of the hidden layer is represented by a weight matrix and a corresponding activation function.

A deep neural network (DNN) is usually a multi-layer structure. Increasing the depth and width of a neural network can improve its expression capability and provide more powerful information extraction and abstract modeling capabilities for a complex system.

The DNN may be constructed in a plurality of manners, for example, may include but is not limited to a recurrent neural network (RNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), and a fully-connection neural network.

FIG.3is a schematic diagram of a feedforward neural network (FNN). As shown in the figure, different boxes represent different layers. For example, from left to right, the first layer is an input layer, the second layer is a hidden layer, and the third layer is an output layer. The DNN usually further includes a plurality of hidden layers, and functions of the hidden layers are extracting feature information to different degrees. The output layer may be configured to obtain required output information through mapping from the extracted feature information. Each black circle in the figure may represent one neuron, and neurons in different boxes represent neurons at different layers. A neuron connection mode and activation function used at each layer determine an expression function of the neural network.

2. Convolutional neural network (CNN): The CNN is a multi-layer neural network. Each layer includes a plurality of two-dimensional planes, and each plane includes a plurality of independent neurons. A plurality of neurons of each plane share a weight, and a quantity of parameters in the neural network may be reduced through weight sharing. Currently, in the convolutional neural network, a convolution operation performed by a processor is usually as follows: converting convolution of an input signal feature and a weight into a matrix multiplication operation between a signal matrix and a weight matrix. During a specific matrix multiplication operation, the signal matrix and the weight matrix are partitioned to obtain a plurality of fractional signal matrices and fractal weight matrices, and then matrix multiplication and accumulation operations are performed on the plurality of fractal signal matrices and fractal weight matrices.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram of a hidden layer in a CNN. A black box in the figure represents a channel of each layer, or referred to as a feature map. Different channels may correspond to a same convolution kernel or different convolution kernels. For the CNN, not all upper-layer and lower-layer neurons can be directly connected, but the “convolution kernel” is used as a medium. In the network, an original location relationship may still be retained after a convolution operation is performed on to-be-processed information. As shown in the figure, after the convolution operation is performed on information at an (m−1)thlayer on the left, an mthlayer on the right is obtained.

It should be understood thatFIG.4is merely an example for ease of understanding. For more detailed descriptions of the CNN, refer to a conventional technology. For brevity, details are not described herein.

3. Recurrent neural network (RNN): The RNN is an artificial neural network that has a hierarchical tree structure and whose network nodes perform recursion on input information in a sequence of the network nodes. In the RNN, output of a neuron may directly apply to the neuron at a next moment. To be specific, input of a neuron at an ithlayer at a moment m includes output of a neuron at an (i−1)thlayer at the moment, and further includes output of the neuron at a moment (m−1).

FIG.5is a schematic diagram of an RNN. Each black circle in the figure represents a neuron. It can be learned that, in addition to output of a neuron at a hidden layer1at a moment (shown by a straight line structure in the figure), input of a neuron at a hidden layer2further includes output of the neuron at a previous moment (shown by a semicircular arrow in the figure).

It should be understood thatFIG.5is merely an example for ease of understanding. For more detailed descriptions of the RNN, refer to a conventional technology. For brevity, details are not described herein.

4. Performance determining criterion: In embodiments of this application, to obtain a target neural network having good performance, a pre-constructed target neural network may be evaluated by using a performance determining criterion.

In a possible design, the performance determining criterion may include a performance indicator and an output condition. The evaluation on the target neural network may be: for example, a standardized performance measurement function may be used to obtain a performance measurement value, and the performance measurement value is input into the performance determining criterion and is compared with one or more performance indicators, to determine whether the performance measurement value satisfies the output condition.

By way of example, and not limitation, the performance measurement function may include but is not limited to one or more of the following: a mean square error (MSE), a normalized mean square error (NMSE), a mean absolute error (MAE), a maximum absolute error (also referred to as an absolute error bound), a correlation coefficient, a cross entropy, mutual information, a bit error rate, or a code error rate.

The MSE, the NMSE, the MAE, the maximum absolute error, the bit error rate, the code error rate, and the like may be used to represent a degree of difference. The correlation coefficient, the cross entropy, the mutual information, and the like may be used to represent a degree of similarity. However, a person skilled in the art may understand that, when a degree of difference between two values is high, a degree of similarity between the two values is low; or when a degree of difference between two values is low, a degree of similarity between the two values is high. Therefore, the degree of similarity correlates with the degree of difference.

The performance indicator may include one or more upper bounds of one or more performance indicators and/or one or more lower bounds of one or more performance indicators. The performance indicator may be represented, for example, by using one or more of the plurality of performance measurement functions that are listed above. Different performance indicators can be defined for different performance measurement functions.

For example, corresponding to a performance measurement function used to represent a degree of similarity, a higher degree of similarity indicates better performance. Using the correlation coefficient as an example, an upper bound of a performance indicator may be defined as 0.99999, and a lower bound of the performance indicator may be defined as 0.9.

For another example, corresponding to a performance measurement function used to represent a degree of difference, a smaller degree of difference indicates better performance. Using the MSE as an example, an upper bound of a performance indicator may be defined as 0.001, and a lower bound of the performance indicator may be defined as 0.1.

It should be understood that the performance indicator is an indicator specified for determining whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition; in other words, an acceptable range of performance that can be reached after the target neural network reaching the performance indicator is used in a transmitter or a receiver. For example, using a system throughput as an example, if a correlation coefficient is less than 0.9, it may be considered that performance is very poor; if a correlation coefficient is greater than or equal to 0.9, it may be considered that performance is acceptable; or if a correlation coefficient is greater than 0.99999, it may be considered that performance has no greater gain, or has a very small gain. Therefore, an acceptable range of the correlation coefficient is [0.9, 0.99999]. Therefore, for the correlation coefficient, reaching a lower bound of a performance indicator may mean that the correlation coefficient is greater than or equal to 0.9, and not exceeding an upper bound of the performance indicator may mean that the correlation coefficient is less than or equal to 0.99999.

For another example, using a code error rate as an example, if an MSE is greater than 0.1, it may be considered that performance is very poor; if an MSE is less than or equal to 0.1, it may be considered that performance is acceptable; or if an MSE is less than 0.001, it may be considered that performance has no greater gain. Therefore, an acceptable range of the MSE may be [0.001, 0.1]. Therefore, for the MSE, reaching a lower bound of a performance indicator may mean that the MSE is less than or equal to 0.1, and not exceeding an upper bound of the performance indicator may mean that the MSE is greater than or equal to 0.001.

It can be learned from the foregoing examples that in embodiments of this application, if the performance measurement function is used to represent a degree of similarity, a higher performance measurement value output by the performance measurement function indicates a higher degree of similarity and better performance of the target neural network. Therefore, a lower bound of a performance indicator is less than an upper bound thereof. If the performance measurement function is used to represent a degree of difference, a lower performance measurement value output by the performance measurement function indicates a smaller degree of difference, and indicates better performance of the target neural network. Therefore, an upper bound of a performance indicator is less than a lower bound of the performance indicator. In other words, an upper bound and a lower bound of a performance indicator are defined based on good and poor performance. Therefore, for different performance indicators, a value relationship between an upper bound or a lower bound and a specific value is not constant.

In addition, in embodiments of this application, related descriptions of “reaching a lower bound of a performance indicator” may mean that a degree of similarity is greater than or equal to a threshold (for ease of differentiation and description, for example, denoted as a first threshold), or may mean that a degree of difference is less than or equal to a threshold (for ease of differentiation and description, for example, denoted as a second threshold); and related descriptions of “not exceeding an upper bound of the performance indicator” may mean that the degree of similarity is less than or equal to a threshold (for ease of differentiation and description, for example, denoted as a third threshold), or may mean that the degree of difference is greater than or equal to a threshold (for ease of differentiation and description, for example, denoted as a fourth threshold). For the degree of similarity, the corresponding first threshold is less than the third threshold; and for the degree of difference, the corresponding second threshold is greater than the fourth threshold.

When the performance determining criterion is used to determine whether a target neural network satisfies an output condition, the determining may be performed based on one or more performance indicators. The one or more performance indicators may include, for example, one or more performance indicators given for one performance measurement function, for example, include an upper bound and/or a lower bound of the performance indicator. The one or more performance indicators may alternatively include one or more performance indicators given for each of a plurality of different performance measurement functions. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

For example, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition is determined based on a correlation coefficient. In a protocol, an upper bound and a lower bound of the correlation coefficient may be defined, and the output condition may be defined as follows: Each performance measurement value reaches a lower bound of a performance indicator, and does not exceed an upper bound of the performance indicator. As shown in the foregoing example, the lower bound is 0.9, and the upper bound is 0.99999. A result output by the target neural network and a reference neural network is input into the performance measurement function, and one or more performance measurement values may be obtained. The one or more performance measurement values are separately compared with the upper bound and the lower bound to determine whether the one or more performance measurement values all fall within a range of [0.9, 0.99999]. If yes, the output condition is satisfied. If not, the output condition is not satisfied.

For another example, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition is still determined based on a correlation coefficient. In a protocol, an upper bound and a lower bound of the correlation coefficient may be defined, and the output condition may be defined as follows: Each performance measurement value reaches a lower bound of a performance indicator, and 90% of performance measurement values do not exceed an upper bound of the performance indicator. As shown in the foregoing example, the lower bound is 0.9, and the upper bound is 0.99999. One or more performance measurement values output by the performance measurement function may be separately compared with the upper bound and the lower bound to determine whether the one or more performance measurement values reach the lower bound 0.9 and whether more than 90% of the performance measurement values do not exceed the upper bound 0.99999. If yes, the output condition is satisfied. If not, the output condition is not satisfied.

For still another example, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition is determined based on a correlation coefficient and a code error rate. In a protocol, that an upper bound of a performance indicator includes an upper bound and a lower bound of the correlation coefficient, and a lower bound of the code error rate is defined, and the output condition may be defined as follows: A performance measurement value reaches the lower bound of the correlation coefficient and the lower bound of the code error rate, and does not exceed the upper bound of the correlation coefficient. As shown in the foregoing example, the lower bound of the correlation coefficient is 0.9, the upper bound of the correlation coefficient is 0.99999, and the lower bound of the code error rate is 0.1. One or more performance measurement values that represent the correlation coefficient and that are output by the performance measurement function may be separately compared with the upper bound and the lower bound of the correlation coefficient to determine whether the one or more performance measurement values reach the lower bound 0.9 and do not exceed the upper bound 0.99999, and whether one or more performance measurement values that represent the code error rate and that are output by the performance measurement function reach the lower bound.

In addition, the performance determining criterion may further include an upper bound and/or a lower bound of a performance indicator, and an output condition that are specified for different service priorities.

For example, for a service such as a voice call or a video call, a corresponding performance indicator may be high, or an output condition is strict; and for a service such as a short message service, a corresponding performance indicator may be low, or an output condition is flexible.

For example, compared with that a lower bound of a correlation coefficient is 0.8, a performance indicator when the lower bound of the correlation coefficient is 0.9 is high. For another example, compared with that a lower bound of an MSE is 0.1, a performance indicator when the lower bound of the MSE is 0.01 is high. For still another example, compared with that an output condition is that some performance measurement values reach a lower bound of a performance indicator, that the output condition is that all performance measurement values reach the lower bound of the performance indicator is strict.

When a target neural network is evaluated, the target neural network may be evaluated by using a corresponding performance indicator and an output condition based on a priority of an applied service.

It should be understood that the performance determining criterion is described in detail above with reference to examples of a plurality of performance indicators and output conditions. However, it should be understood that the examples are shown merely for ease of understanding, and shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application.

5. A dual network (or referred to as a dual architecture): The dual network is used to describe a neural network structure jointly optimized by a transmitting end and a receiving end (for example, a base station side and a terminal side) in a communication network. The dual network may include a transmitting-end neural network and a receiving-end neural network. The dual network includes but is not limited to a receiving-end neural network and a transmitting-end neural network that are jointly constructed based on an autoencoder structure or various variation forms of the autoencoder structure, or another neural network structure combination. In the autoencoder structure, the transmitting-end neural network is an encoder neural network, and the receiving-end neural network is a decoder neural network. They restrict each other and work cooperatively.

It should be noted that an encoder and a decoder described herein are different from an encoder and a decoder described above for channel encoding and decoding.

In embodiments of this application, the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network may be a one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-one combination, to adapt to a plurality of system performance and implementation complexity requirements. A pair of neural networks coupled to each other is a transmitting-end neural network and a receiving-end neural network that can work cooperatively.

The following describes in detail the neural network obtaining method provided in embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the method may include a process of obtaining a transmitting-end neural network used in a transmitter and a process of obtaining a receiving-end neural network used in a receiver. The following describes procedures of obtaining a transmitting-end neural network and a receiving-end neural network with reference to different embodiments. For ease of differentiation and description, a to-be-obtained neural network is referred to as a target neural network below. A target neural network used in a transmitter is referred to as a transmitting-end target neural network, and a target neural network used in a receiver is referred to as a receiving-end target neural network.

It should be further understood that, for example, obtaining the transmitting-end target neural network and the receiving-end target neural network may be offline. For example, the transmitting-end target neural network and the receiving-end target neural network may be obtained from a same device, or may be obtained from different devices. This is not limited in embodiments of this application. A device configured to obtain the target neural network may be, for example, a communication device, or may be a computing device different from the communication device. This is not limited in embodiments of this application. For ease of description below, a device configured to obtain a target neural network is referred to as an obtaining device.

FIG.6is a schematic flowchart of a neural network obtaining method600according to an embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG.6, the method600includes operation610to operation630. The following describes the operations in the method600in detail.

In operation610, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition is determined based on a standardized reference data set, one or more standardized reference neural networks, and a standardized performance determining criterion.

The target neural network may be a dedicated neural network of an application. The target neural network may be used in each signal processing phase in a communication system, for example, coding and decoding, constellation modulation and demodulation, precoding and detection reception, channel information extraction and compression, and channel information reconstruction. Specifically, a transmitting-end neural network may be used for encoding, and a receiving-end neural network may be used for decoding. The transmitting-end neural network may be used for constellation modulation, and the receiving-end neural network may be used for demodulation. The transmitting-end neural network may be used for precoding, and the receiving-end neural network may be used for detection reception. The transmitting-end neural network may be used for channel information extraction and compression, and the receiving-end neural network may be used for channel information reconstruction.

It should be understood that the target neural network obtained according to the method provided in this embodiment of this application may be further used for another function. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

The target neural network may be constructed on an existing neural network structure. For example, a design is extended on a basic network structure such as a CNN or an RNN. Alternatively, a new network structure design may be used. The target neural network may be obtained by training the new network structure design based on the standardized reference data set and/or another data set related to a target application.

Related descriptions of the neural network structure have been described in detail above with reference toFIG.3toFIG.5. For brevity, details are not described herein again.

To make an output of the neural network to be as close as possible to a predicted value, an obtaining device may train the target neural network. For example, a weight vector of each layer of the neural network may be updated based on a difference between a predicted value of a current network and a desired target value. For example, if the predicted value of the network is high, the weight vector may be adjusted to make the predicted value lower. Through continuous adjustment, the neural network can predict the desired target value. Therefore, “how to compare the difference between the predicted value and the target value” needs to be predefined, to be specific, a loss function, a cost function, or an objective function are important equations used to measure the difference between the predicted value and the target value. The loss function is used as an example. A higher output value (loss) of the loss function indicates a larger difference. Therefore, training of the neural network becomes a process of reducing the output value as much as possible.

The training of the target neural network may be implemented based on the standardized reference data set and/or another data set related to the application.

For example, the standardized reference data set may include a reference data set used to train the target neural network and a reference data set used to evaluate performance of the target neural network. Standardization may refer to a protocol definition. Each vendor may construct a target neural network based on the foregoing method, and evaluate the target neural network based on the standardized reference data set.

Because the foregoing target neural network is a neural network used in a transmitter or a receiver, to obtain better performance in the communication system, the target neural network may be evaluated based on the standardized reference data set, the standardized reference neural network, and the standardized performance determining criterion, to determine whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition.

The reference data set, the reference neural network, and the performance determining criterion may all be standardized, or predefined in a protocol. A plurality of sets of different standardized configurations may be predefined in a protocol for different application scenarios. When the target neural network is evaluated based on different application scenarios, a set of standardized configurations that matches the application scenario may be used for evaluation. Specifically, in different application scenarios, the target neural network may be evaluated by using a matching reference data set, one or more reference neural networks, a performance measurement function, and a performance determining criterion, to obtain target neural networks used in the different scenarios.

The application scenarios described herein may be scenarios distinguished based on different air interface transmission conditions. For example, the foregoing application scenarios may include but are not limited to different channel scenarios such as an outdoor dense urban area, an outdoor common urban area, an outdoor rural area, an outdoor mountainous area, an indoor office, and an indoor factory; a single interference source, a plurality of interference sources, and a plurality of interference signal types with different strengths; different signal-to-noise ratio conditions of a high signal-to-noise ratio at a medium or near point and a low signal-to-noise ratio at a far point; and different moving conditions such as a low walking speed, a medium urban vehicle-mounted speed, and an ultra-high railway speed. Air interface transmission conditions vary in different application scenarios, and different application scenarios have different requirements on transmission reliability. A standardized configuration that matches an application scenario may include one or more of the following: a standardized reference data set, a standardized reference neural network, a standardized data structure, a standardized performance measurement function, a standardized performance determining criterion, or the like.

The reference neural network may include a receiving-end reference neural network and/or a transmitting-end reference neural network. In addition, when the reference neural network includes the receiving-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end reference neural network, the receiving-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end reference neural network may be one-to-one coupled.

The data structure may be used to generate and/or parse air interface information. More specifically, the data structure may be used by the transmitting-end neural network to generate the air interface information, or may be used by the receiving-end neural network to parse the air interface information. The data structure may also be understood as a generation rule of the air interface information or an interpretation rule of the air interface information.

It should be understood that the data structure is a broader generalization, and may be used to guide data processing in different data processing phases.

The foregoing channel information compression and extraction and channel information reconstruction are used as examples. The transmitting end may perform pre-processing on input original data based on a data structure (for example, denoted as a data structure 1), for example, re-arrange the input original data; extract information from re-arranged data based on another data structure (for example, denoted as a data structure 2), for example, determine a tensor expression to be used; and generate air interface information based on still another data structure (for example, denoted as a data structure 3), for example, determine how to perform quantization and bit mapping. The receiving end may parse the air interface information based on a data structure corresponding to the data structure 1, process parsed data based on a data structure corresponding to the data structure 2, and further obtain the original data based on a data structure corresponding to the data structure 3.

Specific content of the data structure is not limited in embodiments of this application.

A standardized implementable capability measurement value may be understood as a capability parameter required when the neural network is used to implement an application, and may be used to select a matching neural network and/or a matching performance indicator. The matching neural network herein may mean that the neural network can be used in the transmitter or the receiver under a given constraint, and the given constraint may include implementation complexity and/or air interface overheads. The matching performance indicator may be a performance indicator used to evaluate the neural network in a phase of obtaining the neural network.

For example, the implementable capability measurement value may include but is not limited to one or more of the following: air interface information overheads, an amount of computation required for implementing the neural network, a quantity of parameters stored for implementing the neural network, or computation precision required for implementing the neural network.

For example, the air interface information overheads may be, for example, bit overheads; the amount of computation required for implementing the neural network may be, for example, floating-point operations per second (FLOPS); and the computation precision required for implementing the neural network may be, for example, a 2-bit fixed-point, a 4-bit fixed-point, an 8-bit fixed-point, a 16-bit fixed-point, a 16-bit floating point, a 32-bit floating point, or a 64-bit floating point. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

Each neural network may represent a capability of the neural network by using a corresponding parameter listed above. Because implementation complexity of different applications may be different, requirements on a neural network capability are also different. The obtaining device may select a matching neural network based on a support capability of a current application for implementation complexity.

It should be noted that, based on implementable capability measurement values of different neural networks, the upper limits and/or lower limits of performance that can be achieved by the different neural networks may be different. Therefore, a same performance indicator may have one or more performance indicator thresholds (for example, including an upper bound and/or a lower bound) that correspond to one or more different capabilities. When the neural network is subsequently evaluated, a corresponding performance indicator may be selected for evaluation based on a selected implementable capability measurement value.

It should be understood that standardized configurations matching different application scenarios may be different from each other or may be partially the same. For example, in standardized configurations matching different application scenarios, a same reference data set may be shared, or a same data structure may be shared. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

The following describes in detail a process of evaluating the target neural network with reference to specific implementations.

In an implementation, each vendor may cascade the constructed target neural network with the one or more standardized reference neural networks based on the standardized reference data set, evaluate an output result obtained after the cascading, and determine, based on the standardized performance determining criterion, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition. If the output condition is satisfied, operation620may be performed to output the target neural network. If the output condition is not satisfied, operation630may be performed to optimize the target neural network until an obtained target neural network satisfying the output condition is output.

In another implementation, each vendor may input one or more pieces of data obtained from the standardized reference data set into the constructed target neural network and the one or more standardized reference neural networks, compare a result output by the target neural network with a result output by the reference neural network, and determine, based on the standardized performance determining criterion, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition. If the output condition is satisfied, operation620may be performed to output the target neural network. If the output condition is not satisfied, operation630may be performed to optimize the target neural network until an obtained target neural network satisfying the output condition is output.

The following describes the foregoing two implementations in more detail with reference to the examples inFIG.7toFIG.14. In other words, a plurality of examples shown below are more detailed descriptions of operation610. For ease of understanding and description, unless otherwise specified in the following descriptions, a transmitting-end neural network may include a pre-processing module, an information extraction module, and a post-processing module; and a receiving-end neural network may include an inverse post-processing module, an inverse information processing module, and an inverse pre-processing module.

FIG.7andFIG.8each are a schematic diagram of a neural network obtaining method according to an embodiment of this application. The neural network obtaining methods shown inFIG.7andFIG.8are examples in which a target neural network is cascaded with a standardized reference neural network, and an output result obtained after the cascading is evaluated. The target neural network shown inFIG.7may be used in a transmitter, and the target neural network is a transmitting-end reference neural network. The reference neural network may be used in a receiver, and the reference neural network is a receiving-end reference neural network. The target neural network shown inFIG.8may be used in a receiver, and the target neural network is a receiving-end target neural network. The reference neural network may be used in a transmitter, and the reference neural network is a transmitting-end reference neural network.

As shown inFIG.7, an obtaining device may obtain one or more pieces of transmitting-end data from a reference data set. For example, one piece of transmitting-end data is denoted as X, and X is input into the transmitting-end target neural network. After performing pre-processing and information extraction on the transmitting-end data X, the transmitting-end target neural network may obtain compressed data X′. The transmitting-end target neural network may further process the compressed data X′ based on a standardized data structure, to generate air interface information S. Then, the air interface information S may be input into the receiving-end reference neural network. After parsing the air interface information S based on the standardized data structure, the receiving-end reference neural network may restore compressed data {tilde over (X)}′. The receiving-end reference neural network may further obtain an output result Y based on the compressed data {tilde over (X)}′.

As described above, the transmitting-end target neural network may be used in different signal processing phases. Channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction are used as examples. The transmitting-end data X may be, for example, a channel H. The transmitting-end neural network may sequentially perform pre-processing, information extraction, and post-processing on the channel H based on the transmitting-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2, to generate the air interface information S.

The receiving-end reference neural network may reconstruct the channel H based on the received air interface information S. The receiving-end reference neural network may sequentially perform inverse post-processing, inverse information extraction, and inverse pre-processing on the air interface information S based on the receiving-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2, to restore a channel {tilde over (H)}. {tilde over (H)} output by the receiving-end reference neural network is an estimated value {tilde over (H)} of the channel H. It should be understood that the estimated value is an output result.

Thereafter, the obtaining device may input the output result Y and the input transmitting-end data X into a performance measurement function to obtain a performance measurement value. It should be understood that the obtaining device may input the output result Y and the transmitting-end data X into one or more performance measurement functions, to obtain one or more performance measurement values.

It should be further understood that the obtaining device may further process, based on the foregoing procedure, the one or more pieces of transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set, and may obtain a plurality of pairs of output results and transmitting-end data. Each of the plurality of pairs of output results and transmitting-end data may be input into one or more performance measurement functions to obtain one or more performance measurement values. The plurality of pairs of output results and transmitting-end data can be used to obtain a plurality of performance measurement values.

The obtaining device may further compare the output performance measurement value with a standardized performance indicator according to a standardized performance determining criterion, and then determine, based on a comparison result, whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies a preset output condition.

For example, the output condition may be that each performance measurement value reaches a lower bound of the performance indicator. The performance measurement function is, for example, an MSE, and the lower bound of the performance indicator may be, for example, a lower bound of the MSE. One or more pairs of output results and transmitting-end data are input into the performance measurement function to obtain one or more MSE values. For example, the output result {tilde over (H)} and the transmitting-end data H are input into the performance measurement function to obtain an MSE of {tilde over (H)} and H, that is, MSE(H, {tilde over (H)}). It may be further determined whether the obtained one or more performance measurement values reach the lower bound of the standardized MSE. If all of the one or more performance measurement values reach the lower bound of the standardized MSE, the output condition is satisfied. If a part or all of the one or more performance measurement values do not reach the lower bound of the standardized MSE, the output condition is not satisfied.

It should be understood that, if the receiving-end reference neural network is a matchable neural network selected based on an implementable capability measurement value, the foregoing performance indicator may be evaluated based on a performance indicator corresponding to the implementable capability measurement value.

It should be further understood that, as described above, based on different designs of modules included in the neural network, input and output of the transmitting-end neural network and input and output of the receiving-end neural network are not necessarily the same as those in the foregoing example. For example, the input of the transmitting-end neural network may be the channel H, and the output of the receiving-end neural network may be an eigenvector (it should be understood that the eigenvector may be understood as an example of the channel feature information V described above). Herein, the eigenvector output by the receiving end is a restored eigenvector, for example, denoted as Ũ. However, this does not affect use of the performance determining criterion. Due to a relationship between the eigenvector and the channel, U=eig(H) (where eig( ) represents a function used to solve the eigenvector), and the channel {tilde over (H)} may be further restored based on the eigenvector Ũ, or the eigenvector U may be further determined based on the channel H, so as to determine an MSE of U and Ũ. That is, MSE(H, {tilde over (H)}) may also be represented as MSE(U, Ũ). In other words, MSE(H, {tilde over (H)}) and MSE(U, Ũ) are interchangeable. The following describes the performance measurement function in a plurality of examples. For brevity, descriptions of same or similar cases are omitted below.

For another example, the output condition may be that 90% of performance measurement values reach a lower bound of the performance indicator. The performance measurement function is, for example, a calculation function of a correlation coefficient, and the lower bound of the performance indicator is, for example, a lower bound of the correlation coefficient. One or more pairs of output results and transmitting-end data are input into the performance measurement function to obtain one or more correlation coefficients. For example, a correlation coefficient between the output result {tilde over (H)} and the transmitting-end data H may be represented as Corr(H, {tilde over (H)}) or Corr(U, Ũ). Corr( ) represents a function for calculating a correlation coefficient. The obtaining device may further determine whether the obtained one or more performance measurement values reach the lower bound of the standardized correlation coefficient. If more than 90% of the performance measurement values reach the lower bound of the correlation coefficient, the output condition is satisfied. If less than 90% of the performance measurement values reach the lower bound of the correlation coefficient, the output condition is not satisfied.

It should be understood that the MSE and the correlation coefficient are merely examples. The performance indicator and the related performance measurement function thereof used by the obtaining device to determine whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition are not limited in embodiments of this application. It should be further understood that reaching the lower bound of the performance indicator may be used as an example of the output condition of the target neural network, but shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application.

Because the performance determining criterion has been described in detail above with reference to a plurality of examples, for brevity, more output conditions are not listed herein, and different output conditions are also not described in detail by using examples one by one.

As shown inFIG.8, an obtaining device may obtain one or more pieces of transmitting-end data from a reference data set. For example, one piece of transmitting-end data is denoted as X, and X is input into the transmitting-end reference neural network. After performing pre-processing and information extraction on the transmitting-end data X, the transmitting-end reference neural network may obtain compressed data X′. The transmitting-end reference neural network may further process the compressed data X′ based on a standardized data structure, to generate air interface information S. Then, the air interface information S may be input into the receiving-end target neural network. After parsing the air interface information S based on the standardized data structure, the receiving-end target neural network may restore compressed data {tilde over (X)}′. The receiving-end target neural network may further obtain an output result Y based on the compressed data {tilde over (X)}′.

Channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction are still used as examples. The transmitting-end data X may be a channel H. The transmitting-end reference neural network may sequentially perform pre-processing, information extraction, and post-processing on the channel H based on the transmitting-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2, to generate the air interface information S.

The receiving-end target neural network may reconstruct the channel H based on the received air interface information S. The receiving-end target neural network may sequentially perform inverse post-processing, inverse information extraction, and inverse pre-processing on the air interface information based on the receiving-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2, to restore a channel {tilde over (H)}. {tilde over (H)} output by the receiving-end target neural network is an estimated value {tilde over (H)} of the channel H. It should be understood that the estimated value is also an output value.

Thereafter, the obtaining device may input the output result Y and the input transmitting-end data X into a performance measurement function to obtain a performance measurement value. It should be understood that the obtaining device may input the output result Y and the transmitting-end data X into one or more performance measurement functions, to obtain one or more performance measurement values.

It should be further understood that the obtaining device may further process, based on the foregoing procedure, the one or more pieces of transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set, and may obtain a plurality of pairs of output results and transmitting-end data. Each of the plurality of pairs of output results and transmitting-end data may be input into one or more performance measurement functions to obtain one or more performance measurement values. The plurality of pairs of output results and transmitting-end data can be used to obtain a plurality of performance measurement values.

The obtaining device may further compare the output performance measurement value with a standardized performance indicator according to a standardized performance determining criterion, and then determine, based on a comparison result, whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies a preset output condition.

Because the performance determining criterion has been described in detail above with reference to a plurality of examples, for brevity, more output conditions are not listed herein, and different output conditions are also not described in detail by using examples one by one.

FIG.9andFIG.10each are a schematic diagram of a neural network obtaining method according to an embodiment of this application. The neural network obtaining methods shown inFIG.9andFIG.10are examples in which a standardized reference neural network is used as a reference to evaluate a target neural network obtained through training. A target neural network and a reference neural network shown inFIG.9may be used in a transmitter. The target neural network is a transmitting-end target neural network, and the reference neural network is a transmitting-end reference neural network. A target neural network and a reference neural network shown inFIG.10may be used in a receiver. The target neural network is a receiving-end target neural network, and the reference neural network is a receiving-end reference neural network.

As shown inFIG.9, an obtaining device may obtain one or more pieces of transmitting-end data from a reference data set. Each piece of transmitting-end data may be input into the transmitting-end target neural network and the transmitting-end reference neural network, to obtain target air interface information output from the transmitting-end target neural network and reference air interface information generated from the transmitting-end reference neural network.

One piece of transmitting-end data X is used as an example. The transmitting-end data X is input into the transmitting-end target neural network and the transmitting-end reference neural network. The transmitting-end reference neural network may perform pre-processing and information extraction on the transmitting-end data X based on a pre-designed algorithm, to obtain compressed data X0′. The transmitting-end reference neural network may process the compressed data X0′ based on a standardized data structure, to obtain reference air interface information S0generated by the transmitting-end reference neural network. The transmitting-end target neural network may perform pre-processing and information extraction on the transmitting-end data X based on an algorithm corresponding to a receiving-end neural network, to obtain compressed data X1′. The transmitting-end target neural network may process the compressed data X1′ based on the standardized data structure, to obtain target air interface information S1generated by the transmitting-end target neural network.

A pre-processing module configured to pre-process the transmitting-end data X may be a module shared by the transmitting-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end target neural network, that is, the processes of pre-processing the transmitting-end data X are performed by a same pre-processing module. Alternatively, pre-processing modules configured to pre-process the transmitting-end data X may be modules separately included in the transmitting-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end target neural network, that is, the processes of pre-processing the transmitting-end data X are respectively performed by the transmitting-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end target neural network.

Certainly, the pre-processing module may alternatively not be included in the transmitting-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end target neural network, and exists independently in the transmitter. The pre-processing module may separately input pre-processed data to the transmitting-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end target neural network. In this case, the transmitting-end data X is input into the transmitting-end target neural network and the transmitting-end reference neural network after being processed by the pre-processing module.

Channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction are still used as examples. The transmitting-end data X may be a channel H. In an implementation, the channel H may be separately input into the transmitting-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end target neural network. The transmitting-end reference neural network and the transmitting-end target neural network may separately perform pre-processing, information extraction, and post-processing on the channel H in sequence based on the transmitting-end neural network operation procedure shown inFIG.2, to respectively obtain the reference air interface information S0and the target air interface information S1.

Then, the obtaining device may input the reference air interface information S0and the target air interface information S1into a performance measurement function to obtain a performance measurement value. It should be understood that the obtaining device may input the reference air interface information S0and the target air interface information S1into one or more performance measurement functions, to obtain one or more performance measurement values.

It should be further understood that the obtaining device may further process, based on the foregoing procedure, the one or more pieces of transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set, and may obtain a plurality of pairs of reference air interface information and target air interface information. A pair of reference air interface information and target air interface information obtained from the same transmitting-end data may be input into one or more performance measurement functions to obtain one or more performance measurement values. A plurality of performance measurement values may be obtained by using a plurality of pairs of reference air interface information and target air interface information.

The obtaining device may further compare the output performance measurement value with a standardized performance indicator according to a standardized performance determining criterion, and then determine, based on a comparison result, whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies a preset output condition.

Because the performance determining criterion has been described in detail above with reference to a plurality of examples, for brevity, more output conditions are not listed herein, and different output conditions are also not described in detail by using examples one by one.

As shown inFIG.10, an obtaining device may input one or more pieces of air interface information into the receiving-end reference neural network and the receiving-end target neural network. The one or more pieces of air interface information may be directly obtained from a reference data set, or may be air interface information obtained from a transmitter after transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set is input into the transmitter. This is not limited in embodiments of this application, provided that air interface information input into the receiving-end reference neural network and the receiving-end target neural network each time is same air interface information.

In a possible design, the air interface information input into the receiving-end reference neural network and the receiving-end target neural network may be obtained in the following manner: The transmitting-end data obtained from the reference data set is input into a transmitting-end reference neural network, and the transmitting-end reference neural network may process the input transmitting-end data based on a predefined data structure, to obtain air interface information to be sent to the receiving-end target neural network and the receiving-end reference neural network.

The air interface information output by the transmitting-end reference neural network may be input into the receiving-end reference neural network coupled to the transmitting-end reference neural network. In other words, in this embodiment, a receiving-end target neural network may be evaluated by using a pair of a transmitting-end reference neural network and a receiving-end reference neural network that are coupled to each other.

One piece of air interface information S is used as an example. The air interface information S may be input into the receiving-end target neural network and the receiving-end reference neural network. The receiving-end reference neural network may parse the air interface information S based on a standardized data structure, and may further process a parsing result based on a pre-designed algorithm, to obtain a reference output result Y0output by the receiving-end reference neural network. The receiving-end target neural network may parse the air interface information S based on the standardized data structure, and may further process a parsing result based on an algorithm corresponding to the receiving-end reference neural network, to obtain a target output result Y1output by the receiving-end target neural network.

Channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction are still used as examples. The air interface information S is input into the receiving-end target neural network and the receiving-end reference neural network. After receiving the air interface information S, the receiving-end reference neural network may sequentially perform inverse post-processing, inverse information extraction, and inverse pre-processing on the air interface information S based on the receiving-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2, to obtain an estimated value {tilde over (H)}0of a channel H. After receiving the air interface information S, the receiving-end target neural network may sequentially perform inverse post-processing, inverse information extraction, and inverse pre-processing on the air interface information S based on the receiving-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2, to obtain an estimated value {tilde over (H)}1of the channel H. It should be understood that the estimated value {tilde over (H)}0output by the reference neural network is also a reference output result. The estimated value {tilde over (H)}1output by the target neural network is also a target output result.

Then, the obtaining device may input the reference output result {tilde over (H)}0and the target output result {tilde over (H)}1into a performance measurement function, to obtain a performance measurement value. It should be understood that the obtaining device may input the reference output result {tilde over (H)}0and the target output result {tilde over (H)}1into one or more performance measurement functions, to obtain one or more performance measurement values.

It should be further understood that the obtaining device may process the one or more pieces of air interface information based on the foregoing procedure, to obtain a plurality of target output results output from the receiving-end target neural network and a plurality of reference output results output from the reference neural network. A pair of a target output result and a reference output result obtained based on same air interface information may be input into one or more performance measurement functions to obtain one or more performance measurement values. A plurality of performance measurement values may be obtained by using a plurality of pairs of target output results and reference output results.

The obtaining device may further compare the output performance measurement value with a standardized performance indicator according to a standardized performance determining criterion, and then determine, based on a comparison result, whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies a preset output condition.

Because the performance determining criterion has been described in detail above with reference to a plurality of examples, for brevity, more output conditions are not listed herein, and different output conditions are also not described in detail by using examples one by one.

With reference toFIG.7toFIG.10, the foregoing describes processes in which an obtaining device evaluates a target neural network with reference to a standardized transmitting-end reference neural network and/or receiving-end reference neural network. However, it should be understood that the foregoing listed examples should not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application.

For example, the obtaining device may alternatively evaluate a target neural network by using two different reference neural networks. The two reference neural networks may generate two different output results based on same input. The two output results may be output results of two reference neural networks designed based on obtaining different performance lower limits, or the two output results may be output results of two reference neural networks designed based on obtaining an upper limit and a lower limit of performance. Therefore, both the two output results may be used to determine whether the target neural network satisfies an output condition.

More specifically, if the two output results are output results of two different reference neural networks designed based on obtaining different performance lower limits, the two output results, may be separately input, with transmitting-end data, into different performance measurement functions to obtain different performance measurement values, and the performance measurement value may be compared with a lower bound of a corresponding performance indicator. When both of the two output results exceed the lower bound of the performance indicator, it is determined that the target neural network satisfies the output condition. Therefore, it can be ensured that performance of the target neural network is not lower than the lower limit when the target neural network is used.

If the two output results are output results of two reference neural networks designed based on obtaining an upper limit and a lower limit of performance, in the two output results, the output result of the reference neural network designed based on obtaining the upper limit of the performance and transmitting-end data may be input into a performance measurement function, to obtain a performance measurement value. The performance measurement value may be compared with an upper bound of a performance indicator, so that performance of the target neural network does not exceed the upper limit when the target neural network is used. The output result of the reference neural network designed based on obtaining the lower limit of the performance and the transmitting-end data may be input into the performance measurement function, to obtain another performance measurement value. The performance measurement value may be compared with a lower bound of the performance indicator, so that it can be ensured that performance of the target neural network is not lower than the lower limit when the target neural network is used.

FIG.11toFIG.14below show processes in which an obtaining device evaluates a target neural network with reference to a plurality of standardized transmitting-end reference neural networks and/or receiving-end reference neural networks.

FIG.11shows a process in which an obtaining device determines, with reference to two standardized reference neural networks, whether a target neural network satisfies an output condition. InFIG.11, the target neural network may be cascaded with the reference neural networks. The target neural network may be used in a transmitter, and is a transmitting-end target neural network. The reference neural networks may be used in a receiver, and are receiving-end reference neural networks.

One (for example, a receiving-end reference neural network1in the figure) of the two receiving-end reference neural networks shown inFIG.11may be a neural network designed based on obtaining a lower limit of specific performance measurement (for example, an MSE), and the other (for example, a receiving-end reference neural network2in the figure) is a neural network designed based on obtaining a lower limit of other performance measurement (for example, a correlation coefficient). Air interface information S output by the transmitting-end target neural network is separately input into the receiving-end reference neural network1and the receiving-end reference neural network2. The receiving-end reference neural network1and the receiving-end reference neural network2may obtain output results based on the receiving-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2. For example, the receiving-end reference neural network1may obtain an output result Y01, and the receiving-end reference neural network2may obtain an output result Y02. Based on the foregoing method, the obtaining device may input the output results Y01and Y02generated by the receiving-end reference neural networks, separately with transmitting-end data X input into the transmitting-end target neural network, to a performance measurement function, to obtain a performance measurement value, and further determine, according to a performance determining criterion and the performance measurement value, whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies the output condition.

The performance measurement function shown inFIG.11includes an MSE and a correlation coefficient. InFIG.11, a performance measurement value MSE(X, Y01) may be obtained based on the transmitting-end data X and the output result Y01, and a performance measurement value correlation coefficient (X, Y02) may be obtained based on the transmitting-end data X and the output result Y02. The obtaining device further determines, with reference to a lower bound of a standardized MSE and a lower bound of a standardized correlation coefficient, whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies the output condition.

Optionally, the output condition is that: the performance measurement value of the output result Y01generated by the receiving-end reference neural network1and the transmitting-end data reaches the lower bound of the MSE, and the performance measurement value of the output result Y02generated by the receiving-end reference neural network2and the transmitting-end data reaches the lower bound of the correlation coefficient. Because the two receiving-end reference neural networks that output the foregoing two output results are respectively obtained based on different performance lower limits, the obtained performance measurement values may be respectively compared with lower bounds of different performance indicators.

In this embodiment, if MSE(X, Y01) reaches the lower bound of the performance indicator, and the correlation coefficient (X, Y02) reaches the lower bound of the correlation coefficient, the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies the output condition.

If one of the foregoing conditions is not satisfied, the target neural network does not satisfy the output condition. For example, for an output condition 1, if MSE(X, Y01) does not reach the lower bound of the MSE, or the correlation coefficient (X, Y02) does not reach the lower bound of the correlation coefficient, it may be determined that the transmitting-end target neural network does not satisfy the output condition.

It should be understood that the lower bound of the MSE and the lower bound of the correlation coefficient may be a lower bound that matches a capability satisfied by the target neural network. For example, the obtaining device may select a corresponding performance indicator based on a selected implementable capability measurement value satisfied by the target neural network, to evaluate the target neural network.

It should be further understood that the foregoing two output results Y01and Y02may be obtained by processing same air interface information by two different reference neural networks. For example, one is a high-complexity deep convolutional network, and the other is a low-complexity lightweight convolutional network. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

It should be understood that there may be two or more receiving-end reference neural networks cascaded with the transmitting-end target neural network. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

For example, more receiving-end reference neural networks are cascaded with the transmitting-end target neural network. A part (for example, denoted as a receiving-end reference neural network set 1) of the receiving-end reference neural networks may be a neural network designed based on obtaining a lower limit of performance, and the other part (for example, denoted as a receiving-end reference neural network set 2) may be a neural network designed based on obtaining an upper limit of performance. Therefore, output results of the more receiving-end neural networks can be obtained. The output results may also be input into a performance measurement function separately with the transmitting-end data input into the transmitting-end target neural network, to obtain a plurality of performance measurement values.

In this case, for example, the output condition may be as follows: Performance measurement values of results output by the receiving-end reference neural network set 1 and the transmitting-end data reach a lower bound of a performance indicator, and performance measurement values of results output by the receiving-end reference neural network set 2 and the transmitting-end data do not exceed an upper bound of the performance indicator. Alternatively, the output condition may be as follows: Performance measurement values of results output by the receiving-end reference neural network set 1 and the transmitting-end data reach a lower bound of a performance indicator, and more than 90% of performance measurement values of results output by the receiving-end reference neural network set 2 and the transmitting-end data do not exceed an upper bound of the performance indicator; or the like. For brevity, details are not described herein again. It should be understood that specific content of the output condition is not limited in embodiments of this application.

FIG.12shows a process in which an obtaining device determines, with reference to two standardized reference neural networks, whether a target neural network satisfies an output condition. InFIG.12, the target neural network may be cascaded with the reference neural networks. The target neural network is used in a receiver, and is a receiving-end target neural network. The reference neural networks are used in a transmitter, and are transmitting-end reference neural networks. One (for example, a reference neural network1in the figure) of the two reference neural networks shown inFIG.12may be a neural network specified based on obtaining a lower limit of specific performance measurement (for example, an MSE), and the other (for example, a reference neural network2in the figure) is a neural network specified based on obtaining a lower limit of other performance measurement (for example, a correlation coefficient). Air interface information S01may be obtained by using the transmitting-end reference neural network1, and air interface information S02may be obtained by using the transmitting-end neural network2. The receiving-end target neural network may separately obtain output results Y1and Y2based on the receiving-end neural network operation procedure shown inFIG.2and the air interface information S01and S02. Based on the foregoing method, the obtaining device may input, into a performance measurement function, transmitting-end data X input into the transmitting-end reference neural network and the output results Y1and Y2separately obtained by the receiving-end target neural network based on the air interface information S01and S02, to obtain a performance measurement value, and further determine, according to a performance determining criterion and the performance measurement value, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition.

The performance measurement function shown inFIG.12includes an MSE and a correlation coefficient. A performance measurement value correlation coefficient (X, Y2) can be obtained by using the transmitting-end data X and the output result Y2. The obtaining device further determines, with reference to a lower bound of a standardized MSE and a lower bound of a standardized correlation coefficient, whether the receiving-end target neural network satisfies the output condition. Because the determining process has been described in detail above with reference to the performance determining criterion, for brevity, details are not described herein again.

How to determine, by using an upper bound and a lower bound of a performance indicator, whether a target neural network satisfies an output condition is not limited to the foregoing manner of cascading the target neural network to one reference neural network. A training device may alternatively input one or more pieces of transmitting-end data to a transmitting-end target neural network and a transmitting-end reference neural network, and compare an output result of the transmitting-end target neural network with an output result of the transmitting-end reference neural network, to determine whether the transmitting-end target neural network satisfies an output condition.

FIG.13shows a process in which an obtaining device determines, with reference to two standardized reference neural networks, whether a target neural network satisfies an output condition. Both the target neural network and the reference neural networks may be used in a transmitter, and are respectively a transmitting-end target neural network and transmitting-end reference neural networks.

One (for example, a transmitting-end reference neural network1in the figure) of the two transmitting-end reference neural networks shown inFIG.13may be a neural network specified based on obtaining a lower limit of specific performance measurement (for example, an MSE), and the other (for example, a transmitting-end reference neural network2in the figure) is a neural network specified based on obtaining a lower limit of other performance (for example, a correlation coefficient). Same transmitting-end data X is separately input into the transmitting-end reference neural network1, the transmitting-end reference neural network2, and the transmitting-end target neural network. The transmitting-end reference neural network1, the transmitting-end reference neural network2, and the transmitting-end target neural network may separately process the transmitting-end data X, for example, process the transmitting-end data X based on the transmitting-end neural network operation procedure listed inFIG.2, to generate different air interface information. The transmitting-end reference neural network1may generate reference air interface information S01, the transmitting-end reference neural network2may generate reference air interface information S02, and the transmitting-end target neural network may generate target air interface information S1. Based on the foregoing method, the obtaining device inputs the target air interface information S1and the reference air interface information S01and S02into a performance measurement function, to obtain a performance measurement value, and may further determine, according to a performance determining criterion and the performance measurement value, whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition. Because the determining process has been described in detail above with reference to the performance determining criterion, for brevity, details are not described herein again.

FIG.14shows a process in which an obtaining device determines, with reference to two standardized reference neural networks, whether a target neural network satisfies an output condition. The reference neural networks inFIG.14include a transmitting-end reference neural network used in a transmitter and receiving-end reference neural networks used in a receiver. The target neural network is used in a receiver, and is a receiving-end target neural network.

The obtaining device may input, into the transmitting-end reference neural network, transmitting-end data obtained from a reference data set. The transmitting-end reference neural network may generate air interface information S based on a standardized data interface. The air interface information S may be input into the receiving-end target neural network and two receiving-end reference neural networks. One (for example, a receiving-end reference neural network1in the figure) of the two receiving-end reference neural networks may be a neural network designed based on obtaining a lower limit of specific performance measurement (for example, an MSE), and the other (for example, a receiving-end reference neural network2in the figure) may be a neural network designed based on obtaining a lower limit of other performance (for example, a correlation coefficient). The receiving-end reference neural network1, the receiving-end reference neural network2, and the transmitting-end target neural network may separately parse the air interface information S based on a standardized data structure, to obtain different output results. A reference output result Y01may be obtained by using the receiving-end reference neural network1, a reference output result Y02may be obtained by using the receiving-end reference neural network2, and a target output result Y1may be obtained by using the receiving-end target neural network. Based on the foregoing method, the obtaining device may input the target output result Y1and the reference output results Y01and Y02into a performance measurement function, to obtain a performance measurement value, and may further determine, according to a performance determining criterion and the performance measurement value, whether the receiving-end target neural network satisfies the output condition. Because the determining process has been described in detail above with reference to the performance determining criterion, for brevity, details are not described herein again.

It should be understood that, for ease of understanding only, the foregoing describes in detail a specific implementation process of operation610with reference toFIG.7toFIG.14. However, these examples are shown merely for ease of understanding, and should not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. Based on a same conception, a person skilled in the art may perform equivalent replacement or simple variation on a part or all of the foregoing operations to achieve a same effect. Therefore, the equivalent replacement or simple variation shall fall within the protection scope of embodiments of this application.

It should be further understood that, inFIG.7toFIG.14, a specific process of operation610is described by using modules included in the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network shown inFIG.2as examples. However, this shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. When different designs are made for the modules included in the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network, input and output of the transmitting-end neural network may be different from those shown in the figure, and input and output of the receiving-end neural network may also be different from those shown in the figure.

Thereafter, the obtaining device may perform operation620or operation630depending on whether the target neural network satisfies the output condition. If the target neural network satisfies the output condition, operation620may be performed to output the target neural network. If the target neural network does not satisfy the output condition, operation630may be performed to continue to optimize the target neural network.

A process in which the obtaining device optimizes the target neural network may include but is not limited to adjusting a neural network structure design, adjusting the reference data set, adjusting the neural network training method, adjusting a definition of a cost function, a loss function, or an objective function, changing a neural network initialization method, changing a constraint condition of a neural network parameter, changing a definition of an activation function of the neural network, and the like.

By performing one or more of the foregoing listed items, the obtaining device may obtain an optimized target neural network. The obtaining device may further evaluate the optimized target neural network to determine whether the optimized target neural network satisfies the output condition. For a specific process in which the obtaining device evaluates the optimized target neural network, refer to related descriptions in operation610above. For brevity, details are not described herein again.

Based on the foregoing technical solutions, the standardized reference data set, the standardized reference neural network, and the standardized performance determining criterion are introduced, so that the obtaining device can evaluate the target neural network based on the existing standardized reference neural network, and optimize the target neural network when the target neural network does not satisfy the output condition, until the target neural network satisfies the output condition. Therefore, overheads of downloading a neural network structure and parameter information through an air interface are reduced. In addition, interconnection between products of different vendors can be ensured. On the premise that performance is ensured, differentiated designs and competitiveness of the products of the different vendors can further be reflected. Therefore, on the whole, feasibility of implementing a dual network is greatly improved.

It should be understood that, for ease of understanding only, channel information extraction and compression and channel information reconstruction are used as examples to further describe the foregoing method in detail. However, this shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. In another information processing phase listed above, the neural network obtaining method provided in embodiments of this application is still applicable. For brevity, examples are not listed one by one herein.

The target neural network obtained based on the foregoing method may be used in a communications network. For example, the transmitting-end target neural network may be used in a network device, and the receiving-end target neural network may be used in a terminal device. The network device may include the transmitter described above, and the terminal device may include the receiver described above. For another example, the transmitting-end target neural network may be used in a terminal device, and the receiving-end target neural network may be used in a network device. The terminal device may include the transmitter described above, and the network device may include the receiver described above. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

Because the air interface transmission condition between the network device and the terminal device varies with the environment in which the network device and the terminal device are located, when a target neural network is selected to be used in the network device and the terminal device, a matching scenario mode needs be selected based on the current air interface transmission condition. The air interface transmission condition may include but is not limited to a channel status, an interference status, and the like.

One of the network device and the terminal device may determine the scenario mode based on the air interface transmission condition, to determine the target neural network that is suitable for the current air interface transmission condition.

FIG.15is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application. The method700shown inFIG.15may include operation710to operation750. The following describes the operations in the method700in detail.

In operation710, a terminal device sends capability information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, a network device receives the capability information of the terminal device.

Specifically, the capability information may indicate an implementable capability measurement value. The implementable capability measurement value may be an implementable capability measurement value of a neural network that can be used in the terminal device. The network device may select a matching neural network based on the implementable capability measurement value reported by the terminal device and a scenario mode determined based on an air interface transmission condition between the network device and the terminal device.

Specific content of the implementable capability measurement value has been described in detail in the foregoing method600. For brevity, details are not described herein again.

In operation720, the network device determines the scenario mode based on the air interface transmission condition between the network device and the terminal device.

For example, the network device may continuously or periodically obtain the air interface transmission condition between the network device and the terminal device, for example, obtain the air interface transmission condition through channel measurement and interference measurement. The periodicity may be a predefined value. An actual implementation of how to obtain the air interface transmission condition by the network device is not limited in embodiments of this application.

The network device may determine the current scenario mode based on the air interface transmission condition between the network device and the terminal device, for example, a channel status or an interference status. For example, the scenario mode may include but is not limited to different channel scenarios such as an outdoor dense urban area, an outdoor common urban area, an outdoor rural area, an outdoor mountainous area, an indoor office, and an indoor factory; a single interference source, a plurality of interference sources, and a plurality of interference signal types with different strengths; different signal-to-noise ratio conditions of a high signal-to-noise ratio at a medium or near point and a low signal-to-noise ratio at a far point; and different moving conditions such as a low walking speed, a medium urban vehicle-mounted speed, and an ultra-high railway speed. Because different scenarios may have different impact on an air interface transmission condition, different scenario modes may be matched with different neural networks, so as to apply, to the network device and the terminal device, a neural network that matches the current air interface transmission condition. In operation730, the network device sends indication information of the scenario mode to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the indication information of the scenario mode from the network device.

After determining the scenario mode, the network device may send the indication information of the scenario mode to the terminal device by using signaling, so that the terminal device can select a neural network one-to-one coupled to the network device to work cooperatively.

There may be a plurality of manners in which the network device indicates the scenario mode. For example, correspondences between a plurality of indication bits and a plurality of scenario modes may be predefined, and different indication bits indicate different scenario modes.

Optionally, the indication information of the scenario mode is carried in higher layer signaling. The higher layer signaling is, for example, a radio resource control (RRC) message or a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

That is, the scenario mode may be statically configured or semi-statically configured.

Optionally, the indication information of the scenario mode is carried in physical layer signaling. The physical layer signaling is, for example, downlink control information (DCI).

That is, the scenario mode may be dynamically configured.

In operation740, the network device receives acknowledgment information from the terminal device, where the acknowledgment information indicates that the indication information of the scenario mode is successfully received.

The terminal device may send the acknowledgment information to the network device based on successful reception of the indication information.

For example, the terminal device may send the acknowledgment information when the indication information is successfully received, and does not send the acknowledgment information when the indication information is not successfully received. The network device may start a timer after sending the indication information of the scenario mode. Duration of the timer may be a predefined value. If the acknowledgment information is received before the timer expires, it may be determined that the terminal device successfully receives the indication information of the scenario mode; otherwise, it is considered that the terminal device fails to receive the indication information of the scenario mode. In other words, operation740is an optional operation. If the terminal device fails to receive the indication information, the network device may not receive the acknowledgment information from the terminal device.

For another example, the acknowledgment information may be an indication bit. For example, “0” or “null” indicates that the indication information fails to be received, and “1” indicates that the indication information is received successfully.

It should be understood that there may be a plurality of specific forms of the acknowledgment information. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

In operation750, the network device communicates with the terminal device by using the neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device also communicates with the network device by using the neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device.

The network device may determine, based on the acknowledgment information, that the terminal device successfully receives the indication information. Therefore, the network device and the terminal device may work by using a transmitting-end neural network and a receiving-end neural network that match the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device.

For example, the network device may work by using a transmitting-end neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device, and the terminal device may work by using a receiving-end neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device. For another example, the network device may work by using a receiving-end neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device, and the terminal device may work by using a transmitting-end neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device. For still another example, the network device may work by using a transmitting-end neural network that matches a scenario mode (for example, denoted as a scenario mode 1) and capability information of the terminal device, and also work by using a receiving-end neural network that matches another scenario mode (for example, denoted as a scenario mode 2) and the capability information of the terminal device. The terminal device may work by using a receiving-end neural network that matches the scenario mode 1 and the capability information of the terminal device, and also work by using a transmitting-end neural network that matches the scenario mode 2 and the capability information of the terminal device. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

It should be understood that in a same scenario mode, there may be a transmitting-end neural network and a receiving-end neural network that matches the transmitting-end neural network. It may be understood that each transmitting-end neural network has at least one receiving-end neural network that can work cooperatively with the transmitting-end neural network, and each receiving-end neural network has at least one transmitting-end neural network that can work cooperatively with the receiving-end neural network.

It should be further understood that both the transmitting-end neural network and the receiving-end neural network may be obtained according to the method in the foregoing method600.

If the network device determines that the terminal device fails to receive the indication information, the network device may resend the indication information, for example, may re-perform the foregoing procedure until the acknowledgment information of the terminal device is received.

It should be further understood that the network device may re-determine a scenario mode when finding that the air interface transmission condition has changed, and indicate the re-determined scenario mode to the terminal device when the scenario mode has changed, so that the network device and the terminal device work by using a matching neural network based on the newly determined scenario mode. That is, operation720to operation750may be repeatedly performed.

Based on the foregoing method, the network device may select an appropriate scenario mode based on a current air interface transmission condition between the network device and the terminal device, and indicate the scenario mode to the terminal device, so that the network device and the terminal device determine, based on a same scenario mode and capability information of the terminal device, a neural network to be used. In this way, performance is improved.

FIG.16is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of this application. The method800shown inFIG.16may include operation810to operation850. The following describes the operations in the method800in detail.

In operation810, a terminal device reports capability information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, a network device receives the capability information of the terminal device. In operation820, the terminal device determines a scenario mode based on an air interface transmission condition between the terminal device and the network device.

In operation830, the terminal device sends indication information of the scenario mode to the network device. Correspondingly, the network device receives the indication information of the scenario mode from the terminal device.

In operation840, the terminal device receives acknowledgment information from the network device, where the acknowledgment information indicates that the indication information of the scenario mode is successfully received.

In operation850, the terminal device communicates with the network device by using a neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device. Correspondingly, the network device communicates with the terminal device by using the neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device.

It should be understood that a process of operation820to operation850is similar to a process of operation720to operation750in the foregoing method700. A difference lies in that in the method800, the terminal device determines the scenario mode based on the air interface transmission condition, and indicates the scenario mode to the network device. The network device responds with the acknowledgment information based on successful reception of the indication information. Then, both the network device and the terminal device may work by using the neural network that matches the scenario mode and the capability information of the terminal device.

Because a process of operation720to operation750has been described in detail in the foregoing method700, for brevity, details are not described herein again.

It should be understood that the terminal device may re-determine a scenario mode when finding that the air interface transmission condition has changed, and indicate the re-determined scenario mode to the network device when the scenario mode has changed, so that the network device and the terminal device work by using matching neural network based on the newly determined scenario mode. That is, operation810to operation840may also be repeatedly performed.

Based on the foregoing method, the terminal device may select an appropriate scenario mode based on a current air interface transmission condition between the terminal device and the network device, and indicate the scenario mode to the network device, so that the network device and the terminal device can determine, based on a same scenario mode and capability information of the terminal device, a neural network to be used. In this way, performance is improved.

The neural network training methods in the communication network provided in embodiments of this application are described above in detail with reference toFIG.6toFIG.16. The following describes in detail neural network training apparatuses in the communication network provided in embodiments of this application with reference toFIG.17toFIG.20.

FIG.17is a schematic block diagram of a neural network obtaining apparatus1000according to an embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG.17, the obtaining apparatus1000includes a processing unit1100and an input/output unit1200. The processing unit1100may be configured to determine, based on a standardized reference data set, one or more reference neural networks, and a performance determining criterion, whether a constructed target neural network satisfies a preset output condition. The input/output unit1200may be configured to output the target neural network when the preset output condition is satisfied, where the output target neural network is a transmitting-end neural network used in a transmitter or a receiving-end neural network used in a receiver.

It should be understood that the apparatus1000may correspond to the obtaining device in the embodiments shown inFIG.6toFIG.14, and may include units configured to perform the method performed by the obtaining device in the method600in the embodiments inFIG.6toFIG.14. The processing unit1100may be configured to perform operation610and operation620in the foregoing method600, and the input/output unit1200may be configured to perform operation630in the foregoing method600.

The operations performed by the processing unit1100may be implemented by one or more processors by executing corresponding programs. For example, training of the target neural network may be implemented by a processor dedicated to neural network training. The processing unit1100may correspond to a processor2010shown inFIG.18.

The operation performed by the input/output unit1200may be implemented, for example, by an input/output interface, a circuit, or the like. The input/output unit1200may correspond to, for example, an input/output interface2020shown inFIG.18.

In a possible design, the apparatus1000may be deployed on a chip.

FIG.18is a schematic block diagram of a neural network obtaining apparatus2000according to an embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG.18, the apparatus2000includes the processor2010, the input/output interface2020, and a memory2030. The processor2010, the input/output interface2020, and the memory2030communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The memory2030is configured to store instructions. The processor2010is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory2030, to control the input/output interface2020to send a signal and/or receive a signal.

It should be understood that the apparatus2000may correspond to the obtaining device in the embodiments shown inFIG.6toFIG.14, and may include units configured to perform the method performed by the obtaining device in the method600in the embodiments inFIG.6toFIG.14. Optionally, the memory2030may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor. A part of the memory may further include a non-volatile random access memory. The memory2030may be an independent component, or may be integrated into the processor2010. The processor2010may be configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory2030. In addition, when the processor2010executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor2010is configured to perform the foregoing operations and/or the procedures of the method embodiment corresponding to the obtaining device.

FIG.19is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG.19, the communication apparatus3000includes a processing unit3100and a transceiver unit3200.

Optionally, the communication apparatus3000may correspond to the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments, for example, may be a terminal device, or a component (for example, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) disposed in the terminal device.

It should be understood that the communication apparatus3000may correspond to the terminal device in the method700or the method800according to embodiments of this application. The communication apparatus3000may include units configured to perform the method performed by the terminal device in the method700inFIG.15or the method800inFIG.16. In addition, the units in the communication apparatus3000and the foregoing other operations and/or functions are separately used to implement a corresponding procedure of the method700inFIG.15or the method800inFIG.16.

When the communication apparatus3000is configured to perform the method700inFIG.15, the processing unit3100may be configured to perform operation750in the method700, and the transceiver unit3200may be configured to perform operation710and operation730to operation750in the method700. It should be understood that a specific process in which the units perform the foregoing corresponding operations has been described in detail in the foregoing method embodiments, and for brevity, details are not described herein again.

When the communication apparatus3000is configured to perform the method800inFIG.16, the processing unit3100may be configured to perform operation820and operation850in the method800, and the transceiver unit3200may be configured to perform operation810and operation830to operation850in the method800. It should be understood that a specific process in which the units perform the foregoing corresponding operations has been described in detail in the foregoing method embodiments, and for brevity, details are not described herein again.

It should be further understood that when the communication apparatus3000is the terminal device, the transceiver unit3200in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by a transceiver, for example, may correspond to a transceiver4020in a communication apparatus4000shown inFIG.20or a transceiver5020in a terminal device5000shown inFIG.21, and the processing unit3100in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by at least one processor, for example, may correspond to a processor4010in the communication apparatus4000shown inFIG.20or a processor5010in the terminal device5000shown inFIG.21.

It should be further understood that when the communication apparatus3000is the chip or the chip system disposed in the terminal device, the transceiver unit3200in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by an input/output interface, a circuit, or the like, and the processing unit3100in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by a processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or the like integrated into the chip or the chip system.

Optionally, the communication apparatus3000may correspond to the network device in the foregoing method embodiments, for example, may be a network device, or a component (for example, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system) disposed in the network device.

It should be understood that the communication apparatus3000may correspond to the network device in the method700or the method800according to embodiments of this application. The communication apparatus3000may include units configured to perform the method performed by the network device in the method700inFIG.15or the method800inFIG.16. In addition, the units in the communication apparatus3000and the foregoing other operations and/or functions are separately used to implement a corresponding procedure of the method700inFIG.15or the method800inFIG.16.

When the communication apparatus3000is configured to perform the method700inFIG.15, the processing unit3100may be configured to perform operation720and operation750in the method700, and the transceiver unit3200may be configured to perform operation710and operation730to operation750in the method700. It should be understood that a specific process in which the units perform the foregoing corresponding operations has been described in detail in the foregoing method embodiments, and for brevity, details are not described herein again.

When the communication apparatus3000is configured to perform the method800inFIG.16, the processing unit3100may be configured to perform operation850in the method800, and the transceiver unit3200may be configured to perform operation810and operation830to operation850in the method800. It should be understood that a specific process in which the units perform the foregoing corresponding operations has been described in detail in the foregoing method embodiments, and for brevity, details are not described herein again.

It should be further understood that when the communication apparatus3000is the network device, the transceiver unit3200in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by a transceiver, for example, may correspond to a transceiver4020in a communication apparatus4000shown inFIG.20or an RRU6100in a base station6000shown inFIG.22, and the processing unit3100in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by at least one processor, for example, may correspond to a processor4010in the communication apparatus4000shown inFIG.20or a BBU6200or a processor6202in the base station6000shown inFIG.22.

It should be further understood that when the communication apparatus3000is the chip or the chip system disposed in the network device, the transceiver unit3200in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by an input/output interface, a circuit, or the like, and the processing unit3100in the communication apparatus3000may be implemented by a processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or the like integrated into the chip or the chip system.

FIG.20is another schematic block diagram of the communication apparatus4000according to an embodiment of this application. Refer toFIG.20. The communication apparatus4000includes the processor4010, the transceiver4020, and a memory4030. The processor4010, the transceiver4020, and the memory4030communicate with each other through an internal connection path. The memory4030is configured to store instructions. The processor4010is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory4030, to control the transceiver4020to send a signal and/or receive a signal.

It should be understood that the communication apparatus4000may correspond to the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments, and may be configured to perform the operations and/or procedures performed by the network device or the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments. Optionally, the memory4030may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor. A part of the memory may further include a non-volatile random access memory. The memory4030may be an independent component, or may be integrated into the processor4010. The processor4010may be configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory4030. In addition, when the processor4010executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor4010is configured to perform the foregoing operations and/or the procedures of the method embodiment corresponding to the network device or the terminal device.

Optionally, the communication apparatus4000is the terminal device in the foregoing embodiment.

Optionally, the communication apparatus4000is the network device in the foregoing embodiment.

The transceiver4020may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver4020may further include an antenna. There may be one or more antennas. The processor4010, the memory4030, and the transceiver4020may be components integrated into different chips. For example, the processor4010and the memory4030may be integrated into a baseband chip, and the transceiver4020may be integrated into a radio frequency chip. The processor4010, the memory4030, and the transceiver4020may alternatively be components integrated into a same chip. This is not limited in embodiments of this application.

Optionally, the communication apparatus4000is a component, for example, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system, disposed in the terminal device.

Optionally, the communication apparatus4000is a component, for example, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system, disposed in the network device.

Alternatively, the transceiver4020may be a communication interface, for example, an input/output interface or a circuit. The transceiver4020, the processor4010, and the memory4030may be integrated into a same chip, for example, integrated into a baseband chip.

FIG.21is a schematic diagram of a structure of the terminal device5000according to an embodiment of this application. The terminal device5000may be used in the system shown inFIG.1, to perform the functions of the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments. As shown in the figure, the terminal device5000includes the processor5010and the transceiver5020. Optionally, the terminal device5000further includes a memory5030. The processor5010, the transceiver5020, and the memory5030may communicate with each other through an internal connection path, to transfer a control signal and/or a data signal. The memory5030is configured to store a computer program. The processor5010is configured to invoke the computer program from the memory5030and run the computer program, to control the transceiver5020to send or receive a signal. Optionally, the terminal device5000may further include an antenna3040, configured to send, by using a radio signal, uplink data or uplink control signaling output by the transceiver5020.

The processor5010and the memory5030may be combined into a processing apparatus, and the processor5010is configured to execute program code stored in the memory5030to implement the foregoing functions. In one implementation, the memory5030may alternatively be integrated into the processor5010, or may be independent of the processor5010. The processor5010may correspond to the processing unit3100inFIG.19or the processor4010inFIG.20.

The transceiver5020may correspond to the transceiver unit3200inFIG.19or the transceiver4020inFIG.20. The transceiver5020may include a receiver (or referred to as a receiver machine or a receiver circuit) and a transmitter (or referred to as a transmitter machine or a transmitter circuit). The receiver is configured to receive a signal, and the transmitter is configured to transmit a signal.

It should be understood that, the terminal device5000shown inFIG.21can implement processes of the terminal device in the method embodiment shown inFIG.15orFIG.16. Operations and/or functions of the modules in the terminal device5000are separately intended to implement corresponding procedures in the foregoing method embodiments. For details, refer to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are properly omitted herein.

The processor5010may be configured to perform an action that is implemented in the terminal device and that is described in the foregoing method embodiments. The transceiver5020may be configured to perform a sending action by the terminal device for the network device or a receiving operation from the network device in the foregoing method embodiments. For details, refer to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

Optionally, the terminal device5000may further include a power supply5050, configured to supply power to various components or circuits in the terminal device.

In addition, to improve functions of the terminal device, the terminal device5000may further include one or more selected from the following: an input unit5060, a display unit5070, an audio circuit5080, a camera5090, a sensor5100, and the like, and the audio circuit may further include a speaker5082, a microphone5084, and the like.

FIG.22is a schematic diagram of a structure of a network device according to an embodiment of this application, for example, may be a schematic diagram of a structure of a base station. The base station6000may be used in the system shown inFIG.1, to perform the functions of the network device in the foregoing method embodiments. As shown in the figure, the base station6000may include one or more radio frequency units such as a remote radio unit (RRU)6100and one or more baseband units (BBUs) (which may also be referred to as distributed units (DUs))6200. The RRU6100may be referred to as a transceiver unit, and may correspond to the transceiver unit3200inFIG.19or the transceiver4020inFIG.20. Optionally, the RRU6100may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, a transceiver, or the like, and may include at least one antenna6101and a radio frequency unit6102. Optionally, the RRU6100may include a receiving unit and a sending unit. The receiving unit may correspond to a receiver (which is also referred to as a receiver machine or a receiver circuit), and the sending unit may correspond to a transmitter (which is also referred to as a transmitter machine or a transmitter circuit). The RRU6100is mainly configured to: send and receive a radio frequency signal, and perform conversion between the radio frequency signal and a baseband signal. For example, the RRU6100is configured to send indication information to a terminal device. The BBU6200is mainly configured to: perform baseband processing, control the base station, and the like. The RRU6100and the BBU6200may be physically disposed together, or may be physically disposed separately, namely, a distributed base station.

The BBU6200is a control center of the base station, may also be referred to as a processing unit, may correspond to the processing unit3100inFIG.19or the processor4010inFIG.20, and is mainly configured to complete baseband processing functions such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, and spectrum spreading. For example, the BBU (the processing unit) may be configured to control the base station to perform an operation procedure related to the network device in the foregoing method embodiments, for example, generating the foregoing indication information.

In an example, the BBU6200may include one or more boards, and the plurality of boards may jointly support a radio access network (for example, an LTE network) having a single access standard; or may separately support radio access networks (for example, an LTE network, a 5G network, or another network) having different access standards. The BBU6200further includes a memory6201and a processor6202. The memory6201is configured to store necessary instructions and data. The processor6202is configured to control the base station to perform a necessary action, for example, is configured to control the base station to perform the operation procedure related to the network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The memory6201and the processor6202may serve one or more boards. In other words, a memory and a processor may be disposed on each board. Alternatively, a plurality of boards may share a same memory and a same processor. In addition, a necessary circuit may further be disposed on each board.

It should be understood that the base station6000shown inFIG.22can implement each process of the network device in the method embodiment inFIG.15orFIG.16. The operations and/or the functions of the modules in the base station6000are intended to implement the corresponding procedures in the foregoing method embodiments. For details, refer to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are properly omitted herein.

The BBU6200may be configured to perform an action that is implemented inside the network device and that is described in the foregoing method embodiments. The RRU6100may be configured to perform a sending action by the network device for the terminal device or a receiving action by the network device for the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments. For details, refer to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

It should be understood that the base station6000shown inFIG.22is merely a possible form of the network device, but should not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. The method provided in embodiments of this application is applicable to a network device in another form. For example, the network device includes an AAU, and may further include a CU and/or a DU; includes a BBU and an adaptive radio unit (ARU); or includes a BBU. Alternatively, the network device may be customer premises equipment (CPE), or may be in another form. A specific form of the network device is not limited in embodiments of this application.

The CU and/or the DU may be configured to perform an action that is implemented inside the network device and that is described in the foregoing method embodiments, and the AAU may be configured to perform a sending action by the network device for the terminal device or a receiving action by the network device for the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments. For details, refer to the descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

Embodiments of this application further provide a processing apparatus, including at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program stored in a memory, so that the processing apparatus performs the method performed by the obtaining device, the method performed by the network device, or the method performed by the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments.

An embodiment of this application further provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and an input/output interface. The input/output interface is coupled to the processor. The input/output interface is configured to input and/or output information. The information includes at least one of instructions or data. The processor is configured to execute a computer program, so that the processing apparatus performs the method performed by the obtaining device, the method performed by the network device, or the method performed by the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments.

An embodiment of this application further provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to invoke the computer program from the memory and run the computer program, to enable the processing apparatus to perform the method performed by the training device in any one of the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be noted that, the processor in embodiments of this application may be an integrated circuit chip, and has a signal processing capability. In an implementation process, the operations in the foregoing method embodiments can be implemented by using a hardware integrated logical circuit in the processor, or by using instructions in a form of software. The foregoing processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or a transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The foregoing processor may implement or perform the methods, the operations, and logical block diagrams that are disclosed in embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The operations of the methods disclosed with reference to embodiments of this application may be directly performed and completed by a hardware decoding processor, or may be performed and completed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in a storage medium, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads information in the memory and completes the operations in the foregoing methods in combination with hardware of the processor.

According to the methods provided in embodiments of this application, this application further provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes computer program code. When the computer program code is run on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the method performed by the obtaining device in the embodiment shown inFIG.6, the method performed by the terminal device or the method performed by the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.15orFIG.16.

According to the methods provided in embodiments of this application, this application further provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores program code. When the program code is run on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the method performed by the obtaining device in the embodiment shown inFIG.6, the method performed by the terminal device or the method performed by the network device in the embodiment shown inFIG.15orFIG.16.

According to the methods provided in embodiments of this application, this application further provides a system, including the foregoing one or more terminal devices and one or more network devices. A target neural network obtained by using the foregoing obtaining device is separately configured in the one or more terminal devices and the one or more network devices.

The network device and the terminal device in the foregoing apparatus embodiments correspond to the network device and the terminal device in the method embodiments. A corresponding module or unit performs a corresponding operation. For example, the communication unit (the transceiver) performs a receiving or sending operation in the method embodiments, and a operation other than the sending or receiving operation may be performed by the processing unit (the processor). For a function of a specific unit, refer to a corresponding method embodiment. There may be one or more processors.

In the foregoing embodiments, the terminal device may be used as an example of a receiving device, and the network device may be used as an example of a sending device. However, this shall not constitute any limitation on embodiments of this application. For example, both the sending device and the receiving device may be terminal devices. Specific types of the sending device and the receiving device are not limited in embodiments of this application.

A person skilled in the art may clearly understand that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for detailed working processes of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, refer to corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.