End-to-end learning in communication systems

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform,
• obtaining or generating a receiver-training sequence of messages for transmission over a transmission system, wherein the transmitter includes a transmitter algorithm having at least some trainable weights and the receiver includes a receiver algorithm having at least some trainable weights;
• transmitting the receiver-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• generating or obtaining second receiver loss function data, the second receiver loss function data being generated based on a receiver-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitted receiver-training sequence;
• training at least some weights of the receiver algorithm based on the second receiver loss function data;
• obtaining or generating a transmitter-training sequence of messages for the transmission system;
• transmitting perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• receiving first receiver loss function data at the transmitter, the first receiver loss function data being generated based on a received-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitter training sequence of messages for the transmission system;
• and
• training at least some weights of the transmitter algorithm based on the first receiver loss function data and knowledge of the transmitter-training sequence of messages and the perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages.

A method comprising:

• obtaining or generating a transmitter-training sequence of messages for a transmission system, wherein the transmission system comprises a transmitter, a channel and a receiver, wherein the transmitter includes a transmitter algorithm having at least some trainable weights and the receiver includes a receiver algorithm having at least some trainable weights;
• transmitting perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• receiving first receiver loss function data at the transmitter, the first receiver loss function data being generated based on a received-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitter training sequence of messages for the transmission system;
• and
• training at least some weights of the transmitter algorithm based on first receiver loss function data and knowledge of the transmitter-training sequence of messages and the perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages.

A method comprising:

• obtaining or generating a receiver-training sequence of messages for transmission over a transmission system, wherein the transmitter includes a transmitter algorithm having at least some trainable weights and the receiver includes a receiver algorithm having at least some trainable weights;
• transmitting the receiver-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• generating or obtaining second receiver loss function data, the second receiver loss function data being generated based on a receiver-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitted receiver-training sequence;
• training at least some weights of the receiver algorithm based on the second loss function;
• obtaining or generating a transmitter-training sequence of messages for transmission over the transmission system;
• transmitting perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• receive first receiver loss function data at the transmitter, the first receiver loss function data being generated based on a received-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitter training sequence of messages for the transmission system;
• and
• training at least some weights of the transmitter algorithm based on the first receiver loss function data and knowledge of the transmitter-training sequence of messages and the perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus including the processor to perform the following:

• obtaining or generating a transmitter-training sequence of messages for a transmission system, wherein the transmission system comprises a transmitter, a channel and a receiver, wherein the transmitter includes a transmitter algorithm and the receiver includes a receiver algorithm;
• transmitting perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• receiving first receiver loss function data at the transmitter, the first receiver loss function data being generated based on a received-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitter training sequence of messages for the transmission system;
• and
• training at least some weights of the transmitter algorithm based on first receiver loss function data and knowledge of the transmitter-training sequence of messages and the perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus including the processor to perform the following:

• obtaining or generating a receiver-training sequence of messages for transmission over a transmission system, wherein the transmitter includes a transmitter algorithm having at least some trainable weights and the receiver includes a receiver algorithm having at least some trainable weights;
• transmitting the receiver-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• generating or obtaining a second receiver loss function data, the second receiver loss function data being generated based on a receiver-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitted receiver-training sequence;
• training at least some weights of the receiver algorithm based on the second loss function;
• obtaining or generating a transmitter-training sequence of messages for transmission over the transmission system;
• transmitting perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages over the transmission system;
• receive first receiver loss function data at the transmitter, the first receiver loss function data being generated based on a received-training sequence as received at the receiver and knowledge of the transmitter training sequence of messages for the transmission system;
• and
• training at least some weights of the transmitter algorithm based on the first receiver loss function data and knowledge of the transmitter-training sequence of messages and the perturbed versions of the transmitter-training sequence of messages.