NETWORK ENTITIES FOR SUPPORTING ANALYTICS GENERATION IN A MOBILE NETWORK

Abstract

Analytics information is generated in a new generation mobile network. A first network entity generates the analytics information, and a second network entity and a third network entity support the analytics generation. The first network entity is configured to obtain, from the second network entity or from one or more third network entities, past and/or current association information for an area of interest. Further, it is configured to provide analytics information based on the obtained association information for the area of interest. The past and/or current association information indicates one or more other network entities and/or network properties that, respectively, have been and/or are mapped to or serving the area of interest.

Claims

1. A first network entity for analytics generation of a mobile network, the first network entity comprising: a processor; and a memory having processor-executable instructions stored thereon; wherein the processor is configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the first network entity: obtaining, from a second network entity or from one or more third network entities, past and/or current association information for an area of interest, wherein the past and/or current association information indicates one or more other network entities and/or network properties that, respectively, have been and/or are mapped to or serving the area of interest; and providing analytics information, wherein the analytics information is based on the obtained association information for the area of interest.

2. The first network entity according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the first network entity: sending a request and/or subscribing for association information for the area of interest to the second network entity or to the one or more third network entities; and wherein obtaining the association information for the area of interest from the second network entity or from the one or more third network entities is in response to the request and/or according to the subscription.

3. The first network entity according to claim 2, wherein the association information is further for an area of interest transaction identification.

4. The first network entity according to claim 2, wherein the request and/or the subscription for association information for the area of interest comprises at least one of: target area of interest, the target area of interest being the spatial area related to the mobile network, from where the first network entity requires the past and/or current association information for the target area of interest; target type of the one or more other network entities and/or network properties, wherein the target type describes the type of entity or property that should be identified as mapped to or serving the target area of interest; area of interest transaction identifier; identification of the first network entity; or temporal interval, the temporal interval being the time window to be used for the selection of the one or more network entities and/or network properties mapped to or serving the target area of interest.

5. The first network entity according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the first network entity: sending a plurality of requests and/or subscribing for association information for the area of interest to a plurality of third network entities, wherein obtaining the association information for the area of interest is in response to the plurality of requests and/or according to the subscriptions for association information for the area of interest; and aggregating the obtained association information; wherein the analytics information is based on the aggregated association information.

6. The first network entity according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the first network entity: sending a request and/or subscribing for association information for the area of interest to the second network entity, wherein obtaining the association information for the area of interest is in response to the request and/or according to the subscription for association information for the area of interest.

7. The first network entity according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the first network entity: determining, from the obtained association information for the area of interest, the one or more other network entities and/or network properties mapped to or serving the area of interest; and selecting and/or obtaining data from the determined one or more other network entities and/or network properties; wherein the analytics information is based on the selected and/or obtained data.

8. The first network entity according to claim 1, wherein the first network entity is a control plane entity comprising a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF).

9. A second network entity for supporting analytics generation of a mobile network, the second network entity comprising: a processor; and a memory having processor-executable instructions stored thereon; wherein the processor is configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: obtaining past and/or current association information for an area of interest from one or more third network entities in response to a first request sent to the one or more third network entities and/or according to a first subscription to the one or more third network entities, wherein the past and/or current association information indicates one or more other network entities and/or network properties that, respectively, have been and/or are mapped to or serving the area of interest.

10. The second network entity according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: obtaining change information from the one or more third network entities upon lifecycle changes in one or more network entities and/or network properties related to the association information provided by the one or more third network entities.

11. The second network entity according to claim 9, wherein the first request and/or first subscription comprises the area of interest, the area of interest being the spatial area related to the mobile network, from where the second network entity requires the past and/or current association information for the area of interest.

12. The second network entity according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: aggregating the obtained association information for the area of interest.

13. The second network entity according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: obtaining a second request and/or a second subscription for association information of the area of interest from a first network entity; and providing the obtained association information and/or aggregated association information for the area of interest to the first network entity in response to the second request and/or according to the second subscription.

14. The second network entity according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: obtaining or generating an area of interest transaction identification for the area of interest.

15. The second network entity according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: obtaining change information from the one or more third network entities, wherein the change information indicates a change in a lifecycle of the one or more other network entities and/or network properties; updating the association information based on the change information; and provide the updated association information and/or aggregated updated association information to the first network entity.

16. The second network entity according to claim 13, wherein the second request and/or the second subscription for association information of the area of interest comprises at least one of: target area of interest; target type of the one or more other network entities and/or network properties, wherein the target type describes the type of entity or property that should be identified as mapped to or serving the target area of interest; area of interest transaction identifier; identification of the first network entity; or temporal interval, the temporal interval being the time window to be used for the selection of the one or more network entities and/or network properties mapped to or serving the target area of interest.

17. The second network entity according to claim 9, wherein the second network entity is a control plane entity comprising a Unified Data Management (UDM) and/or Unified Data Repository (UDR) and/or Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF).

18. A third network entity for supporting analytics generation, comprising: a processor; and a memory having processor-executable instructions stored thereon; wherein the processor is configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: providing past and/or current association information for an area of interest to a first network entity and/or to a second network entity in response to a request and/or according to a subscription from the first network entity and/or from the second network entity, wherein the past and/or current association information indicates one or more other network entities and/or network properties that, respectively, have been and/or mapped to or serving the area of interest.

19. The third network entity according to claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to facilitate performance of the following by the second network entity: providing association information to the first network entity and/or to the second network entity, upon changes in one or more target elements related to the association information, the one or more target elements including a network entity or a network property.

20. The third network entity according to claim 18, wherein the request and/or the subscription comprises at least one of: target area of interest, the target are of interest being the spatial area related to the mobile network, from where the first network entity requires the past and/or current association information for the target area of interest; target type of the one or more other network entities and/or network properties, wherein the target type describes the type of entity or property that should be identified as mapped to or serving the target area of interest; area of interest transaction identifier; identification of the first network entity; or temporal interval, the temporal interval being the time window to be used for the selection of the one or more network entities and/or network properties mapped to or serving the target area of interest.

21. The third network entity according to claim 18, wherein: the third network entity is a control plane Network Function (NF) comprising a Session Management Function (SMF) and/or an Access and mobility Management Function (AMF) and/or a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) and/or Network Exposure Function (NEF) and/or Application Function (AF) and/or Network Repository Function (NRF).

22. The third network entity according to claim 18, wherein the association information for the area of interest comprises at least one of: one or more user equipment (UE) identifications and/or UE group identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more Cell identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more tracking area identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more network slice identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more NF identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more NF Set identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more external entity identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more Application identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more session identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more Quality of Service (QoS) profile identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; one or more data network identifications mapped to or serving the area of interest; or one or more public land mobile network (PLMN) identification mapped to or serving the area of interest.

23. A method for analytics generation, the method comprising: obtaining, by a first network entity, from a second network entity or from one or more third network entities, past and/or current association information for an area of interest, wherein the past and/or current association information indicates one or more other network entities and/or network properties that, respectively, have been and/or are mapped to or serving the area of interest; and providing, by the first network entity, analytics information, wherein the analytics information is based on the obtained association information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0132] The above described aspects and implementation forms will be explained in the following description of specific embodiments in relation to the enclosed drawings, in which

[0133] FIG. 1 shows an example of a mobile network following a 5G architecture as defined by 3GPP.

[0134] FIG. 2 shows a first network entity for analytics generation, a second network entity for supporting analytics generation, and a third network entity for supporting analytics generation, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0135] FIG. 3 shows a second network entity for supporting analytics generation, and a third network entity for supporting analytics generation, and a first network entity for analytics generation, according to an embodiments of the invention.

[0136] FIG. 4 shows a second network entity for supporting analytics generation, and a third network entity for supporting analytics generation, and a first network entity for analytics generation, according to an embodiments of the invention.

[0137] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a method for enabling retrieval of past/and or current association information about 5GS entities serving in an area of interest, for analytics generation.

[0138] FIG. 6 shows a diagram of a method for enabling retrieval of past/and or current association information about 5GS entities serving in an area of interest, for analytics generation.

[0139] FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a method of a first alternative of a first operation mode, based on UDM and NWDAF interactions.

[0140] FIG. 8 shows a diagram of a method of a second alternative of a first operation mode, based on UDM, UDR, and NWDAF interactions.

[0141] FIG. 9 shows a diagram of a method of a second operation mode, based on UDM, NRF, and NWDAF interactions, following event exposure framework principles.

[0142] FIG. 10 shows a method for a first network entity, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0143] FIG. 11 shows a method for a second network entity, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0144] FIG. 12 shows a method for a third network entity, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0145] Embodiments of the invention provide network entities and methods, and in particular, provide data structures and services for enhancing CP network entities of a mobile network—with specific emphasis in 5G mobile network architecture—to determine past (historical) and/or current (actual) association information of other network entities and/or network properties that have been and/or are mapped to or serving an area of interest (e.g. network properties mapped to the area of interest and/or 5GS entities serving the area of interest). At the same time, embodiments of the invention minimize the load for collecting such information. The purpose is to allow e.g. an analytics function of a mobile operator to further collect specialized data from the identified network entities and/or network properties in the area of interest for analytics generation.

[0146] FIG. 2 shows a first network entity 200, a second network entity 210, and a third network entity 220, respectively, according to embodiments of the invention. The first network entity 200 may be a CP entity, in particular, it may be or comprise a NWDAF. The first network entity 200 may implement an analytics function. The second network entity 210 may be a CP entity, in particular may be or comprise a UDM and/or UDR and/or NWDAF. The third network entity 220 may be a CP entity, in particular, it may be or comprise a SMF and/or an AMF and/or a NSSF and/or NEF and/or AF and/or NRF.

[0147] The first network entity 200 is configured to obtain, from the second network entity 210 and/or from one or more third network entities 220, past and/or current association information 201 for an area of interest. The past and/or current association information 201 indicates one or more other network entities and/or network properties that, respectively, have been (past) and/or are (current) mapped to or serving the area of interest.

[0148] The first network entity 200 is further configured to provide analytics information 202, the analytics information 202 being based on the obtained association information 201 for the area of interest. That is, the first network entity 200 may generate the analytics information 202 based on the association information 201. The network entity 200 may also expose and/or send the analytic information 202 and/or the association information 201, respectively, to another network entity, e.g., to the second network entity 202 and/or the third network entity 220.

[0149] FIG. 3 shows a first network entity 300, a second network entity 310, and a third network entity 320, respectively, according to embodiments of the invention. The first network entity 300 may be the first network entity 200 shown in FIG. 2, the second network entity 310 may be the second network entity 210 shown in FIG. 2, and/or the third network entity 320 may be the third network entity 220 shown in FIG. 2.

[0150] FIG. 3 shows that the second network entity 310 is configured to obtain past and/or current association information 201 for an area of interest from one or more third network entities 320 (here only one third network entity 320 is shown), in response to a first request 311 sent to and/or according to a first subscription to the third network entity 320. That is, the third network entity 320 may receive the first request 311 from the second network entity 310, and may in response provide the association information 201 to the second network entity 310. Additionally or alternatively, the second network entity 310 is configured to obtain change information 321 from the one or more third network entities 320, upon lifecycle changes in one or more network entities and/or network properties related to the association information 201 (as provided by the third network entity 320). That is, the third network entity 320 may be configured to monitor a lifecycle, in the one or more network entities and/or network properties, and may provide the change information 321 to the second network entity 310, if detecting a lifecycle change. The change information 321 may indicated one or more changes with respect to a previously provided association information 201.

[0151] FIG. 3 shows further (indicated by the dotted lines), that the second network entity 310 may be configured to obtain a second request 301 and/or a second subscription for association information 201 of an area of interest, from the first network entity 300. Accordingly, the first network entity 300 may be configured to send the second request 301 and/or the second subscription to the second network entity 310. The second network entity 310 may then be configured to provide the obtained association information 201 (e.g., obtained from the third network entity 320) and/or aggregated association information 201 (e.g., aggregated association information 201 obtained from more than one third network entity 320) for an area of interest to the first network entity 300, i.e., in response to the second request 301 and/or according to the second subscription.

[0152] FIG. 4 shows a first network entity 400, a second network entity 410, and a third network entity 420, respectively, according to embodiments of the invention. The first network entity 400 may be the first network entity 200 and/or 300 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the second network entity 410 may be the second network entity 210 and/or 310 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and the third network entity 420 may be the third network entity 220 and/or 320 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0153] The third network entity 420 is configured to provide past and/or current association information 201 for an area of interest to the first network entity 400, in response to a request 401 received from and/or according to a subscription from the first network entity 400. Further (in addition or alternatively), the third network entity 420 is configured to provide past and/or current association information 201 to the second network entity 410, in response to a request 411 received from and/or according to a subscription from the second network entity 410. Alternatively or additionally, the third network entity 420 is configured to provide association information 201 to the first network entity 400 and/or to the second network entity 410, upon changes in one or more target elements related to the association information 201, the one or more target elements being a network entity or a network property.

[0154] Each network entity shown in FIG. 2-FIG. 4 may, respectively, comprise processing circuitry (not shown) configured to perform, conduct or initiate the various operations of the network entity described herein. The processing circuitry may comprise hardware and software. The hardware may comprise analog circuitry or digital circuitry, or both analog and digital circuitry. The digital circuitry may comprise components such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or multi-purpose processors. In one embodiment, the processing circuitry comprises one or more processors and a non-transitory memory connected to the one or more processors. The non-transitory memory may carry executable program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the network entity to perform, conduct or initiate the operations or methods described herein.

[0155] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a method for enabling retrieval of past /and or current association information 201, in particular about 5GS entities serving in an area of interest, for analytics generation. Network entities 200, 210, and 220 participating to solve this problem are illustrated in FIG. 5. Notably, in the following description of embodiments, the reference signs 200, 210 and 200 (as used in FIG. 2) are used to label the first, second and third network entities, however, these network entities could likewise be the network entities 300, 310, and 320 (shown in FIG. 3) or 400, 410, and 420 (shown in FIG. 4). In FIG. 5, the “Analytics Function” is or comprises the first network entity 200, the “Enhanced NF with centralizing 5GS entities serving Area of Interest” is or comprises the second network entity 210, and the “Entity detecting area of Interest of 5GS Entity” is or comprises the third network entity 220.

[0156] A condition, in which the first network entity 200 may require association information 201 about 5GS entities serving in an area of interest, can be related to any of the following situations: [0157] Receiving a request to generate analytics information 202 for a given area of interest without any specific UE and/or NF instance indicated in the request. [0158] Being configured (e.g., a requested subscription to analytics information) to periodically generate analytics information 202, and therefore periodically have to update the 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest. [0159] Being configured (e.g., by script, configuration file) to periodically collect the association information 201 about 5GS Entities serving in area(s) of interest to support analytics information 202 generation.

[0160] In this disclosure, two modes are provided for the first network entity 200 to acquire the association information 201, particularly, about 5GS entities serving in one or more areas of interest.

[0161] Operation Mode 1 (centralized acquiring): The first network entity 200 interacts with the second network entity 210, and obtains from the second network entity 210 the association information 201. In this operation mode 1, the second network entity 210 is capable to detect one or more other network entities (here 5GS entities) serving in the area of interest, and to provide and/or maintain association information 201 for any type of such 5GS entity. The second network entity 210 may implicitly acquire the association information 201 on the 5GS entities serving the area of interest from one or more third network entities 220 detecting the area of interest 5GS entities. The one or more third network entities 220 may implicitly provide the 5GS entity data, e.g. due to lifecycle changes in such 5GS entities. The description of how the second network entity 210 further obtains the association information 201 of different types of 5GS entities serving the area(s) of interest, is detailed with respect to FIG. 6 below.

[0162] Operation Mode 2: (distributed acquiring): The first network entity 200 interacts with one or more third network entities 220, and obtains from such third network entity(s) 220 the association information 201. In this operation mode 2, there may exist different third network entities 220, providing different types of association information 201 for different types of other network entities or network properties. For instance, one third network entity 220 may be able to provide only the UE type of 5GS entity serving the area(s) of interest; while another third network entity 220 may be able to provide only the TA, cell, network slice identification types of 5GS entities serving the area(s) of interest. In this operation mode 2, the first network entity 200 is also responsible for centralizing the storage/update of the association information 201 (e.g., records) of e.g. 5GS entities serving in area of interest. As the first network entity 200 obtains such information from one or more third network entities 220, the first network entity 200 may aggregate such parts of information into a single data structure, where it has the overall mapping of all 5GS entities per area of interest.

[0163] FIG. 5 illustrates steps of a “Part A” of the method provided according to an embodiment of the invention (operation mode 1 and 2, respectively). In this method the steps 2-3 depicted in FIG. 5 are common to both the operation modes 1 and 2.

[0164] The steps in the operation mode 1 may be as follows: [0165] 1a. The second network entity 210 interacts with one or more third network entities 220 to obtain the information about 5GS entities serving in one or more area(s) of interest, according to the supported types of 5GS entities that the third network entities 220 can provide. The details of possible alternatives of such interaction are described with respect to FIG. 6 below. [0166] 1b. The first network entity 200 desires information about 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest, and interacts with the second network entity 210. Examples of ways, in which such interaction might happen, are via request 301 and response, and/or subscription-notification patterns of communication.
One example of an interaction model based on request-response is: [0167] The first network entity 200 invokes a service from the second network entity 210 serving in the area(s) of interest. [0168] The first network entity 200 invokes such a service including the area(s) of interest (e.g., in terms of cells, TA(s)) it requires and the type of 5GS entities (e.g. UEs, Applications, NFs, etc.) that should be determined as 5GS entities serving the requested area(s) of interest.  If this is the first time that the first network entity 200 interacts with the second network entity 210 serving in the area(s) of interest, the first network entity 200 may not include in the interaction the area(s) of interest transaction identifier(s). [0169] Based on the parameters used by the first network entity 200 in the service invoked, the second network entity 210 determines the list of 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest matching the received input parameters (e.g., the requested area(s) of interest and the types of 5GS entities and/or an area(s) of interest transaction identifier).  Then, the second network entity 210 checks, if an area of interest transaction ID was provided by the first network entity 200. [0170] If not (e.g., in the case of the first interaction among these entities), the second network entity 210 also generates an area of interest transaction identifier and includes such transaction identifier in the information as well as all the determined 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest in the response back to the first network entity 200. The second network entity 210 keeps the mapping among the determined 5GS Entities serving in area of interest, the first network entity 200 (analytics function) identifier and the generated area of interest transaction identifier for such analytics function identifier. [0171] If the first network entity 200 provided also an area of interest transaction identifier in the input parameters, the second network entity 210 determines the set of records of 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest in the intersection between the current determined 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest and the 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest mapped to the transaction identifier (both terminology are synonyms, area of interest transaction identifier or transaction identifier).  When there is not an empty set of records of 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest in the intersection between the current determined 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest and the previous 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest mapped to the provided transaction identifier, the second network entity 210 will include in the return to the first network entity 200 the set of records of 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest of intersection, generates a new transaction identifier, updates the mapping among the current determined 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest, the analytics function identifier and the generated area(s) of interest transaction identifier for such analytics function identifier. The second network entity 210 may also keep the history of the previous mappings.

[0172] Notably, possible alternatives of how the second network entity 210 determines the current 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest is described in detail in FIG. 6 and in the embodiments described below.

[0173] The steps in the operation mode 2 may be as follows: [0174] 1c. The one or more third network entities 220 are able to control the lifecycle of 5GS entities and/or network properties. For instance: UE registration to the network, UE session establishment; NFs configured in an area of interest. The one or more third network entities 220 map the controlled 5GS entities to the area(s) of interest. Upon 5GS entity lifecycle changes (e.g., a UE changes its location, thus it is possible that the UE serving in the area of interest changed), the one or more third network entities 220 update the mapping and keep the records of the previous mapping and the new current mapping. [0175] 1d. The first network entity 200 desires information about 5GS entities serving in one or more areas of interest and interacts with the one or more third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest. Examples of ways, in which such interaction might happen, are via request-response and/or subscription-notification patterns of communication.  The first network entity 200 invokes services from the different third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest, including at least the area(s) of interest (e.g., in terms of Cells, TA(s)) it requires. It can also include the types of 5GS entities and/or properties that are relevant to be retrieved and/or the transaction identifier.  The description of the step 1b issues on the interactions and how the transaction identifier regulates the output of the one or more third network entities 220 serving in area(s) of interest to the first network entity 200 apply.  The difference from operation mode 2 to operation mode 1, is that in operation mode 2, the first network entity 200 may further perform aggregation of the obtained information about 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest to create the mapping of all types of 5GS entities serving in an area of interest. [0176] 1e. The first network entity 200 upon receiving the 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest from one or more third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest, aggregates such different obtained information into a data structure able to map for an area of interest, each 5GS entity type, and the dataset key and/or sub keys per 5GS entity type. Including also in the mapping the transaction identifier and/or an interval of time of the obtained information that comprises the current mapping of 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest.

[0177] The same principle described in step 1b, on how to identify the current and previous mapping among 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest is also applicable to how first network entity 200 keeps this mapping.

[0178] Independent of the different interaction ways that the first network entity 200 might use to acquire the information about 5GS entities serving in the area of interest (s), such services from the second network entity 210 and/or one or more third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest can include further search criteria such as, temporal or quantitative aspects related to information about 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest. [0179] 2. The first network entity 200 retrieves data related to the area(s) of interest, and may determine which 5GS entities are the sources of data collection for the required area(s) of interest. Based on the obtained information about 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest (from the second network entity 210 and/or one or more third network entities 220, the first network entity 200 determines such sources of data collection 500.  For instance, if the first network entity 200 has to identify the NFs instances and/or NF sets (e.g., NF type of 5GS entity) serving an area of interest (e.g., a list of TA(s)), the first network entity 200 obtains in Step 1 the information about NF instances serving the area of interest (e.g., {TA1, TA2, TA3}), and such information is for instance a list of all NFs instances per TA: ({TA1:NF #a, NF #b}, {TA2:NF #c}, TA3:NF #d, NF #e}). In this example, the first network entity 200 determines that the sources of data collection for the TA1, TA2, TA3 (i.e., the area of interest) are the NF instances: NF #a, NF #b, NF #c, NF #d, NFe. [0180] 3. The first network entity 200, based on the determined sources of data collection 500, selects and/or retrieves the data from the determined source of data collection 500 and generates analytics information 202.

[0181] FIG. 6 illustrates steps of a “Part B” of the method provided according to an embodiment of the invention (operation mode 1). In particular, two alternatives on how the centralization of information on 5GS entities serving one or more areas of interest can be achieved by the second network entity 210 serving the area(s) of interest. The alternatives and the steps of the methods for each alternative are described as follows:

[0182] Alternative 1: One or more second network entities 210 serving the area(s) of interest implicitly obtain the information about 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest from one or more third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest. [0183] 1. The one or more third network entities 220 serving in area(s) of interest are able to control the lifecycle of 5GS entities and/or properties. For instance: UE registration to the network, UE session establishment; NFs configured in an area of interest. Upon 5GS entity lifecycle changes (UE location change, session modification, new NF instance include in network slice), the third network entities 220 serving in one or more areas of interest sends to the one or more second network entities 210 serving in the area(s) of interest, the 5GS entity data related to the change in the lifecycle (e.g., updated UE SMF Context, or UE AMF context) without explicitly indicating the information about 5GS entity serving an area of interest. [0184] 2. Based on the obtained 5GS entity data, the one or more second network entities 210 serving the area(s) of interest identify from the 5GS entity data the area of context data set key, the one or more 5G entity types related to the 5GS entity data, and for each 5G entity type the related 5G entity data key and/or data sub key. [0185] 3. The one or more second network entities 210 serving the area(s) of interest update the mapping of current 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest, and store the previous records of 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest for enabling search on historical information.

[0186] Alternative 2: the one or more second network entities 210 serving the area(s) of interest explicitly obtain records with the information about 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest from one or more third network entities 210 serving in the area(s) of interest. [0187] 1. The one or more third network entities 210 serving in the area(s) of interest has the mapping between its controlled 5GS entities lifecycle changes and the information of such 5GS entities serving the area(s) of interest. Upon 5GS entity lifecycle changes (UE location change, session modification, new NF instance include in network slice), the one or more third network entities 220 serving in area(s) of interest updates its own mapping of 5GS entities serving area of interest. [0188] 2. The one or more second network entities 210 serving the area(s) of interest interact with the one or more third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest, in order to obtain the information about the 5GS entity serving the area(s) of interest for the type of 5GS entity controlled by such entity detecting 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest. Examples of ways, in which such interaction might happen, are via request-response and/or subscription-notification patterns of communication.  The one or more second network entities 210 serving the area(s) of interest invoke services from the different third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest, including at least the area(s) of interest (e.g., in terms of Cells, TA(s)) it requires. It can also include the types of 5GS entities and/or properties that are relevant to be retrieved and/or the transaction identifier.  The one or more third network entities 220 serving in the area(s) of interest provide one or more records of 5GS entities serving area of interest. [0189] 3. The one or more second network entities 210 serving the area(s) of interest update the mapping of current 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest, and store the previous records of 5GS entities serving in the area(s) of interest for enabling search on historical information.

[0190] The following details are common to all operation modes:

[0191] One issue that needs to be considered by the first network entity 200 is it actually executes the generation (and/or update) of analytics information 202 based on 5GS entities serving an area of interest. There are different possibilities to execute such generation (and/or update) of analytics information 202 based on 5GS entities serving an area of interest which apply to all the operation modes of embodiments of this invention. For instance one or more of the following alternatives could be used by the first network entity 200: [0192] The first network entity 200 can be configured to trigger and/or execute updates on the generation of analytics information 202 whenever a new and/or a change in the obtained 5GS entities serving an area of interest. [0193] The first network entity 200 can be configured to trigger and/or execute updates in the analytics generation periodically. Therefore, all changes to the 5GS entities serving an area of interest obtained by the first network entity 200 will be queued to be used only when the cycle of new generation (and/or update) of analytics is due. [0194] The first network entity 200 can be configured with a queue that stores the changes in the 5GS entities serving an area of interest over a period of time, either when the queue is full and/or the period of time is approaching the first network entity 200 trigger and/or execute the generation and/or update of the analytics information. [0195] The first network entity 200 can be configured with different levels of urgency for triggering generation and/or update of analytics information 202 based on obtained information about 5GS entities serving an area of interest. For instance, changes in specific types of 5GS entities serving an area of interest or for specific area of interests, should immediately trigger and/or execute the generation and/or update of analytics information 202 based on the changed 5GS entities serving an area of interest, while other types of 5GS entities serving an area of interest and/or specific areas of interest can work using the queue schema described before. [0196] The first network entity 200 can trigger and/or perform the generation of analytics information 202 based on the 5GS entities serving an area of interest when the first network entity 200 receives a request and/or subscription to an analytics information (e.g., Analytics ID as defined in TS 23.288) that requires the first network entity 200 to identify which are the 5GS entities serving an area of interest to determine the entities to collect and/or use the data for analytics calculation (i.e., generation).

[0197] Exemplary advantages of embodiments of the invention include: [0198] Reduction of signaling related to the first network entity 200 (e.g., NWDAF) data collection for determining 5GS entities serving area(s) of interest, because the first network entity 200 can obtain such information from the centralized entity. [0199] Reuse of existing messages already exchanged among 5G NFs to derive the information on 5GS entities serving an area of interest, therefore reducing the load of data collection for analytics generation. [0200] Control over amount of data exchanged between the first network entity 200 and other NFs (e.g., UDM, UDR) that guarantees that only the portion of information on 5GS entities serving an area of interest that is not available at the first network entity 200 is transmitted.

[0201] In the following, exemplary specific embodiments of this invention based on a 5G mobile network following the architecture defined in 3GPP TS 23.501 are described. There are different alternatives of such exemplary embodiments, even within the 5GS.

[0202] A first embodiment based on operation mode 1 with alternative 1 is now described. In particular, this first embodiment is based on UDM providing current and/or historical 5GS entities and/or properties (association information 210) serving in one or more areas of interest. In this first embodiment, the network entities according to embodiments of the invention are mapped as follows: [0203] The NWDAF is the first network entity 200 (e.g. analytics function) [0204] The AMF is a third network entity 220, and is capable to detect: UEs, cells, TAI, network slices, and/or AMF NF type serving in the area(s) of interest [0205] The SMF is a third network entity 220, and is capable to detect: sessions, applications,

[0206] Data Network Names (DNNs), Data Network Access Identifiers (DNAIs), network slices, and/or SMF NF type serving in the area(s) of interest [0207] The UDM is the second network entity 210 serving in an area of interest, and is enhanced with: [0208] A data set “Area of Interest Context”, wherein the association information 201 of 5GS entities serving in the area of interest are stored and maintained. Fields and information in this data set may be defined as in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Entities serving area of interest, 5G entity types, and keys 5G Entity Type Data Set Fields Data Key Data Sub Key Area of Interest Cell and/or TAI Transaction ID Area of Interest For each Area of Interest data key (AoI) Context UE SUPI or Internal UE address(es) Group Identifier(s), External Group Identifier NF NF Type NF Set and/or NF ID Network Slice S-NSSAIs and/or NSI Data Network DNN and/or DNAI Session SSC mode and/or PDU Session Type Application Application ID [0209] A service “Nudm_AoICM” to enable consumers (e.g., NWDAF) to invoke such services to retrieve the information of 5GS entities serving in the area of interest maintained by UDM. In this embodiment, this information is maintained by the “Area of Interest Context” data set at UDM. Table 2 details service operations, input and output parameters of each of the operations of the Nudm_AoICM service.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 UDM new service related to 5GS entities serving in area of interest UDM Service service Operations Description Inputs, Required Inputs, Optional Outputs, Required Outputs, Optional Area of Get Consumer NF List of 5G Entity type(s), The consumer NF None Interest gets the 5GS area of interest Key and/or Data gets for each Context entities serving an (e.g., indexed by Sub Key(s). for area of interest Management area of interest Cell and/or TAI), each 5G entity the requested (AoICM) indicated by the search criteria type(s) 5G Entities area of context (e.g., temporal If 5G Entity serving an area data type input interval or number type is set of “any”, of interest, from UDM. of records), this means the and updated transaction ID consumer is transaction ID If no area interested in of interest is all types of included, the 5G Entities consumer will serving an area receive all of interest. current records for each area of interest. If no search criteria nor transaction ID is included, only the current record for each area of interest will be provided.

[0210] This embodiment focuses on the usage of the service operation Nudm_AoICM_Get to allow NWDAF 200 to retrieve the 5GS entities serving in the area of interest. The Nudm_AoICM_Get service operation allow consumers of such operation to get access to both current and historical 5GS entities serving in the area of interest.

[0211] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the UDM 210 is configured (e.g., by operator policies) with the list of types of 5GS entities, as well as the list of the area(s) of interest that are to be mapped by the UDM 120 and stored in the Area of Interest (AoI) dataset.

[0212] In this embodiment, one important aspect highlighted is how to use existing signalling defined in TS 23.502 among the 5GS entities (which are embodiments of entities related to this invention), in order for the UDM 210 to acquire the mapping of 5GS entities without having to use new types of signalling or extra information being transmitted in the existing signals. This embodiment represents the operation mode 1 with the alternative 1 of implicit acquisition of 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest. This embodiment of the invention based on UDM-NWDAF interactions is described in FIG. 7.

[0213] The steps 1-3 in FIG. 7 are an embodiment of the step 1a shown in FIG. 5. The embodiment of steps 1 and 2 of FIG. 6 are detailed in, respectively, steps 1 (1a-d) and 2 (2a-c) of FIG. 7. More specifically, the steps 2a-c in FIG. 7 show the aggregation of association information. These steps shows how this embodiment exploits the existing signalling at the AMF 220 and SMF 220 to provide 5GS entity data related to changes in the lifecycle of the 5GS entities (e.g., AMF related UE context, SMF related UE context, UE location) controlled by the SMF 220 and AMF 220. Based on the 5GS entity data acquired by UDM 210 from SMF 220 and AMF 220 that implicitly contains the support for determining the 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest, the UDM 210 can aggregate the association information, e.g., extract the mapping of the 5GS entities to the area(s) of interest it has been configured to keep track of and create records for each area of interest in the AoI context dataset. The embodiment of step 3 of FIG. 6 is detailed in step 3 of FIG. 7.

[0214] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the steps 1-3 can happen multiple times and in parallel.

[0215] The embodiment of step 1b of FIG. 5 is detailed in steps 5a and 5b of FIG. 7. Embodiments of steps 2 and 3 of FIG. 5 are respectively detailed in steps 6 and 7 of FIG. 7.

[0216] FIG. 7 illustrates in steps 4 and 8, respectively, one possibility of how the NWDAF 200 may be triggered to obtain the 5GS entities serving in are of interest(s), and how the obtained information from the UDM 210 is reflected in the output of NWDAF 202.

[0217] A second specific embodiment is based on operation mode 1 with alternative 2. In particular, this second specific embodiment is based on UDM and UDR for providing past 5GS entities and/or properties serving an area of interest. In this embodiment, the network entities according to embodiments of the invention are mapped as follows: [0218] The NWDAF is the first network entity 200 (e.g. analytics function). [0219] The AMF is a third network entity 220 and is capable to detect: UEs, cells, TAI, network slices, and/or AMF NF type serving in one or more areas of interest. [0220] The SMF is a third network entity 220 and is capable to detect: sessions, applications, DNNs, DNAIs, network slices, and/or SMF NF type serving in the area(s) of interest. [0221] The UDM is a second network entity 210 and is capable to create a 5GS entity serving in an area of interest that consolidates the information from SMF 220 and AMF 220 into a single record. Nevertheless the UDM 210 is not the entity storing such record to allow the storage of past association information 201 about 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest. [0222] The UDR is an embodiment of a second network entity 210 and it is enhanced with: [0223] A data set Area of Interest Context, where the information of 5GS Entities serving in area of interest are stored and maintained and the fields and information in this data set are defined in Table 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Entities serving area of interest, 5G entity types, and keys 5G Entity Type Data Set Fields Data Key Data Sub Key Area of Interest Cell and/or TAI Transaction ID Area of Interest For each Area of Interest data key (Aoi) Context UE SUPI or Internal UE address(es) Group Identifier(s), ExternalGroup Identifier NF NF Type NF Set and/or NF ID Network Slice S-NSSAIs and/or NSI Data Network DNN and/or DNAI Session SSC mode and/or PDU Session Type Application Application ID

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 UDR services enhanced to support retrieval of 5GS entities serving in area of interest UDR Service Enhanced Inputs Enhanced Inputs Enhanced Outputs Enhanced Outputs service Operations Description Fields, Required Fields, Optional Fields, Required Fields, Optional Nudr_DM Query Consumer NF List of 5G Entity type(s), The consumer NF None to query the area of interest Key and/or Data gets for each datasets stored (e.g., indexed by Sub Key(s). for area of interest at UDR including Cell and/or TAI), each 5G entity the requested 5G the newly added search criteria type(s) Entities Aol Context (e.g., temporal If 5G Entity serving an dataset. interval or number type is set area of interest, of records), of “any”, this and updated transaction ID means the consumer transaction ID If no area of is interested interest is in all types of included, the 5G Entities consumer will serving an receive all area of interest. current records for each area of interest. If no search criteria nor transaction ID is included, only the current record for each area of interest will be provided.

[0224] This embodiment focuses on providing an embodiment based on all existing services of 5GS architecture defined in TS 23.502. The enhancements are on functionalities of NFs, new data type structures, and extensions of existing service operations. In addition, this embodiment allows a separation of concerns between the roles of UDM 210 and UDR 21ß, compatible with current 3GPP 5GS architecture, where UDM 210 does not play the role of an entity unifying data while UDR 210 plays the role to the entity for storage of data.

[0225] The embodiment of the operation mode 1 with alternative 2 based on UDM, UDR and NWDAF interactions is described in FIG. 8. The steps 1-4 in FIG. 8 are an embodiment of the step 1a in FIG. 5. Steps 6a and 6b in FIG. 8 are an embodiment of step 1b in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 also illustrates, in the steps 5 and 9, respectively, one possibility of how the NWDAF 200 is triggered to obtain the 5GS entities serving in are of interest(s), and how the obtained information from URM 210 is reflected in the output of NWDAF 200.

[0226] Steps 1-3 in FIG. 8 are an embodiment of step 1 in FIG. 6. Step 4 in FIG. 8 is an embodiment of step 2 and 3 in FIG. 6. In addition, the step 2a-c in FIG. 8 show the aggregation of association information.

[0227] A third specific embodiment is based on operation mode 2 based on NRF and UDM providing current and/or past 5GS entities and/or properties serving an area of interest (following Event Exposure Framework Model). In this embodiment, the network entities according to embodiments of the invention are mapped as follows: [0228] AMF is a third network entity 220 and is capable to detect: UEs, cells, TAI, network slices, and/or AMF NF type serving in one or more areas of interest. [0229] The SMF is a third network entity 220 and is capable to detect: Sessions, Applications, DNNs, DNAIs, network slices, and/or SMF NF type serving in the area(s) of interest. [0230] The NRF is a third network entity 220 and is capable to detect: all types of NFs serving in the area(s) of interest. [0231] The UDM is a third network entity 220 and is capable create a 5GS entity serving in area of interest that consolidate the information from SMF 220 and AMF 220 into a single record. Nevertheless UDM 220 is not the entity storing such record to allow the storage of historical information about 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest. [0232] The NWDAF is a first network entity 200 (e.g., analytics function) and is a second network entity 210 serving in the area of interest, enhanced with [0233] Data set AoI context, where the information of 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest are stored and maintained and the fields and information in this data set are defined in Table 5.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Entities serving area of interest, 5G entity types, and keys 5G Entity Type Data Set Fields Data Key Data Sub Key Area of Interest Cell and/or TAI Transaction ID Area of For each Area of Interest data key Interest UE SUPI or Internal UE address(es) (Aoi) Group Identifier(s), Context ExternalGroup Identifier NF NF Type NF Set and/or NF ID Network Slice S-NSSAIs and/or NSI Data Network DNN and/or DNAI Session SSC mode and/or PDU Session Type Application Application ID

[0234] There are different alternatives of how the services of the NFs enhanced with the capabilities of the entities defined in this embodiment of the invention can be implemented. Below we describe some of the possible service extensions.

[0235] Possible embodiments for how UDM 210 provides the detected 5GS entities serving in area of interest are as follows.

[0236] In this embodiment for the services of the UDM 210, the Event Exposure framework defined in TS 23.502 Clause 4.15 is followed. In this case a new monitoring event is defined to be detected by UDM 210 as detailed in Table 6.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 List of event for monitoring capability Which NF detects Event Description the event Area of Interest Network detects changes in UDM Change (e.g., the 5GS Entities serving in a Aoi Event) area of interest

[0237] In addition, the UDM service for exposing the new type of event also has to be extended as defined in the Table 7.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 UDM enhancements on the event exposure service to provide detected 5GS entities serving in area of interest Service Enhanced Inputs Enhanced Input Enhanced Outputs Enhanced Output UDM service Operations Description Fields, Required Fields, Optional Fields, Required Fields, Optional Nudm_EventExposure Subscribe The NF consumer List of 5G Entity type(s), None None subscribes for area of interest Key and/or Data updates to the (e.g., indexed Sub Key(s). for area of interest. by Cell and/or TAI), each 5G entity Notification Target type(s) If no area of If 5G Entity type interest is indicated, is set of “any”, this means that this means the the consumer should consumer is be notified if any interested change in the Area in all types of of Interest Context 5G Entities dataset happens. serving an area of interest. Notification The NF consumer The consumer NF Timestamp None None is notified gets for each with updates area of interest to changes in the requested subscribed 5G Entities area of interest serving an area of interest whenever a change happens in the mapping of 5GS entities serving in area of interest

[0238] Possible embodiments for how NRF 210 provides the detected 5GS entities serving in the area of interest are as follows.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 7 NRF enhancements on service to provide detected 5GS Entities serving in Area of Interest Service Enhanced Inputs Enhanced Input Enhanced Outputs Enhanced Output NRF service Operations Description Fields, Required Fields, Optional Fields, Required Fields, Optional Nnrf_NFManage- Subscribe The NF consumer List of area of 5G Entity type(s), None None ment_StatusSubscribe subscribes for interest (e.g., Key and/or Data updates to the indexed by Cell Sub Key(s). for area of interest. and/or TAI), each 5G entity Notification type(s) Target If 5G Entity If no area of type is set of interest is “any”, this means indicated, this the consumer is means that the interested in consumer should all types of be notified if 5G Entities any change in serving an the Area of area of interest. Interest Context dataset happens. Notification The consumer NF Timestamp None None The consumer gets for each NF gets for area of interest each area of the requested interest the 5G Entities requested 5G serving an area Entities serving of interest an area of whenever a interest change happens whenever a in the mapping change happens of 5GS entities in the mapping serving in area of 5GS entities of interest serving in area of interest

[0239] This embodiment focuses on providing an embodiment based on the event exposure framework. In this case the NWDAF 200 is the entity responsible to centralize and store the mapping of all 5GS entities (types) serving in area(s) of interest. The NWDAF 200 obtains this information based on the subscription to events related to 5GS entities serving in area of interest from UDM 210 and NRF 210.

[0240] In addition, in this embodiment the NWDAF 200 can also provide the information about 5GS entities serving in area(s) of interest, which the NWDAF 200 centralized. For instance, FIG. 9 shows interaction among two different NWDAFs 200 (200a/200b). In this case, the NWDAF 200 serving in the area of interest is enhanced with the exact the same service Area of Interest Context Management (AoICM) service as defined in Table 2. In this case the NWDAF services will be enhanced with the new service Nnwdaf_AoICM service.

[0241] Further details of the embodiment of the operation mode 2, UDM, NRF and NWDAF interactions are shown in FIG. 9.

[0242] In this embodiment, step 0 of FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the step 1d of FIG. 5, showing the arrow when the first network entity 200, i.e., NWDAF 200 enhanced with centralization of 5GS entities serving in the area of interest (e.g., aggregation of association information), sends a request the third network entities 220 i.e., UDM and NRF. In this embodiment this request follows the subscribe-notify model of communication. Therefore, the NWDAF 200 subscribes to UDM 220 and NRF 220 events related to the 5GS entities serving in area of interest controlled by such NFs. The steps 1-3 and 5 of FIG. 9 show an embodiment of step 1c in FIG. 2. The steps 4 and 6 of FIG. 9 show the embodiment of the step 1d of FIG. 5, now in the perspective of the UDM, NRF sending the answer for the requested (e.g., subscribed) changes in 5GS Entities in area of interest. Step 7 of FIG. 9 is the embodiment of step 1e of FIG. 5. Steps 9 and 10 of FIG. 9 are the embodiment for Steps 2 and 3 of FIG. 5. It is also illustrated in FIG. 9, steps 8 and 11, respectively, one possibility of how NWDAF 200 is triggered to use the obtained the 5GS Entities serving in are of interest(s) in the analytics generation output of NWDA 200.

[0243] Finally, steps 12a and 12b of FIG. 9, illustrate how NWDAF 200 enhanced with centralization of 5GS entities serving in area of interest can provide 5GS entities serving in area of interest to further entities. In this case, the further entity can be another NWDAF instance.

[0244] FIG. 10 shows a method 1000 for a first network entity 200. The method 100 is for generating analytics. The method 1000 comprises a step 1001 of obtaining, from a second network entity 210 or from one or more third network entities 220, past and/or current association information 201 for an area of interest. Additionally or alternatively, the method 1000 comprises a step 1001 of providing 1002 analytics information 202, the analytics information 202 being based on the obtained association information 201.

[0245] FIG. 11 shows a method 1100 for a second network entity 210. The method 1100 is for supporting analytics generation. The method 1100 comprises a step 1201 of obtaining 1101 past and/or current association information 201 for an area of interest from one or more third network entities, in response to a first request 311 sent to and/or according to a first subscription to the one or more third network entities 220. Alternatively or additionally, the method 1100 comprises a step 1202 of obtaining change information 321 from one or more third network entities 220, upon lifecycle changes in one or more target elements related to the association information 201 provided by the one or more third network entities 220, the one or more target elements being a network entity or a network property.

[0246] FIG. 12 shows a method 1200 for a third network entity 220. The method 1200 is for supporting analytics generation. The method 1200 comprises a step 1201 of providing past and/or current association information 201 for an area of interest to a first network entity 200 and/or a second network entity 210, in response to a request 401, 411 received from and/or according to a subscription from the first network entity 200 and/or the second network entity 210. Alternatively or additionally the method 1200 comprises a step 1202 of providing 1202 association information 201 to a first network entity 200 and/or a second network entity 210, upon changes in one or more target elements related to the association information 201, the one or more target elements being a network entity or a network property.

[0247] The present invention has been described in conjunction with various embodiments as examples as well as implementations. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure and the independent claims. In the claims as well as in the description the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation.