GB2636146A

GB2636146A - Radio network operation optimization

Info

Publication number: GB2636146A
Application number: GB2318324.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Amir Awan Daniyal; Ozturk Ece; Gajic Borislava; Decarreau Guillaume
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2023-11-30
Filing date: 2023-11-30
Publication date: 2025-06-11
Also published as: GB202318324D0; WO2025113924A1

Abstract

A method of an access network entity comprises determining a new quality of service, QoS, profile for a first terminal, transmitting towards the first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to the new QoS profile, and receiving, from the first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to the change to the new QoS profile. The new QoS profile may be a reduced QOS profile associated with a handover target cell or network slice which allows the network to deactivate a cell in a network energy saving, NES, procedure. The request message may also include information on expected quality of experience, QoE.

Description

Radio network operation optimization

Field

Various example embodiments relate to radio network operation optimization, in particular related to cooperative cell energy savings. More specifically, various example embodiments exemplarily relate to measures (including methods, apparatuses and computer program products) for realizing radio network operation optimization.

Background

The present specification generally relates to ways achieve energy savings in mobile networks.

In this regard, it is noted that network energy saving (NES) is a more and more relevant topic in particular for mobile network operators (MNO) and equipment and infrastructure planner, developer, and producer.

Currently, in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5th Generation (5G) there are various innovative NES use-cases discussed. As an example, offering network energy efficiency as a service to subscribers in addition to the usual throughput related services, latency related services, etc., is discussed.

QoS control may be provided for NES. As an example, network slice customers (NSC) may accept energy saving via QoS degradation. Heretofore, charging-based reimbursement may be provided to incentivize (a) UE(s) to accept QoS optimization for NES. This optimization, in particular, may involve QoS degradation for the UE if the UC dyf CeS to take part in NES (either by a pre-configured policy or by direct interaction with the Core network over NAS).

Further, cell switch-OFF may be used for NES. Cell deactivation is an important mechanism in 5G 3GPP networks. Whereas the exact logic for cell deactivation (e.g., based on UE traffic load) is left for implementation, 3GPP specifies that before a RAN node (e.g., a gNB or a CU-CP in a gNB) decides to deactivate a cell that it controls for energy saving, it can handover the UE served by this cell to other cells either in the same RAN node or in neighboring RAN nodes. Cells can be activated again when more RAN capacity is required.

Cell switch OFF is carried out either by the RAN node (in charge of the cell) or by some O&M mechanism. A cell may in particular be deactivated if low load is predicted/observed at the RAN node so that its "capacity booster" cells can be switched OFF, while the UE is handed over to the active cells. Such mechanisms of course only make sense during periods of low UE activity/traffic because otherwise the network operator runs the risk of violating service level agreements (SLA) with the subscribers. The SLAs often consist of "best effort QoS" provided to the UE, but they may also include a minimum level of QoS (based on its subscription) that must be maintained on-average by the network. These mechanisms rely on long-term load estimations, and they can result in substantial NES during, e.g., the night period. However, currently, no regard is paid to real-time QoS optimization.

Instead of deactivating the whole cell less radical measures might be taken, e.g. deactivation may also encompass a deactivation candidate radio cell which serves energy saving measures supporting terminals, including a first terminal, that can be handed over to radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell and/or different network slices of said deactivation candidate cell, and/or different modulation schemes saving energy.

To further improve NES, cell sleep illuus have been introduced to put idle cells in short sleep so that energy can be saved at shorter time scales. However, cells must wake up when their resources are required again in the network by their controlling gNB. "Short" sleep modes requiring frequent radio frequency (RF) ramp up and down can be counterproductive (amount of NES is not worth the effort) and harmful to network stability. Only deep sleep modes are therefore practical. Hence, mechanisms that can help keep a cell deactivated (or in deep sleep) for longer times than those considered in short sleep modes are necessary and at least would be advantageous.

The RAN is responsible for the lion's share of network energy consumption and therefore MNO's energy bills, and because cell deactivation is the most effective way of achieving NES. NES through cell deactivation can be very cost-beneficial to the MNO, but currently there is no mechanism by which a UE can, in real-time, indirectly affect cell deactivation/activation by sacrificing its QoS (but possibly not its QoE). In this regard, example embodiments are made in view of and directed to how to apply QoS optimization and UE collaboration for particular NES use-cases, namely, cell deactivation and activation avoidance.

UEs mentioned herein can be smart phone users, but they may also belong to an IoT type devices configured to participate in NES for the MNO by their (slice) owners. The slice owners may have a keen interest in operating their slices in the most energy efficient way possible.

A maximum amount of network energy consumption may be associated to UE(s) subscription. QoS may be sacrificed to maintain this maximum energy consumption provision for the subscribers. This can obviously be achieved through NES where possible and subscribers have a clear interest in collaboration with the relevant NES mechanisms. However, this is foreseen for "best effort traffic" type only. However, even in the case of best effort traffic, this energy provisioning is not always guaranteed because if the subscribers reach their maximum energy consumption, then network service cannot be simply stopped. A better approach is then to charge subscribers "on top" for extra energy consumption. This approach is not different to energy billing for domestic households. For the case of guaranteed QoS traffic subscriptions, the NES achieved by the subscriber collaboration can be recorded and taken into account in monthly bills. In both cases, the incentive for UE collaboration is clear.

Hence, a problem may arise that there is unused energy saving potential, and there is a particular need or opportunity for using such unused energy saving potential without the risk of not fulfilling assured policies/features for UEs or other network service using entities.

Hence, there is an opportunity to provide for radio network operation optimization.

Summary

Various example embodiments aim at addressing at least part of the above issues and/or problems and/or drawbacks.

Various aspects of example embodiments are set out in the appended claims.

According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided a method of an access network entity, the method comprising determining a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided a method of a first terminal, the method comprising receiving, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service pi wine, deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided an apparatus of an access network entity, the apparatus comprising determining circuitry configured to determine a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving circuitry configured to receive, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided an apparatus of a first terminal, the apparatus comprising receiving circuitry configured to receive, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, deciding circuitry configured to decide on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided an apparatus of an access network entity, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform determining a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to Saki Lange to said new quality of service profile.

According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided an apparatus of a first terminal, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform receiving, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

According to an exemplary aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer-executable computer program code which, when the program is run on a computer (e.g. a computer of an apparatus according to any one of the aforementioned apparatus-related exemplary aspects of the present disclosure), is configured to cause the computer to carry out the method according to any one of the aforementioned method-related exemplary aspects of the present disclosure.

Such computer program product may comprise (or be embodied) a (tangible) computer-readable (storage) medium or the like on which the computer-executable computer program code is stored, and/or the program may be directly loadable into an internal memory of the computer or a processor thereof.

Any one of the above aspects enables an efficient utilization of energy saving potential while avoiding participation (and thus, burden) of the core network (namely, control and negotiation processing according to example embodiments can be implemented only in the RAN and the UE), to thereby solve at least part of the problems and drawbacks identified in relation to the prior art.

By way of example embodiments, there is provided radio network operation optimization. More specifically, by way of example embodiments, there are provided measures and mechanisms for realizing radio network operation optimization, for example related to cooperative cell energy savings.

Thus, improvement is achieved by methods, apparatuses and computer program products enabling/realizing radio network operation optimization, for example related to cooperative cell energy savings.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, the present disclosure will be described in greater detail by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments, FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a procedure according to example 30 embodiments, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a procedure according to example embodiments, FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of signaling sequences according to example embodiments, FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of signaling sequences according to

example embodiments,

FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of signaling sequences according to example embodiments, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram alternatively illustrating apparatuses according to example embodiments.

Detailed description

The present disclosure is described herein with reference to particular non-limiting examples and to what are presently considered to be conceivable embodiments. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure is by no means limited to these examples, and may be more broadly applied.

It is to be noted that the following description of the present disclosure and its embodiments mainly refers to specifications being used as non-limiting examples for certain exemplary network configurations and deployments. Namely, the present disclosure and its embodiments are mainly described in relation to 3GPP specifications being used as non-limiting examples for certain exemplary network configurations and deployments. As such, the description of example embodiments given herein specifically refers to terminology which is directly related thereto. Such terminology is only used in the context of the presented non-limiting examples, and does naturally not limit the disclosure in any way. Rather, any other communication or communication related system deployment, etc. may also be utilized as long as compliant with the features described herein.

Hereinafter, various embodiments CIIIU implementations of the present disclosure and its aspects or embodiments are described using several variants and/or alternatives. It is generally noted that, according to certain needs and constraints, all of the described variants and/or alternatives may be provided alone or in any conceivable combination (also including combinations of individual features of the various variants and/or alternatives).

As used herein, "at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>" and "at least one of <a list of two or more elements>" and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by "and" or "or", mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

According to example embodiments, in general terms, there are provided measures and mechanisms for (enabling/realizing) radio network operation optimization, for example related to cooperative cell energy savings.

Example embodiments mainly consider the following two technical situations/scenarios. However, it is noted that example embodiments are not limited to such situations/scenarios.

1. Cell deactivation: A UE is "alone" in a particular cell and all other cells controlled by the RAN node have almost full load/capacity, i.e., the UE cannot be transferred to another cell without possibly degrading its QoS. Note that the RAN node is aware of the load of all its cells as per 3GPP standards but may not know whether a UE can in fact be served by another cell(s)/carriers. This may be because of the lack of real-time inter-frequency intra gNB UE measurements. If it were possible that the UE could be served by another cell but with a degraded QoS, if the RAN node does not switch the UE to another cell (via intra RAN node handover), it will miss out on potentially large energy savings. Conversely, if the RAN would make the switch (e.g., by following some MNO policy), QoS of the UE can be degraded (unbeknownst to the UE), and this policy in the long term Slid!' violate the QoS agreements with subscribers.

2. Cell activation: A cell is at almost full capacity/load and a certain UE demands a higher QoS (a better 5G QoS identifier (5QI) due to switch of the UE application to a higher bitrate or latency requirement). If the QoS requirement cannot be met any longer, the RAN node may activate a deactivated cell for capacity boost. If this switch is not made, the UE's application may not be properly supported by the cell resources that are available. Cell activation for capacity boost is already provisioned in 3GPP.

The above-mentioned two situations/scenarios may be termed as extreme boundary cases. However, example embodiments apply more generally, i.e., there may be more than a single UE involved.

In brief, according to example embodiments, mechanisms and signaling (e.g. on the Uu (RAN-UE) and the Ng (RAN-Core) interfaces) for NES actions via UE collaboration and QoS control are provided. These include RAN NES actions by modification of UE QoS. These further include the UE being enabled to consume this particular NES service provided by the network. These further include the network (operator) being enabled to incorporate NES achieved due to UE participation/collaboration in, optionally real-time UE policy charging, or in eventual subscription bills. Finally, these include deriving/learning optimal conditions for NES by leveraging UE participation/collaboration (e.g., the thresholds for maximum number of NES UEs in a cell, optimal time windows, etc.). Additionally, these further include UEs being enabled to optimize their NES collaboration under consideration of their incentives over time.

The NES actions referred to herein include and are preferably those involving cell deactivation and activation avoidance. However, example embodiments are not limited to these NES actions.

Further, a RAN node referred to bele!!! 15 the 3GPP equivalent terminology for a gNB.

According to example embodiments, on the access network side, the RAN detects an opportunity for NES via cell deactivation or activation avoidance (the NES action). In the cell activation avoidance case, this may be triggered by a packet data unit (PDU) session request from the core network (i.e., a core network entity). The information about NES capability of the UE(s) may be included in the UE context or may be provided by the core network in real-time after UE(s)' connection establishment. In this process, various factors, such as number of NES UEs connected to the involved cells, time of the day, and the location of the RAN nodes, the load across all cells of the RAN node, can be considered. According to example embodiments, this involves artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML). If AI/ML is used (either in the RAN node or some operations, administration and maintenance (OAM, O&M) module), then such determination/detection improves over time. Furthermore, according to example embodiments, UE(s) feedback is also utilized in the learning process.

According to example embodiments, between the access network and the UE, in the cell deactivation case, the RAN node (i.e., the gNB) requests UE measurement(s) for cell(s) (excluding the cell which shall be deactivated) to estimate or infer QoS and QoE if NES action (cell deactivation) would take place successfully. Since inter-frequency intra-gNB measurements are expensive for the UE(s), an appropriate reason/incentive "NES" is provided along with the RRC measurement request (RRC reconfiguration). According to example embodiments, the UE(s), upon receiving this message, report the measurements as soon as possible (i.e., they do not wait for any mobility event trigger (e.g., A2, A3 etc.) or any fixed time-period to elapse) in view of the indicated reason/incentive "NES". According to example embodiments, the UE(s) can also respond by denying the measurement request, which indicates to the RAN that the UE(s) do not want to take part in NES at this time. In such case, the NES process is cancelled, and normal operation is resumed. UE(s) acceptance/rejection is disc) useful in the RAN to improve its future NES determination as mentioned above. For cell activation avoidance, no measurements are required. Of course, collaboration from all involved UE(s) is required for NES actions.

According to example embodiments, between the access network and the UE, after receiving the measurement from the UE(s), the network can infer the QoS and QoE for the UE(s) if NES action was performed. Additionally, RAN node may communicate with the core network (CN) (e.g. over NG-C interface) before contacting the UE for a reimbursement/charging offer for the degraded QoS. After the offer is sent (e.g. over NG-C), according to example embodiments, the RAN node appends the QoS and QoE profile/estimate in the RRC message and send them together to UE. According to example embodiments, the UE can be e.g. a smart phone user or an automated IoT type device belonging to a network slice customer. The NES collaboration could be a built-in APP inside the UE. The UE, after considering its applications, time of the day, place and QoS/QoE offered by the RAN node, can accept or reject the request (e.g. with a Uu message), optionally, with the reason or cause for rejection. This may be done by an AI/ML application residing in the UE. The network can use the reason in retraining its future offers. Such retraining functionality may reside in O&M in which case the RAN provides the success and failure results to O&M with proper signaling.

According to example embodiments, between the access network and the core network, the RAN node requests the new PDU session(s) for the UE(s) (e.g. over NG-C) and includes in the message the new QoS profile and the reason for the request as "NES". The reason indicates to the core network that the UE(s) have agreed to the new QoS and the NES offer.

According to example embodiments, between the access network and the core network, after performing the required NES action and PDU session modifications if required, the RAN node computes the NES caused by the UE and reports it to the core network. According to example embodiments, the network operator can take this int.() ciLwunt in various ways: Namely, this information can be used for real-time charging or for eventual subscription bills. In the case that a maximum energy consumption is part of the UE subscription, according to example embodiments, this real-time NES is used to modify the remaining energy provision.

According to example embodiments, between the access network and the UE, upon successful completion of the NES action, the UE(s) are provided with information regarding the real-time NES achieved and any information (if available) regarding the charging/billing aspects, and remaining energy provisions. According to example embodiments, the UE(s) can consider this information for future collaborations.

According to example embodiments, advantageously, and in contrast to known approaches, UE-CN collaboration via NAS in terms of UE-charging vs. UE-QoS degradation, where a QoS profile is not sent to the UE, is dispensed with. In fact, according to example embodiments, UE-RAN RRC collaboration takes place in cell deactivation/activation as network optimization use cases.

A QoS flow is the "pipe" from UPF/core network to the UE via the RAN. A QoS flow has a QoS profile (a bunch of parameters including the 5QI) that is initiated by the core network in 3GPP. This profile has RAN-side and UE-side parameters. A switch in QoS profile does not imply any UE-QoE degradation necessarily, but it is possible. In fact, according to example embodiments, the old and the new profile could be very similar.

Both the RAN and the core network understand the QoS profile, but only the RAN knows whether it can ultimately implement the QoS profile since it knows its cells and resources. 3GPP does not specify that the RAN calculates its own QoS profiles. It receives one or several from the core network and then tells the core network whether it can support this QoS profile(s). It is reasonable to expect that the RAN can reverse engineer good QoS profiles while knowing its resources and the UES signal strength.

According to example embodiments, the RAN (not the core network) sends concrete QoS profiles to the UE via RRC. This profile may contain only the parameters that are relevant for the UE. No degradation of QoE/QoS may happen in the end. However, a cell change and the requirement to make extra measurements can be detrimental to the UE application (connection interruption and RACH) and battery, even if QoE/QoS improves once the cell change is done. Hence, according to example embodiments, the RAN is intelligent enough to only offer those profiles to the UE that the RAN considers to not result in too much harm to the UE's QoE. That is why QoE feedback is good, and, according to example embodiments, provided. At the UE side, the software learns QoS profile vs. QoE relation.

It is known that QoS profiles are announced by the core network (not the RAN). The core network over NAS can tell the UE some QoS rules and some QoS parameters so it is able to do the QoS flow filtering. On the other hand, according to example embodiments, the RAN (without the core network's knowledge) can compute a QoS profile that it can offer to the UE and then ask the UE if it is OK to change. The RAN is in a better position to make this offer, because it already knows that it can support the profile based on its knowledge of its cell and resources available. Once the UE agrees, the RAN then tells the core network to modify the PDU session based on this newly calculated profile.

Example embodiments are specified below in more detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments. The apparatus may be a network access node or entity 10, such as a radio access network (RAN) node, comprising a determining circuitry 11, a transmitting circuitry 12 and a receiving circuitry 13. The determining circuitry 11 determines a new quality of service profile for a first terminal. The transmitting circuitry 12 transmits, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of serviut profile. The receiving circuitry 13 receives, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a procedure according to example embodiments. The apparatus according to FIG. 1 may perform the method of FIG. 5 but is not limited to this method. The method of FIG. 5 may be performed by the apparatus of FIG. 1 but is not limited to being performed by this apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 5, a procedure according to example embodiments comprises an operation of determining (S51) a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, an operation of transmitting (S52), towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and an operation of receiving (S53), from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a variation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus according to FIG. 2 may thus further comprise a conducting circuitry 21, an estimating circuitry 22, a detecting circuitry 23, and/or an obtaining circuitry 24.

In an embodiment at least some of the functionalities of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (or 2) may be shared between two physically separate devices forming one operational entity. Therefore, the apparatus may be seen to depict the operational entity comprising one or more physically separate devices for executing at least some of the described processes.

According to further example embodiments, said agreement request message is indicative of at least one parameter of said new quality of service profile.

According to further example embuunliems, said new quality of service profile differs from a current quality of service profile of said first terminal in at least one profile parameter.

According to further example embodiments, said at least one profile parameter changes a mapping between quality of service flows to data radio bearers used by said first terminal.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, said agreement response message is indicative of agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of transmitting a message indicative of said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.

Said operation of transmitting said message indicative of said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal may be effected towards a core network entity.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving a message indicative of superior approval for said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.

Said message indicative of superior approval for said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal may originate from a core network entity.

Namely, as one option according to example embodiments, the RAN node generates a new but preliminary quality of service profile which is optimized for RAN node processing / operation te.y. energy saving etc.). The RAN node may negotiate or agree this new/preliminary quality of service profile with the UE, but this new/preliminary quality of service profile still remains preliminary, as the core network node still needs to agree, and the core network node decision may be based on other criteria, e.g. relevant for core network only, and thus may deny application of new/preliminary quality of service profile, then the new/preliminary quality of service profile will not be activated / applied, and normal procedure / operation continues, e.g. UE is handed over to target cell or UE remains with source cell, etc. In alternative example embodiments, a first quality of service profile is determined (e.g. during establishment of UE connection with the network) by the core network node and applied for the UE-to-network connection, and any change in the quality of service profile can be initiated and determined by the RAN node, and the core network node needs to apply what RAN node and UE agreed.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of conducting a configuration processing with said first terminal based on said new quality of service profile, an operation of estimating an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile, and an operation of transmitting information indicative of said energy saving extent.

Said operation of transmitting information indicative of said energy saving extent may be effected towards a core network entity.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving, from said first terminal, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, wherein said agreement request message includes said information indicative of said charge relief.

Said received information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile may originate from a core network entity.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of detecting an energy saving opportunity with respect to said first terminal, and an operation of determining an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal, wherein said agreement request message includes information on said new quality of service profile and information on said expected quality of service experience.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary details of the detecting operation (detecting said energy saving opportunity) and exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of obtaining information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal. Further, such exemplary detecting operation (detecting said energy saving opportunity) according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of determining, based on said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal, that a deactivation caiiuivaLe radio cell serves energy saving measures supporting terminals, including said first terminal, that can be handed over to radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of transmitting, towards said first terminal, a measurement request message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell, and an operation of receiving, from said first terminal, a measurement response message.

According to further example embodiments, said measurement request message is indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to a current cell of said first terminal and/or a potential target cell of said first terminal.

According to further example embodiments, said measurement request message is indicative of a reason for reception measurements being network optimization.

According to further example embodiments, said network optimization is or includes energy saving, preferably network energy saving.

According to further example embodiments, said measurement response message includes results of said reception measurements, and said determining said new quality of service profile and an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal is based on said results of said reception measurements.

According to a variation of the pi uutuure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, said configuration processing with said first terminal includes handover processing towards a radio cell of said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell corresponding to said new quality of service profile, and an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of conducting deactivation processing with respect to said deactivation candidate radio cell.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary details of the obtaining operation (obtaining said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal) are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. Such exemplary obtaining operation (obtaining said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal) according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, exemplary details of the detecting operation (detecting said energy saving opportunity) and exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of obtaining information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal. Further, such exemplary detecting operation (detecting said energy saving opportunity) according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving a session modification message in relation to said first terminal, said session modification message being indicative of a target quality of service profile, an operation of determining that said target quality of service profile requires activation of a deactivated radio cell, and an operation of determining, based on said information on terminal support oi energy saving measures for at least one terminal that said first terminal supports energy saving measures.

According to further example embodiments, said agreement request message is indicative of a reason for quality of service profile change being network optimization.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments. The apparatus may be a terminal 30, such as a user equipment (UE; e.g. smart phone or Internet-of-Things (IoT) type device), comprising a receiving circuitry 31, a deciding circuitry 32, and a transmitting circuitry 33.

The receiving circuitry 31 receives, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile. The deciding circuitry 32 decides on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile. The transmitting circuitry 33 transmits, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a procedure according to example embodiments. The apparatus according to FIG. 3 may perform the method of FIG. 6 but is not limited to this method. The method of FIG. 6 may be performed by the apparatus of FIG. 3 but is not limited to being performed by this apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 6, a procedure according to example embodiments comprises an operation of receiving (S61), from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, an operation of deciding (S62) on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and an operation of transmitting (S63), towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus according to example embodiments. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates a variation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3. The apparatus according to FIG. 4 may thus further comprise a conducting circuitry 41, a consenting circuitry 42, and/or a detecting circuitry 43.

In an embodiment at least some of the functionalities of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 (or 4) may be shared between two physically separate devices forming one operational entity. Therefore, the apparatus may be seen to depict the operational entity comprising one or more physically separate devices for executing at least some of the described processes.

According to further example embodiments, said new quality of service profile differs from a current quality of service profile of said first terminal in at least one profile parameter.

According to further example embodiments, said agreement response message is indicative of agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 6, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of conducting a configuration processing with saio du_ess network entity based on said new quality of service profile.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 6, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of transmitting, towards said network access entity, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.

According to further example embodiments, said agreement request message includes information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and said deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is based on said charge relief.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 6, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving information indicative of an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile. Alternatively, or in addition, according to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving charging related information regarding said change to said new quality of service profile.

Said received information indicative of said energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile may originate from a core network entity.

Said received charging related information regarding said change to said new quality of service profile may originate from a core network entity.

According to further example embodiments, said agreement request message includes information on said new quality of service profile and information on an expected quality of service experience, and said deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is based on said new quality of service profile and/or said expected quality of service experience.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 6, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of receiving, from said access network entity, a measurement request message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to at least one radio cell, an operation of deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures, and an operation of transmitting, towards said access network entity, a measurement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 6, exemplary details of the deciding operation (deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures) and exemplary dUUILIUlial operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, such exemplary deciding operation (deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures) according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of consenting to energy saving measures. Further, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of conducting reception measurements with respect to said at least one radio cell, wherein said measurement response message includes results of said reception measurements.

According to further example embodiments, said configuration processing with said access network entity includes handover processing towards a radio cell of said at least one radio cell corresponding to said new quality of service profile.

According to a variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 6, exemplary additional operations are given, which are inherently independent from each other as such. According to such variation, an exemplary method according to example embodiments may comprise an operation of detecting necessity for a target quality of service profile, and an operation of transmitting a session modification message indicative of said target quality of service profile.

Example embodiments outlined and specified above are explained below in more specific terms.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagidill ul signaling sequences according to example embodiments, and in particular illustrates a network optimization case.

The AI/ML entity/entities illustrated in FIG. 7 can be in O&M or inside the RAN.

In a step 1 of FIG. 7, the RAN node (i.e., a gNB) detects an optimization trigger. The (network) optimization trigger may be either triggered by RANs AI/ML processing (e.g., if it detects that a cell can be deactivated), or by a PDU session modification requested by the core network or the UE (e.g. in case of activation avoidance as shown in more detail in FIG. 9).

In a step 2 of FIG. 7, the RAN node estimates cell resources and performs a UE context check.

In a step 3 of FIG. 7, according to example embodiments, the RAN node requests the UE(s) to report specific measurements (reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), etc.) for target cell(s) with (indication of) the reason/event. The indicated reason/event corresponds to a network optimization use-case, e.g. "NES".

In a step 4 of FIG. 7, according to example embodiments, the UE(s) respond with measurements for target cell(s) or respond with a refusal. The measurements are reported as soon as they are available due to the (indicated) reason/event.

In a step 5 of FIG. 7, using the measurements, the RAN node estimates the best QoS/QoE relationship and QoS profile for the UE. In doing so, it can use an AI/ML model provided by the O&M in case such capabilities are not placed locally in the RAN.

In a step 6 of FIG. 7, according Lu exthilple embodiments, the RAN node requests the UE (via, e.g., RRC information request message) for its agreement (to change the QoS) and provides the UE(s) with the QoS profile and QoE estimation. According to example embodiments, AI/ML may be used for this purpose (in the application) at the RAN node or some central entity such as O&M. The request may or may not indicated the reason/event.

In a step 7 of FIG. 7, according to example embodiments, the UE(s) check the QoS/QoE "offer" from the RAN node and respond with the agreement (or refusal). According to example embodiments, this decision can be taken by some (smart) application in the UE that can use e.g. AI/ML to make such decisions and learn/improve over time. Alternatively, this decision can be taken by the human operating the UE. The UE(s) response may be forwarded to the AI/ML algorithm in the O&M to update its model to learn the best conditions to place such offers, e.g. preferred time windows, network context, number of UEs in a cell, etc. In a step 8 of FIG. 7, according to example embodiments, upon receiving the agreement from the UE, the RAN node requests the core network for a change in QoS (PDU session modification). This can be done by PDU session notify message with the reason/event as a cause, and the new QoS, or by a new N2 message. This also informs the core network that the UE has already agreed to this change.

In a step 9 of FIG. 7, the QoS is modified by the PDU session modification procedure initiated by the core network with the given QoS profile from the RAN node.

In a step 10 of FIG. 7, the RAN node and the UE perform handover/cell change/RRC reconfiguration procedures dependent on the use case, i.e., dependent on the considered network optimization use case.

In a step 11 of FIG. 7, the RAIN I IUUe performs network optimization performance computation dependent on the use case, i.e., dependent on the considered network optimization use case.

In a step 12 of FIG. 7, according to example embodiments, the RAN node can inform the UE(s) about outcomes of the network optimization for the UE(s) knowledge, e.g. achieved energy savings. This information can be consumed by the UE for its own evaluation of the collaboration.

In a step 13 of FIG. 7, according to example embodiments, optionally, the UE gives feedback to the network about its actual QoS and QoE which shall help the RAN's future estimation of the same. This may include information on whether QoS and QoE are satisfied or not.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of signaling sequences according to example embodiments, and in particular illustrates a cell deactivation (as NES action) case as the network optimization case.

In a step 1 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, the core network optionally tells the RAN node that certain UE(s) have NES policies and capabilities.

In a step 2 of FIG. 8, the RAN node (i.e., a gNB) detects an energy saving (ES) opportunity by deactivating a certain cell. The RAN identifies the target cells to which the UE(s) could be redirected. The RAN node estimates that the connected UE(s) may be served by other cell(s) but their QoS (and possibly their QoE) need to be degraded. The RAN checks the UE(s) context to see whether the UE(s) have the NES capability (the ability or willingness to take part in NES).

In a step 3 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, the RAN node requests the UE(s) to report specific measurements (reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINrc), eLL.) for target cell(s) with (indication of) the reason/event "NES".

In a step 4 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, the UE(s) respond with measurements for target cell(s) or respond with a refusal. The measurements are reported as soon as they are available due to the (indicated) NES reason/event.

In a step 5 of FIG. 8, using the measurements, the RAN node estimates the best QoS/QoE relationship and QoS profile for the UE. In doing so, it can use an AI/ML model provided by the O&M in case such capabilities are not placed locally in the RAN.

In a step 6 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, the RAN node requests the UE (via, e.g., RRC information request message) for its agreement (to change the QoS) and provides the UE(s) with the QoS profile and QoE estimation. According to example embodiments, AI/ML may be used for this purpose (in the application) at the RAN node or some central entity such as O&M. The offer may be appended by a charging offer obtained after interaction with the core network.

In a step 7 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, the UE(s) check the QoS/QoE "offer" from the RAN node and respond with the agreement (or refusal). According to example embodiments, this decision can be taken by some (smart) application in the UE that can use e.g. AI/ML to make such decisions and learn/improve over time. Alternatively, this decision can be taken by the human operating the UE. The UE(s) response may be forwarded to the AI/ML algorithm in the O&M to update its model to learn the best conditions to place such offers, e.g. preferred time windows, network context, number of UEs in a cell, etc. In a step 8 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, upon receiving the agreement from the UE, the RAN node requests the core network for a change in QoS (PDU session modification). iris can be done by PDU session notify message with a cause "NES", and the new QoS, or by a new N2 message. This also informs the core network that the UE has already agreed to this change for NES.

In a step 9 of FIG. 8, the QoS is modified by the PDU session modification procedure initiated by the core network with the given QoS profile from the RAN node.

In a step 10 of FIG. 8, the RAN node and the UE perform the handover procedures.

In a step 11 of FIG. 8, the RAN node deactivates the cell (if the above procedure is successful for all the involved UEs) after performing the related procedures.

In a step 12 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, the RAN node informs the core network about the UE collaboration and how much NES has been calculated by this QoS controlled handover decision.

In a step 13 of FIG. 8, the core network can optionally include this information in real-time policy charging. Alternatively, the core network can also update a UE-specific NES KPI counter. This information may be used to modify the maximum amount of energy consumption for the slice UEs.

In a step 14 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, the core network can inform the UE(s) about NES information and/or charging information for the UE(s) knowledge. This information can be consumed by the UE to estimate NES achieved due to this collaboration.

In a step 15 of FIG. 8, according to example embodiments, optionally, the UE gives feedback to the network about its actual QoS and QoE which shall help the RAN's future estimation of the same.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of signaling sequences according to example embodiments, and in particular illustrates a cell activation avoidance (as NES action) case as the network optimization case.

In a step 1 of FIG. 9, the UE demands (e.g. triggered by a UE application) a higher QoS profile. As standard, a PDU session modification request or a new PDU session request is sent to the core network over Ni.

In a step 2 of FIG. 9, as standard, the core network initiates the PDU session establishment/modification with the RAN node with the QoS profile.

In a step 3 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the RAN node (i.e., a gNB) detects an ES opportunity, e.g., if a certain UE's QoS change/request requires a deactivated cell to be activated for capacity boost. The RAN node estimates that the UE may be served by the same cell but its QoS needs to be degraded. the RAN node checks the UE context to see whether this UE has the NES capability (the ability or willingness to take part in NES). Interaction with the AI/ML logic in O&M may be carried out for this purpose.

In a step 4 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the RAN node estimates the best QoS/QoE relationship and QoS profile for the UE. According to example embodiments, AI/ML can be used to derive QoS/QoE profiles either at the RAN node or at O&M.

In a step 5 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the RAN node requests the UE (via, e.g., RRC information request message) for its agreement (to agree to a different QoS) and provides the UE with the QoS profile and QoE estimation.

In a step 6 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the UE checks the "offer" from the RAN node and responds with the agreement (or refusal). According to example embodiments, this decision can be taken by some (smart) application in the UE that LdII use e.g. AI/ML to make such decisions and learn/improve over time. Alternatively, this decision can be taken by the human operating the UE. The response may be forwarded to the AI/ML update in the O&M.

In a step 7 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the RAN node indicates to the core network (as a response to its earlier PDU session establishment/modification message) an alternate QoS profile with a reason/cause as "NES". This also indicates to the core network that the UE has agreed to change its initial request. That is, different from an approach in which the alternative QoS may be provided by the core network to the RAN, according to example embodiments, the alternative QoS is initiated by the RAN.

In a step 8 of FIG. 9, the RAN and core network perform the PDU session related procedures.

In a step 9 of FIG. 9, the RAN node and the UE do RRC reconfiguration procedure if required.

In a step 10 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the RAN node informs the core network about the UE collaboration and how much NES has been calculated by this QoS control decision.

In a step 11 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the core network can optionally include this information in real-time policy charging. Alternatively, the core network can also update a UE-specific NES KPI counter. This information may be used to modify the maximum amount of energy consumption for the slice UEs.

In a step 12 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, the core network can inform the UE (via NAS) about NES information and/or charging information for the UE knowledge. 1ms illiormation can be consumed by the UE to estimate NES achieved due to this collaboration.

In a step 13 of FIG. 9, according to example embodiments, optionally, the UE gives feedback to the network about its actual QoS and QoE which shall help the RAN's future estimation of the same.

The above-described procedures and functions may be implemented by respective functional elements, processors, or the like, as described below. 10 In the foregoing exemplary description of the network entity, only the units that are relevant for understanding the principles of the disclosure have been described using functional blocks. The network entity may comprise further units that are necessary for its respective operation. However, a description of these units is omitted in this specification. The arrangement of the functional blocks of the devices is not construed to limit the disclosure, and the functions may be performed by one block or further split into sub-blocks.

When in the foregoing description it is stated that the apparatus, i.e. network entity (or some other means) is configured to perform some function, this is to be construed to be equivalent to a description stating that a (i.e. at least one) processor or corresponding circuitry, potentially in cooperation with computer program code stored in the memory of the respective apparatus, is configured to cause the apparatus to perform at least the thus mentioned function. Also, such function is to be construed to be equivalently implementable by specifically configured circuitry or means for performing the respective function (i.e. the expression "unit configured to" is construed to be equivalent to an expression such as "means for").

In FIG. 10, an alternative illustration of apparatuses according to example embodiments is depicted. As indicated in FIG. 10, according to example embodiments, the apparatus (network access node or entity) 10' (corresponding to the network access node or entity 10) comprises a processor 101, a memory 102 aria dll II1Ltrface 103, which are connected by a bus 104 or the like. Further, according to example embodiments, the apparatus (terminal) 30' (corresponding to the terminal 30) comprises a processor 105, a memory 106 and an interface 107, which are connected by a bus 108 or the like, and the apparatuses may be connected via link 109, respectively.

The processor 101/105 and/or the interface 103/107 may also include a modem or the like to facilitate communication over a (hardwire or wireless) link, respectively. The interface 103/107 may include a suitable transceiver coupled to one or more antennas or communication means for (hardwire or wireless) communications with the linked or connected device(s), respectively. The interface 103/107 is generally configured to communicate with at least one other apparatus, i.e. the interface thereof.

The memory 102/106 may store respective programs assumed to include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by the respective processor, enables the respective electronic device or apparatus to operate in accordance with the example embodiments.

In general terms, the respective devices/apparatuses (and/or parts thereof) may represent means for performing respective operations and/or exhibiting respective functionalities, and/or the respective devices (and/or parts thereof) may have functions for performing respective operations and/or exhibiting respective functionalities.

When in the subsequent description it is stated that the processor (or some other means) is configured to perform some function, this is to be construed to be equivalent to a description stating that at least one processor, potentially in cooperation with computer program code stored in the memory of the respective apparatus, is configured to cause the apparatus to perform at least the thus mentioned function. Also, such function is to be construed to be equivalently implementable by specifically configured means for performing the respective function Li le expression "processor configured to [cause the apparatus to] perform xxx-ing" is construed to be equivalent to an expression such as "means for xxx-ing").

According to example embodiments, an apparatus representing the access network node or entity 10 comprises at least one processor 101, at least one memory 102 including computer program code, and at least one interface 103 configured for communication with at least another apparatus. The processor (i.e. the at least one processor 101, with the at least one memory 102 and the computer program code) is configured to perform determining a new quality of service profile for a first terminal (thus the apparatus comprising corresponding means for determining), to perform transmitting, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile (thus the apparatus comprising corresponding means for transmitting), and to perform receiving, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile (thus the apparatus comprising corresponding means for receiving).

According to example embodiments, an apparatus representing the terminal 30 comprises at least one processor 105, at least one memory 106 including computer program code, and at least one interface 107 configured for communication with at least another apparatus. The processor (i.e. the at least one processor 105, with the at least one memory 106 and the computer program code) is configured to perform receiving, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile (thus the apparatus comprising corresponding means for receiving), to perform deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile (thus the apparatus comprising corresponding means for deciding), and to perform transmitting, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of saw ut_luing (thus the apparatus comprising corresponding means for transmitting).

For further details regarding the operability/functionality of the individual apparatuses, reference is made to the above description in connection with any one of FIGs. 1 to 9, respectively.

According to a further exemplary aspect, there is provided a method of a first terminal, the method comprising receiving, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

The method may e.g. further comprise receiving, from said access network entity, a measurement request 20 message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to at least one radio cell, deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, a measurement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

The method's measurement request message is e.g. indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to a current cell of said first terminal and/or a potential target cell of said first terminal.

The method's measurement request message is e.g. indicative of a reason for reception measurements being network optimization, wherein optionally said network optimization includes energy saving.

The method, in relation to said deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures, may further comprise consenting to energy saving measures, and the method further comprises conducting reception measurements with respect to said at least one radio cell, wherein said measurement response message includes results of said reception measurements.

The method's configuration processing with said access network entity e.g. includes handover processing towards a radio cell of said at least one radio cell corresponding to said new quality of service profile.

The method may further comprise detecting necessity for a target quality of service profile, and transmitting a session modification message indicative of said target quality of service profile.

The method's agreement request message is e.g. indicative of a reason for quality of service profile change being network optimization, wherein optionally said network optimization includes energy saving.

An apparatus of an access network entity may comprise determining circuitry configured to determine a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving circuitry configured to receive, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus' agreement request message is e.g. indicative of at least one parameter of said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus' new quality of service profile e.g. differs from a current quality of service profile of said first terminal in at least one profile parameter.

The apparatus' at least one profile parameter e.g. changes a mapping between quality of service flows to data radio bearers used by said first terminal.

The apparatus' agreement response message is e.g. indicative of agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and the apparatus further comprises transmitting circuitry configured to transmit a message indicative of said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.

The apparatus may further comprise receiving circuitry configured to receive a message indicative of superior approval for said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.

The apparatus may further comprise conducting circuitry configured to conduct a configuration processing with said first terminal based on said new quality of service profile, estimating circuitry configured to estimate an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting circuitry configured to transmit information indicative of said energy saving extent.

The apparatus may further comprise receiving circuitry configured to receive, from said first terminal, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.

The apparatus may further comprise receiving circuitry configured to receive information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, wherein said agreement request message includes said information indicative of said charge relief.

The apparatus may further comprise detecting circuitry configured to detect an energy saving opportunity with respect to said first terminal, and determining circuitry configured to determine an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal, wherein said agreement request message includes information on said new quality of service profile and information on said expected quality of service 20 experience.

The apparatus may further comprise obtaining circuitry configured to obtaining information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, and determining circuitry configured to determine, based on said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal, that a deactivation candidate radio cell serves energy saving measures supporting terminals, including said first terminal, that can be handed over to radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell.

The apparatus may further comprise transmitting circuitry corn igui eu to transmit, towards said first terminal, a measurement request message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell, and receiving circuitry configured to receive, from said first terminal, a measurement response message.

The apparatus' measurement request message is e.g. indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to a current cell of said first terminal and/or a potential target cell of said first terminal.

The apparatus measurement request message is e.g. indicative of a reason for reception measurements being network optimization, wherein optionally said network optimization includes energy saving.

The apparatus' measurement response message may include results of said reception measurements, wherein said determining circuitry configured to determine said new quality of service profile and an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal is configured to determine based on said results of said reception measurements.

The apparatus' configuration processing with said first terminal includes e.g. handover processing towards a radio cell of said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell corresponding to said new quality of service profile, and the apparatus further comprises conducting circuitry configured to conduct deactivation processing with respect to said deactivation candidate radio cell.

The apparatus may further comprise receiving circuitry configured to receive said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal.

The apparatus may further comprise obtaining circuitry configured to obtain information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, receiving circuitry configured to receive a session modification message in relation to said first terminal, said session indicative of a target quality of service profile, determining circuitry configured to determine that said target quality of activation of a deactivated radio cell, and to determine, based on said information service profile requires on terminal support of modification message being energy saving measures for at least one terminal that said first terminal supports energy saving measures.

The apparatus' agreement request message is e.g. indicative of a reason for quality of service profile change being network optimization, wherein optionally said network optimization includes energy saving.

An apparatus of a first terminal like a user equipment may comprise receiving circuitry configured to receive, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, deciding circuitry configured to decide on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

The apparatus' new quality of service pro' Ile e.g. differs from a current quality of service profile of said first terminal in at least one profile parameter.

The apparatus' agreement response message is e.g. indicative of agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus may further comprise conducting circuitry configured to conduct a configuration processing with said access network entity based on said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus may further comprise transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, towards said network access entity, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.

The apparatus' agreement request message includes e.g. information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and said deciding circuitry configured to decide on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is configured to decide based on said charge relief.

The apparatus may further comprise receiving circuitry configured to receive information indicative of an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile, and/or to receive charging related information regarding said change to said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus' agreement request itissage may include information on said new quality of service profile and information on an expected quality of service experience, and said deciding circuitry configured to decide on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is configured to decide based on said new quality of service profile and/or said expected quality of service experience.

The apparatus may further comprise receiving circuitry configured to receive, from said access network entity, a measurement request message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to at least one radio cell, deciding circuitry configured to decide on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures, and transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, towards said access network entity, a measurement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

The apparatus' measurement request message is e.g. indicative of a reason for reception measurements being network optimization, wherein optionally said network optimization includes energy saving.

The apparatus may further comprise consenting circuitry configured to consent to energy saving measures, and conducting circuitry configured to conduct reception measurements with respect to said at least one radio cell, wherein said measurement response message includes results of said reception measurements.

The apparatus' configuration processing with said access network entity includes e.g. handover processing towards a radio cell of said at least one radio cell corresponding to said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus may further comprise detecting circuitry configured to detect necessity for a target quality of service profile, and transmitting circuitry configured to transmit a session modification message indicative of said target quality of service profile.

An apparatus of an access network entity may e.g. comprise at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus' agreement response message is e.g. indicative of agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting a message indicative of said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: receiving a message indicative of superior approval for said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: conducting a configuration processing with said first terminal based on said new quality of service profile, estimating an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting information indicative of said energy saving extent.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: receiving, from said first terminal, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: receiving information indicative Ul a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, wherein said agreement request message includes said information indicative of said charge relief.

The apparatus instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: detecting an energy saving opportunity with respect to said first terminal, and determining an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal, wherein said agreement request message includes information on said new quality of service profile and information on said expected quality of service experience.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: obtaining information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, wherein in relation to said detecting said energy saving opportunity, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining, based on said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal, that a deactivation candidate radio cell serves energy saving measures supporting terminals, including said first terminal, that can be handed over to radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: transmitting, towards said IIISL ltrminal, a measurement request message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell, and receiving, from said first terminal, a measurement response message.

The apparatus' measurement response message e.g. includes results of said reception measurements, wherein said determining said new quality of service profile and an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal is based on said results of said reception measurements.

The apparatus' configuration processing with said first terminal includes e.g. handover processing towards a radio cell of said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell corresponding to said new quality of service profile, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: conducting deactivation processing with respect to said deactivation candidate radio cell.

The apparatus' instructions, in relation to said obtaining said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, and, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: receiving said inform:ILIUM un I terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: obtaining information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, wherein in relation to said detecting said energy saving opportunity, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving a session modification message in relation to said first terminal, said session modification message being indicative of a target quality of service profile, determining that said target quality of service profile requires activation of a deactivated radio cell, and determining, based on said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal that said first terminal supports energy saving measures.

An apparatus of a first terminal, e.g. a user equipment, may comprise: at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving, from an access network entity, an agreement request 30 message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting, towards saio du_e5s network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

The apparatus new quality of service profile e.g. differs from a current quality of service profile of said first terminal in at least one profile parameter.

The apparatus' at least one profile parameter changes e.g. a mapping between quality of service flows to data radio bearers used by said first terminal.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: conducting a configuration processing with said access network entity based on said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: transmitting, towards said network access entity, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.

The apparatus' agreement request message includes e.g. information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and said deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is based on said charge relief.

The apparatus' instructions, when CxecuLed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: receiving information indicative of an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile, and/or receiving charging related information regarding said change to said new quality of service profile.

The apparatus' agreement request message includes e.g. information on said new quality of service profile and information on an expected quality of service experience, and said deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is based on said new quality of service profile and/or said expected quality of service experience.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: receiving, from said access network entity, a measurement request message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to at least one radio cell, deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, a measurement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.

The apparatus' instructions, in reiduull Lu said deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures, and, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus e.g. at least to perform: consenting to energy saving measures, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: conducting reception measurements with respect to said at least one radio cell, wherein said measurement response message includes results of said reception 10 measurements.

The apparatus' instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: detecting necessity for a target quality of service profile, and transmitting a session modification message indicative of said target quality of service profile.

A computer program product comprising computer-executable computer program code which, when the program is run on a computer, is configured to cause the computer to carry out one or more of the methods described 30 above or any combinations thereof.

A computer program product may comprise a computer-readable medium on which the computer-executable computer program code is stored, and/or wherein the program is directly lUdUclUlt into an internal memory of the computer or a processor thereof.

According to a further exemplary aspect, which may be combined with parts of the above aspects a RAN node is introduced to generate a new/updated/preliminary QoS profile related to a UE connection (for potentially different purposes/situations, e.g. handover to new target cell due to deactivation of current cell, maintain current cell in order to avoid activating target cell, etc.).

The new/updated/preliminary QoS profile may relate to optimizations regarding the operation of the RAN node, e.g. an optimization trigger may relate to at least one of: triggered by RANs AI/ML processing, e.g., if the RAN node detects a cell can be deactivated, or by PDU session modification requested by CN node or the UE (in case of activation avoidance). A respective AI/ML entity may e.g. be located in the O&M domain or inside the RAN node. Applied to e.g. the Fig. 7 configuration: The UE may have information on the purpose of the RRC measurements (steps 3 and 4) and may take this information into account when deciding whether to accept the new/updated/preliminary QoS profile. In principle, steps 3 and 4 are considered optional and also the indication of the purpose at this point in time as the RAN node checks whether any network optimization might be possible/may apply, e.g. in case no optimization is possible the UE is not informed about this pre-checking, and thus does not need to have the knowledge what is going on internally inside the RAN node. Instead of explicitly requesting specific measurements (step 3), the RAN node may use the regular measurements of the UE which include e.g. periodic or aperiodic measurements of the signal strengths of the current, source cell, potential target cells, neighbor cells, etc. to pre-check any network optimization options.

Regarding the requested agreement to QoS change (steps 6 and 7): The purpose may be ES, and more general any network optimization, and may be known in one or both cases to Lilt Urf as this purpose may be one basis for the UE's decision to agree (to a potentially detrimental QoS) or not (step 7) and to measure immediately or not (step 4). However, one option could also be that the UE does not know the purpose, RAN node askes UE if UE agrees to QoS profile change and UE agrees or not, agreement may not depend on UE supporting network optimization or else, but may instead be based on UE criteria like current service like URLLC which does not allow any detrimental QoS or else.

In one aspect in which the CN decides on the QoS profile, one option is that the RAN node generates a new, but preliminary QoS profile which is optimized for RAN node processing / operation (e.g. energy saving etc.). RAN node may negotiate or agree this new preliminary QoS profile with UE, but it still remains preliminary as the CN node still needs to agree, and CN node decision may be based on other criteria, e.g. relevant for CN only, and thus may deny application of new preliminary QoS profile, then the new preliminary QoS profile will not be activated / applied and normal procedure / operation continues, e.g. UE is handed over to target cell or UE remains with source cell, etc. In an alternative embodiment the first QoS profile is determined (during establishment of UE connection with the network) by CN node and applied for UE <-> network connection, and any change in the QoS profile can be initiated and determined by RAN node and CN node needs to apply what RAN node and UE agreed.

Taking at least one of the above aspects into account a new RAN node is proposed including at least one of the following characteristics: A Radio Access Network (RAN) node, comprising: at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the RAN node at least to perform: establish a radio connection towards a user equipment (UE) including receive, from the UE, a PDU session establishment request, forward the PDU session establishirrem request towards a Core Network (CN) node, receive, from the CN node, a PDU session resource setup request including a PDU session identifier (ID), allocate resources for the radio connections towards the UE, wherein the resources are linked to Quality of Service (QoS) flows via QoS Flow Identifiers (QFI), send a Radio Resource Configuration (RRC) message towards the UE including information related to allocated radio resources including uplink (UL) data radio bearers (DRB), PDU session ID, and respective QFIs, receive, from the UE, a measurement report including received signal strength measurement results performed by the UE with respect to at least one cell, generate a preliminary QoS profile associated with a radio connection of the 15 UE towards the network and based on the received cell measurement results and based on resource availability of the RAN node and associated with a cell usage optimization procedure and the QoS requirements of the UE, send, towards the UE, at least one parameter of the generated preliminary QoS profile and affecting a UE radio connection, and requesting support 20 from the UE to accept the requested parameter.

The RAN node may further be caused to: in response to receiving an acknowledge response from the UE regarding the support of the requested parameter, and in response to receiving an acknowledge from the CN node regarding the support of the requested parameter apply the preliminary QoS profile as the new QoS profile for the UE.

The RAN node may be further caused to: receive, from the CN node, a PDU session establishment accept message, and to forward the PDU session establishment accept message towards the UE, wherein the PDU session establishment accept message include the PDU session ID, authorized QoS rules and authorized QoS flow descriptions and respective QFIs.

The RAN node may be further caused to: send a PDU session modification request including information related to the preliminary QoS profile towards the CN.

The RAN node cell usage optimization procedure may be related to network operation optimization, in particular including energy saving aspects.

The RAN nodes cell usage optimization procedure may include at least one of: an activation or deactivation of a current source cell of the RAN node serving the UE, or parts thereof, and/or at least in part activation or deactivation of a target cell of the RAN node or another node for serving the UE.

The RAN nodes cell measurement may relate to a measurement for current source cell serving the UE and/or at least one target cell for the UE.

The RAN nodes preliminary QoS profile may include at least one parameter different from the respective parameter currently used by the UE.

The RAN nodes at least one parameter may change the mapping between the QoS flows to the DRBs used by the UE and/or changes at least one QoS characteristic of at least one QoS flow, wherein a QoS characteristic includes at least one of: resource type, priority level, Packet Delay Budget (PDB), Packet Error Rate (PER), averaging window, and Maximum Data Burst Volume (MDBV).

The RAN node may be further caused to: in response to receiving a PDU session modification acknowledge message from the CN node deactivating the current source cell of the UE and trigger handover of the UE to a target cell with the preliminary QoS profile as the new QoS profile for the UE.

The RAN node may be sending, tuvvalL.15 Lne UE, the at least one parameter includes sending a cause, wherein the cause is identifying a cell usage optimization cause.

A respective communications network may include a Radio Access Network (RAN) as above, and a user equipment, the user equipment comprising: at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to perform: establish a radio connection towards the RAN node, and receive, from the RAN node, at least one parameter of the preliminary QoS profile affecting a UE radio connection, and requesting support from the UE to accept the requested parameter.

A user equipment may comprise: at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to perform: establish a radio connection towards the RAN node, and receive, from the RAN node, at least one parameter of the preliminary QoS profile affecting a UE radio connection, and requesting support from the UE to accept the requested parameter.

The user equipment may further be caused to: send a PDU session establishment or modification request towards a CN node of a communications network including the CN node and the RAN node connected to the CN node, and receiving the least one parameter of the preliminary QoS profile in response to sending the PDU session establishment or modification request.

The user equipment may further be caused to: in response to receiving the least one parameter of the preliminary QoS profile, sending an acknowledgement response message accepting the at least parameter towards the RAN node.

Further details may relate to one or more of the above aspects, embodiments, 5 proposed new implementations: QoS profile and QoS: A QoS flow is the "pipe" from UPF/Core to the UE via the RAN. A QoS flow has a QoS profile (a bunch of parameters including e.g. the 5QI) defined e.g. in 3GPP TS23.501, 502, 503 (see clause 5.7.1.2 in TS23.501). This profile has RAN-side and UE-side parameters. However, QoS degradation may imply degradation of QoE of the UE, e.g. in case that is the basis for UE charging savings. In contrast, a switch in QoS profile does not imply any UE-QoE degradation necessarily, but it is possible. In fact, the old and the new profile could be very similar, e.g. different in one or more parameters.

Both the RAN and the Core understand the QoS profile, but only the RAN knows whether it can ultimately implement the QoS profile since it knows its cells and resources. Till now the RAN does not calculate its own QoS profiles. It receives one or several from the Core and then tells the core whether it can support this QoS profile(s). It is proposed that the RAN node reverse engineer good or even better than the proposed QoS profiles, e.g. by knowing and taking into account its available resources and the signal strength(s) of at least one cell measured by the UE, and reported to the RAN node. RAN node may even request specific measurements from the UE.

Regarding UE Agreement on new QoS profile: NAS signaling is currently used to convey to a (NES subscription) UE an ES offer. It is proposed, in one embodiment, that the RAN does not send the UE any ES "offer" and may not know about its ES subscription. The RAN node (not the Core Network) sends concrete QoS profile(s) to the UE via RRC. This profile may contain only the parameters that are relevant for the UE (e.g., including the ones in TS 24.501 6.2.5.1.1.4). QoS parameters may include e.g. 5G or 6G related QoS parameters, e.g. one or more of the following: 5G QoS Identifier (5QI): An for QoS characteristics that influence scheduling weights, admission thresholds, queue management thresholds, link layer protocol configuration, etc. Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP): Information about priority level, pre-emption capability (can pre-empt resources assigned to other QoS flows) and the pre-emption vulnerability (can be pre-empted by other QoS flows). Reflective QoS Attribute (RQA): Optional parameter. Certain traffic on this flow may use reflective QoS.

Guaranteed Flow Bit Rate (GFBR): Measured over the Averaging Time 10 Window. Recommended to be the lowest bitrate at which the service will survive.

Maximum Flow Bit Rate (MFBR): Limits bitrate to the highest expected by this QoS flow.

Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR): Session-AMBR is per PDU session across all its QoS flows. UE-AMBR is for each UE.

QoS Notification Control (QNC): Configures NG-RAN to notify SMF if GFBR can't be met. Useful if application can adapt to changing conditions. If alternative QoS profiles are configured, NG-RAN indicates if one of these matches currently fulfilled performance metrics.

Maximum Packet Loss Rate: In Release 16, this is limited to voice media.

No degradation of QoE/QoS may happen in the end. However, a cell change and the requirement to make extra measurements can be detrimental to the UE application (connection interruption and RACH) and battery, even if QoE/QoS improves once the cell change is done. In one embodiment the RAN node takes this into account and may only offers those profiles to the UE that it thinks will not result in too much harm to the UE's QoE. That is why QoE feedback is good. At the UE side, the software learns QoS profile Vs. QoE relation. This way the self-opimization of the RAN (e.g. deactivation of as many cells as possible, or parts thereof like network slices, carriers, QoS characteristics with high energy consumption) is balanced against the needs of the UE.

Regarding QoS profile selection: r, pi wines are currently announced by the Core (not the RAN). The Core over NAS can tell the UE some QoS rules and some QoS parameters so it is able to do the QoS flow filtering. It is proposed that the RAN (without the Core's knowledge) can compute a QoS profile that it can offer to the UE and then ask the UE if it is OK to change. The RAN is in a better position to make this offer, because it already knows that it can support the profile based on its knowledge of its cell and resources available. Once the UE agrees, the RAN then tells the Core to modify the PDU session based on this newly calculated profile.

Regarding Core Charging and Policy: the present invention does not require real time charging, UE ES subscription. All these aspects can be combined but they are not required. The impact on the Core would be that it is able to receive new QoS profiles from the RAN and do the required PDU session modifications/setup.

For the purpose of the present disclosure as described herein above, it should be noted that -method steps likely to be implemented as software code portions and being run using a processor at a network server or network entity (as examples of devices, apparatuses and/or modules thereof, or as examples of entities including apparatuses and/or modules therefore), are software code independent and can be specified using any known or future developed programming language as long as the functionality defined by the method steps is preserved; -generally, any method step is suitable to be implemented as software or by hardware without changing the idea of the embodiments and its modification in terms of the functionality implemented; -method steps and/or devices, units or means likely to be implemented as hardware components at the above-defined apparatuses, or any module(s) thereof, (e.g., devices carrying out the functions of the apparatuses according to the embodiments as described above) are hardware independent and can be implemented using any known or future developed hardware technology or any hybrids of these, such as rtiu uvietal Oxide Semiconductor), CMOS (Complementary MOS), BiMOS (Bipolar MOS), BiCMOS (Bipolar CMOS), ECL (Emitter Coupled Logic), TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic), etc., using for example ASIC (Application Specific IC (Integrated Circuit)) components, FPGA (Field-programmable Gate Arrays) components, CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) components or DSP (Digital Signal Processor) components; - devices, units or means (e.g. the above-defined network entity or network register, or any one of their respective units/means) can be implemented as individual devices, units or means, but this does not exclude that they are implemented in a distributed fashion throughout the system, as long as the functionality of the device, unit or means is preserved; - an apparatus like the user equipment and the network entity /network register may be represented by a semiconductor chip, a chipset, or a (hardware) module comprising such chip or chipset; this, however, does not exclude the possibility that a functionality of an apparatus or module, instead of being hardware implemented, be implemented as software in a (software) module such as a computer program or a computer program product comprising executable software code portions for execution/being run on a processor; - a device may be regarded as an apparatus or as an assembly of more than one apparatus, whether functionally in cooperation with each other or functionally independently of each other but in a same device housing, for exam ple.

In general, it is to be noted that respective functional blocks or elements according to above-described aspects can be implemented by any known means, either in hardware and/or software, respectively, if it is only adapted to perform the described functions of the respective parts. The mentioned method steps can be realized in individual functional blocks or by individual devices, or one or more of the method steps can be realized in a single functional block or by a single device.

Generally, any method step is suiLdule LU oe implemented as software or by hardware without changing the idea of the present disclosure. Devices and means can be implemented as individual devices, but this does not exclude that they are implemented in a distributed fashion throughout the system, as long as the functionality of the device is preserved. Such and similar principles are to be considered as known to a skilled person.

Software in the sense of the present description comprises software code as such comprising code means or portions or a computer program or a computer program product for performing the respective functions, as well as software (or a computer program or a computer program product) embodied on a tangible medium such as a computer-readable (storage) medium having stored thereon a respective data structure or code means/portions or embodied in a signal or in a chip, potentially during processing thereof.

The present disclosure also covers any conceivable combination of method steps and operations described above, and any conceivable combination of nodes, apparatuses, modules or elements described above, as long as the above-described concepts of methodology and structural arrangement are applicable.

In view of the above, there are provided measures for radio network operation optimization. Such measures exemplarily comprise determining a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.

Even though the disclosure is described above with reference to the examples according to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not restricted theretu. rcaurer, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the inventive idea as disclosed herein.

List of acronyms and abbreviations 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project AI/ML artificial intelligence/machine learning ES energy saving IoT Internet-of-things MNO mobile network operator NES network energy saving QoE quality of experience QoS quality of service RAN radio access network UE user equipment

Claims

Claims 1. A method of an access network entity, the method comprising determining a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said agreement request message is indicative of at least one parameter of said new quality of service profile.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said new quality of service profile differs from a current quality of service profile of said first terminal in at least one profile parameter.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said at least one profile parameter changes a mapping between quality of service flows to data radio bearers used by said first terminal.
5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said agreement response message is indicative of agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and the method further comprises transmitting a message indicative of said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.
6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising receiving a message indicative of superior approval for said new quality of service profile to be configured for said first terminal.
7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising conducting a configuration processing with said first terminal based on said new quality of service profile, estimating an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting information indicative of said energy saving extent.
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising receiving, from said first terminal, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.
9. The method according to any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising receiving information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, wherein said agreement request message includes said information indicative of said charge relief.
10. The method according to any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising detecting an energy saving opportunity with respect to said first terminal, and determining an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal, wherein said agreement request message includes information on said new quality of service profile and information on said expected quality of service 30 experience.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising obtaining information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, wherein in relation to said detecting said energy saving opportunity, the method further comprises determining, based on said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal, that a deactivation candidate radio cell serves energy saving measures supporting terminals, including said first terminal, that can be handed over to radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell and/or different network slices of said deactivation candidate cell, and/or different modulation schemes saving energy.
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting, towards said first terminal, a measurement request 15 message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell, and receiving, from said first terminal, a measurement response message.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said measurement request message is indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to a current cell of said first terminal and/or a potential target cell of said first terminal.
14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said measurement request message is indicative of a reason for reception measurements being network optimization, wherein optionally said network optimization includes energy saving.
15. The method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein said measurement response message includes results of said reception measurements, wherein said determining said new quality of service profile and an expected quality of service experience for said first terminal is based on said results of said reception measurements and resources available at said access network entity.
16. The method according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said configuration processing with said first terminal includes handover processing towards a radio cell of said radio cells different from said deactivation candidate radio cell corresponding to said new quality of service profile, and the method further comprises conducting deactivation processing with respect to said deactivation candidate radio cell.
17. The method according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein in relation to said obtaining said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, 15 the method further comprises receiving said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal.
18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising obtaining information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal including said first terminal, wherein in relation to said detecting said energy saving opportunity, the method further comprises receiving a session modification message in relation to said first terminal, said session modification message being indicative of a target quality of service profile, determining that said target quality of service profile requires activation of a deactivated radio cell, and determining, based on said information on terminal support of energy saving measures for at least one terminal that said first terminal supports energy saving measures.
19. The method according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein said agreement request message is indicative of a reason for quality of service profile change being network optimization, wherein optionally said network optimization includes energy saving.
20. A method of a first terminal, the method comprising receiving, from an access network entity, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said agreement request message is indicative of at least one parameter of said new quality of service profile.
22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein said new quality of service profile differs from a current quality of service profile of said first terminal in at least one profile parameter.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said at least one profile parameter changes a mapping between quality of service flows to data radio bearers used by said first terminal.
24. The method according to any of claims 20 to 23, wherein said agreement response message is indicative of agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.
25. The method according to claim 20 to 24, further comprising conducting a configuration processing with said access network entity based on said new quality of service profile.
26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising transmitting, towards said network access entity, information indicative of a first terminal experienced quality of service and/or a first terminal experienced quality of experience.
27. The method according to any of claims 20 to 26, wherein said agreement request message includes information indicative of a charge relief in return for first terminal agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and said deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is based on said charge relief.
28. The method according to any of claims 20 to 27, further comprising receiving information indicative of an energy saving extent achieved with said change to said new quality of service profile, and/or receiving charging related information regarding said change to said new quality of service profile.
29. The method according to any of claims 20 to 28, wherein said agreement request message includes information on said new quality of service profile and information on an expected quality of service experience, and said deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile is based on said new quality of service profile and/or said expected quality of service experience.
30. The method according to any of claims 20 to 29, further comprising receiving, from said access network entity, a measurement request message indicative of a demand for reception measurements with respect to at least one radio cell, deciding on consent or non-consent to energy saving measures, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, a measurement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.
31. An apparatus of an access network entity, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining a new quality of service profile for a first terminal, transmitting, towards said first terminal, an agreement request message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to said new quality of service profile, and receiving, from said first terminal, an agreement response message indicative of agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile.
32. An apparatus of a first terminal, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving, from an access network entity, an agreement request 20 message indicative of a demand for agreement to a change to a new quality of service profile, deciding on agreement or non-agreement to said change to said new quality of service profile, and transmitting, towards said access network entity, an agreement response message indicative of a result of said deciding.
33. A computer program product comprising computer-executable computer program code which, when the program is run on a computer, is configured to cause the computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 30.
34. The computer program product according to claim 33, wherein the computer program product comprises a computer-readable medium on which the computer-executable computer program code is stored, and/or wherein the program is directly loadable into an internal memory of the computer or a processor thereof.