WO2024217733A1

WO2024217733A1 - Service discovery in a wireless communication network

Info

Publication number: WO2024217733A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/052719
Authority: WO
Inventors: Konstantinos Samdanis; Dimitrios Karampatsis
Original assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
Priority date: 2023-12-19
Filing date: 2024-02-05
Publication date: 2024-10-24

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to a first network function of a wireless communication network, the first network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the first network function to: store first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

Description

SERVICE DISCOVERY IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of implementing service discovery in a wireless communication network. This document defines a first network function, a second network function and a third network function.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A wireless communications system may include one or multiple network communication devices, such as base stations, which may support wireless communications for one or multiple user communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE), or other suitable terminology. The wireless communications system may support wireless communications with one or multiple user communication devices by utilizing resources of the wireless communication system (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers, or the like). Additionally, the wireless communications system may support wireless communications across various radio access technologies including third generation (3G) radio access technology, fourth generation (4G) radio access technology, fifth generation (5G) radio access technology, among other suitable radio access technologies beyond 5G (e.g., sixth generation (6G)).

SUMMARY

[0003] An article “a” before an element is unrestricted and understood to refer to “at least one” of those elements or “one or more” of those elements. The terms “a,” “at least one,” “one or more,” and “at least one of one or more” may be interchangeable. As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ or “one or both of’) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on. Further, as used herein, including in the claims, a “set” may include one or more elements.

[0004] There is provided herein a first network function of a wireless communication network, the first network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the first network function to: store first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

[0005] There is provided herein a method performed by a first network function of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: storing first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services and/or other parameters related to the second network function.

[0006] There is provided herein a third network function of a wireless communication network, the third network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the third network function to: transmit, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of first information; and receive, from the first network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from stored first information according to the service requirement, wherein the stored first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services provided by a second network function and/or parameters provided by a second network function.

[0007] There is provided herein a method performed by a third network function of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of first information; and receiving, from the first network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from stored first information according to the service requirement, wherein the stored first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services provided by a second network function.

[0008] There is provided herein a second network function of a wireless communication network, the first network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the second network function to: transmit, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, first information for one or more services provided by the second network function, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

[0009] There is provided herein a method performed by a second network function of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, first information for one or more services provided by the second network function, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services or network function information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates a service discovery process for a wireless communication network.

[0012] Figure 3 illustrates a signalling diagram for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments.

[0013] Figure 4 illustrates a signalling diagram for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments. [0014] Figure 5 illustrates a signalling diagram for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments.

[0015] Figure 6 illustrates a signalling diagram for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments.

[0016] Figure 7 illustrates an example of a user equipment (UE) 700 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 8 illustrates an example of a processor 800 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 9 illustrates an example of a network equipment (NE) 900 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method performed by a NE in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method performed by a NE in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method performed by a NE in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] A 5G core leverages the benefits of a Service-Based Architecture (SB A), which is based on a consumer-producer model in where Network Functions (NFs) can select, request, and receive or offer a service upon a specified condition or event. In SBA, every NF is registered in a repository, e.g., a Network Repository Function (NRF). The NRF assists other NFs to identify and select a service from another NF.

[0023] The examples described herein generally relate to the problem of energy saving and energy efficiency when discovering and selecting an NF and/or NF service. Currently, the NRF does not indicate whether an NF or NF service is operating in an energy saving state or operating with other energy inefficient issues. Consequently, an NF consumer is unable to avoid such NFs or NF service; for example, during a discovery and selection phase. Furthermore, the NF consumer has no indication when an NF or NF service may return to a non-energy saving state. In addition, there is no means to control the energy consumption of an NF, NF service or network slice without merely switching the NF, NF service or network slice off.

[0024] The examples described herein generally relate to energy saving or energy efficiency in the NF and/or NF service discovery and selection process. In addition, examples described herein generally relate to identifying a set of NF profile and NF service profile parameters that may be updated to facilitate energy related issues.

[0025] Aspects of the present disclosure are described in the context of a wireless communications system.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 100 may include one or more NE 102, one or more UE 104, and a core network (CN) 106. The wireless communications system 100 may support various radio access technologies. In some implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a 4G network, such as an LTE network or an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. In some other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a NR network, such as a 5G network, a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, or a 5G ultrawideband (5G-UWB) network. In other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a combination of a 4G network and a 5G network, or other suitable radio access technology including Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20. The wireless communications system 100 may support radio access technologies beyond 5G, for example, 6G. Additionally, the wireless communications system 100 may support technologies, such as time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), or code division multiple access (CDMA), etc.

[0027] The one or more NE 102 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region to form the wireless communications system 100. One or more of the NE 102 described herein may be or include or may be referred to as a network node, a base station, a network element, a network function, a network entity, a radio access network (RAN), a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), or other suitable terminology. An NE 102 and a UE 104 may communicate via a communication link, which may be a wireless or wired connection. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may perform wireless communication (e.g., receive signalling, transmit signalling) over a Uu interface.

[0028] An NE 102 may provide a geographic coverage area for which the NE 102 may support services for one or more UEs 104 within the geographic coverage area. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may support wireless communication of signals related to services (e.g., voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc.) according to one or multiple radio access technologies. In some implementations, an NE 102 may be moveable, for example, a satellite associated with a non-terrestrial network (NTN). In some implementations, different geographic coverage areas associated with the same or different radio access technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas may be associated with different NE 102.

[0029] The one or more UE 104 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region of the wireless communications system 100. A UE 104 may include or may be referred to as a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a subscriber device, a transmitter device, a receiver device, or some other suitable terminology. In some implementations, the UE 104 may be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE 104 may be referred to as an Internet-of-Things (loT) device, an Internet-of-Everything (loE) device, or machine-type communication (MTC) device, among other examples.

[0030] A UE 104 may be able to support wireless communication directly with other UEs 104 over a communication link. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication directly with another UE 104 over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link. In some implementations, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) deployments, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) deployments, or cellular-V2X deployments, the communication link may be referred to as a sidelink. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication directly with another UE 104 over a PC5 interface.

[0031] An NE 102 may support communications with the CN 106, or with another NE 102, or both. For example, an NE 102 may interface with other NE 102 or the CN 106 through one or more backhaul links (e.g., SI, N2, N2, or network interface). In some implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other directly. In some other implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other or indirectly (e.g., via the CN 106. In some implementations, one or more NE 102 may include subcomponents, such as an access network entity, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). An ANC may communicate with the one or more UEs 104 through one or more other access network transmission entities, which may be referred to as a radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmission-reception points (TRPs).

[0032] The CN 106 may support user authentication, access authorization, tracking, connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The CN 106 may be an evolved packet core (EPC), or a 5G core (5GC), which may include a control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management functions (AMF)) and a user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). In some implementations, the control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions, such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management (e.g., data bearers, signal bearers, etc.) for the one or more UEs 104 served by the one or more NE 102 associated with the CN 106.

[0033] The CN 106 may communicate with a packet data network over one or more backhaul links (e.g., via an SI, N2, N2, or another network interface). The packet data network may include an application server. In some implementations, one or more UEs 104 may communicate with the application server. A UE 104 may establish a session (e.g., a protocol data unit (PDU) session, or the like) with the CN 106 via an NE 102. The CN 106 may route traffic (e.g., control information, data, and the like) between the UE 104 and the application server using the established session (e.g., the established PDU session). The PDU session may be an example of a logical connection between the UE 104 and the CN 106 (e.g., one or more network functions of the CN 106).

[0034] In the wireless communications system 100, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may use resources of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers)) to perform various operations (e.g., wireless communications). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different resource structures. For example, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different frame structures. In some implementations, such as in 4G, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support a single frame structure. In some other implementations, such as in 5G and among other suitable radio access technologies, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures (i.e., multiple frame structures). The NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures based on one or more numerologies.

[0035] One or more numerologies may be supported in the wireless communications system 100, and a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing and a cyclic prefix. A first numerology (e.g., /t=0) may be associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. In some implementations, the first numerology (e.g., /t=0) associated with the first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may utilize one slot per subframe. A second numerology (e.g., //=1) may be associated with a second subcarrier spacing (e.g., 30 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A third numerology (e.g., g=2) may be associated with a third subcarrier spacing (e.g., 60 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix or an extended cyclic prefix. A fourth numerology (e.g., /t=3) may be associated with a fourth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 120 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A fifth numerology (e.g., /t=4) may be associated with a fifth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 240 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix.

[0036] A time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to frames (also referred to as radio frames). Each frame may have a duration, for example, a 10 millisecond (ms) duration. In some implementations, each frame may include multiple subframes. For example, each frame may include 10 subframes, and each subframe may have a duration, for example, a l ms duration. In some implementations, each frame may have the same duration. In some implementations, each subframe of a frame may have the same duration.

[0037] Additionally or alternatively, a time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to slots. For example, a subframe may include a number (e.g., quantity) of slots. The number of slots in each subframe may also depend on the one or more numerologies supported in the wireless communications system 100. For instance, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth numerologies (i.e., /t=0, jtz=l, =2, jtz=3, =4) associated with respective subcarrier spacings of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, and 240 kHz may utilize a single slot per subframe, two slots per subframe, four slots per subframe, eight slots per subframe, and 16 slots per subframe, respectively. Each slot may include a number (e.g., quantity) of symbols (e.g., OFDM symbols). In some implementations, the number (e.g., quantity) of slots for a subframe may depend on a numerology. For a normal cyclic prefix, a slot may include 14 symbols. For an extended cyclic prefix (e.g., applicable for 60 kHz subcarrier spacing), a slot may include 12 symbols. The relationship between the number of symbols per slot, the number of slots per subframe, and the number of slots per frame for a normal cyclic prefix and an extended cyclic prefix may depend on a numerology. It should be understood that reference to a first numerology (e.g., /t=0) associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may be used interchangeably between subframes and slots.

[0038] In the wireless communications system 100, an electromagnetic (EM) spectrum may be split, based on frequency or wavelength, into various classes, frequency bands, frequency channels, etc. By way of example, the wireless communications system 100 may support one or multiple operating frequency bands, such as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz), FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz), FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz - 71 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may perform wireless communications over one or more of the operating frequency bands. In some implementations, FR1 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for cellular communications traffic (e.g., control information, data). In some implementations, FR2 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for short-range, high data rate capabilities.

[0039] FR1 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least three numerologies). For example, FR1 may be associated with a first numerology (e.g., /t=0), which includes 15 kHz subcarrier spacing; a second numerology (e.g., //=1), which includes 30 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a third numerology (e.g., g=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing. FR2 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least 2 numerologies). For example, FR2 may be associated with a third numerology (e.g., //=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a fourth numerology (e.g., /t=3), which includes 120 kHz subcarrier spacing.

[0040] Figure 2 illustrates a service discovery process for a wireless communication network, indicated generally by reference numeral 200. The service discovery process 200 may comprise service registration and discovery process with a 5G service-based architecture.

[0041] The service discovery process 200 comprises a Network Function (NF) Service Producer 210, an NRF 220 and an NF Service Consumer 230. The service discovery process 200 may comprise a plurality of NF Service Producers 210, a plurality of NRFs 220 and/or a plurality of NF Service Consumers 230.

[0042] In step 240, each NF Service Producer 210 initially registers its available services when activated in the NRF 220.

[0043] In step 242, the NF Service Consumer 230 may discover a service when needed by issuing a query to the NRF 220, which responds with the available service(s) that match the desired requirements and the corresponding NF Service Producer 210 address(es).

[0044] In step 243, the NF Service Consumer 230 selects an NF Service Producer 210 that matches best its requirements from the ones provided by the NRF 220 and issues a service request to receive a service response.

[0045] The service discovery process 200, may be based on one or more of the following:

• NF Service Producer 210 capabilities, i.e., offered NF services,

• NF Service Producer 210 allocated priority relative to other NF Service Producers 210 of the same type,

• NF Service Producer 210 static capacity and NF Service Producer 210 dynamic load information,

• NF Service Producer 210 serving scope (geographical operation scope of a NF),

• NF Service Producer 210 locality related to the location of the NF Service Producer 210 (geographic location, data centre, etc.), • NF Service Producer 210 slice related information (S-NSSAI, NSI),

• NF Service Producer 210 access permissions (e.g., type of NF(s) or PLMN(s) identity allowed to access),

• NF Service Producer 210 vendor specific information, or

• NF Service Producer 210 serving scope (geographical operation scope of a NF).

[0046] The service discovery process 200 does not consider any information related to energy. In addition, the service discovery process 200 does not perform any NF Service Producer 210 profile modifications to reflect changes related to energy issues of an NF Service Producer 210. Furthermore, service discovery process 200 does not have the capability to update any subscribed NF(s) Service Consumer 230 regarding energy related modification with respect to NF Service Producer 210 profile or related to service profile.

[0047] The Operations, Administration and Maintenance (0AM) has specified the following definitions related to energy saving states in clause 3 of 3GPP TS 28.310 vl8.3.0 titled “Energy efficiency of 5G”:

• energySaving state in which some functions of a cell or network function are powered-down.

• notEnergySaving state when no energy saving is in progress.

• compensatingForEnergySaving state in an off-peak traffic situation, a network element remains powered on, e.g., taking over the coverage areas of a neighbour base station in an energySaving state.

[0048] In an energy saving state, the cell or network function may still be controllable (i.e., from a management function).

[0049] Currently the 0AM may provide the following Performance Measurements (PMs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to energy per network equipment:

• Energy Consumption: 5GC Physical Network Function PNF as per clause 5.1.1.19.3 of TS 28.552 vl 8.4.0 and 5GC NF (i.e., User Plane Function (UPF)), Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) and general Node B (gNB) energy consumption per network node considering PNF or Virtual Network Function (VNF) or an NF that consists of a combination of VNF and PNF as per clause 6.7.3 of TS 28.554 V18.3.1.

• Energy Efficiency: Energy efficiency considering the useful output of the 5GC user plane, i.e., UPF, obtained by summing up uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) data volumes at N3 and diving it to the energy consumption of the 5GC as per clause 6.7.4 of TS 28.554 vl8.3.1 per different slice types. Energy efficiency is specified in clause 6.7 of TS 28.554 vl8.3.1 as:

RAN: The ratio of the data volume divided by the energy consumption.

5GC: The ratio of “the useful output in 5GC”, which can be defined with respect to the specific 5G NFs considered divided by the energy consumption.

• Energy State: Configuration Management (CM) information regarding the energy saving state of UPFs and base stations (gNBs) that serve the geographical area where the indicated UE or group of UEs reside or with respect to the indicated area of interest as per TS 28.511 vl7.0.0.

• Energy Analytics: Provided by the OAM using the Management Data Analytics (MDA) clause 8.4.4 of TS 28.104 vl8.1.0 focus on:

Energy efficiency NFs problems, i.e., root cause analysis, related to excessive energy consumption of a specific NF.

Recommendations for applying energy saving states related to:

■ New Radio (NR) cells indicating the cells that shall enter or switched to an energy saving state and which neighbouring cells shall take over the traffic considering when, i.e., the time interval of this activity.

5G core UPFs indicating the UPFs shall enter or switched to an energy saving state and the other UPFs that shall take over the traffic considering when, i.e., the time interval of this activity. Statistics of traffic load per cell and the energy saving ratio per cell, i.e., ratio of a cell being in energy saving state per time window.

[0050] Clause 6.7.2 of TS 28.554 vl8.3.1 defines energy efficiency in the context of network slicing as the ratio of performance of the network slice divided to the energy consumption of the network slice. Depending on the type of network slice there is a different notion of performance. Specifically, for:

• Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) slice: performance is the sum of UL and DL data volumes at N3 interface(s) of the network slice, divided by the energy consumption of the network slice.

• Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) slice: there are two notions of performance, one considering only latency when the amount of data that needs to be transferred is negligible and a second one that combines two factors, i.e., both latency and data volume. Performance is defined as follows: the inverse of the average end-to-end user plane latency of the network slice. the sum of UL and DL traffic volumes at N3 or N9 interface(s) on a per S- NSSAI basis multiplied by the inverse of the end-to-end user plane latency of the network slice.

• Massive Internet of Things (MIoT) slice: performance is the maximum number of subscribers registered to the network slice.

[0051] The examples described herein generally relate to a set of new entries per NF Service Producer 210 introduced in the NRF 220 focusing on energy information as well as in a set of modifications on existing NRF 220 entities to reflect energy states of NF Service Producers 210 or changes due to energy related reasons. New NRF 220 entries may assist other NF Service Consumers 230 during the discovery process to:

• avoid selecting an NF Service Producer 210 or a specific NF service if it is on an energy saving state, • provide information relating to the duration (e.g., maximum and/or minimum time) an NF Service Producer 210 or a specific NF service is scheduled to be in an energy saving state,

• avoid selecting an NF Service Producer 210 or a specific an NF service that is scheduled to enter or switched to an energy saving state in the near future, e.g., as soon as it can finalize handling ongoing traffic or shift ongoing traffic to another node,

• avoid selecting an NF Service Producer 210 or a specific NF service that is not energy efficient,

• limit the usage of an NF Service Producer 210 or a specific a NF service by restricting or controlling the respective selection, and hence the traffic that said NF Service Producer 210 or NF service needs to handle,

• have knowledge of the time it takes for an NF Service Producer 210 in an energy saving state to become fully functional and obtain the previously associated and/or desired context information, since a PNF or a VNF may require different times to switch from energy saving state to a non-energy saving state, a VNF may require different times to switch from energy saving state to a non-energy saving state considering:

■ the implementation details, i.e., container or virtual machine, etc.

■ need for being relocated once the VNF has switched to a non-energy saving state,

■ whether the VNF is “hibernated” on the same cloud platform, avoid using an NF Service Producer 210 or an NF service instance that has recently switched to a non-energy saving state until the NF Service Producer 210 or NF service is fully functional and has obtained a desired context information. [0052] Modifications on NRF 220 entries can equally assist the NF Service Consumer 230 with NF Service Producer 210 selection by reflecting energy states focusing on:

• updating the prioritization details on when an NF Service Producer 210 shall be selected relative to other NF Service Producers 210 of the same type,

• updating the prioritization details on when an NF service instance shall be selected relative to other NFs service instance of the same type,

• updating the NF locality and/or NF service locality if a VNF that is switched from energy saving state to a non-energy saving state needs or vice versa is relocated to a different data centre location,

• updating the serving scope, i.e., geographical area, tracking area, or cell ID, related to an NF Service Producer 210 and/or NF service instance if certain RAN nodes enter or switched to an energy saving state or swich to a non-energy saving state,

• updating the NF service instances offered by an NF Service Producer 210 considering that an NF service instance may enter or switched to an energy saving state or switch back to a non-energy saving state,

• updating the capacity of an NF Service Producer 210 (since in certain cases a single NF Service Producer 210 that appears in NRF 220 may comprise a set of underlying NF Service Producers 210 interrelated via the Service Communication Proxy (SCP)), and reduction of the underlying NF Service Producers 210 means reduction of the NF Service Producer 210 capacity (and likewise for the NF service instance).

• updating the heart-beat timer related to an NF Service Producer 210 that enters or switches to an energy saving state, e.g., cease the heart-beat timer to avoid confusing a non-response with a failure, or restore its original value when an NF Service Producer 210 switches back to a non-energy saving state,

• updating the allowed to access information controlling at specified times, e.g., peak and off-peak times, or considering other energy related criteria the allowed NF types, allowed domain and allowed PLMNs. • updating the slice information (NSI) for accessing a specific NF Service Producer 210 at peak and off-pick times.

[0053] Some examples described herein generally relate to limiting the usage of an NF Service Producer 210 or a specific a NF service by restricting or controlling the respective selection in combination with updating the respective prioritization and capacity details. These examples may relate to a new energy state of the NF Service Producer 210. For example, the energy state of the NF Service Producer 210 may comprise controlling the percentage of energy used by the NF Service Producer 210 or an NF service, e.g., an NF Service Producer 210 with 60% being fully operational.

[0054] Some examples described herein generally relate to energy saving for a network slice. In these examples, the slice information related to specific NF Service Producers 210 in the network slice may be updated to control the total energy consumption of the network slice. In some examples, the slice information may be modified in the NRF 220 for selected NF Service Producers 210 in the network slice. For example, the slice information may be deleted (or be inaccessible), such that the network slice cannot be accessed during a time period. In some examples, the network slice may be inaccessible during off-peak times and accessible during peak times. In some examples, the utilisation of one or more NF Service Producers 210 in a network slice may be controlled to limit the total energy consumption of the network slice. For example, the total energy consumption of the network slice may be limited to 50% capacity by limiting the average utilisation of the NF Service Producers 210 and NF services in the network slice to 50%.

[0055] Some examples described herein generally relate to controlling the energy consumption of NF Service Producers 210 or NF services. In these examples, access to specific NF types, Slices, requests from specific domain and/or Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) may be limited to conserve energy. In some examples, requests from specific domain and/or PLMNs may relate to requests from other network operators; for example, to control or limit the energy consumption associated with roaming scenarios.

[0056] Some examples described herein generally relate to introducing new fields and modifications in an NF profile of an NF Service Producer 210 and in the NF service. In some examples, the NF Service Producer 210 may maintain an NF profile in the NRF 220, the NF profile may reflect energy related issues for the NF Service Producer 210. The NF profile may be used by an NF Service Consumer 230 to assist the discovery process.

[0057] In some examples, the 0AM may perform the configuration management related to energy issues for each respective NF Service Producer 210. For example, the 0AM may configure the NF Service Producer 210 and/or NF service respectively using the procedures described in TS 28.511 vl7.0.0. Each NF Service Producer 210 may update their profile in the NRF 220 using a nfProfileChangesInd message; as specified in TS 29.510 V18.4.0.

[0058] In some examples, the 0AM may perform the configuration management related to energy issues for both: the respective NF Service Producer 210 and the NRF 220 at the same time using the procedures described in TS 28.511 vl7.0.0.

[0059] In some examples, an NF Service Consumer 230 performing service discovery may consider energy related issues when selecting NF services. In some examples, an NF Service Consumer 230 is configured to receive NF profile changes (e.g., indicated during the NF Registration or NF Update process), e.g., via the use of the nfProfileChangesSupportlnd service or nfProfilePartialUpdateChangesSupportlnd service. In some examples, the NF Service Consumer 230 may receive NF profile changes once they occur in the NRF 220. In some examples, the NRF 220 may notify NF Service Consumers 230 that are subscribed of any changes related to an NF profile if the NF Service Producer 210 status has changed. In some examples, similar updates may be applied for NF service granularity.

[0060] Some examples described herein generally relate to listing, in the NF profile, parameters that can be updated to reflect energy related issues. Some examples described herein generally relate to enhancements in the NF Service Producer 210 status and the NF service status to reflect energy saving states and energy efficiency issues.

[0061] Table 1 below describes parameters of an NF profile as described in the table 6.1.6.2.2-1 TS 29.510 18.4.0 that are relevant for energy related issues.

Table 1: NF profile parameters for communication energy related issues

[0062] Table 2 below describes enumeration parameters of an NF profile as described in the table 6.1.6.2.2-1 TS 29.510 18.4.0 that are relevant for energy related issues.

Table 2: NF profile enumeration parameters for communication energy related issues [0063] Table 3 below describes parameters of an NF service as described in the table 6.1.6.2.3-1 TS 29.510 18.4.0 relevant for energy related issues.

Table 3: NF service parameters relevant for communication energy related issues [0064] Table 4 below describes enumeration parameters of an NF service that are relevant for energy related issues.

Table 4: NF service enumeration parameters relevant for communication energy related issues

[0065] In some examples, the NF profile and/or the NF service profile may modify and update the authorization attributes including the NF types that are allowed to access (allowedNfTypes), the network domain that are allowed to access (allowedNfDomains), the network slices that are allowed to access (allowedNssais), and the mobile operators that area allowed to (allowedPlmns), depending and/or considering energy related issues and criteria. [0066] In some examples, the following procedures relating to the NRF 220 may be used during service discovery when considering energy related issues:

• in some examples, an Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate procedure may enable an NF Service Producer 210, Service Communication Proxy (SCP) or Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) Instance to replace, or update partially, the parameters of its profile (including the parameters of the associated services, if any) in the NRF 220. In some examples, the procedure may also allow the addition or deletion of individual services offered by the NF Instance. In some examples, this procedure may allow an NF Servicer Producer 210 to update its energy related status profile (i.e., ENERGY SAVING or ENERGY INEFFICIENT states in the NF status or in the NF Service Status and potentially any related NF profile parameters including priority, locality, recovery time, etc.);

• in some examples, an Nnrf_NFManagement_NFStatusNotify procedure may enable the NRF 220 to notify subscribed NF Service Consumer 230 or SCP Instances of changes on the status of NF or SEPP Instances. In some examples, the procedure may enable the NRF 220 to notify subscribed SCP Instances of changes on the status (including energy related status updates) of SCP Instances. In some examples, the procedure may be invoked directly between the NRF 220 and an NF Instance in a different PLMN (without involvement of the local NRF 220 in that PLMN) for changes on the status of NF Instances.

[0067] Figure 3 illustrates a signalling diagram, indicated generally by reference numeral 300, for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments.

[0068] The signalling diagram 300 comprises an NF Service Consumer 330 and an NRF 320. The signalling diagram 300 may represent the signalling between the NF Service Consumer 330 and the NRF 320 for an NF profile Full Update procedure; for example, the procedure may be performed when the NF Service Consumer 330 requests and receives an update to a NF profile (of an NF Service Producer). The update may correspond to an update to the full NF profile. [0069] In some examples, the signalling diagram 300 relates to an Nnrf_NFManagement_NFUpdate procedure; for example, if the NF Service Consumer 330 performs a full update, i.e., it replaces its NF profile with a new version.

[0070] In some examples, the signalling diagram 300 comprises the following steps:

[0071] In step 341, the NF Service Consumer 330 sends a PUT request to the resource Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) representing the NF Instance. The payload body of the PUT request may contain a representation of the NF Instance to be completely replaced in the NRF 320. The replaced NF instance may contain potential status and other parameters changes due to energy related issues.

[0072] In step 342, if successful, an "200 OK" message may be returned in a PUT response. The payload body of the PUT response may contain the representation of the replaced resource following the operations specified in TS 29.510 vl8.4.0. If unsuccessful, the NRF 320 may provide the problem details, e.g., in case of errors in the encoding of the NFProfile JSON object. In some examples, it may return a Bad Request. In some examples, e.g., in case of NRF internal errors, it may return an Internal Server Error. In some examples, e.g., in the case of redirection, the NRF 320 may return a Location header with an URI pointing to the endpoint of another NRF service instance as specified in TS 29.510 V18.4.0.

[0073] Figure 4 illustrates a signalling diagram, indicated generally by reference numeral 400, for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments.

[0074] The signalling diagram 400 comprises an NF Service Consumer 430 and an NRF 420. The signalling diagram 400 may represent the signalling between the NF Service Consumer 430 and the NRF 420 for an NF profile partial update procedure; for example, the procedure may be performed when the NF Service Consumer 430 requests and receives an update to a NF profile (of an NF Service Producer). The update may correspond to an update to the part of the NF profile.

[0075] In some examples of a partial update of the NF Profile, the NF Service Consumer 430 shall issue an HTTP PATCH request. This partial update may be used to add/delete/replace individual parameters of the NF Instance, and services (and their parameters) offered by the NF Instance (including energy related parameters).

[0076] In some examples, the signalling diagram 400 comprises the following steps:

[0077] In step 441, the NF Service Consumer 430 may send a PATCH request to the resource URI representing the NF Instance. The payload body of the PATCH request may contain the list of operations (e.g., add/delete/replace) to be applied to the NF Profile of the NF Instance; these operations may be directed to individual parameters (that may contain potential status and other parameters changes due to energy related issues) of the NF Profile or to the list of services (and their parameters) offered by the NF Instances. The list of services may include potential status and other parameters changes due to energy related issues. In order to leave the NF Profile in a consistent state, all the operations specified by the PATCH request body may be executed atomically.

[0078] The NF Service Consumer 430 may include a "If-Match" HTTP header carrying the latest entity -tag received from the NRF 420 for the NF profile to which the PATCH document shall be applied.

[0079] In step 442, if successful, if all update operations are accepted by the NRF 420, a "204 No Content" may be returned. In some examples, the NRF 420 may return "200 OK" with the payload body of the PATCH response containing the representation of the replaced resource following the operations specified in TS 29.510 vl8.4.0. If unsuccessful, for example, if the problem details, e.g., in case the "nflnstancelD" is not found in the list of registered NF Instances in the NRF's database, the NRF 420 may return a "404 Not Found" status code.

[0080] In the case of redirection, the NRF 420 may return a Location header with an URI pointing to the endpoint of another NRF service instance as specified in TS 29.510 vl 8.4.0. If "If-Match" header is received with an entity tag different from the entity -tag in NRF for NF profile of the target NF instance, the NRF 420 may return precondition failed status. If no precondition was defined in the request and another confliction has been detected (e.g., to change value of a non-existing IE), the NRF 420 may return conflicting status. [0081] The NRF 420 may allow updating Vendor-Specific attributes (see 3GPP TS 29.500 vl8.3.0, clause 6.6.3) that may exist in the NF Profile of a registered NF Instance.

[0082] Figure 5 illustrates a signalling diagram, indicated generally by reference numeral 500, for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments.

[0083] The signalling diagram 500 comprises an NF Service Consumer 530 and an NRF 520. The signalling diagram 500 may represent the signalling between the NF Service Consumer 530 and the NRF 520 for an NF heartbeat update procedure; for example, the procedure may be performed when the NF Service Consumer 530 requests and receives an update to an NF heartbeat (of an NF Service Producer).

[0084] In some examples, the signalling diagram 500 comprises the following steps:

[0085] In step 541, the NF Service Consumer may send a PATCH request to the resource URI representing the NF Instance. In some examples, the payload body of the PATCH request may contain a "replace" operation on the "nfStatus" attribute of the NF Profile of the NF Instance, and set it to the value "REGISTERED" or "UNDISCOVERABLE" or “ENERGY SAVING” or “ENERGY_ INEFFICIENT”.

[0086] In some examples, the NF Service Consumer 530 may also provide the load information of the NF, and/or the load information of the NF associated NF services. The provision of such load information may be limited by this NF via appropriate configuration (e.g., granularity threshold) in order to avoid notifying minor load changes.

[0087] Furthermore, the NF Service Consumer 530 may also provide the estimated time that is scheduled to be in an energy saving state and/or the time it takes to become fully functional.

[0088] In some examples, the NF Service Consumer may not include "If-Match" HTTP header in the heartbeat request if the request is not modifying any attribute in the NF profile.

[0089] In step 542, if successful, if all update operations are accepted by the NRF 520, "204 No Content" should be returned. In some examples, the NRF 520 may instead return "200 OK" along with the full NF Profile, e.g., in cases where the NRF 520 determines that the NF Profile has changed significantly (note that this alternative may increase signalling overhead). The NRF 520 may not generate a new entity tag for the NF profile in Heart-Beat operation if no attribute is modified. If unsuccessful, if the NF Instance, identified by the "nflnstancelD", is not found in the list of registered NF Instances in the NRF's database, the NRF 520 may return "404 Not Found" status code with the ProblemDetails IE providing details of the error. In some examples, e.g., in the case of redirection, the NRF 520 may return status code, which may contain a Location header with an URI pointing to the endpoint of another NRF service instance following the operations specified in TS 29.510 V18.4.0.

[0090] Figure 6 illustrates a signalling diagram, indicated generally by reference numeral 600, for a procedure used during service discovery, according to one or more embodiments.

[0091] The signalling diagram 600 comprises an NF Service Consumer 630 and an NRF 620. The signalling diagram 600 may represent the signalling between the NF Service Consumer 630 and the NRF 620 for an NRF notification in the same PLMN procedure; for example, the procedure may be performed when the NRF 620 provides a notification of NF updates to a subscribed NF Service Consumer 630. For example, the procedure may comprise notifications from NRF in the same PLMN including on energy related updates.

[0092] In some examples, the NRF 620 may provide a notification of NF updates to a NF Service Consumer 630 that has subscribed to updates. For example, this operation may be invoked by issuing a POST request to each callback URI of the different subscribed NF Instances to notify the NF Service Consumer 630 with NF updates including energy related issues.

[0093] In some examples, the signalling diagram 600 comprises the following steps:

[0094] In step 641, the NRF 620 may send a POST request to the callback URI.

[0095] In some examples, for notifications of newly registered NF Instances, the request body may include the data associated to the newly registered NF, and its services, according to the criteria indicated by the NF Service Consumer 630 during the subscription operation, as specified in TS 29.510 vl8.4.0.

[0096] In some examples, for notifications of changes of the profile of a NF Instance, the request body may include the NFInstancelD of the NF Instance whose profile was changed, an indication of the event being notified ("profile change"), and the new profile data including energy related data.

[0097] In some examples, for notifications of deregistration of the NF Instance from NRF 620, the request body may include the NFInstancelD of the deregistered NF Instance, and an indication of the event being notified ("deregistration").

[0098] In some examples, when an NF Service Consumer 630 subscribes to a set of NFs, for example using the subscription conditions specified in clause 6.1.6.2.35 of TS 29.510 vl8.4.0, in case of a change of profile(s) of NFs potentially related to those subscription conditions, the NRF 620 may send a notification to subscribing NF Service Consumer(s) 630 to those NFs no longer matching the subscription conditions, and to subscribing NF Service Consumer(s) 630 to NFs that start matching the subscription conditions, as specified in TS 29.510 vl8.4.0.

[0099] In some examples, the notification of changes of the profile may be achieved by the NRF 620 either by sending the entire new NF Profile, or by indicating a number of "delta" changes (see clause 6.1.6.2.17 of TS 29.510 vl8.4.0) from an existing NF Profile that may have been previously received by the NF Service Consumer 630 during an NFDiscovery search operation (see clause 5.3.2.2 of TS 29.510 vl8.4.0).

[0100] In some examples, the change of authorization attributes (allowedNfTypes, allowedNfDomains, allowedNssais, allowedPlmns etc.) may trigger a "NF PROFILE CHANGED" notification from the NRF 620; for example, if the change of the NF Profile results in a change to the authorisation of an NF to access to the NF Instance, for example if the NF may be subscribed to the NRF 620 for notifications relating to NF profile changes.

[0101] In step 642, if successful, a "204 No content" may be returned by the NF Service Consumer 630. If unsuccessful, for example if the NF Service Consumer 630 does not consider the "nfStatusNotificationUri" as a valid notification URI, the NF Service Consumer 630 may return a "404 Not Found" status code with the problem details as specified in TS 29.510 vl8.4.0. In some examples, in the case of redirection, the NF Service Consumer 630 may return a 3xx status code, which may contain a Location header with an URI pointing to the endpoint of another NF Service Consumer 630 endpoint.

[0102] There is provided herein a first network function of a wireless communication network, the first network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the first network function to: store first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

[0103] Storing first information that comprises energy information relating to the one or more services tends to enable the first network function to identify energy related issues relating to a second network function. The first network function may then notify other network functions - for example, the first network function may notify a third network function to enable the third network function to avoid selecting a service in an energy saving state or energy inefficient state.

[0104] First information may include service information. First information may include network function information. First information may include both service information and network function information.

[0105] The network function information may comprise a network function profile corresponding to the second network function. The network function information may comprise a network function service profile for each of the one or more services provided by the second network function.

[0106] The first network function may be a network repository function. The first network function may be a network function repository function. The second network function may be a service producer. [0107] The first information may be stored in a repository. The repository may comprise a profile for the second network function. The repository may comprise a profile for the one or more services provided by the second network function.

[0108] The at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory may be further configured to cause the first network function to: receive, from a third network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of the first information; and transmit, to the third network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from the stored first information according to the service requirement.

[0109] The third network may be a service consumer. The service requirement may be a requirement of the third network function. The service requirement may be provided from the third network function to the first network function.

[0110] The energy information may relate to the second network function. The second network function may be in an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state. The energy information may relate to the one or more services provided by the second network function. The one or more services provided by the second network function may be in an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state. The energy information may relate to the one or more services provided by the second network function or the second network function. The one or more services provided by the second network function or the second network function may be in an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state.

[OHl] The at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory may be further configured to cause the first network function to: transmit, to the third network function, network function information for the second network function.

[0112] The network function information may comprise a network function profile corresponding to the second network function. The network function information may comprise a network function service profile for each of the one or more services provided by the second network function. [0113] The at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory may be further configured to cause the first network function to receive, from the second network function, an update to the first information.

[0114] The update to the first information may be an update to all the first information for the one or more services or the second network function. The update to the first information may be an update to part of the first information for the one or more services or the second network function. The update to the first information received from the second network function may be an update to the energy information of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0115] The first network function may update the repository with the received update to the first information. The update to the first information may comprise one or more of the following: an indication of a time when the second network function will switch to a nonenergy saving state from an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function will switch to the non-energy saving state from the energy saving state or the energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy saving state; or an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy-saving state.

[0116] The update to the first information may comprise an updated heartbeat time of the second network function.

[0117] The heartbeat time may be part of the network function information within the first information. The heartbeat time may correspond to the time between two consecutive messages from the second network function.

[0118] The updated heartbeat time may be related to the energy consumption of the second network function. The updated heartbeat time may be related to a time period in which the one or more services or the second network function is in an energy saving state.

[0119] The energy information may comprise information relating to one or more of: an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function; an energy inefficient state of the one or more services or the second network function; an undiscoverable state of the one or more services or the second network function; a regulated energy usage state of the one or more services or the second network function; or a restricted access state of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0120] The information relating to an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function may comprise a time duration that the one or more services or the second network function will be operating in the energy saving state.

[0121] The information relating to an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function may comprise a recovery time for the one or more services or the second network function to recover from the energy saving state to a normal operating state.

[0122] The information relating to an energy inefficient state of the one or more services or the second network function may comprise a time duration that the one or more services or the second network function will be operating in the energy inefficient state.

[0123] The energy information may comprise information relating to an energy saving state for each of the one or more services provided by the second network function. The energy information may comprise information relating to an energy inefficient state for each of the one or more services provided by the second network function. The energy information may comprise information relating to an undiscoverable state for each of the one or more services provided by the second network function. The energy information may comprise information relating to a regulated energy usage state for each of the one or more services provided by the second network function. The energy information may comprise information relating to a restricted access state for each of the one or more services provided by the second network function.

[0124] The first information may further comprise an indication of a capability of the one or more services or the second network function to discover a service that supports the service requirement of the third network function.

[0125] The first information further may comprise information relating to one or more of: a selection priority for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a locality for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a serving scope for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a selection condition for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function.

[0126] The selection priority may indicate to the third network function the priority order of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0127] The serving scope may indicate a geographical area of the one or more services or the second network function. The serving scope may indicate a tracking area of the one or more services or the second network function. The serving scope may indicate one or more cell IDs of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0128] The at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is further configured to cause the first network function to: determine, if the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy, update the first information to restrict the use of the one or more services or the second network function by the third network function.

[0129] Determining whether the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy may comprise determining whether the one or more services or the second network function is in an energy saving state. Determining whether the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy may comprise determining whether the one or more services or the second network function will switch to an energy saving state.

[0130] Determining whether the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy may comprise determining whether the one or more services or the second network is required to regulate energy consumption.

[0131] The first information may comprise updating one or more of: a selection priority of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; a capacity of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; an allowed access of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a profile status state of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function.

[0132] Updating the first information may enable control of the energy consumption of the second network function.

[0133] The at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory may be further configured to cause the first network function to: determine that a network slice comprising one or more second network functions is required to regulate energy; and if the network slice is required to regulate energy, update one or more of: a selection priority of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; a capacity of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; an allowed access of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; or a profile status state of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice.

[0134] The first information may comprise network slice information. The network slice information may comprise a time period for accessing the one or more services or the second network function.

[0135] The at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory may be further configured to cause the first network function to transmit, to the third network function, the updated first information.

[0136] The update to the first information transmitted to the third network function may be an update to the energy information of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0137] The update to the first information transmitted to the third network function may only be transmitted to the third network function if the first information relates to the one or more services matching the service requirement. [0138] The service requirement may comprise one or more of: a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not currently in an energy saving state or in an energy inefficient state; a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not scheduled to enter an energy saving state; or a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is in a normal operating state.

[0139] There is provided herein a method performed by a first network function of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: storing first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

[0140] Storing first information that comprises energy information relating to the one or more services tends to enable the first network function to identify energy related issues relating to a second network function. The first network function may then notify other network functions - for example, the first network function may notify a third network function to enable the third network function to avoid selecting a service in an energy saving state or energy inefficient state.

[0141] The method may further comprise receiving, from a third network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of the first information; and transmitting, to the third network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from the stored first information according to the service requirement.

[0142] The method may further comprise receiving, from the second network function, an update to the first information.

[0143] The update to the first information may comprise one or more of the following: an indication of a time when the second network function will switch to a non-energy saving state from an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function will switch to the non-energy saving state from the energy saving state or the energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the second network function can operate normally in the nonenergy saving state; or an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy-saving state.

[0144] The update to the first information may comprise an updated heartbeat time of the second network function.

[0145] The energy information may comprise information relating to one or more of: an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function; an energy inefficient state of the one or more services or the second network function; an undiscoverable state of the one or more services or the second network function; a regulated energy usage state of the one or more services or the second network function; or a restricted access state of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0146] The first information may further comprise an indication of a capability of the one or more services or the second network function to discover a service that supports the service requirement of the third network function.

[0147] The first information may further comprise information relating to one or more of: a selection priority for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a locality for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a serving scope for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a selection condition for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function.

[0148] The method may further comprise: determining, if the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy, updating the first information to restrict the use of the one or more services or the second network function by the third network function.

[0149] Updating the first information may comprise updating one or more of: a selection priority of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; a capacity of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; an allowed access of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a profile status state of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function.

[0150] The method may further comprise: determining that a network slice comprising one or more second network functions is required to regulate energy; and if the network slice is required to regulate energy, updating one or more of: a selection priority of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; a capacity of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; an allowed access of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; or a profile status state of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice.

[0151] The method may further comprise transmitting, to the third network function, the updated first information.

[0152] The service requirement may comprise one or more of: a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not currently in an energy saving state or in an energy inefficient state; a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not scheduled to enter an energy saving state; or a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is in a normal operating state.

[0153] There is provided herein a third network function of a wireless communication network, the third network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the third network function to: transmit, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of first information; and receive, from the first network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from stored first information according to the service requirement, wherein the stored first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services provided by a second network function.

[0154] Receiving first information that comprises energy information relating to the one or more services tends to enable the third network function to identify energy issues relating to the second network function. For example, a third network function may want to avoid selecting a second network function or a service provided by the second network function that is experiencing energy related issues. For example, the second network function may be operating in an energy saving state or energy inefficient state.

[0155] The method may further comprise receiving, from the first network function, updated first information.

[0156] The update to the first information may comprise one or more of the following: an indication of a time when the second network function will switch to a non-energy saving state from an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function will switch to the non-energy saving state from the energy saving state or the energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the second network function can operate normally in the non- energy saving state; or an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy-saving state.

[0157] The update to the first information may comprise an updated heartbeat time of the second network function.

[0158] The energy information may comprise information relating to one or more of an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function; an energy inefficient state of the one or more services or the second network function; an undiscoverable state of the one or more services or the second network function; a regulated energy usage state of the one or more services or the second network function; or a restricted access state of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0159] The first information may further comprise an indication of a capability of the one or more services or the second network function to discover a service that supports the service requirement of the third network function. [0160] The first information may further comprise information relating to one or more of a selection priority for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a locality for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a serving scope for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a selection condition for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function.

[0161] The method may further comprise: determining, whether the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy. The method may further comprise: determining that a network slice comprising one or more second network functions is required to regulate energy.

[0162] The service requirement may comprise one or more of: a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not currently in an energy saving state or in an energy inefficient state; a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not scheduled to enter an energy saving state; or a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is in a normal operating state.

[0163] There is provided herein a method performed by a third network function of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of first information; and receiving, from the first network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from stored first information according to the service requirement, wherein the stored first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services provided by a second network function.

[0164] There is provided herein a second network function of a wireless communication network, the first network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the second network function to: transmit, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, first information for one or more services provided by the second network function, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

[0165] Transmitting first information that comprises energy information relating to the one or more services tends to enable the first network function to identify energy issues relating to the second network function. The first network function may then inform other network nodes that a particular second network function is experiencing energy related issues. For example, the first network function may inform a third network function that a particular second network function or a service provided by the second function is experiencing energy related issues. The third network function may then avoid selecting the second network function or a service provided by the second network function that is experiencing energy related issues. For example, the second network function may be operating in an energy saving state or energy inefficient state.

[0166] The method may further comprise transmitting, to the first network function, an update to the first information.

[0167] The update to the first information may comprise one or more of the following: an indication of a time when the second network function will switch to a non-energy saving state from an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function will switch to the non-energy saving state from the energy saving state or the energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the second network function can operate normally in the non- energy saving state; or an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy-saving state.

[0168] The update to the first information may comprise an updated heartbeat time of the second network function.

[0169] The energy information may comprise information relating to one or more of: an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function; an energy inefficient state of the one or more services or the second network function; an undiscoverable state of the one or more services or the second network function; a regulated energy usage state of the one or more services or the second network function; or a restricted access state of the one or more services or the second network function.

[0170] The first information may further comprise an indication of a capability of the one or more services or the second network function to discover a service that supports the service requirement of the third network function.

[0171] The first information may further comprise information relating to one or more of: a selection priority for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a locality for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a serving scope for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a selection condition for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function.

[0172] The method may further comprise: determining, whether the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy.

[0173] Updating the first information may comprise updating one or more of: a selection priority of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; a capacity of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; an allowed access of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a profile status state of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function.

[0174] The method may further comprise: determining that a network slice comprising one or more second network functions is required to regulate energy.

[0175] There is provided herein a method performed by a second network function of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, first information for one or more services provided by the second network function, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services. [0176] The examples described herein generally relate to the problem of energy saving and energy efficiency when discovering and selecting an NF and/or NF service. Currently, the NRF does not indicate whether an NF or NF service is operating in an energy saving state or operating with other energy inefficient issues. Consequently, an NF consumer is unable to avoid such NFs or NF; for example, during a discovery and selection phase. Furthermore, the NF consumer has no indication when an NF or NF service may return to a non-energy saving state. In addition, there is no means to control the energy consumption of an NF, NF service or network slice without merely switching the NF, NF service or network slice off.

[0177] The examples described herein generally relate to energy saving or energy efficiency in the NF and/or NF service discovery and selection process. In addition, examples described herein generally relate to identifying a set of NF profile and NF service profile parameters that may be updated to facilitate energy related issues.

[0178] In addition, examples described herein generally relate to identification of a set of NF profile and NF service profile parameters that may be updated to facilitate energy related issues including, the priority in selecting an NF or an NF service, locality of an NF or NF service, the heartbeat adjustments, time schedule related to energy issues, geographical service scope and service selection criteria.

[0179] Currently there is no means to avoid selecting the usage of an NF or NF service that is involved in energy related issues. Also, currently the is no means to regulate the energy consumption related to an NF, NF service or slice or limit the allowed access based on energy criteria.

[0180] The examples described herein generally relate to performing configuration management related to energy issues for each respective NF and NF service, via the procedures described in TS 28.511 vl7.0.0, and then each NF can update their profile in the NRF as specified in TS 29.510 vl8.4.0.

[0181] The examples described herein generally relate to performing configuration management related to energy issues for both respective NF and NRF at the same time using the procedures described in TS 28.511 v!7.0.0. [0182] The examples described herein generally relate to performing the respective NF and NF service profile updates related to energy issues towards the respective NFs subscribed to the NRF.

[0183] There is provided herein a network entity [e.g., a network repository function] for wireless communication, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the network entity to: allow the discovery and selection of a second entity [network function] and/or a service related to the said second entity; receive configuration updates related to energy parameters or other profile parameters that can assist in regulating energy issues of a second entity [network function] and/or a service offered by the said second entity of a wireless communication network; notify at least a third network entity [a subscribed network function to the repository function] that subscribed to receive updates regarding profile changes with respect to energy issues related to a second entity [network function] and/or to at least a service related to the said second entity.

[0184] The energy issues may involve at least one of the following: an energy saving state related to a second entity and/or to a service related to the said second entity; an energy inefficiency state related to a second entity and/or to a service related to the said second entity; an undiscoverable state related to a second entity and/or to a service related to the said second entity once the second entity and/or a service related to the said second entity it is scheduled but has not yet switched to an energy saving state; a state that assist regulating the energy usage related to a second entity and/or to a service related to the said second entity; a restricted allowed access related to a second entity and/or to a service related to the said second entity.

[0185] The network entity may allow: a second entity, a network function, to register its capabilities to enable a third network entity, another network function, to perform network function and network function service discovery and selection considering energy issues and criteria.

[0186] The receive configuration updates may contain at least a profile parameter update related to: the priority of selecting the second entity and/or the service offered by the said second entity; the locality of the second entity and/or the service offered by the said second entity; the serving scope of the second entity and/or the service offered by the said second entity; the selection conditions related to the second entity and/or the service offered by the said second entity.

[0187] The regulation of energy usage of a second entity and/or to a service related to the said second entity may be achieved via a combination of at least one of the following: profiles parameters including prioritization and/or capacity and/or allowed access; profile status states.

[0188] The regulation of energy usage of a network slice can be achieved via a combination of at least one of the following: update the slice parameter information related to a second network entity or to a service related to the said second network entity; regulate of energy usage of a selected network entities and/or services related to the said network entities that belong to the said network slice.

[0189] The receive configuration updates may contain a profile parameter update that: indicates the time when the second entity and/or the service offered by the said second entity is switched to a non-energy saving state from an energy saving state; indicates the time when the second entity and/or the service offered by the said second entity can recover to normal operation once switched from an energy saving state in a non-energy saving state; indicates the time when the second entity and/or the service offered by the said second entity is expected to switch to a non-energy saving state from an energy inefficient state.

[0190] The network entity may allow a second network entity to modify its heart beat time between two consecutive messages considering the time the second network entity need to be in energy saving state and/or other energy related criteria.

[0191] The network entity may allow a second network entity to modify: the offered services that are on energy saving state or energy inefficiency state; the supporting slices considering energy related criteria.

[0192] There is provided herein a method that allows a third network entity to avoid selecting a second network entity and/or a service offered by a second network entity, when the said second network entity and/or a service offered by a second network entity is: on energy saving state or in energy inefficient state; scheduled to switch an energy saving state once they do not handle any further traffic load; determined to limit its usage for energy purposes; switched to a non-energy saving state from an energy saving state, until the said second network entity and/or a service offered by a second network entity recover to normal operation.

[0193] There is provided herein a method that allows a third network entity to know for how long second network entity and/or a service offered by a second network entity is going to be held in an energy saving state or in energy inefficiency state.

[0194] There is provided herein a method that allows a third network entity to know how long a second network entity and/or a service offered by a second network entity it needs to recover from an energy saving state to a normal non-energy saving operation.

[0195] Figure 7 illustrates an example of a UE 700 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The UE 700 may include a processor 702, a memory 704, a controller 706, and a transceiver 708. The processor 702, the memory 704, the controller 706, or the transceiver 708, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the present disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces.

[0196] The processor 702, the memory 704, the controller 706, or the transceiver 708, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0197] The processor 702 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general- purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination thereof). In some implementations, the processor 702 may be configured to operate the memory 704. In some other implementations, the memory 704 may be integrated into the processor 702. The processor 702 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 704 to cause the UE 700 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0198] The memory 704 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 704 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions when executed by the processor 702 cause the UE 700 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such the memory 704 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non- transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general -purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0199] In some implementations, the processor 702 and the memory 704 coupled with the processor 702 may be configured to cause the UE 700 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 702, instructions stored in the memory 704). For example, the processor 702 may support wireless communication at the UE 700 in accordance with examples as disclosed herein.

[0200] The controller 706 may manage input and output signals for the UE 700. The controller 706 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the UE 700. In some implementations, the controller 706 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 706 may be implemented as part of the processor 702.

[0201] In some implementations, the UE 700 may include at least one transceiver 708. In some other implementations, the UE 700 may have more than one transceiver 708. The transceiver 708 may represent a wireless transceiver. The transceiver 708 may include one or more receiver chains 710, one or more transmitter chains 712, or a combination thereof.

[0202] A receiver chain 710 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 710 may include one or more antennas for receive the signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 710 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LN A)) configured to amplify the received signal. The receiver chain 710 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the receive signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during transmission of the signal. The receiver chain 710 may include at least one decoder for decoding the processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0203] A transmitter chain 712 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 712 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes like phase-shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The transmitter chain 712 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 712 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0204] Figure 8 illustrates an example of a processor 800 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The processor 800 may be an example of a processor configured to perform various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor 800 may include a controller 802 configured to perform various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor 800 may optionally include at least one memory 804, which may be, for example, an L1/L2/L3 cache. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor 800 may optionally include one or more arithmetic-logic units (ALUs) 806. One or more of these components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces (e.g., buses).

[0205] The processor 800 may be a processor chipset and include a protocol stack (e.g., a software stack) executed by the processor chipset to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor chipset may include one or more cores, one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 800) or other memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), and others).

[0206] The controller 802 may be configured to manage and coordinate various operations (e.g., signaling, receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) of the processor 800 to cause the processor 800 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. For example, the controller 802 may operate as a control unit of the processor 800, generating control signals that manage the operation of various components of the processor 800. These control signals include enabling or disabling functional units, selecting data paths, initiating memory access, and coordinating timing of operations.

[0207] The controller 802 may be configured to fetch (e.g., obtain, retrieve, receive) instructions from the memory 804 and determine subsequent instruction(s) to be executed to cause the processor 800 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The controller 802 may be configured to track memory address of instructions associated with the memory 804. The controller 802 may be configured to decode instructions to determine the operation to be performed and the operands involved. For example, the controller 802 may be configured to interpret the instruction and determine control signals to be output to other components of the processor 800 to cause the processor 800 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller 802 may be configured to manage flow of data within the processor 800. The controller 802 may be configured to control transfer of data between registers, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), and other functional units of the processor 800.

[0208] The memory 804 may include one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor 800 or other memory, such RAM, ROM, DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, MRAM, flash memory, etc. In some implementations, the memory 804 may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., local to the processor 800). In some other implementations, the memory 804 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., remote to the processor 800).

[0209] The memory 804 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions that, when executed by the processor 800, cause the processor 800 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. The controller 802 and/or the processor 800 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 804 to cause the processor 800 to perform various functions. For example, the processor 800 and/or the controller 802 may be coupled with or to the memory 804, the processor 800, the controller 802, and the memory 804 may be configured to perform various functions described herein. In some examples, the processor 800 may include multiple processors and the memory 804 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may, individually or collectively, be configured to perform various functions herein.

[0210] The one or more ALUs 806 may be configured to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, the one or more ALUs 806 may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., the processor 800). In some other implementations, the one or more ALUs 806 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 800). One or more ALUs 806 may perform one or more computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on data. For example, one or more ALUs 806 may receive input operands and an operation code, which determines an operation to be executed. One or more ALUs 806 be configured with a variety of logical and arithmetic circuits, including adders, subtractors, shifters, and logic gates, to process and manipulate the data according to the operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more ALUs 806 may support logical operations such as AND, OR, exclusive-OR (XOR), not-OR (NOR), and not- AND (NAND), enabling the one or more ALUs 806 to handle conditional operations, comparisons, and bitwise operations.

[0211] The processor 800 may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. [0212] Figure 9 illustrates an example of a NE 900 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The NE 900 may include a processor 902, a memory 904, a controller 906, and a transceiver 908. The processor 902, the memory 904, the controller 906, or the transceiver 908, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the present disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces.

[0213] The processor 902, the memory 904, the controller 906, or the transceiver 908, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0214] The processor 902 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general- purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination thereof). In some implementations, the processor 902 may be configured to operate the memory 904. In some other implementations, the memory 904 may be integrated into the processor 902. The processor 902 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 904 to cause the NE 900 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0215] The memory 904 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 904 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions when executed by the processor 902 cause the NE 900 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such the memory 904 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non- transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general -purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0216] In some implementations, the processor 902 and the memory 904 coupled with the processor 902 may be configured to cause the NE 900 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 902, instructions stored in the memory 904). For example, the processor 902 may support wireless communication at the NE 900 in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The NE 900 may be configured to support a means for storing first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

[0217] The NE 900 may be alternatively configured to support a means for transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of first information; and receiving, from the first network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from stored first information according to the service requirement, wherein the stored first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services provided by a second network function.

[0218] The NE 900 may be alternatively configured to support a means for transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, first information for one or more services provided by the second network function, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

[0219] The controller 906 may manage input and output signals for the NE 900. The controller 906 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the NE 900. In some implementations, the controller 906 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 906 may be implemented as part of the processor 902.

[0220] In some implementations, the NE 900 may include at least one transceiver 908. In some other implementations, the NE 900 may have more than one transceiver 908. The transceiver 908 may represent a wireless transceiver. The transceiver 908 may include one or more receiver chains 910, one or more transmitter chains 912, or a combination thereof.

[0221] A receiver chain 910 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 910 may include one or more antennas for receive the signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 910 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. The receiver chain 910 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the receive signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during transmission of the signal. The receiver chain 910 may include at least one decoder for decoding the processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0222] A transmitter chain 912 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 912 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes like phase-shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The transmitter chain 912 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 912 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0223] Figure 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a NE as described herein. In some implementations, the NE may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the NE to perform the described functions.

[0224] At 1002, the method may include storing first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services. The operations of 1002 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1002 may be performed by a NE as described with reference to Figure 9.

[0225] It should be noted that the method described herein describes A possible implementation, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. [0226] Figure 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a NE as described herein. In some implementations, the NE may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the NE to perform the described functions.

[0227] At 1102, the method may include transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of first information. The operations of 1102 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1102 may be performed by a NE as described with reference to Figure 9.

[0228] At 1104, the method may include receiving, from the first network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from stored first information according to the service requirement, wherein the stored first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services provided by a second network function. The operations of 1104 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1104 may be performed by a NE as described with reference to Figure 9.

[0229] It should be noted that the method described herein describes A possible implementation, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

[0230] Figure 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a NE as described herein. In some implementations, the NE may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the NE to perform the described functions.

[0231] At 1202, the method may include transmitting, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, first information for one or more services provided by the second network function, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services. The operations of 1202 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operations of 1202 may be performed by a NE as described with reference to Figure 9.

[0232] It should be noted that the method described herein describes A possible implementation, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

[0233] The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0234] The following abbreviations are relevant in the field addressed by this document: 5G - 5th Generation of Mobile Communications; 5GC - 5G Core; CM - Configuration Management; eMBB - enhanced Mobile Broadband; gNB - general Node B; HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol; IE - Information Element; JSON - JavaScript Object Notation; KPI - Key Performance Indicator; MDA - Management Data Analytics; MioT - Massive internet of Things; NF - Network Function; NG-RAN - Next Generation RAN; NR - New Radio; NRF - Network Repository Function; NSI - Network Slice Instance;

0AM - Operations, Administration and Maintenance; PLMN - Public Land Mobile Network; PM - Performance Measurement; PNF - Physical Network Function; RAN - Radio Access Network; SBA - Service Based Architecture; SCP - Service Communication Proxy; SEPP - Security Edge Protection Proxy; S-NSSAI - Single - Network Slice Selection Assistance Information; UE - User Equipment; UL/DL - Uplink /Downlink; UPF - User Plane Function; URI - Uniform Resource Identifier; URLLC - Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications; VNF - Virtual Network Function.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A first network function of a wireless communication network, the first network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the first network function to: store first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

2. The first network function of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is further configured to cause the first network function to: receive, from a third network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of the first information; and transmit, to the third network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from the stored first information according to the service requirement.

3. The first network function of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is further configured to cause the first network function to receive, from the second network function, an update to the first information.

4. The first network function of claim 3, wherein the update to the first information comprises one or more of the following: an indication of a time when the second network function will switch to a nonenergy saving state from an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function will switch to the non-energy saving state from the energy saving state or the energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy saving state; or an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy-saving state.

5. The first network function of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the update to the first information comprises an updated heartbeat time of the second network function.

6. The first network function of any preceding claim, wherein the energy information comprises information relating to one or more of: an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function; an energy inefficient state of the one or more services or the second network function; an undiscoverable state of the one or more services or the second network function; a regulated energy usage state of the one or more services or the second network function; or a restricted access state of the one or more services or the second network function.

7. The first network function of any preceding claim, wherein the first information further comprises an indication of a capability of the one or more services or the second network function to discover a service that supports the service requirement of the third network function.

8. The first network function of any preceding claim, wherein the first information further comprises information relating to one or more of: a selection priority for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a locality for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; a serving scope for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a selection condition for the second network function or each of the one or more services provided by the second network function.

9. The first network function of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is further configured to cause the first network function to: determine, from the energy information, whether the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy; and if the one or more services or the second network function is required to regulate energy, update the first information to restrict the use of the one or more services or the second network function by the third network function.

10. The first network function of claim 9, wherein updating the first information comprises updating one or more of: a selection priority of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; a capacity of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function; an allowed access of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the second network function; or a profile status state of the second network function or the one or more services provided by the respective second network function.

11. The first network function of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is further configured to cause the first network function to: determine that a network slice comprising one or more second network functions is required to regulate energy; and if the network slice is required to regulate energy, update one or more of: a selection priority of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; a capacity of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; an allowed access of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice; or a profile status state of the one or more second network functions in the network slice or the one or more services provided by the one or more second network functions in the network slice.

12. The first network function of any one of claims 2 to 11, when dependent on claim 2, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is further configured to cause the first network function to transmit, to the third network function, the updated first information.

13. The first network function of any preceding claim, wherein the service requirement comprises one or more of: a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not currently in an energy saving state or in an energy inefficient state; a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is not scheduled to enter an energy saving state; or a requirement that the one or more services or the second network function is in a normal operating state.

14. A first network function performed by a first network function of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: storing first information for one or more services provided by a second network function of the wireless communication network, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.

15. A third network function of a wireless communication network, the third network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the third network function to: transmit, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, a service discovery request, wherein the service discovery request comprises a service requirement, wherein the service requirement defines a set of first information; and receive, from the first network function, the set of the first information, wherein the set of the first information is selected from stored first information according to the service requirement, wherein the stored first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services provided by a second network function.

16. The third network function of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory is further configured to cause the third network function to receive, from the first network function, updated first information.

17. The third network function of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the update to the first information comprises one or more of the following: an indication of a time when the second network function will switch to a nonenergy saving state from an energy saving state or an energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function will switch to the non-energy saving state from the energy saving state or the energy inefficient state; an indication of a time when the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy saving state; or an indication of a time when the one or more services provided by the second network function can operate normally in the non-energy-saving state.

18. The third network function of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the update to the first information comprises an updated heartbeat time of the second network function.

19. The third network function of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the energy information comprises information relating to one or more of: an energy saving state of the one or more services or the second network function; an energy inefficient state of the one or more services or the second network function; an undiscoverable state of the one or more services or the second network function; a regulated energy usage state of the one or more services or the second network function; or a restricted access state of the one or more services or the second network function.

20. A second network function of a wireless communication network, the first network function comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the second network function to: transmit, to a first network function of the wireless communication network, first information for one or more services provided by the second network function, wherein the first information comprises energy information relating to the one or more services.