Systems and methods for adaptive collection of quality of experience (QoE) measurements

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices related to digital wireless communications, and more specifically to techniques related to receiving, at a network node serving a wireless device via a communication network, a first list comprising device configuration parameters and a second list comprising base station configuration parameters, wherein at least one ID configuration parameter is included in both the first list and the second list; generating, by the network node, network-side usage measurement data based on testing the network node according to the second list; receiving, from the wireless device, device performance data of the wireless device based on local measurements at the wireless device according to the first list; and receiving, at the network node from a remote server, an optimized setting, wherein the optimized setting is based on the network-side usage measurement data collected from the network node and the device performance data collected from the wireless device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent document generally relates to wireless communication. Background Technology

[0002] The rapid development of mobile communication has permeated all aspects of people's work, social life, and daily life, bringing tremendous impacts on lifestyles, work patterns, socio-political factors, the economy, and other areas. Human society has entered the information age, and the demand for business applications in all aspects is experiencing explosive growth. In the future, mobile networks will not only provide communication between people but also services for the massive number of devices in the Internet of Things (IoT). For example, virtual reality, high-definition video, and services requiring ultra-high speeds could achieve speeds 10 to 100 times faster than current speeds; end-to-end latency for services such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and other services requiring low latency could be reduced to one-fifth; the network could support 1000 times more services than it does now, and battery life could be extended 10 times.

[0003] QoE (Quality of User Experience) measurement result collection is a technology defined in 3GPP. This allows the network to collect application layer measurement results from the UE. For LTE networks, the supported service types are QoE measurement result collection for streaming services and QoE measurement result collection for MTSI services. Application layer measurement configurations received from Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) or the core network are encapsulated in a transparent container, which is forwarded to the UE in a downlink message. Application layer measurement results received from higher layers of the UE are encapsulated in a transparent container and sent to the network in an uplink message. More information can be found in section 23.16 of the 3GPP protocol specification TS38.300. However, the UE's application layer is limited to QoE measurements and cannot measure the performance of services on the network side. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This paper discloses methods, systems, and devices related to digital wireless communication, and more specifically, discloses techniques related to reselecting networks in a network-sharing and decoupled architecture.

[0005] In one exemplary aspect, a method for wireless communication includes: at a network node serving a wireless device via a communication network, receiving a first list including device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters, wherein at least one ID configuration parameter is included in both the first and second lists; generating network-side usage measurement data by the network node based on testing the network node according to the second list; receiving device performance data of the wireless device based on locally measured data at the wireless device according to the first list; and receiving optimized settings at the network node from a remote server, wherein the optimized settings are based on the network-side usage measurement data collected from the network node and the device performance data collected from the wireless device.

[0006] In another exemplary aspect, a method for wireless communication includes: at a network node serving a wireless device in a communication network, receiving from a central node authorization information indicating consent to a request for user-sensitive information associated with the wireless device; sending a request for the user-sensitive information to the wireless device; and receiving from the wireless device a response to the request for the user-sensitive information.

[0007] In another exemplary aspect, a wireless communication device including a processor is disclosed. The processor is configured to implement the methods described herein.

[0008] In yet another exemplary aspect, the various techniques described herein can be embodied in processor-executable code stored on a computer-readable program medium.

[0009] Details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the appendix, drawings, and the following description. Other features will become apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 It is an advanced signaling process, based on an example embodiment, associated with generating optimized network settings based on collected Minimum Drive Test (MDT) measurement results and Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement results.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a signaling procedure for collecting Minimum Drive Test (MDT) measurement results according to an example embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a signaling process for collecting Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement results according to an example embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a signaling process associated with authorization to obtain QoE measurement results, according to an example embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5 Examples of wireless communication systems in which one or more embodiments of the present technology can be applied are shown.

[0015] Figure 6 It is a block diagram representation of a part of a hardware platform.

[0016] Figure 7 A flowchart is shown of an example method for receiving optimized settings associated with a base station for receiving MDT and QoE measurement results.

[0017] Figure 8 A flowchart is shown as an example method for obtaining authorization to receive sensitive user information associated with a base station. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The section headings used in this document are for ease of understanding only and do not limit the scope of the embodiments to the sections describing them. Furthermore, while embodiments are described with reference to 5G examples, the disclosed techniques can be applied to wireless systems using protocols other than 5G or 3GPP protocols.

[0019] The development of next-generation wireless communication—5G New Radio (NR) communication—is part of a continuous evolution of mobile broadband to meet the ever-increasing network demands. NR will offer greater throughput to allow more users to connect simultaneously. Other aspects, such as energy consumption, equipment cost, spectrum efficiency, and latency, are also important for meeting the needs of various communication scenarios.

[0020] Overview

[0021] The architecture of a 5G wireless network can include a 5G core network (5GC or 5G core) and a 5G access network. The 5G core network can include network elements related to the Access and Mobility Management Unit (AMF), User Plane Function (UPF), and the 5G access network, which can include 5G enhanced eNB base stations (ng-eNB) or 5G base stations (gNB). The interface between core network elements and access network elements can include NG interfaces, and the interface between access network elements can include Xn interfaces. The RAN node can be a gNB (5G base station) providing New Radio (NR) user plane and control plane services. As another example, the RAN node can be an enhanced 4G eNodeB that connects to the 5G core network via an NG interface but still uses one or more 4G LTE air interfaces to communicate with the 5G UE / wireless network.

[0022] In 5G networks, many types of services have been introduced to enhance the user experience. While services such as Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) offer a rich service experience, they also place higher demands on wireless mobile networks. However, a comprehensive assessment of user experience (QoE) based solely on UE measurements is insufficient. For example, during service usage, if the base station connected to the UE is in a discrete architecture (e.g., gNB-CU-CP, gNB-DU, gNB-CU-UP), service transmission latency may increase due to data transmission between gNB-DU and gNB-CU-UP. As another example, during service usage, if the air interface to which the UE is connected is interfered with, packet loss for the UE's service may increase. Therefore, QoE measurements from the user equipment (UE) perspective are related to network-side parameters. However, according to current technology, UE QoE measurements are functions provided by application-layer software on the UE, and these functions cannot measure network-side service usage. For example, the UE may be unaware of packet loss, latency, or other network-side parameters. Due to the lack of measurement of network-side usage, it is impossible to further improve UE QoE by optimizing network configuration.

[0023] Furthermore, the triggering of UE QoE measurements and the acquisition of measurement results are associated with security risks. In conventional designs, the base station obtains the UE's QoE measurement results without UE authorization, which introduces security risks. Therefore, the aforementioned issues need to be addressed.

[0024] Example Implementation

[0025] QoE (Quality of User Experience) measurement result collection is a technology defined in 3GPP. This allows the network to collect application layer measurement results from the UE. For LTE networks, the supported service types are QoE measurement result collection for streaming services and QoE measurement result collection for MTSI services. Application layer measurement configurations received from Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) or the core network are encapsulated in a transparent container, which is forwarded to the UE in a downlink message. Application layer measurement results received from higher layers of the UE are encapsulated in a transparent container and sent to the network in an uplink message. More information can be found in section 23.16 of the 3GPP protocol specification TS38.300. However, the UE's application layer is limited to QoE measurement results and cannot measure the performance of services on the network side.

[0026] To measure network-side performance (such as packet latency and packet throughput), the Minimum Drive Test (MDT) technique can be used in some implementations. More information is available in TS37.320 of the 3GPP protocol specification.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to correlating QoE measurement results from the UE-side application layer with MDT measurement results from the RAN node to generate an optimized network configuration. By collecting QoE measurement results from the UE and MDT measurement results from the RAN node, a thorough analysis can be performed. This analysis can be used to generate optimized settings that improve the overall performance of the entire network. In some embodiments, an analysis server may receive QoE and MDT measurement results to identify potential problems. The server can analyze how to further improve the quality of service (QoS) of individual UEs. For example, the server may analyze whether the UE's QoS can be improved by adjusting network resources / network parameters or by adjusting parameters configured on the UE side.

[0029] Figure 1 This is an advanced signaling process associated with generating optimized network settings based on collected Minimum Drive Test (MDT) and Quality of Experience (QoE) measurements. MDT measurements are performed by the RAN node (alternatively, the base station), and QoE measurements are performed by the UE (alternatively, the radio device). QoE and MDT measurements are triggered based on device configuration parameters and base station configuration parameters sent to the UE and RAN node, respectively. Upon receiving the base station configuration parameters, the RAN node performs the MDT measurement. Examples of base station configuration parameters include tracking ID, MDT measurement interval, and MDT sampling period. Upon receiving device configuration parameters, the UE (typically the application layer) performs QoE measurements. Examples of device configuration parameters include tracking ID, QoE measurement interval, the type of service corresponding to the measurement, packet loss, and packet delay.

[0030] Step 1: The network manager (NM) associates device configuration parameters with base station configuration parameters. Associating device and base station configuration parameters may include determining that MDT measurement results and QoE measurement results are consistent or correlated. For example, when the UE measures user message latency, the base station should also measure message latency. As another example, QoE measurement results for some services may be closely related to the performance of communication components, such as clock synchronization. Therefore, the NM can ensure that clock synchronization is added as a configuration parameter to be measured in the MDT. In some embodiments, the measurement intervals of MDT and QoE measurements are correlated. For example, the measurement intervals of MDT and QoE measurements can be the same, or they can be correlated by a multiplication factor. In some embodiments, the sampling periods of MDT and QoE measurements are correlated. For example, the sampling periods of MDT and QoE measurements can be the same, or they can be correlated by a multiplication factor. For example, the NM can ensure that the sampling period for QoE measurements is 100 milliseconds and the sampling period for MDT measurements is 50 milliseconds. Therefore, two MDT measurements and one QoE measurement can be considered for analysis.

[0031] In some embodiments, the NM may include multiple device configuration parameters in a first list and multiple base station configuration parameters in a second list. In some embodiments, both the first and second lists may include transaction identifiers as configuration parameters. The identifiers may be unique throughout the communication network (e.g., a public land mobile network or PLMN). Examples of unique identifiers may include MDT session ID, MDT tracking ID, Quad Integrated Communications Controller Multichannel Controller (QMC) ID, QoE session ID, or QoE tracking ID. By including unique identifiers in both lists, QoE measurements from the UE and MDT measurements from the RAN can be cross-referenced for analytical purposes.

[0032] Step 2: The network manager sends base station configuration parameters and device configuration parameters to the base station.

[0033] Step 3: The base station sends device configuration parameters to the UE. The base station performs MDT measurements based on the base station configuration parameters. In some embodiments, the base station adds a unique identifier to the device configuration parameters before sending them to the UE.

[0034] Step 4: The base station sends the MDT measurement results to the analysis server. The UE, for example, sends QoE measurement results (or alternatively, device measurement data collected by the UE) to the analysis server via the base station. For cross-reference purposes, a unique transaction identifier is typically included as both the QoE and MDT metrics. In some implementations, the base station may use a unique transaction identifier (e.g., as an index typically included in both datasets) to merge device measurement data and base station measurement data into a combined dataset, which is then sent to the analysis server for further computation.

[0035] Step 5: The analysis server generates optimized configuration settings based on the QoE measurement results and MDT measurement results.

[0036] Although the examples in this document show a first list of device configuration parameters and a second list of base station parameters, in alternative implementations, the first and second lists may both have multiple items. That is, the NM may send one or more of the base station configuration parameters in the first list and / or the device configuration parameters in the second list.

[0037] In some implementations, the base station may use a unique transaction identifier to combine device measurement data (collected from the UE) and base station measurement data into a combined dataset, which is then sent to an analysis server for further computation.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] Figure 2 It is a signaling process used to collect Minimum Drive Test (MDT) information.

[0040] Step 1: The Network Manager (NM) prepares the base station configuration parameters. This is similar to Step 1 discussed in Embodiment 1. In some embodiments, the base station configuration parameters (optionally, MDT configuration parameters) may include one or more of the following: MDT session ID, MDT tracking ID, latency, packet loss, throughput, network signal strength, UE ID, UE selection criteria, MDT measurement interval, MDT measurement period, user consent for the MDT measurement, and the IP address of the calculation server.

[0041] Step 2: The NM sends base station configuration parameters to the RAN node. In some implementations, the NM can send base station configuration parameters to the RAN node through the core network. This method is called signaling-based MDT. In some implementations, the NM can send the base station configuration parameters directly to the RAN node. This method is called management-based MDT.

[0042] Step 3: The RAN node performs MDT measurements. The RAN node measures network-side performance based on configured parameters, such as network latency, packet loss rate, network throughput, and network signal strength. In some implementations, these measurements can be combined into an MDT report.

[0043] Step 4: The RAN node sends the MDT measurement results to the analysis server. The IP address of the analysis server can be included in the base station configuration parameters sent to the RAN node in Step 2. In some implementations, the RAN node includes the IP address of the analysis server in the MDT report. This also facilitates grouping the MDT reports according to the server. For example, if MDT report A includes server address 1, MDT report B includes server address 2, and MDT report C includes server address 3, then MDT report A and MDT report C are sent to server 1 for analysis, and MDT report B is sent to server 2 for analysis.

[0044] Step 5: Analyze the MDT measurement results using the server.

[0045] Step 6: The analysis server can generate optimized network settings (based on MDT measurements performed by the RAN node and / or QoE measurements performed by the UE) to adjust network parameters. Examples of optimized network settings may include buffer size, bearer priority level, and 5G quality of service information. The analysis server can determine the normal / poor / good performance of the service provided by the RAN node to the UE by comparing data throughput, packet jitter, and other measurements with predetermined thresholds. Furthermore, the analysis server can use the UE's Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) measurement data and the base station's pre-configured network deployment map to identify coverage blind spots and / or service hotspots in the wireless network.

[0046] Although the examples in this document show the NM sending base station configuration parameters to the RAN node, in alternative embodiments, the NM may additionally send device configuration parameters to the RAN node.

[0047] Example 3

[0048] Figure 3 It is a signaling process used to collect Quality of Experience (QoE) information / measurement results from the UE.

[0049] Step 1: The Network Manager (NM) prepares the device configuration parameters. This is similar to Step 1 discussed in Embodiment 1. In some embodiments, the device configuration parameters (optionally, QoE configuration parameters) may include one or more of the following: QoE session ID / QMC ID / tracking ID, IP address of the compute server, QoE measurement interval, QoE measurement period, user consent for QoE measurement, and QoE measurement metrics. Examples of QoE measurement metrics include type of service associated with the wireless device, packet latency, packet loss, packet drop, throughput associated with the wireless device, Internet Protocol (IP) latency, network slicing information, and clock synchronization. Examples of type of service include streaming services, Multimedia Telephony Service (MTSI) over IMS, Over-the-Top (OTT) voice services, AR / VR video services, and real-time gaming services. More information is available from 3GPP specification TS 28.552.

[0050] Step 2: The NM sends device configuration parameters to the RAN node. In some implementations, the NM can send base station configuration parameters to the RAN node through the core network. This method is called signaling-based MDT. In some implementations, the NM can send the base station configuration parameters directly to the RAN node. This method is called management-based MDT.

[0051] Step 3: The RAN node sends device configuration parameters to the UE.

[0052] Step 4: The UE performs QoE measurements. For example, the UE measures performance (from the UE side) based on device configuration parameters, whether the streaming service is continuous, and jitter conditions. In some implementations, these measurement results can be combined into a QoE report.

[0053] Step 5a: The UE sends the QoE measurement results to the RAN node. In some implementations, due to mobility, the UE can move to a new base station and report the QoE measurement results. Therefore, the RAN node receiving the QoE measurement results from the UE may be different from the RAN node that sent the device configuration parameters to the UE in step 3.

[0054] Step 5b: The RAN node sends the QoE measurement results to the analysis server. The IP address of the analysis server can be included in the device configuration parameters sent to the UE in step 3. In some implementations, the UE includes the IP address of the analysis server in the QoE report.

[0055] Step 6: The analysis server analyzes the report to generate optimized network settings suitable for the base station and / or UE. In some implementations, the analysis server may be a physical server. In some implementations, the analysis server may be a cloud server. The analysis server may include artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities.

[0056] Example 4

[0057] Figure 4 This refers to the signaling process associated with authorization to obtain QoE measurement results, according to an example embodiment. In some embodiments, the QoE measurement may be user-sensitive. Such user-sensitive QoE measurements may not be permitted without the user's permission. Therefore, the base station can receive consent for user-sensitive QoE measurements from the core network (central node).

[0058] Step 1a: The core network sends the UE's user consent information to the base station. User consent can be represented, for example, as one or more PLMNs in a list of PLMNs. For PLMNs included in the list from the core network, the base station is permitted to receive QoE measurement results from the UE, or otherwise receive measurement result reports containing user-sensitive information. User consent can be a list of PLMNs. In the case of PLMNs indicated in the list, the base station can obtain the UE's RLF reports, RACH reports, CEF reports, and QoE reports. Figure 4 As shown, the core network can use the INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST message to send user consent to the base station.

[0059] Step 1b: The base station can respond to the core network using the INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP RESPONSE message.

[0060] Step 2a: The base station may request sensitive user information from the UE. This request may include requests for RLF, RACH, CEF, and / or QoE measurement results.

[0061] Step 2b: The UE sends a response to a request for user-sensitive information. For example, the UE can send one or more reports requested by the base station via an RRC UEInformationResponse message. For example, the reports may include one or more of the following: a radio link failure (RLF) report, a random access channel (RACH) report, a cloud edge fabric (CEF) report, or a QoE report. For example, an RRC UEInformationRequest message from the base station to the UE can be used to request RLF, RACH, CEF, and / or QoE reports.

[0062] Example 5

[0063] In some embodiments, due to the movement of the terminal, the UE switches from one base station to another. As a result, base station configuration parameters and / or device configuration parameters can be sent by the NM to one or more other base stations via the inter-base station interface. For example, in the case of the XN interface, a HANDOVER REQUEST message can be used to transmit configuration parameters.

[0064] Example 6

[0065] In some embodiments, the base station may support a separate architecture, for example, including gNB-DU nodes and gNB-CU-UP nodes. In those embodiments, device configuration parameters and base station configuration parameters are received at the gNB-DU node via F1AP and at the gNB-CU-UP node via E1AP. Additional details of the F1AP and E1AP procedures can be obtained from 3GPP protocols TS38.473 and TS38.463, respectively.

[0066] Example System Implementation

[0067] Figure 5 An example of a wireless communication system in which one or more embodiments of the present technology can be applied is shown. The wireless communication system 500 may include one or more base stations (BS) 505a, 505b, one or more wireless devices 510a, 510b, 510c, 510d, and a core network 525. Base stations 505a, 505b may provide wireless services to wireless devices 510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d in one or more wireless sectors. In some embodiments, base stations 505a, 505b include directional antennas to generate two or more directional beams, thereby providing wireless coverage in different sectors.

[0068] Core network 525 can communicate with one or more base stations 505a, 505b. Core network 525 provides connectivity with other wireless communication systems and wired communication systems. Core network may include one or more service subscription databases to store information related to subscribed wireless devices 510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d. First base station 505a can provide wireless services based on a first wireless access technology, while second base station 505b can provide wireless services based on a second wireless access technology. Depending on the deployment scenario, base stations 505a and 505b can be located together or can be installed separately in the field. Wireless devices 510a, 510b, 510c, and 510d can support a variety of different wireless access technologies. In some embodiments, base stations 505a and 505b can be configured to implement some of the technologies described in this document. Wireless devices 510a to 510d can be configured to implement some of the technologies described in this document.

[0069] In some implementations, a wireless communication system may include multiple networks using different wireless technologies. Dual-mode or multi-mode wireless devices include two or more wireless technologies that can be used to connect different wireless networks.

[0070] Figure 6 This is a block diagram representation of a hardware platform. Hardware platform 605, such as a network node or base station or wireless device (or UE), may include processor electronics 610, such as a microprocessor implementing one or more of the technologies presented in this document. Hardware platform 605 may include transceiver electronics 615 for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals via one or more communication interfaces, such as antenna 620. Hardware platform 605 may implement other communication interfaces having defined protocols for transmitting and receiving data. Hardware platform 605 may include one or more memories (not explicitly shown) configured to store information such as data and / or instructions. In some embodiments, processor electronics 610 may include at least a portion of transceiver electronics 615. In some embodiments, hardware platform 605 is used to implement at least some of the disclosed technologies, modules or functions, central nodes, distributed nodes, terminals, or network nodes.

[0071] Based on the foregoing, it should be understood that specific embodiments of the currently disclosed technology have been described herein for illustrative purposes, but various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the currently disclosed technology is not limited except as limited by the appended claims.

[0072] Figure 7A flowchart illustrating an example method for receiving optimized settings based on MDT and QoE measurement results associated with a base station is shown. The steps of this flowchart are performed from the perspective of the base station discussed in Examples 1 to 3. At step 702, the process receives, at a network node serving the wireless device via a communication network, a first list including device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters, wherein at least one ID configuration parameter is included in both the first and second lists. At step 704, the process generates network-side usage measurement data by the network node based on a test of the network node according to the second list. At step 706, the process receives device performance data of the wireless device based on local measurements of the wireless device according to the first list. At step 708, the process receives optimized settings at the network node from a remote server, wherein the optimized settings are based on network-side usage measurement data collected from the network node and device performance data collected from the wireless device.

[0073] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating an example method for receiving authorization to obtain sensitive user information associated with a base station is shown. The steps of this flowchart are performed from the perspective of the base station discussed in Embodiment 4. At step 802, the process receives authorization information indicating consent to the request for sensitive user information associated with the wireless device from a central node at the network node serving the wireless device in the communication network. At step 804, the process sends a request for the sensitive user information to the wireless device. At step 806, the process receives a response from the wireless device to the request for the sensitive user information.

[0074] Some embodiments of the disclosed technology are presented in a terms-based format.

[0075] 1. A method for wireless communication (e.g., Figure 7 The method described herein includes: at a network node serving a wireless device via a communication network, receiving a first list including device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters, wherein at least one ID configuration parameter is included in both the first list and the second list;

[0076] Network-side measurement data is generated by network nodes based on a second list of tested network nodes.

[0077] Receive device performance data of the wireless device based on locally measured data from the wireless device according to a first list; and

[0078] At the network node, optimized settings are received from a remote server, where the optimized settings are based on network-side usage measurement data collected from the network node and device performance data collected from the wireless device.

[0079] 2. The method according to Clause 1 also includes:

[0080] The network side uses measurement data to send to a computing server to generate optimized configuration data, wherein the computing server is located at an IP address specified in both a first list including device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters.

[0081] 3. The method according to Clause 2 also includes:

[0082] Send a first list to the wireless device, for generating device performance data of the wireless device based on the first list; and

[0083] Send device performance data of the wireless device to the computing server.

[0084] 4. The method according to Clause 1 also includes:

[0085] Receive device measurement data representing the performance of the wireless device from the wireless device;

[0086] Device measurement data representing the performance of the wireless device is sent to a computing server located at an IP address specified in both a first list including device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters.

[0087] 5. The method according to Clause 1 also includes:

[0088] Receive device measurement data representing the performance of the wireless device from the wireless device; and

[0089] The device measurement data and the base station measurement data are combined into a single dataset using at least one ID configuration parameter common to both the wireless device measurement data and the base station measurement data, wherein at least one ID configuration parameter is unique within the communication network; and

[0090] The combined data is sent to a computing server located at an IP address specified in both a first list including device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters.

[0091] 6. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the first list includes Quality of Experience (QoE) configuration parameters and the second list includes Minimum Drive Test (MDT) configuration parameters, and wherein at least a portion of the QoE configuration parameters in the first list and at least a portion of the MDT configuration parameters in the second list are related to each other.

[0092] 7. The method according to Clause 6, wherein the QoE configuration parameters include one or more of the following: QoE session ID / QMCID / trace ID, IP address of the calculation server, QoE measurement interval, QoE measurement period, user consent for QoE measurement, and QoE measurement metric.

[0093] 8. The method according to Clause 7, wherein QoE measurement metrics include type of service associated with the wireless device, packet latency, packet loss, packet dropping, throughput associated with the wireless device, Internet Protocol (IP) latency, network slicing information, and clock synchronization.

[0094] 9. The method according to Clause 6, wherein the MDT configuration parameters include one or more of the following: MDT session ID / MDT trace ID, latency, packet loss, throughput, network signal received strength, UE ID, UE selection criteria, MDT measurement interval, MDT measurement period, user consent for MDT measurement, and IP address of the calculation server.

[0095] 10. The method according to Clause 1, including at least one ID configuration parameter in both the first list and the second list corresponding to: MDT session ID, MDT trace ID, Quad Integrated Communication Controller Multichannel Controller (QMC) ID, QoE session ID, or QoE trace ID.

[0096] 11. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the device configuration parameters in the first list are based on a first sampling period, and the base station configuration parameters in the second list are based on a second sampling period.

[0097] 12. The method according to Clause 11, wherein the first sampling period is related to the second sampling period.

[0098] 13. The method according to Clause 11, wherein the first sampling period is equal to the second sampling period.

[0099] 14. The method according to Clause 12, wherein the first sampling period and the second sampling period are correlated by a multiplication factor.

[0100] 15. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the device configuration parameters in the first list are associated with the first measurement interval, and the base station configuration parameters in the second list are based on the second measurement interval.

[0101] 16. The method according to Clause 15, wherein the first measurement interval is related to the second measurement interval.

[0102] 17. The method according to Clause 16, wherein the first measurement interval is equal to the second measurement interval.

[0103] 18. The method according to Clause 16, wherein the first measurement interval and the second measurement interval are related by a multiplication factor.

[0104] 19. The method according to Clause 1, including a first list of device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters, is received from the Network Manager (NM) module or the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) module.

[0105] 20. The method according to Clause 19, including a first list of device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters received via the core network through the 3GPP NG interface.

[0106] 21. The method according to Clause 19, which includes a first list of device configuration parameters and a second list of base station configuration parameters, is received directly from the NM without involving the core network.

[0107] 22. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the network node is the first network node, further includes:

[0108] In response to determining that the wireless device will be switched to the second network node, a first list including device configuration parameters is sent to the second network node for transmission to the wireless device.

[0109] 23. The method according to Clause 22, which includes a first list of device configuration parameters being included in a HANDOVER REQUEST message to a second network node via the inter-base station interface.

[0110] 24. The method according to Clause 19, wherein the network node supports a separate architecture including gNB-DU nodes and gNB-CU-UP nodes, wherein the first list and the second list are received at the gNB-DU node via F1AP and at the gNB-CU-UP node via E1AP.

[0111] 25. The method according to any one or more of Clauses 1 to 24, wherein the first list additionally includes base station configuration parameters.

[0112] 26. The method according to Clauses 1 to 25, wherein the second list also includes device configuration parameters.

[0113] B1. A method for wireless communication (e.g., Figure 8 The method described herein includes: at a network node serving a wireless device in a communication network, receiving from a central node authorization information indicating consent to a request for sensitive user information associated with the wireless device;

[0114] Sending requests for sensitive user information to wireless devices; and

[0115] Receive a response from a wireless device to a request for sensitive user information.

[0116] B2. The method according to Clause B1, wherein the authorization information corresponds to one or more Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

[0117] B3. The method according to clause B1, wherein the central node is a core network element.

[0118] B4. In accordance with the method of Clause B1, the authorization information from the central node is included in the INITIAL CONTEXTSETUP REQUEST message.

[0119] B5. The methods pursuant to Clause B1 also include:

[0120] The network node sends a response to the central node in response to the authorization information from the central node.

[0121] B6. In accordance with the method of Clause B5, the response to the authorization information is included in the INITIAL CONTEXT SETUPRESPONSE message.

[0122] B7. The method pursuant to Clause B1, wherein the response to a request for sensitive user information includes one or more reports associated with the wireless device.

[0123] B8. According to the method of Clause B1, one or more reports associated with a wireless device include at least one of the following: a wireless link failure (RLF) report, a random access channel (RACH) report, a cloud edge architecture (CEF) report, or a QoE report.

[0124] B9. The method according to Clause B1, wherein the request for user-sensitive information is included in the RRCUEInformationRequest message to the wireless device.

[0125] B10. In accordance with the method of clause B9, the response to a request for user-sensitive information from a radio device is included in the UEInformationResponse message of the RRC.

[0126] B11. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

[0127] At the server of the network node coupled to the wireless device serving the communication network, device performance data of the wireless device is received based on a set of device configuration parameters and locally measured at the wireless device.

[0128] Receive network-side measurement data based on local measurements taken at the wireless node according to a set of base station configuration parameters; and

[0129] At the server, optimized settings are generated based on measurement data and device performance data used on the network side, wherein at least one ID configuration parameter, typically included in the measurement data and device performance data used on the network side, is used in generating the optimized settings.

[0130] B12. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

[0131] The wireless device receives device configuration parameters from the network node serving the wireless device in the communication network.

[0132] Perform device performance testing at the wireless device location based on the device configuration parameters; and

[0133] The results of device performance tests are sent from the wireless device to the network node for analysis in conjunction with network-side usage measurement data based on local measurements at the network node. The analysis uses identifiers typically included in the network-side usage measurement data and the results of the device performance tests as indexes.

[0134] XX. The method according to any one or more of Clauses 1 to B12, wherein the network node is a base station.

[0135] YY. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising a processor configured to implement the method of any one of clauses 1 to XX.

[0136] YZ. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the method described in any one of clauses 1 to XX.

[0137] The disclosed and other embodiments, modules, and functional operations described in this document can be implemented in digital electronic circuit systems or in computer software, firmware, or hardware that includes the structures disclosed in this document and their structural equivalents, or combinations thereof. The disclosed and other embodiments can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for execution by a data processing apparatus or for controlling the operation of a data processing apparatus. The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of substances that implement machine-readable propagated signals, or combinations thereof. The term "data processing apparatus" includes all means, devices, and machines for processing data, including, for example, a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. In addition to hardware, the apparatus may include code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, such as code constituting processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or combinations thereof. The propagated signals are artificially generated signals, such as machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signals generated to encode information for transmission to a suitable receiver device.

[0138] Computer programs (also referred to as programs, software, software applications, scripts, or code) can be written in any programming language (including compiled or interpreted languages) and can be deployed in any form, including as standalone programs or as modules, components, subroutines, or other units suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored as a portion of a file containing other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), as a single file dedicated to the program in question, or as multiple coordinating files (e.g., a file storing portions of one or more modules, subroutines, or code). A computer program can be deployed to execute on a single computer or on multiple computers located at a single site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected via a communication network.

[0139] The processes and logic flows described herein can be executed by one or more programmable processors, which execute one or more computer programs to perform functions by manipulating input data and generating outputs. The processes and logic flows can also be executed by a dedicated logic circuit system, and the device can be implemented as a dedicated logic circuit system, such as an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

[0140] As an example, processors suitable for executing computer programs include both general-purpose microprocessors and special-purpose microprocessors, as well as any one or more processors in any type of digital computer. Generally, a processor receives instructions and data from read-only memory or random access memory, or both. The fundamental elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include one or more mass storage devices (e.g., magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks) for storing data, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to or from such mass storage devices, or both. However, a computer does not require such devices. Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media, and memory devices, including, as examples, semiconductor memory devices (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices); magnetic disks (e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks); magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. The processor and memory may be supplemented by or incorporated into a dedicated logic circuit system.

[0141] Although this patent document contains numerous details, these details should not be construed as limiting the scope of any invention or what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of a particular invention. Certain features described in this patent document within the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented separately or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments. Moreover, although features may be described above as functioning in certain combinations, and even initially claimed in this way, in some cases one or more features from a claimed combination may be excluded from that combination, and the claimed combination may be for sub-combinations or variations thereof.

[0142] Similarly, although the operations are depicted in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this should not be construed as requiring these operations to be performed in the specific order shown or in sequence, or to perform all of the operations shown to obtain the desired result. Furthermore, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described in this patent document should not be construed as requiring such separation in all embodiments.

[0143] Only a few implementation methods and examples have been described, and other implementations, enhancements and variations may be made based on what is described and shown in this patent document.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising: At a set of distributed, discrete architecture network node units serving wireless devices via a communication network, a first list including device configuration parameters and a second list including base station configuration parameters are received, wherein at least one ID configuration parameter is included in both the first list and the second list; In response to receiving the first list and the second list, the set of distributed discrete architecture network node units generates network-side usage measurement data based on testing the set of distributed discrete architecture network node units according to the second list, wherein the network-side usage measurement data includes minimizing drive test MDT measurement data and includes service transmission latency between the set of distributed discrete architecture network node units; Receive device performance data of the wireless device based on local measurements of the wireless device according to the first list, the device performance data including quality of experience (QoE) measurement data; The network node units of the distributed, separate architecture send the network-side usage measurement data and the device performance data to the remote server; and At the set of distributed discrete architecture network node units, optimized settings are received from the remote server, wherein the optimized settings are based on network-side usage measurement data collected by the set of distributed discrete architecture network node units and device performance data collected by the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote server is located at an IP address specified in both the first list including device configuration parameters and the second list including base station configuration parameters.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The first list is sent to the wireless device to generate device performance data of the wireless device based on the first list.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The device performance data and the network-side usage measurement data are combined into a single data set using at least one ID configuration parameter common to both the device configuration parameters and the base station configuration parameters, wherein the at least one ID configuration parameter is unique within the communication network, and wherein sending the network-side usage measurement data and the device performance data to the remote server includes sending the combined data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first list includes QoE configuration parameters, and the second list includes MDT configuration parameters, and wherein at least a portion of the QoE configuration parameters in the first list and at least a portion of the MDT configuration parameters in the second list are related to each other.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the QoE configuration parameters include one or more of the following: QoE session ID / QMC ID / tracking ID, IP address of the remote server, QoE measurement interval, QoE measurement period, user consent for QoE measurement, and QoE measurement metric.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the QoE measurement metrics include type of service associated with the wireless device, packet latency, packet loss, packet drop, throughput associated with the wireless device, Internet Protocol (IP) latency, network slicing information, and clock synchronization.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the MDT configuration parameters include one or more of the following: MDT session ID / MDT tracking ID, latency, packet loss, throughput, network signal received strength, UE ID, UE selection criteria, MDT measurement interval, MDT measurement period, user consent for MDT measurement, and IP address of remote server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one ID configuration parameter in both the first list and the second list corresponds to: MDT session ID, MDT tracking ID, Quad Integrated Communication Controller Multichannel Controller (QMC) ID, QoE session ID, or QoE tracking ID.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configuration parameters in the first list are based on a first sampling period, and the base station configuration parameters in the second list are based on a second sampling period.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first sampling period is related to the second sampling period.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first sampling period is equal to the second sampling period.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first sampling period and the second sampling period are correlated by a multiplication factor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configuration parameters in the first list are associated with a first measurement interval, and the base station configuration parameters in the second list are based on a second measurement interval.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first measurement interval is related to the second measurement interval.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first measurement interval is equal to the second measurement interval.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first measurement interval and the second measurement interval are related by a multiplication factor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first list of device configuration parameters and the second list including base station configuration parameters are received from a network manager (NM) module or an operation and maintenance (O&M) module.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first list of device configuration parameters and the second list of base station configuration parameters are received via the core network through a 3GPP NG interface.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first list of device configuration parameters and the second list of base station configuration parameters are received directly from the NM without involving the core network.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of distributed discrete architecture network node units includes a first network node, and further includes: In response to determining that the wireless device will be switched to the second network node, the first list including device configuration parameters is sent to the second network node for transmission to the wireless device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first list of device configuration parameters is included in a HANDOVER REQUEST message to the second network node via an inter-base station interface.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the set of distributed discrete architecture network node units includes gNB-DU nodes and gNB-CU-UP nodes, wherein the first list and the second list are received at the gNB-DU node via F1AP and at the gNB-CU-UP node via E1AP.

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the first list additionally includes the base station configuration parameters.

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the second list additionally includes the device configuration parameters.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the network node is a base station.

27. An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising processor circuitry configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 26.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, said code, when executed by processor circuitry, causing said processor circuitry to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 26.

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