Method, telecommunication network and computer-readable medium for routing data packets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for routing data packets between a plurality of network nodes of a telecommunication network taking into account an energy intensity of a transmission of such data packets between the network nodes, wherein at least one specific data packet is transmitted from a source network node of the telecommunication network to a destination network node of the telecommunication network, wherein the transmission respectively involves a plurality of transmission hops between a preceding network node and a succeeding network node of the telecommunication network, wherein, with respect to a specific transmission hop, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet from a specific preceding network node to a specific succeeding network node requires the at least one specific data packet to be routed or scheduled, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - in a first step, energy budget indication information is associated with or applied to the at least one specific data packet, wherein the energy budget indication information or its information content is related to an energy intensity of the transmission of the at least one specific data packet, - in a second step following the first step, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet is performed by the specific preceding network node depending on the energy budget indication information or its information content.

Description

Background Art

[0001] The present invention particularly relates to a method for routing data packets between multiple network nodes of a telecommunication network taking into account the energy intensity of the transmission of such data packets, wherein at least one specific data packet is transmitted from a source network node of the telecommunication network to a destination network node of the telecommunication network, wherein the transmission respectively involves multiple transmission hops between a preceding network node and a succeeding network node of the telecommunication network, wherein, with respect to a specific transmission hop, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet from a specific preceding network node to a specific succeeding network node requires the at least one specific data packet to be routed or scheduled.

[0002] Additionally, the present invention relates to a telecommunication network or a network node for routing data packets between a plurality of network nodes of the telecommunication network taking into account an energy intensity regarding a transmission of such data packets between the plurality of network nodes of the telecommunication network, wherein at least one specific data packet is transmitted from a source network node of the telecommunication network to a destination network node of the telecommunication network, wherein the transmission respectively involves a plurality of transmission hops between a preceding network node and a succeeding network node of the telecommunication network, wherein, with respect to a specific transmission hop, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet from a specific preceding network node to a specific succeeding network node requires the at least one specific data packet to be routed or scheduled.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a program comprising a computer-readable program code, and a computer-readable medium for using the inventive network node or the inventive telecommunication network.

[0004] Energy consumption in cellular networks, especially in new systems such as 5G, is relatively high. Due to the Shannon-Hartley theorem, a certain minimum amount of energy per transmitted bit is and will always be necessary to achieve any (reliable) data transmission over a wireless transmission channel. Therefore, as companies and industries implement CO 2 As part of the global responsibility for emission reduction targets, new approaches are needed. This is especially true for multi-hop wireless network topologies where different (transmission) paths may exist and on each path different configurations / transmission schemes can be used for routing data packets from a source node to a destination node. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a method for routing data packets between multiple network nodes of a telecommunication network taking into account the energy intensity of the transmission of such data packets, wherein at least one specific data packet is transmitted from a source network node of the telecommunication network to a destination network node of the telecommunication network, wherein the transmission respectively involves multiple transmission hops between a preceding network node and a succeeding network node of the telecommunication network, wherein, by means of using an energy budget indication by the telecommunication network, the transmission of the data packets can be performed in a manner that depends on the energy budget information or its information content, thereby requiring a smaller amount of energy, which leads to a reduction in the overall consumption of energy involved in realizing such data transmission, in particular wireless data transmission.

[0006] The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for routing data packets between a plurality of network nodes of a telecommunication network taking into account the energy intensity of the transmission of such data packets between the plurality of network nodes, wherein at least one specific data packet is transmitted from a source network node of the telecommunication network to a destination network node of the telecommunication network, wherein the transmission involves a plurality of transmission hops between preceding network nodes and succeeding network nodes of the telecommunication network, respectively, wherein the transmission of the at least one specific data packet from a specific preceding network node to a specific succeeding network node with respect to a specific transmission hop requires the at least one specific data packet to be routed or scheduled, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0007] - in a first step, energy budget indication information is associated with or applied to the at least one specific data packet, wherein the energy budget indication information or its information content is related to the energy intensity of the transmission of the at least one specific data packet,

[0008] - In a second step after the first step, the specific preceding network node performs transmission of the at least one specific data packet depending on the energy budget indication information or its information content.

[0009] According to the present invention, by using energy budget indication information, it is advantageously possible to use, in particular, the energy budget indication information to notify the transmission of data packets - in particular the transmission of data packets via or involving wireless transmission jumps, in particular more than one wireless transmission jumps, and thereby to be able to modify (with a granularity potentially up to a single data packet) the transmission of data packets depending on the energy budget indication information associated with or applied to the (specific) data packet of at least one specific data packet or the entire data packet stream or stream. Thus, advantageously, energy consumption and / or energy intensity and / or delay (budget) associated with or relating to a single transmission hop may be taken into account, but alternatively or cumulatively, energy consumption or energy intensity of consecutive transmission hops (i.e., in particular all transmission hops) between a source network node and a destination network node may also be taken into account (i.e., energy consumption or energy intensity or delay (budget) (for transmitting one or more specific data packets along the routing path of a specific data packet or a specific data packet of an entire data packet stream or string of streams). Thus, according to the present invention it is also advantageously possible to compare energy consumption and / or energy intensity of different routing paths (e.g., in a situation where the same or comparable data packets are transmitted) later (i.e., after a transmission of a specific data packet (or a stream or string of specific data packets) has occurred) and to be able to take into account possible or expected energy consumption or energy intensity levels of different routing path decisions and / or scheduling decisions in scheduling and / or routing decisions.

[0010] In particular, according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to use different network nodes and / or to use different radio configurations or radio transmission schemes or radio access technologies on different hops or transmission hops (in particular informed by or dependent on an available and / or remaining energy budget and / or delay budget), wherein, in particular, different energy consumptions are or can be associated with the use of different network nodes and / or the use of different radio configurations or radio transmission schemes or radio access technologies.

[0011] Energy consumption in mobile communication networks or cellular networks, especially in new systems such as 5G, is already relatively high, and the new trend to develop and deploy multi-hop and mesh networks as part of the communication infrastructure (e.g. evolving together with and as part of 5G) may further contribute to this trend. Therefore, in particular as part of the global responsibility to achieve CO2 emission reduction targets, a new approach is needed to consider the amount of energy consumed by delivering data packets via wireless communication systems. In situations involving the transmission of (particular) data packets (or streams or series of particular data packets) using multi-hop and / or mesh networks (i.e. often (but not necessarily) using more than one wireless data transmission between network nodes), there are usually different alternative routes (or routing alternatives) along which such data transmission can be performed and / or there are different scheduling schemes that may be used.

[0012] In conventional known telecommunication networks, while the high-level topic of the importance of energy consumption is well known, the implemented wireless, in particular cellular standards used in large quantities today (such as LTE or 5G) do not provide a specific solution or implementation that considers, among other considerations, in particular on a fine-grained level the amount of energy used to transmit a particular considered amount of data or a particular considered connection or data flow (or the energy intensity of the considered data transmission).

[0013] Any data transmission over a wireless channel requires a minimum amount of energy per transmitted bit, a principle that was outlined decades ago by Claude Shannon and Ralph Hartley in the famous and still valid Shannon-Hartley theorem, which states that Eb / N0>ln 2, i.e., a minimum amount of energy (Eb) is required for the transmission of a certain number of bits, and conversely, the faster the data transmission over a non-ideal channel, the more energy is required (or the higher the amount of data transmitted, the higher the energy consumption). Of course, this also applies to multi-hop wireless network topologies, where different paths (or routing or scheduling schemes) are possible, and on each path, different configurations / transmission schemes, etc. can be used for routing data packets from the source node to the destination node.

[0014] In conventional known cellular communication systems, in order to route data packets from a source network node (e.g., a server in the Internet) to a destination network node (e.g., a user equipment or device) via a wireless communication system, the classic transmission chain includes a core network (especially including a plurality of routers to which the present invention can also be applied) and different radio nodes (which may have different radio transmission technologies, such as GSM, UMTS, LTE, NR or WiFi). With such a system arrangement, the radio access network typically includes only one RAN node or base station entity (e.g., an evolved Node B (eNB) or a g Node B (gNB)), and an air interface toward the user equipment.

[0015] According to the current trend in the evolution of cellular technology, IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) nodes can be used. This type of network node is a node that provides a wireless connection to the eNB / gNB on one side and an access link to the user equipment on the other side. In addition, the relay type node is intended to provide the RAN (Radio Access Network) system with a wireless connection to the eNB / gNB on one side and a wireless access link to the user equipment on the other side. At present, typically only one hop via an IAB or relay node to a user equipment is employed (i.e., two transmission hops depending on the use of a wireless transmission or air interface: one between a radio access network node or base station entity (RAN node, eNB or gNB (typically via a wired or quasi-wired connection (e.g., a directional radio or free-space optical communication link)) and the IAB or relay node, and one between the user equipment and the IAB or relay node. This already provides an increase in possible alternative routes between network nodes. However, in the future, depending on the use of a wireless transmission or air interface, more than two such transmission hops (i.e., involving two or more IABs or relay nodes) may also be more widely used, resulting in a larger number of possible different alternative transmission routes (or routing alternatives) from a source network node to a destination network node. Therefore, according to the present invention, there are advantageously and preferably at least two wireless transmission hops between a source network node and a destination network node.

[0016] According to the invention, it is advantageously possible to prefer or select between different alternative (possible) routes (or routing alternatives) with respect to the transmission of a (specific) data packet (or a stream or series of specific data packets) using a multi-hop and / or mesh network (i.e. typically using more than one wireless data transmission between network nodes), along which such data transmission can be performed in a manner depending on different parameters, such as for example an indication (or information content) of energy budget indication information, according to which a delay budget and / or an energy budget has been consumed or spent according to a predefined level, or the indication is based on an estimate or prediction (in particular based on previously performed data transmissions) about the energy consumption associated with the transmission of a data via one or another transmission path.

[0017] Typically, the telecommunications network includes or is assigned to a core network, and the telecommunications network includes or is assigned to an access network including a plurality of base station entities, and the user equipment is connected to a specific base station entity among the plurality of base station entities (of the access network) or is connected via one or more IABs or relay network nodes. Typically, at least one data stream (or data string stream) is transmitted between a source network node and a destination network node. The energy budget indication information is preferably specifically associated with or applied to each data packet; however, it may also be associated with or applied to a data stream or data string stream.

[0018] In order to be able to take routing and / or scheduling decisions regarding data packets and / or data flows or data streams efficiently and effectively, according to the present invention, it is advantageously possible to take into account (or be able to take into account) the energy intensity of such data transmission between a source network node and a destination network node (typically a user equipment) at a relatively fine-grained level. Therefore, in a first step, according to the present invention, it is proposed that energy budget indication information is associated with or applied to the at least one specific data packet, wherein the energy budget indication information or its information content is related to the energy intensity of the transmission of the at least one specific data packet, and in a second step subsequent to the first step, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet is performed by a specific preceding network node depending on the energy budget indication information or its information content.

[0019] Thus, according to the present invention, energy budget indication information may advantageously be used to take into account the energy intensity of data transmission at a relatively fine-grained level, ie at the level of a data packet, or alternatively at the level of a data flow or stream.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet from the specific preceding network node to the specific succeeding network node requires the at least one specific data packet to be transmitted.

[0021] -- routed by a router entity or functionality, or

[0022] -- scheduled by a scheduler entity or functionality,

[0023] Wherein the router entity or functionality and / or the scheduler entity or functionality is part of or associated with a specific preceding network node.

[0024] Thereby, it is advantageously possible that routing and / or scheduling decisions can be appropriately made by a specific preceding network node or a router entity or functionality and / or a scheduler entity or functionality associated to the specific preceding network node.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet from the source network node to the destination network node alternatively involves transmission from the specific preceding network node to a further specific following network node of the telecommunication network, wherein in a second step after the first step, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet to the further specific following network node instead of to the specific following network node is performed by the specific preceding network node depending on the energy budget indication information or its information content,

[0026] In particular, the specific subsequent network node or the further specific subsequent network node serves as the further specific preceding network node for a further or subsequently considered transmission hop with respect to the at least one specific data packet.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the present invention, preferably, the energy budget indication information or its content is specific to a considered transmission hop from a specific preceding network node to a specific succeeding network node or to another specific succeeding network node, wherein in particular different further energy budget indication information or energy budget indication information with different content is specific to the at least one specific data packet, in particular another or subsequently considered transmission hop from the specific succeeding network node or another specific succeeding network node to yet another specific succeeding network node.

[0028] Advantageously, the concept of the present invention can thereby be applied in a flexible manner and relatively easily.

[0029] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the energy budget indication information and / or the further energy budget indication information respectively include a delay related indication, wherein the delay related indication in particular includes at least one of the following:

[0030] - information indicating a total delay budget associated with the at least one particular data packet,

[0031] - information indicating a delay budget spent by or associated with the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific following network node or a further specific following network node is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0032] - information indicating a remaining delay budget after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific following network node or a further specific following network node is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0033] --Information indicating a per-hop delay budget after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node or a further specific subsequent network node is involved in the transmission, and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used.

[0034] Thereby, the concept of the present invention can advantageously be applied relatively easily.

[0035] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the energy budget indication information and / or the further energy budget indication information respectively include energy-related indications, wherein the energy-related indications in particular include at least one of the following:

[0036] - information indicating a total delay budget associated with the at least one particular data packet,

[0037] - information indicating an energy budget spent by or associated with the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific following network node or a further specific following network node is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0038] - information indicating a remaining energy budget after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific following network node or a further specific following network node is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0039] --Information indicating the energy budget per hop after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node or a further specific subsequent network node is involved in the transmission, and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used.

[0040] Thereby, the concept of the present invention can advantageously be applied relatively easily.

[0041] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the destination network node receives the at least one specific data packet, the corresponding resulting energy budget indication information is analyzed or fed back to the source network node or another network node of the telecommunication network, in particular for optimization purposes, wherein in particular the corresponding resulting energy budget indication information indicates:

[0042] -- the energy budget expended by or associated with all transmission hops between the source network node and the destination network node and / or

[0043] --The remaining energy budget after all transmission hops have been performed between the source network node and the destination network node.

[0044] Thus, according to the present invention, relatively accurate and meaningful estimates can advantageously be generated, enabling pre-evaluation or estimation of possible energy consumption and / or possible delay consumption, thereby enabling reasonable and realistic routing and / or scheduling decisions to be taken.

[0045] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the destination network node is a user equipment, wherein the final transmission hop towards the user equipment involves the user equipment as a following network node, wherein the final transmission hop towards the user equipment

[0046] -- involves a base station entity or functionality as a preceding network node,

[0047] --Or integrated access and backhaul equipment or relay equipment as the front network node.

[0048] According to yet another further preferred embodiment of the present invention, both the source network node and the destination network node are user equipment.

[0049] The present invention further relates to a telecommunication network or a network node for routing data packets between a plurality of network nodes of the telecommunication network taking into account energy intensity regarding transmission of such data packets between the plurality of network nodes of the telecommunication network, wherein at least one specific data packet is transmitted from a source network node of the telecommunication network to a destination network node of the telecommunication network, wherein the transmission involves a plurality of transmission hops between preceding network nodes and succeeding network nodes of the telecommunication network, respectively, wherein, with respect to a specific transmission hop, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet from a specific preceding network node to a specific succeeding network node requires the at least one specific data packet to be routed or scheduled, wherein the telecommunication network or the network node is configured such that:

[0050] -- energy budget indication information is associated with or applied to the at least one specific data packet, wherein the energy budget indication information or its information content is related to the energy intensity of the transmission of the at least one specific data packet,

[0051] --The transmission of the at least one specific data packet is performed by a specific preceding network node depending on the energy budget indication information or its information content.

[0052] Thereby, it is advantageously possible, also for a telecommunication network or a network node, to be able to use energy budget indication information in order to appropriately take routing and / or scheduling decisions in order to be able to reduce the energy intensity associated with data transmission.

[0053] The invention also relates to a network node configured for use in a telecommunication network according to the invention.

[0054] Thereby, it is advantageously possible, also for network nodes, to be able to use energy budget indication information in order to appropriately take routing and / or scheduling decisions in order to be able to reduce the energy intensity associated with data transmission.

[0055] Furthermore, the invention relates to a program comprising a computer readable program code which, when executed on a computer, or on a network node of a telecommunication network, causes the computer or the network node of the telecommunication network to perform the method of the invention.

[0056] The invention also relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, or on a network node of a telecommunication network, cause the computer or the network node of the telecommunication network to perform the method of the invention.

[0057] These and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the principles of the present invention are illustrated in an exemplary manner. This description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The reference figures cited below are referenced to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] Figure 1 Schematically illustrated is a mobile communication network comprising a plurality of radio cells served by a plurality of base station entities and user equipment served by the mobile communication network (either directly by the base station entities or indirectly via IAB nodes or relay nodes).

[0060] Figure 2 An example of data transmission, ie transmission of data packets, between a plurality of network nodes of a telecommunication network from a source network node to a destination network node is schematically illustrated.

[0061] Detailed Description

[0062] The present invention will be described with respect to specific embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are merely schematic and non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0063] When referring to a singular noun an indefinite or definite article is used, for example "a", "an", "the" include plural forms of that noun unless something else is stated.

[0064] In addition, the terms first, second, third, etc. in the specification and claims are used to distinguish between similar elements and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order. It should be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances, and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operating in a sequence different from that described or illustrated herein.

[0065] exist Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , a mobile communication network 100 is schematically shown. In this example, the mobile communication network 100 comprises an access network 110 and a core network 120. The mobile communication network 100 is preferably a cellular telecommunication network, typically comprising a plurality of network cells (or radio cells), wherein two radio cells are connected in parallel. Figure 1 In the figure, reference numerals 11 and 12 indicate: a first radio cell 11 and a second radio cell 12. The access network 110 comprises at least a first base station entity 111 serving the first radio cell 11 and a second base station entity 112 serving the second radio cell 12. Figure 1A first example of a user equipment 20 is schematically depicted in FIG. 1 as an example of a user equipment in contact with the telecommunication network 100. The user equipment 20 is wirelessly connected (via one (wireless) hop or one (wireless) transmission hop) to one of the base station entities 111, 112, in the example shown to the first base station entity 111; this is accomplished by means of Figure 1 The double arrows between the user equipment 20 and the first base station entity 111 are schematically indicated. Figure 1 A second example of a user equipment 20 is also schematically shown in FIG. 1 as an example of a user equipment in contact with the telecommunication network 100; however, the second example shows that the user equipment 20 is wirelessly connected to the telecommunication network 100 via two (wireless) hops (or two (wireless) transmission hops). Figure 1 is connected to the second base station entity 112 in the exemplary representation of Figure 1 The first double arrow between the second base station entity 112 and the IAB node 20' (or relay node 20') and Figure 1 A second double arrow between the IAB node 20' (or relay node 20') and the user equipment 20 is schematically indicated. Figure 1 , the user equipment 20 is depicted as being located outside the second radio cell 12 (i.e. outside the radio coverage area of ​​the second radio cell 12 (i.e. the second base station entity 112) and, as a result, the user equipment 20 typically experiences or receives insufficient signal strength of the radio signals transmitted by the second base station entity 112); however, although this may in fact be the case (at least temporarily), this relationship (of the user equipment 20 being located outside the radio coverage area of ​​the second base station entity 112) is not necessarily the case: it is well conceivable that, although the user equipment 20 is connected to the second base station entity 112 via the IAB node 20' or the relay node 20', the user equipment 20 is (at least temporarily) within the radio coverage area of ​​the second radio cell 12. Furthermore, it is also conceivable (but not in Figure 1 (represented in the figure) there are more than two wireless hops or transmission hops between the user equipment 20 and the corresponding base station entities 111, 112, that is, two or more IAB nodes or relay nodes (for example, of the type of IAB node 20' or relay node 20' or another type or different types) connect the user equipment 20 (via more than two wireless transmission hops) to the corresponding base station entities 111, 112.

[0066] Regarding such data transmission between the telecommunication network 100 and the user equipment 20, the present invention provides a method for routing data packets between multiple network nodes of the telecommunication network 100 (and corresponding telecommunication network 100 and corresponding network nodes) such that energy intensity regarding such data packet transmission is taken into account. Figure 2Schematically illustrated is an example of data transmission (i.e., transmission of data packets) between a plurality of network nodes of a telecommunications network 100 from a source network node 140 to a destination network node 160. Data packets to be transmitted from the source network node 140 to the destination network node 160 are schematically indicated by means of ovals and reference numeral 201. The data packets 201 are typically part of a data flow or data stream, i.e., as part of such a data flow or data stream, a plurality of similar data packets will likewise be transmitted from the source network node 140 to the destination network node 160. However, in Figure 2 In the diagram, only one exemplary data packet 201 is schematically shown. In the context of the present invention, such a data packet 201 is also designated as a specific data packet 201, i.e. the data packet under consideration. Usually, different data packets of a data flow or a data stream are processed more or less similarly and are transmitted from the source network node 140 to the destination network node 160 (in Figure 2 In FIG. 1 , three intermediate network nodes are schematically shown); for simplicity, Figure 2 , such intermediate network nodes are not specified by means of separate reference numerals. When a data packet (and therefore each specific data packet) is transmitted from a source network node 140 to a destination network node 160, it is necessary to cross at least one hop or transmission jump, that is, the data packet or the specific data packet needs to be transmitted via or through the hop or transmission jump. Typically, there is not only one hop or transmission jump between the source network node 140 and the destination network node 160, but there are multiple such hops or transmission jumps. Therefore, a data packet or a specific data packet (in addition to the source and destination network nodes 140, 160) usually needs to cross at least one intermediate network node, but usually more than one intermediate network node. Therefore, on the transmission path of the data packet 201 or the specific data packet 201, there are usually a certain number of hops or transmission jumps and one or more intermediate network nodes.

[0067] Usually or typically (but not necessarily), the destination network node 160 is or corresponds to the user equipment 20, wherein the final transmission hop towards the user equipment 20 involves the user equipment as a subsequent network node, wherein the final transmission hop towards the user equipment involves a base station entity or functionality as a preceding network node, or an integrated access and backhaul device or relay device as a preceding network node.

[0068] exist Figure 2In the schematic representation of , three intermediate network nodes are schematically shown between the source and destination network nodes 140, 160 (resulting in four transmission hops). With respect to each of these hops or transmission hops, a preceding network node 150 and a succeeding network node 151 can be defined: at each hop or transmission hop, (s) data packet or a specific data packet 201 needs to be transmitted from the preceding network node 150 to the succeeding network node 151, and the succeeding network node 151 becomes the preceding network node (or a further specific preceding network node) with respect to the next hop (i.e., a further or subsequently considered transmission hop with respect to the at least one specific data packet 201) - unless the succeeding network node corresponds to the destination network node 160 - and likewise, the preceding network node 150 is (or was) the succeeding network node with respect to the preceding hop - unless the preceding network node corresponds to the source network node 140. This is in Figure 2 150 and the following network node 151 are schematically illustrated in the figure. In the context of the present invention, with respect to a specific data packet 201, the preceding network node 150 (with respect to the specific hop or transmission hop under consideration) is also referred to as the specific preceding network node 150, and likewise, the following network node 151 (with respect to the specific hop or transmission hop under consideration) is also referred to as the specific following network node 151. Furthermore, with respect to at least some hops or transmission hops - in particular with respect to the wireless transmission hops between the relevant base station entities 111, 112 and the IAB network node or the relay network node 20' - it may be selected whether the data packet or the specific data packet 201 is to be transmitted via the specific following network node 151 or alternatively via a different network node (hereinafter also referred to as the further specific following network node 152, i.e. as an alternative route or routing path (as a replacement for the specific following network node 151) to transmit the data packet (or data flow or data stream) or the specific data packet 201). This is in Figure 2 This is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 by means of two arrows which originate from a specific preceding network node 150 and point to a specific succeeding network node 151 and a further specific succeeding network node 152 , respectively.

[0069] Therefore, according to the present invention, the transmission of a specific data packet 201 involves multiple transmission hops between a corresponding preceding network node and a corresponding succeeding network node of the telecommunication network 100, and with respect to each specific transmission hop, the transmission of at least one specific data packet 201 from a specific preceding network node 150 to a specific succeeding network node 151 - or alternatively to a further specific succeeding network node 152, or even to a further network node - requires that the at least one specific data packet 201 be routed and / or scheduled, i.e., requires a routing and / or scheduling decision.

[0070] According to the invention, energy budget indication information 201' is used or involved in the routing or scheduling decision: the energy budget indication information 201' is associated with or applied to the at least one specific data packet 201, wherein the energy budget indication information 201' or its information content is related to the energy intensity of the transmission of the at least one specific data packet 201. Furthermore, the transmission of the at least one specific data packet 201 (regarding the specific transmission hop under consideration) is performed by the specific preceding network node 150 depending on the energy budget indication information 201' or its information content, i.e. the routing and / or scheduling decision depends inter alia on how much energy budget has been consumed by the transmission so far and how much energy budget may be needed for the transmission until the destination network node 160 (the possible total of this energy budget or the possible part of this energy budget still needed).

[0071] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is particularly preferred that the transmission of the at least one specific data packet 201 from the specific preceding network node 150 to the specific succeeding network node 151 requires that the at least one specific data packet 201 is routed by a router entity or functionality and / or scheduled by a scheduler entity or functionality, wherein the router entity or functionality and / or the scheduler entity or functionality is part of or associated with the specific preceding network node 150. Thereby, the respective specific preceding network node is able to make a routing and / or scheduling decision at least with respect to the next hop, i.e. whether the data packet 201 is to be transmitted to the specific succeeding network node 151 or alternatively to a further specific succeeding network node 152. Furthermore, it is advantageously possible - also depending on the energy budget indication information 201' or its information content - that the scheduling entity or functionality decides the transmission mode or which radio access technology or which frequency band is to be used or applied for transmitting the data packet 201 to the specific succeeding network node 151 or alternatively to the further specific succeeding network node 152.

[0072] According to the invention, the energy budget indication information 201' or its information content may be identical, quasi-identical or more precisely unchanged along the transmission path (or routing path) of the data packet 201 from the source node to the destination node 140, 160. Such alternative embodiments or usage scenarios of the energy budget indication information may be applied to situations where the information content of the energy budget indication information, in particular the information content regarding the routing and / or scheduling decisions to be taken, makes the routing path and / or scheduling alternative to be selected quite straightforward; in this scenario, each network node along the transmission or routing path may simply add or supplement the energy budget indication information 201' or its information content (e.g. by the used energy for the corresponding transmission), but keep the (original, i.e., for example at the source network node 140) energy budget indication information 201' or its information content unchanged. As an alternative to such an embodiment, the energy budget indication information 201' or its information content may be specific to a considered transmission hop from a specific preceding network node 150 to a specific succeeding network node 151 or to a further specific succeeding network node 152 (i.e., it may vary along the transmission path (or routing path) of the data packet 201 from the source node 140, 160 to the destination node 160). Thus, different further energy budget indication information 201" (or energy budget indication information with different information content specific to a further or subsequently considered transmission hop of the at least one specific data packet 201) will be used as the corresponding energy budget indication information at the subsequent transmission hop (i.e., at the succeeding network node).

[0073] According to the present invention, the energy budget indication information 201 ′ (and / or further energy budget indication information 201 ′) comprises a delay related indication and / or an energy related indication.

[0074] The delay-related indications include in particular at least one of the following:

[0075] - information indicating a total delay budget associated with the at least one specific data packet 201,

[0076] - information indicating a delay budget spent by or associated with the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node 151 or a further specific subsequent network node 152 is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0077] - information indicating a remaining delay budget after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node 151 or a further specific subsequent network node 152 is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0078] --Information indicating a per-hop delay budget after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node 151 or a further specific subsequent network node 152 is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used.

[0079] Energy-related indications include in particular at least one of the following:

[0080] - information indicating a total energy budget associated with the at least one specific data packet 201,

[0081] - information indicating an energy budget spent by or associated with the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node 151 or a further specific subsequent network node 152 is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0082] - information indicating a remaining energy budget after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node 151 or a further specific subsequent network node 152 is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used,

[0083] --Information indicating the energy budget per hop after the considered transmission hop or a further or subsequently considered transmission hop, which depends in particular on whether a specific subsequent network node 151 or a further specific subsequent network node 152 is involved in the transmission and / or in particular on whether a first radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or a radio transmission scheme or a radio access technology is used.

[0084] It is known that different radio access technologies, radio configurations and / or radio signal transmission schemes involve relatively low or lower energy intensities (according to different metrics that will be discussed in more detail), or otherwise involve relatively high or higher energy intensities - or, of course, can be ranked with respect to their energy intensities. Typically, radio access technologies and / or radio configurations and / or radio signal transmission schemes involving lower energy intensities perform worse with respect to typical quality of service criteria (such as bandwidth, latency, error rate, etc.), and vice versa, i.e. radio access technologies and / or radio configurations and / or radio signal transmission schemes involving higher energy intensities perform higher with respect to typical quality of service criteria. According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible that by selecting or adapting radio access technologies and / or radio configurations and / or radio signal transmission schemes for different transmission hops, in particular corresponding routing and / or scheduling decisions, the energy intensity of the transmission of specific data packets and / or corresponding data streams or streams can be modified.

[0085] The specific focus according to the present invention is on implementing the procedures and methods of the present invention with the help of protocol extensions for 4G / 5G / 6G cellular systems defined by 3GPP; however, this does not exclude the application of the same or corresponding principles and related signaling to non-3GPP accesses, such as, for example, WiFi defined by IEEE 802.11.

[0086] In the future, the focus may shift from ultra-high data rates with very low latency to more (environmentally) sustainable wireless communications, also taking into account the energy intensity of the different radio access technologies and / or radio schemes involved or (mainly) used (and especially including the growing field of multi-hop wireless networks).

[0087] In particular, the present invention relates to a "multi-hop" (also called "multi-ho") configuration, i.e. to an IAB network node or device or relay node, i.e. in particular a user equipment capable of establishing a communication link between itself (e.g. using NR sidelink functionality) or an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node or a relay of layer 2 or layer 3 type. The invention also encompasses the use of many such wireless IAB or relay nodes, and the possibilities for routing data packets through such a system are multiple.

[0088] Since there are multiple ways of delivering a (specific) data packet 201 with usually very different energy consumptions depending on the chosen radio transmission technology and / or radio configuration, but also based on the route taken by the (specific) data packet 201 through the wireless system, the present invention proposes to utilize energy budget indication information 201' (about the "energy budget" of the data packet) as part of a scheduling algorithm or routing decision function in a radio access network function ("scheduler") of the network node involved.

[0089] In principle, one needs to have this information known at each involved network node (core network server, router, radio access network eBN / gNB, IAB node, relay, routing user equipment, ...) to exploit it in scheduling and / or routing decisions (i.e., for example, whether data packets should be sent quickly on the shortest route with high energy consumption because the delay budget has been reached by x%, or whether there is still room for a slower / longer route but more energy-friendly data transmission configuration).

[0090] By applying such scheduling or routing decisions, the energy consumption of the transmission of each individual packet can be optimized, thereby minimizing the overall energy consumption of the cellular system.

[0091] The energy budget indication information 201' according to the present invention can be an "energy budget" (e.g., varying from 0 to 100%), where each network node (along the transmission path) that transmits the data packet uses a defined part of the energy budget for its own transmission or routing decision, and the remaining part will be used and signaled to the next network node.

[0092] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageously possible and preferred to use a method based on dynamic self-learning (machine learning "ML" or artificial intelligence "AI") to optimize scheduling and / or routing that depends on the energy budget: in this case, a feedback loop for signaling back the remaining resulting energy budget (and / or delay budget) is proposed in case the data packet 201 has arrived at the destination network node 160. Such a self-learning feedback loop may also use similar signaling methods based on the currently used control plane signaling defined in 3GPP or any kind of newer Internet-based protocols or signaling formats (such as XML, json, etc.).

Claims

1. A method for routing data packets between a plurality of network nodes (140, 150, 151, 152, 160) of a telecommunication network (100) taking into account energy intensity associated with the transmission of such data packets between the plurality of network nodes (140, 150, 151, 152, 160) of the telecommunication network (100), wherein at least one data packet (201) is transmitted from a source network node (140) of the telecommunication network (100) to a destination network node (160) of the telecommunication network (100), wherein the transmission respectively involves a plurality of transmission hops between a preceding network node and a succeeding network node of the telecommunication network (100), wherein: Regarding a transmission jump, transmission of the at least one data packet (201) from a preceding network node (150) of the transmission jump to a succeeding network node (151) of the transmission jump requires the at least one data packet (201) to be routed, wherein the method comprises the following steps: In a first step, energy budget indication information (201') is associated with or applied to the at least one data packet (201), wherein the energy budget indication information (201') or its information content is related to the energy intensity of the transmission of the at least one data packet (201), wherein the energy budget indication information (201') comprises an energy-related indication, or a delay-related indication and an energy-related indication, and the energy-related indication, or the delay-related indication and the energy-related indication comprise at least one of the following: - information indicating a total energy budget, or a total delay budget and a total energy budget associated with the at least one data packet (201), - information indicating an energy budget, or a delay budget and an energy budget, spent by or associated with the transmission hop under consideration, - information indicating the remaining energy budget, or the remaining delay budget and energy budget after the considered transmission jump, - information indicating the energy budget per hop, or the delay budget and the energy budget after the considered transmission hop, - in a second step following the first step, the preceding network node (150) makes a routing and / or scheduling decision about a next hop depending on the energy budget indication information (201′) indicating an available and / or remaining energy budget, or an available and / or remaining energy budget and a delay budget, or its information content, wherein the transmission of the at least one data packet (201) is performed by the preceding network node (150), wherein the transmission of the at least one data packet (201) from the preceding network node (150) to the succeeding network node (151) requires the at least one data packet (201) -- routed by a router entity or functionality, or - being scheduled by a scheduler entity or functionality, wherein the router entity or functionality and / or the scheduler entity or functionality is part of or associated with the preceding network node (150).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the at least one data packet (201) from the source network node (140) to the destination network node (160) alternatively involves a transmission from the preceding network node (150) to a further succeeding network node (152) of the telecommunication network (100), wherein in the second step after the first step, the transmission of the at least one data packet (201) to the further succeeding network node (152) instead of to the succeeding network node (151) is performed by the preceding network node (150) depending on the energy budget indication information (201') or its information content, in, The succeeding network node (151) or the further succeeding network node (152) serves as a further preceding network node for a further or subsequently considered transmission hop of the at least one data packet (201).

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the energy budget indication information (201') or its content is specific to the considered transmission hop from the preceding network node (150) to the succeeding network node (151) or to the further succeeding network node (152), wherein different further energy budget indication information (201") or energy budget indication information with different content is specific to further or subsequently considered transmission hops of the at least one data packet (201) from the succeeding network node (151) or the further succeeding network node (152) to yet another further succeeding network node (155).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein The delay budget and / or energy budget spent by or associated with the considered transmission jump, the remaining delay budget and / or energy budget after the considered transmission jump, and / or the per-hop delay budget and / or energy budget after the considered transmission jump depends on whether a first radio configuration or radio transmission scheme or radio access technology is used or whether a second radio configuration or radio transmission scheme or radio access technology is used.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the further energy budget indication information (201") comprises a delay related indication, wherein the delay related indication comprises at least one of the following: - information indicating a total delay budget associated with said at least one data packet (201), - information indicating a delay budget taken by or associated with the considered transmission hop or the further or subsequently considered transmission hop, the information depending on whether the following network node (151) or the further following network node (152) is involved in the transmission, - information indicating a remaining delay budget after the considered transmission jump or the further or subsequently considered transmission jump, the information depending on whether the following network node (151) or the further following network node (152) is involved in the transmission, - Information indicating a per-hop delay budget after the considered transmission hop or the further or subsequently considered transmission hop, the information depending on whether the following network node (151) or the further following network node (152) is involved in the transmission.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the further energy budget indication information (201") comprises an energy related indication, wherein the delay related indication comprises at least one of: - information indicating a total energy budget associated with said at least one data packet (201), - information indicating an energy budget spent by or associated with the considered transmission jump or the further or subsequently considered transmission jump, the information depending on whether the following network node (151) or the further following network node (152) is involved in the transmission, - information indicating a remaining energy budget after the considered transmission jump or the further or subsequently considered transmission jump, the information depending on whether the following network node (151) or the further following network node (152) is involved in the transmission, - Information indicating a per-hop energy budget after the considered transmission hop or the further or subsequently considered transmission hop, the information depending on whether the following network node (151) or the further following network node (152) is involved in the transmission.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein after reception of the at least one data packet (201) at the destination network node (160), corresponding resulting energy budget indication information (201') is analyzed or fed back to the source network node (140) or another network node of the telecommunication network (100) for optimization purposes, wherein the corresponding resulting energy budget indication information (201') indicates: an energy budget expended by or associated with all transmission hops between the source network node (140) and the destination network node (160) and / or - the remaining energy budget after all transmission hops have been performed between the source network node (140) and the destination network node (160).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination network node (160) is a user equipment, wherein a final transmission hop toward the user equipment involves the user equipment as the following network node, wherein the final transmission hop toward the user equipment -- involves a base station entity or functionality as said preceding network node, --Or an integrated access and backhaul device or a relay device as the preceding network node.

9. A telecommunication network (100) comprising a plurality of network nodes (140, 150, 151, 152, 160) for routing data packets between the plurality of network nodes (140, 150, 151, 152, 160) taking into account energy intensity regarding transmission of data packets between the plurality of network nodes (140, 150, 151, 152, 160), wherein at least one data packet (201) is transmitted from a source network node (140) of the telecommunication network (100) to a destination network node (160) of the telecommunication network (100), wherein the transmission involves a plurality of transmission hops between a preceding network node and a succeeding network node of the telecommunication network (100), respectively, wherein: With respect to a transmission hop, transmission of the at least one data packet (201) from a preceding network node (150) of the transmission hop to a succeeding network node (151) of the transmission hop requires the at least one data packet (201) to be routed or scheduled, wherein the telecommunications network (100) is configured such that: -- energy budget indication information (201') is associated with or applied to the at least one data packet (201), wherein the energy budget indication information (201') or its information content is related to the energy intensity of the transmission of the at least one data packet (201), wherein the energy budget indication information (201') includes an energy-related indication, or a delay-related indication and an energy-related indication, and the energy-related indication, or the delay-related indication and the energy-related indication include at least one of the following: - information indicating a total energy budget, or a total delay budget and a total energy budget associated with the at least one data packet (201), - information indicating an energy budget, or a delay budget and an energy budget, spent by or associated with the transmission hop under consideration, - information indicating the remaining energy budget, or the remaining delay budget and energy budget after the considered transmission jump, - information indicating the energy budget per hop, or the delay budget and the energy budget after the considered transmission hop, - making a routing and / or scheduling decision about a next hop by the preceding network node (150) depending on the energy budget indication information (201') indicating an available and / or remaining energy budget, or an available and / or remaining energy budget and a delay budget, or its information content, wherein the transmission of the at least one data packet (201) is performed by the preceding network node (150), wherein the transmission of the at least one data packet (201) from the preceding network node (150) to the succeeding network node (151) requires the at least one data packet (201) -- routed by a router entity or functionality, or -- scheduled by a scheduler entity or functionality, Wherein the router entity or functionality and / or the scheduler entity or functionality is part of or associated with the preceding network node (150).

10. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, or on a preceding network node (150) of a telecommunications network (100), cause the computer, or the preceding network node (150) of the telecommunications network (100), to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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