Collecting cell deployment information

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for obtaining information by a user equipment (8) in a cellular communication network (NW), said method comprising: a step of receiving, from at least one base station (6, 7) of the network, information representative of a current deployment status of at least one network cell (C1-C6) managed by said at least one base station; and a step of transmitting all or part of the received information to at least one application entity in the network.

Description

Background Art

[0001] The present invention belongs to the general field of telecommunications.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to providing information that allows improving certain functions performed by entities in or connected to a cellular communication network. The present invention has preferred but non-restrictive application in the context of systems or cellular communication networks built on a 5G core network (or 5GC network) defined by the 3GPP standard.

[0003] It is noteworthy that, in this context, the invention allows improving the functions implemented by the device for collecting and analyzing network data, also called NWDAF (standing for “Network Data Analysis Function”).

[0004] Modern communication networks, such as the 5G networks defined by the 3GPP standards, face a complex situation, mainly due to the very large number of user equipment (or UE) that needs to be managed, the diversity of network usage (and different requirements on latency, data rate, final capacity, etc.), and the diverse behavior of network users in time and space. In order to cope with these complex situations, operators install one or more dedicated entities within their networks, which are responsible for collecting network data and performing statistical analysis and predictions (also called "analysis") based on these data, for example, based on requests and responses provided by the network regarding the quality of service. These predictions may be global, in other words, they may be established at the network level, server, application internal or regional level. Examples of global predictions are the load level of network resources, the average quality of service, the number of users connected to the network via user equipment (or "UE" in the following), or the number of active sessions. Individual predictions may also be established, in other words, predictions related to users or groups of users, such as the future location of a user's UE or the capacity of a user's future communication sessions established via his UE. By way of illustration, in the 5G core network, the NWDAF function plays such a role.

[0005] The performance of predictions by the NWDAF function assumes that raw data representing network facts (e.g., the connection status of the UE, the cell in which it is located, etc.) are collected in advance from the various entities that make up the network, which are also generally referred to as "network functions" (or NFs). These raw data can be global data for each NF function or related to each user. Once the predictions are established, the parameters of the network can be correctively modified in the expected way to optimize the operation of the network. The entities that use these predictions are usually NF functions (i.e., clients of the NWDAF function), which may be different from or the same as the NF functions that collect and provide the raw data to the NWDAF function, such as the AMF function (standing for "Access and Mobility Management Function"), the SMF function (standing for "Session Management Function"), etc. Therefore, these client NF functions are able to adjust their behavior based on the predictions received from the NWDAF function in order to optimize the operation of the network and the quality of the service provided to each user on the UE.

[0006] The document 3GPP TR23.791 v16.2.0, published in June 2019 and entitled “Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Study of Enablers for Network Automation for 5G (Release 16)” discusses various use cases of such predictions in 5G networks. Thus, for example, the AMF function can use the UE’s mobility prediction to optimize the UE’s mobility management, in particular to determine their registration area (or RA) which allows the UE to be located in idle mode and to send paging messages to the UE when data destined for the UE arrives at the network, etc. According to another example, it may be very useful for the SMF function to have statistics or predictions of network traffic when selecting a UPF function (standing for “User Plane Function”) to enable the channeling of data for a PDU (standing for “Packet Data Unit”) session.

[0007] Therefore, given the importance of the statistics and / or forecasts provided by the NWDAF function in the network operations function, it is clearly understood that these statistics and / or forecasts must be accurate and relevant. Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention allows in particular to improve the accuracy and relevance of statistics and / or forecasts provided by a device for collecting and analyzing data from a network, such as a NWDAF network function in a 5G network. However, the invention may contribute to improving functions implemented by other application entities in or connected to a cellular communication network. An "application entity of a network" is understood to mean any type of entity belonging to a network and configured to implement one or more given processing logics, such as an entity providing and / or consuming services in a network, such as a network function or a network function instance (e.g. AMF, SMF, NRF (standing for "Network Repository Function") functions, etc.), a base station, etc.

[0009] More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for obtaining information by a user equipment of a cellular communication network, the method comprising:

[0010] - a step for receiving information originating from at least one base station of the network, the information representing the current deployment status of at least one cell of the network managed by said at least one base station; and

[0011] - A step for transmitting all or part of said received information to at least one application entity of the network.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a user equipment of a cellular communication network, the user equipment comprising:

[0013] - a receiver module configured to receive information originating from at least one base station of the network, the information representing a current deployment status of at least one cell of the network managed by said at least one base station; and

[0014] - a processing module configured to transmit all or part of said received information to at least one application entity of the network.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a method for collecting data by an application entity of a cellular communication network, the collection method comprising a step for receiving information originating from a user equipment, which represents the current deployment status of at least one cell of the network managed by at least one base station of the network.

[0016] Relatedly, the present invention also relates to an application entity of a cellular communication network, which application entity includes a collection module, which is configured to receive information originating from a user equipment, which represents the current deployment status of at least one cell of the network managed by at least one base station of the network.

[0017] “Information representing the current deployment status of the cell” is understood to mean information corresponding to the actual deployment status of the cell at the relevant moment. The information may include various types of indications. For example, at least the information represents the deployment status related to:

[0018] - the arrangement of the cell within the architecture of the network (e.g. coverage, radio environment),

[0019] - The geographical environment of the community,

[0020] - the deployment type of the cell,

[0021] - the configuration of at least one antenna of the cell,

[0022] - at least one infrastructure covered by the cell (e.g. road, railway, building, etc.), and / or

[0023] - The status of the cell (e.g., load of the cell, load within each network slice, number of active users, uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) data rate, congestion indicator, alarm status, security status, etc.).

[0024] The choice of transmitting one or the other of these information to the user equipment may be determined by the configuration of the base station by the network operator. As a variant, it is conceivable that the user equipment can intervene in this selection.

[0025] This information about the current deployment status is dynamic and can change over time, for example due to reconfiguration of base stations, the emergence of new infrastructure, the disappearance of certain cells (for example, small cells provided for capacity reasons during periods of less network usage (such as at night) to reduce the energy consumption of the network), etc.

[0026] The knowledge about the actual deployment of network cells can be advantageously exploited in order to improve the efficiency of the procedures implemented in the network and incidentally improve the final quality of service. For example, if it is known that the UE is moving along a main road, the UE mobility prediction performed by the NWDAF network function (an application entity in the sense of the present invention) in the 5G network becomes more convenient and more accurate.

[0027] According to another example, information about cell congestion or average UL and / or DL ​​data rates achieved may influence predictions of quality of service and, incidentally, decisions made based on these predictions.

[0028] Furthermore, providing such information to the NWDAF network function allows for enriched input data to be provided to the artificial intelligence (or AI) models it uses (where relevant), thereby building more accurate and relevant AI models for the needs / goals of the client network functions using the NWDAF function. Typically, by enriching the input data of the AI ​​model with information representative of the current deployment conditions of the network cells, new associations may emerge and / or variables that are less relevant to the results of the processing operations performed by the client network function may be eliminated.

[0029] The same is true for a base station in a cellular network, which can use information uploaded to it by the UE and information received from another base station to decide the relevance of a handover and the target of the handover.

[0030] It goes without saying that these examples of use of the invention are given by way of illustration only.

[0031] Thus, information representing the current deployment status of the cells managed by the base station will be enriched with information about certain cells that the UE already has knowledge of, such as static configuration information (such as the identity of the cell, the frequency bands used by the cell or one or more radio access technologies supported by the cell), and information related to the operational functions of the network (such as the fact that the cell belongs to a tracking area (or TA)), where a TA may contain one or more cells of a cellular network. It should be noted that the UE also has knowledge of information related to the base station, such as the identity of the base station, the list of TAs (tracking areas) and / or the list of network slices supported by the base station. It is conceivable to supplement this information with other information related to the base station, such as the state of the station (e.g. load level or congestion level).

[0032] In a specific embodiment, in addition to information related to the current deployment status of the cell, the UE can also transmit all or part of the static configuration information related to the operating function together with the base station related information received from the base station to the network application entity that issued the request.

[0033] Therefore, the present invention provides for the configuration of all or part of the base stations of a cellular communication network so that these base stations provide, in particular provide to a client UE of the network, information representing the current deployment status of cells of the network (e.g. the neighbor relations of the cells). The UE is then configured to transmit all or part of the information it receives to other application entities of the network (in other words, to act as a relay), such as an application entity hosting a network function in a core network.

[0034] Advantageously, the network application entities receiving this information can make use of this information (or conversely transmit it to other relevant entities of the network) to improve the functions they implement in the network, for example, to optimize the decisions they make for devices hosting AMF or SMF network functions, or to improve the predictions they provide for devices hosting NWDAF network functions. Using the UE as a relay allows the information to be transmitted to the network to be located according to the needs of the network application entity requesting the UE to obtain the information. Therefore, the present invention has a preferred but non-restrictive application when the relevant application entity belongs to the core network and hosts the network function. However, as mentioned above, the present invention is also applicable to application entities located within the access network, such as other base stations of the cellular network.

[0035] The information received from the base station may also be directly utilized by the UE. Thus, in a specific embodiment, the method for obtaining information may comprise the following steps: using all or part of the received information to select and / or reselect a cell of the network (e.g., to register with the network or when in idle mode, respectively). Thus, by optimizing decisions not only within the core network and the access network but also within the UE, the quality of service of the network and the user's experience may be improved globally.

[0036] For example, the UE may take into account the deployment type of nearby cells in order to select one of the cells to connect to the network: thus, typically a UE on a ship may preferably select a cell covering a port or waterway (or the type of "port" or "waterway", depending on the form of this information) in order to connect to the network.

[0037] The invention also advantageously provides the possibility of transmitting information representative of the deployment status of a cell to a UE, a network function of the core network or another base station, relying on a pre-existing signaling interface in the network (e.g. an application programming interface (or API) or other type of interface, whether standardized or otherwise). It is not necessary to have access to this information by means of an additional management layer, which would make the system more complex and would limit the dynamism of the information exchange, for example in the case of a modification of the deployment status (e.g. in connection with an automatic reconfiguration of a base station and the modification of the neighbor cell information that may result from this).

[0038] For example, in a specific embodiment of the method for obtaining information, the user equipment receives the information in at least one system information block broadcasted by said at least one base station on said at least one cell.

[0039] Relatedly, in a corresponding embodiment of the method for providing information, the information is sent to the user equipment in at least one system information block broadcasted by a base station on the at least one cell.

[0040] The use of system information blocks broadcast by a base station enables all UEs located in the vicinity of the base station to have access to information representing the current deployment of cells, whether they are connected to the network (or just "connected") or in another state (idle mode). Thus, UEs in idle mode can make use of this information when they must select a cell to connect to the network. In addition, when a UE is in the connected state, it can receive system information blocks related to cells other than its selected cell and use this information to reselect a cell, especially if the UE moves while in idle mode.

[0041] Furthermore, this allows information representing the current deployment status of the cells to be transmitted to a large number of UEs simultaneously, thereby saving network resources used to transmit this information.

[0042] In another embodiment, the information originating from the base station is received by the user equipment, respectively sent by the base station to the user equipment in a signaling channel dedicated to the user equipment or sent to the user equipment upon request of the user equipment in at least one system information block transmitted by the base station.

[0043] This allows localizing the information transmitted by the base station according to the user equipment. For example, depending on its environment (e.g. in a mobile situation or otherwise, depending on its location, etc.), some information may not be relevant or may not provide elements of interest for use by the user equipment or by an application entity that can be used by the information transmitted.

[0044] Furthermore, the use of a dedicated signalling channel allows for a greater amount of information to be transmitted to the user equipment.

[0045] It should be noted that in order to limit the amount of signaling exchanged between the base station and the UE and between the UE and the at least one application entity of the network, and / or to ensure the security of the exchanged data, it is conceivable to receive or transmit all or part of the information representing the deployment status of the cell in a compressed form, for example in the form of a hash value, a key or a link, thereby allowing access to the original information in a secure database or from any other internal or external trusted entity or network.

[0046] Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that, for example as described above, the information about the current deployment status of the cell to be sent to the UE is selected based on the UE's mobile environment or other parameters, such as the location of the base station and / or UE (e.g., rural or urban environment).

[0047] Therefore, in one embodiment, all or part of the information received by the user equipment depends on the mobile environment of the user equipment.

[0048] As mentioned above, the preferred application of the present invention is in a 5G network environment. For example, the at least one application entity to which the user equipment transmits all or part of the information received from the base station may be a device in the network that hosts a network function (such as an application function (or AF)), which is used to collect data from the user equipment (directly or via a device that hosts a network open function (or NEF)) through a device for collecting and analyzing network data (such as a device that hosts the NWDAF function).

[0049] Relatedly, in a particular embodiment, the collection method may include a step for transmitting all or part of the information received from the user equipment to an apparatus for collecting and analyzing network data (eg, an apparatus hosting the NWDAF function).

[0050] However, this example is given by way of illustration only and may involve other devices in the network hosting other network functions, such as devices hosting AMF or SMF functions, etc.

[0051] The present invention can also be used in contexts other than 5G networks. In fact, some players in the telecommunications field expect that the 6th generation of mobile networks (also commonly referred to as 6G) will eliminate the boundaries between (multiple) access networks and the core network. From this perspective, a network architecture based on a control plane signaling interface may provide important advantages. Therefore, the present invention can also be easily applied in such an environment.

[0052] As mentioned above, various types of information representative of the current deployment status of a cell can be envisaged within the framework of the present invention. It should be noted that, except for certain information related to the state of the cell, the base station is currently unaware of this information: the base station does not know the actual deployment environment of the cell it manages, it only has access to the radio parameters it uses for the following purposes: managing the quality of the radio link, maintaining communication through measurements performed by it and / or measurements uploaded by the UE and / or broadcasting parameters for selecting / reselecting a cell to the UE. This type of information is currently not used by the base station in the processing operations for which it is responsible. Information related to the state of the cell is neither shared with the core network nor with the UE.

[0053] In a specific embodiment, all or part of the information related to the current deployment status of the network cell can be configured by the network operator within the base station (for example, in the form of unstructured metadata in a standardized data reference framework or a reference framework specific to the network operator (for example, XML, JSON, YAML format, etc.)), or can be obtained or determined by the base station itself.

[0054] Therefore, in a particular embodiment, at least a part of said information has been evaluated by said at least one base station before sending said information to said user equipment.

[0055] For example, it is conceivable that the base station assesses the geographical extent of the coverage area of ​​a cell based on the geographical locations of the UEs served by the cell, where these locations can be provided by satellite positioning modules (e.g., GPS (standing for "Global Positioning System"), GNSS (standing for "Global Navigation Satellite System")) equipped by the UEs, or inferred by the base station using information it has about these UEs (e.g., their speed or observed time difference of arrival (or OTDOA)).

[0056] As a variant, before sending said information to said user equipment, at least part of said information has been obtained by the base station from a radio planning system suitable for said network.

[0057] A radio planning system may typically provide information on the type of deployment envisaged for the cells: in densely populated areas, in suburban or rural areas, within line of sight (or LOS) or otherwise (or NLOS, for “non-line of sight”), temporary or event-based, the configuration of the cells (e.g. macrocells, microcells or picocells), the configuration of the cells’ antennas (e.g. distributed antenna systems (or DAS) etc.). It may also provide information on the infrastructure covered by the cells, e.g. if the cells are deployed to cover highways, waterways, ports, railways, stations and may identify the associated infrastructure.

[0058] In one particular embodiment, the method for obtaining and collecting information is computer-implemented.

[0059] Therefore, the invention also relates to a computer program on a storage medium, which program can be implemented in a computer or more generally in a user equipment according to the invention and comprises instructions designed to implement the method for obtaining information as described above.

[0060] The invention also relates to a computer program on a storage medium, which program can be implemented in a computer or more generally in a network application entity according to the invention and comprises instructions designed to implement the collection method as described above.

[0061] Each of these programs may use any given programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate code between source code and object code, such as a partially compiled form, or any other desired form.

[0062] The invention also relates to an information medium or a storage medium which is readable by a computer and comprises instructions of a computer program as described above.

[0063] The information medium or storage medium may be any given entity or device capable of storing a program. For example, the medium may include a storage device such as a ROM (e.g., a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM), or a magnetic recording device (e.g., a hard disk or a flash memory).

[0064] On the other hand, the information medium or storage medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be carried via an electrical or optical cable, by a radio link, by a wireless optical link or by other means.

[0065] The program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded / uploaded via a network of the Internet type.

[0066] Alternatively, the information medium or storage medium may be an integrated circuit in which a program is incorporated, the circuit being designed to execute or for executing the method for obtaining and collecting information according to the present invention.

[0067] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a system in a cellular communication network, the system comprising:

[0068] - at least one base station, which manages at least one cell of the network and comprises a transmission module, the transmission module being configured to send information representative of a current deployment status of the at least one cell to at least one user equipment of the network;

[0069] - at least one user equipment according to the present invention, which receives said information sent by said at least one base station; and

[0070] - at least one network application entity according to the present invention;

[0071] The user equipment is configured to use and / or transmit to the at least one application entity information representing a current deployment status of at least one cell managed by the at least one base station.

[0072] In other embodiments, it is also conceivable that the method, user equipment, application entity and system for obtaining and collecting information according to the present invention are combined to have all or part of the above-mentioned features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention which is not restrictive in nature. In the drawings:

[0074] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 In its environment is shown a system in a network according to the invention in a specific embodiment;

[0075] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 Schematically shows Figure 1 The hardware architecture of the base station, user equipment and application entity of the system;

[0076] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 Functional modules of base stations, user equipment and application entities of the system; and

[0077] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 In a specific embodiment, the Figure 1 Steps of a method for obtaining, providing and collecting information implemented by a system in. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] Figure 1 A system 1 in a cellular communication network NW according to the invention is shown in one specific embodiment. Here, the network NW is a 5G network as defined by the 3GPP standard, managed by an operator OP; it comprises a core network CN and at least one access network AN.

[0079] In a manner known per se, the core network CN relies on a number of network functions or NFs which provide various services and implement various functions in the core network CN, such as the AMF function managing access to the network and the mobility of UEs attached to the network, the SMF function managing sessions established in the network, the NRF function maintaining profiles of the network functions NF, the NWDAF function for collecting and analyzing network data, etc. One or more instances of each NF function of the core network CN may be deployed to ensure the operational functionality of the core network CN. Figure 1 In the example in , the following are considered in particular: device 2 hosting an instance of a network function AMF (for simplicity, also indicated as device AMF 2), device 3 hosting an instance of a network function SMF (or SMF device 3), device 4 hosting an instance of a network function NWDAF (or device NWDAF 4) and device 5 hosting a network function AF (or device AF 5). Of course, this example is given only by way of illustration and is by no means a limitation of the present invention. These different devices constitute application entities of a network in the sense of the present invention.

[0080] In order to access the services provided by the network NW, a user equipment or UE is connected to the core network CN via an access network AN (more specifically, via a base station gNB of that access network). There is no restriction on the nature of the UE 5: it can be a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, a connected object, a machine or a vehicle, etc.

[0081] In a manner known per se, each base station gNB is configured to manage one or more cells of the network NW. The term "cell" is here understood to refer to a "single" geographical area of ​​the network NW, associated with a cell identifier (or "NR cell identity") representing it in a unique way, as well as with transmission parameters (e.g. frequency band). It should be noted that several cells of the network, suitably separated, may use the same transmission parameters simultaneously in order to limit any interference. Figure 1 In the example in FIG. 1 , two three-sector base stations gNB 6, 7 are more specifically envisaged: these base stations each manage three cells of the network (corresponding to the three sectors covered by the base station), i.e. base station 6 manages cells C1, C2 and C3, and base station 7 manages cells C4, C5 and C6. It goes without saying that other configurations are also conceivable.

[0082] There is no restriction on the type of base stations considered for the network AN. The base stations may be conceived to be fixed and / or mobile (for example on board a vehicle, in a drone, in an aerial platform, or more generally in any mobile system).

[0083] According to the present invention, the system 1 comprises:

[0084] - at least one base station gNB managing at least one cell in the network NW, i.e. Figure 1 In the example in , base station 6 manages cells C1, C2 and C3, and base station 7 manages cells C4, C5 and C6;

[0085] - At least one application entity of the network, such as a network function, or a device hosting such a network function. Figure 1 In the example in FIG. 1 , the devices AMF 2, SMF 3, NWDAF 4 and AF 5 are regarded as application entities of the network, the device AF 5 being an application entity according to the present invention; and

[0086] - At least one User Equipment or UE 8 according to the invention. There is no restriction on the nature of the UE 8: it may be a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, a connected object or the like.

[0087] In the embodiment described here, each base station of system 1 (e.g., gNB 6 and 7) has Figure 2 The hardware architecture of the computer shown. The computer comprises in particular a processor 9, a RAM memory 10, a ROM memory 11, a non-volatile memory 12 and communication means 13, which allow the base station to communicate with UEs (e.g. with UE 8) and other elements of the network NW (e.g. devices of the core network CN or entities outside the network NW, such as a radio planning system 14 suitable for the network NW (e.g. a system used by an operator OP of the network NW to deploy its network)).

[0088] Here, the non-volatile memory 12 of the computer is a storage medium readable by the processor 9, on which a computer program PROG is recorded, the computer program including instructions defining the main steps of the method for providing information.

[0089] The program PROG defines the functional modules of the base station, which are provided by the aforementioned hardware elements 9 to 13 of the computer or control these hardware elements. In the embodiment described here, and as Figure 3 As shown, these functional modules include in particular a transmission module 15, which is configured to send information denoted as INFO_CURR to a user equipment (such as UE 8) of the network NW, which represents the current deployment status of at least one cell of the network managed by the base station. The operation of the module 15 will be described in more detail later with reference to the steps of the method for providing information.

[0090] Similarly, in the embodiments described herein, the user equipment or UE 8 according to the present invention has the following Figure 2 The hardware architecture of the computer shown. The computer comprises in particular a processor 16, a RAM memory 17, a ROM memory 18, a non-volatile memory 19 and communication means 20, which allow the UE 8 to communicate on the one hand with the base stations of the system 1 and more generally the network NW, in particular with the base stations 6 and 7, and on the other hand with application entities of the network, in particular with devices of the core network CN, such as the device AF 5. For this purpose, the communication means 20 may rely on standardized interfaces (such as API) or other means.

[0091] Here, the non-volatile memory 19 of the computer consists of a storage medium according to the invention, which is readable by the processor 16 and on which is recorded a computer program PROG' according to the invention, which includes instructions defining the main steps of the method for obtaining information according to the invention.

[0092] The program PROG' defines the functional modules of the UE 8, which are provided by the aforementioned hardware elements 16 to 20 of the computer or control these hardware elements. Figure 3 As shown, these modules here include in particular:

[0093] a receiver module 21 configured to receive information INFO_CURR originating from at least one base station of the system 1 (here in particular from base stations 6 and 7) representing the current deployment status of at least one cell managed by this base station; and

[0094] - a processing module 22 configured to transmit all or part of said information INFO_CURR received by the receiver module 21 to at least one application entity of the network NW. In the embodiment described in more detail here, this application entity is a device hosting a network function in the core network CN, such as the device AF 5. However, as mentioned before, other application entities may be envisaged, such as a base station of the cellular network NW. Furthermore, in the embodiment described here, the processing module 22 is also configured to use all or part of the information INFO_CURR to implement certain functions implemented by the UE 8, in particular for selecting and / or reselecting a cell of the network, for example for registering with the network or when in idle mode.

[0095] The operations of modules 21 and 22 will be described in more detail later with reference to the steps of the method for obtaining information according to the present invention.

[0096] In the embodiment described here, the application entity according to the invention (such as the device AF 5) also has Figure 2 The hardware architecture of the computer shown. The computer comprises in particular a processor 23, a RAM memory 24, a ROM memory 25, a non-volatile memory 26 and communication means 27 allowing the device AF 5 (and more generally each application entity according to the invention) to communicate on the one hand with the UEs of the system 1 (and in particular with the UE 8) and on the other hand with devices of the core network CN (for example with the device NWDAF 4) (for example via an API).

[0097] Here, the non-volatile memory 26 of the computer consists of a storage medium according to the invention, which is readable by the processor 23 and on which is recorded a computer program PROG'' according to the invention, which includes instructions defining the main steps of the collection method according to the invention.

[0098] The program PROG'' defines the functional modules of the application entity (such as the device AF 5) according to the invention, which are provided by the aforementioned hardware elements 23 to 27 of the computer or control these hardware elements. In the embodiment described here, Figure 3 As shown, these functional modules include in particular:

[0099] - A request module 28, here configured to receive a request from a device of the core network (for example from the device NWDAF 4) for collecting data about a UE (such as UE 8) or a group of UEs. The request module 28 is also configured to, after receiving the request, in turn request the relevant UE or group of UEs to provide it / them with the requested data. According to the invention, these data include information INFO_CURR that the UE has received or can receive from at least one base station of the system 1 (and therefore the network NW), which information represents the current deployment status of at least one cell managed by the at least one base station. It should be noted that the request (for example from the device NWDAF 4 or from the device AF 5) can take the form of a simple request or in the form of a subscription to a given event, depending on a mechanism defined, for example, by the 3GPP standard; and

[0100] A collecting module 29 configured to receive the information INFO_CURR from the aforementioned UE or UE group.

[0101] It should be noted that the request module 28 is optional, wherein in another embodiment, the UE or UE group may be configured to autonomously send the information INFO_CURR it possesses to the device AF 5 .

[0102] The operation of modules 28 and 29 will be described in more detail later with reference to the steps of the collection method according to the present invention.

[0103] refer to Figure 4 , the main steps of the method for providing information and the method for obtaining and collecting information according to the present invention are now described. In the embodiment described here, these methods are implemented by base stations 6 and 7, UE 8 and device AF 5 of system 1 respectively.

[0104] It is assumed that the UE 8 is located in a cell C1 of the network NW (managed by the base station 6) and receives from this cell, in a manner known per se, system information SI broadcasted in system information blocks (or SIBs) by neighboring base stations (more specifically, in the example envisaged here, by the base stations gNB 6 and 7) (steps E10 and E20). The acquisition of the system information SI by the UE 8 and the broadcasting of this information by the base stations 6 and 7 on the cells they manage are here based on the procedures described in paragraph 5.2.2 of the document 3GPP TS 38.331 entitled "Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol Specification (Release 17)", v17.0.0, March 2022. These procedures can be implemented when the UE 8 is in a mode connected to the network or in an idle mode.

[0105] As described in paragraph 6.3.1 of document TS 38.331, for each cell managed by a base station, the system information SI broadcasted by the base station in the SIB contains common information for that cell (in other words, not specific to the UE of that cell), which the UE needs in order to access the cell and function correctly within the network. As described in paragraph 4.4 of document 3GPP TS 38.331, this information includes in particular common NAS (standing for "Non-Access Stratum") information, data assisting positioning, parameters for (re)selection of a cell, information about neighboring cells, information about the common channel configuration of the cell, etc. According to the invention, the transmission module 15 of each base station 6, 7 enriches the system information SI conventionally broadcast in a 5G network environment and described in document 3GPP TS 38.331 with information INFO_CURR representing the current deployment status of the cells managed by said base station 6, 7.

[0106] The information INFO_CURR related to the cells of the network NW reflects the actual deployment of the network NW at a given moment, in other words, the geographical area and infrastructure covered by the cells, the topology of the architecture of the network NW (e.g., adjacency between cells), etc. It is dynamic, as it can change over time, depending on decisions made by the operator OP of the network NW or autonomously by the base stations (e.g., reconfiguration of certain base stations, etc.), the presence of new infrastructure (e.g., roads, buildings, etc.), potential movement of base stations, disappearance of certain cells (e.g., to limit the energy consumption of the network), etc.

[0107] So, for example, the base station ( Figure 1 In the example 6 or 7), the information INFO_CURR of the current deployment status of the managed cell may include all or part of the following information:

[0108] - Information related to the arrangement of cells within the architecture of the network, such as the logical or radio environment of the cell (e.g. in the form of identification of cells neighbouring the cell);

[0109] - Information related to the geographical environment of the cell, such as the geographical area covered by the cell (e.g. represented based on the coordinates (latitude and longitude) and radius of the cell center, or represented using a polygonal spatial pattern of the same type of coordinates or via a reference coverage map, etc.);

[0110] - Information about the type of deployment of the cell, such as indoor / outdoor, direct line of sight (LOS) or indirect line of sight (NLOS), in areas with signal voids, densely populated areas, suburban or rural areas, for coverage or capacity purposes, supporting dedicated networks, infrastructure or critical verticals, event-based / ad hoc deployments, deployment configurations (e.g. macro / small / pico cells, cells managed by base stations on high-altitude platforms, drones or satellites, etc.);

[0111] - Information related to the configuration of at least one antenna of the cell, such as the location and orientation (latitude, longitude, altitude, ground height, azimuth, tilt) of the antenna, deployment of a distributed antenna system (or DAS);

[0112] - Information related to at least one infrastructure covered by the cell, such as a highway, a railway, a waterway, one or more buildings, an industrial area, etc. (e.g. in the form of an identification of the relevant infrastructure);

[0113] - Information related to the status of the cell, such as the load or load level of the cell (e.g. low, medium, high), the cell load or load level within each network slice, the number of active users in the cell, the uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) data rate, congestion indicators (e.g. the level of use of radio resources, the number of packets in the queue), fault status or alarm level, security status (e.g. interference detected, “man-in-the-middle attack”, “fake base station”, distributed denial of service (or DDoS), botnet intrusion and other types of attacks detected), etc.

[0114] This list is of course not exhaustive and other information representative of the current deployment status of a cell can be envisaged in the context of the present invention.

[0115] The transmission module 15 of the base station can also add information related to it (here represented as INFO_gNB) to the system information SI, such as its identification (for example, in the form of an identifier "global RAN node ID"), a list of TAs and / or slices it supports, information representing its status (for example, load or load level, number of users using the base station), etc.

[0116] It should be noted that the information INFO_CURR and / or INFO_gNB may have been configured by the operator OP of the network NW in each base station 6, 7 of the system 1 (via a method known per se and not described here), or may have been dynamically obtained or discovered by each base station 6, 7 before transmitting it to the UE 8.

[0117] For example, a base station 6, 7 can in particular evaluate itself some information INFO_CURR, such as the geographical area covered by each cell managed by the base station. To this end, it can in particular use the geographical location of the UEs connected to the cells, where this location can be downloaded by a satellite positioning module (or PNT, standing for "Positioning Navigation and Timing Service"), such as a GPS or GNSS module with which the UEs are equipped, or calculated by the base station using the information available to it about TDOA and the speed of the UEs. With the positioning of the UEs and the knowledge of the cells that serve each of these UEs, the base station 6, 7 can establish a "map" of the UEs for each cell that it manages and deduce from it the coverage limits of this cell.

[0118] According to another example, particularly applicable to the case of mobile base stations equipped with a PNT receiver and a compass, the base stations 6, 7 can use the position downloaded by their PNT receivers and the indications provided by their compasses to assess the position and orientation of the antenna serving the cell they manage.

[0119] According to yet another example, the base stations 6, 7 can determine the identities of the neighboring cells of each cell they manage using the ANR (standing for "Automatic Neighbor Relations") function of the SON (standing for "Self-Organizing Network") technology, which function is designed in a manner known per se to allow automatic configuration, automatic development and automatic optimization of the equipment of the cellular communication network.

[0120] According to another example, the base stations 6, 7 can infer information related to the status of the cells based on their own status: for example, if the base stations 6, 7 encounter overload problems, which are usually caused by their processing capacity limitations, this will in turn have an impact on the status of the cells they manage, and these cells themselves will also be in an overloaded state.

[0121] Furthermore, the base station 6, 7 has information about the use of network resources in a manner known per se. Using this information, it can detect the state (or level) of congestion of the cell it manages. This congestion makes it possible to allocate various types of resources used by the cell, such as radio resources or PRBs (standing for "physical resource blocks"), buffers or radio channels (e.g. traffic, signaling or paging channels), and to intervene when 100% of the relevant resources are used (e.g. 100% of the buffers are full). In order to detect this state, various advance indicators of congestion can be monitored, such as a percentage of resource use approaching a critical threshold, an increase in delay times or packet losses observed on the cell, etc. These indicators can be taken into account in the information INFO_CURR.

[0122] Each base station 6, 7 may also obtain some information INFO_CURR of a third party entity, such as an entity of the network NW or an external entity. It is worth noting that it is conceivable that each base station 6, 7 is configured to communicate with a radio planning system 14 suitable for the network NW and obtain certain information about this radio planning system, such as information related to the type of deployment of the cells it manages, the identification of the infrastructure covered by each of these cells, or information related to the deployment configuration of these cells.

[0123] The base station 6, 7 may also know some information INFO_CURR and / or INFO_gNB because it uses this information to implement the processing operations for which it is responsible, or because it is configured to broadcast this information over the network NW (e.g. the identities of the cells it manages or the list of TAs and / or slices it supports).

[0124] The nature of the information INFO_CURR (and relatedly INFO_gNB) used by each transmission module 15 of the base station 6, 7 to enrich the information system SI may be defined by default within the base station, for example by the operator OP of the network NW, or by a management platform also called OAM (standing for "Operation, Administration and Maintenance") platform. In an alternative or complementary manner, it is conceivable that the transmission module 15 of a base station is configured to select all or part of the information on the current deployment status of the cell that it sends in the SIB according to one or more given factors, for example based on the location of the base station to which it belongs (for example a rural or urban environment) or based on the mobility of the UEs connected to the cell managed by this base station, etc.

[0125] Once the information INFO_CURR (and the associated INFO_gNB) that the base station 6, 7 wishes or must broadcast on the cells it manages is obtained, it transmits this information in the information system block SIB via its transmission module 15 according to the procedure described in paragraph 5.2.2 of the document 3GPP TS 38.331 (steps E10 and E20). Thus, the base station 6 broadcasts in the SIB the information INFO_CURR (and the associated INFO_gNB) that it has obtained via its transmission module 15 on the cells C1, C2 and C3, and the base station 7 broadcasts in the SIB the information INFO_CURR (and the associated INFO_gNB) that it has obtained via its transmission module 15 on the cells C4, C5 and C6.

[0126] It should be noted that the information INFO_CURR (and relatedly INFO_gNB) broadcast by the base stations 6, 7 may be transmitted by their transmission module 15 in the SIB in raw or compressed form, for example in the form of a hash value, a key or a link, thus allowing the information to be stored in a secure database or from any other trusted internal or external or network NW entity ( Figure 1 The use of hash functions allows in particular to ensure the security of the transmitted information INFO_CURR: in fact, such hash functions have various properties and can be used in a known manner in particular to verify and protect the integrity of the data to which they are applied, to manage the confidentiality of this data or to mask this data.

[0127] It should also be noted that according to the 3GPP standard, SIB (especially in the embodiment described here, the information INFO_CURR and the related INFO_gNB) can be broadcast regularly by the base stations of the network NW (including base stations 6 and 7 of system 1), or transmitted by the base stations upon request from the UE.

[0128] In the example envisaged here, it is assumed that UE 8 receives, via its receiver module 21 and its communication device 20, a SIB broadcasted by base station 6 containing information INFO_CURR (and the associated INFO_gNB) relating to cells C1, C2 and C3, and a SIB broadcasted by base station 7 containing information INFO_CURR (and the associated INFO_gNB) relating to cells C4, C5 and C6.

[0129] In the embodiment described here, the UE 8 uses the information INFO_CURR related to the current deployment status of the cells C1 to C6 via its processing module 22 to select a cell in order to register with the core network CN of the cellular network NW (step E30). For example, for this purpose, the processing module 22 can take into account the use environment in which the UE 8 is located and, according to this environment, select the most suitable cell from the cells C1 to C6 according to the information INFO_CURR at its disposal. This environment can be defined in a fixed way within the UE 8 (for example, configured during the manufacture of the UE or by the user) and can reflect the specific purpose of the UE 8: for example, the UE 8 is a device designed to equip ships, cars, trains, etc. As a variant, the usage context of the UE 8 may be determined dynamically by the processing module 22, for example by asking the user of the UE 8 via a user interface designed for this purpose, or in an autonomous way relying for example on the history of cells it has used and the deployment types associated with these cells (for example the nearest N cells are of highway type), and / or possibly on information returned by its accelerometer (which in particular allows to distinguish pedestrian use from car use, as the movements of the UE are not the same), etc.

[0130] Thus, by way of illustration, if the processing module 22 determines that the UE 8 is being equipped on a ship, and it has information in the information INFO_CURR about the deployment status of cells C1 to C6 and / or the infrastructure covered by these cells, the processing module 22 may select a cell from the cells C1 to C6, wherein this information of the cell indicates that it is a port or waterway type deployment or covers a port or waterway.

[0131] According to another example, if the processing module 22 determines that the UE is located on a train (a car or a truck, respectively), and it has information about the deployment status of cells C1 to C6 and / or the infrastructure covered by these cells from the information INFO_CURR, then the processing module 22 can select a cell from cells C1 to C6, the information of which indicates that it is a railway type deployment or covers railway (highway type, respectively).

[0132] Of course, these examples are given by way of illustration only and are not limiting of the present invention.

[0133] exist Figure 1In the example shown, it is assumed that the processing module 22 of the UE 8 selects the cell C1 to allow the UE 8 to register with the core network CN and, more precisely, with the device AMF 2. The registration of the UE 8 with the device AMF 2 (step E40) and the subsequent establishment of a PDU (standing for “Packet Data Unit”) session via the device SMF 3 (step E50) are carried out in a manner similar to or identical to that described in the 3GPP standards and in particular in the document 3GPP 23.502 entitled “Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Procedures for the 5G System (5GS); Stage 2; (Release 17)”, v17.4.0, March 2022, see paragraphs 4.2.2.2.2 and 4.3.2.2.1, respectively.

[0134] It should be noted that other base stations of the system 1 can be used to transmit the information INFO_CURR (and the related INFO_gNB) to the UE 8 during its mobility. For this purpose, they operate in the same way as steps E10 and E20 described previously. Moreover, in the case of modifying one or more pieces of information INFO_CURR related to the current deployment status of the cells managed by a base station of the system 1, this base station can inform the UE 8 of the modifications performed. For this purpose, if the UE 8 is still within the radio range of one of these cells, this base station can communicate these modifications to the UE 8 by broadcasting a SIB on the cells it manages, as described previously for steps E10 and E20.

[0135] It is now assumed that a device in the core network CN hosting a network function (e.g. a device AMF 2 used by UE 8) sends a request to the device NWDAF 4 to obtain predictions and / or statistical data related to UE 8 (e.g. a prediction of the mobility of UE 8) (step E60). It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to requests coming from the device AMF 2 used by UE 8: the request for predictions and / or statistical data may actually originate from another device AMF of the core network CN (in other words, a device hosting another instance of the AMF function) instead of the device AMF 2 used by UE 8, or from a device in the core network CN hosting network functions other than the AMF function, as described later. In addition, it may also relate to other types of predictions and / or statistical data.

[0136] In the embodiment described here, in order to request predictions and / or statistical data from the device NWDAF 4, the device AMF 2 uses the service Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo described in the document 3GPP TS 23.288 (the title of the document is “Architecture Enhancements for 5Gsystem (5GS) to medium network data analytics services (Release 17)”, v17.4.0, March 2022) and TS 28.520 (the title of the document is “Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; 5GSystem; Network Data Analytics Services; Stage 3; (Release 17)”, v17.6.0, March 2022). It should be noted that the request may be in the form of a simple request ("Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo request" message, such as Figure 4 ), or, as a variant, in the form of a subscription as described in the preceding documents.

[0137] After receiving a request for forecast and / or statistical data from the device AMF 2, the device NWDAF 4 collects the data INPUT_DATA required to calculate the requested forecast and / or statistical data from various entities, such as described in paragraph 6.7.2.4 of document TS23.288 (step E70). Therefore, according to the process described in this document, the device NWDAF 4 can subscribe to the device AMF used by the UE 8 (including the device AMF 2) for notifications of service data related to the UE 8, for example in order to be informed of changes in the location of the UE 8 (step E71). It can also send a request to the OAM system for the operation, management and operation of the cellular network NW (not shown in the figure) (step E72). It can also collect data from the UE 8 or from another UE. In the embodiment described here, it is assumed that the device NWDAF 4 also collects data from the UE 8, in order to obtain in particular all or part of the information INFO_CURR received by the UE 8 from the base stations 6 and 7 (step E73).

[0138] For this purpose, the device NWDAF 4 implements the process described in paragraph 6.2.8 of the document 3GPP TS 23.288 to adapt to the needs of the present invention. More specifically, it sends a request to a device hosting the application function AF, which is capable of collecting such data from the UE 8 (in other words, in particular authorized by the operator OP to do this and capable of interacting with the UE 8). The device NWDAF 4 discovers which device AF to use by asking the network function NRF (which holds the profile of the network function AF). It is assumed here that the device NWDAF 4 determines that it must use the device AF 5 to obtain data from the UE 8. It should be noted that in the embodiment described here based on the cellular 5G network as defined by the 3GPP standard, if the device AF 5 is a device that is regarded as reliable (i.e. a trusted device), the device NWDAF 4 is used to interact directly with the device AF 5, otherwise, it interacts via an intermediate device hosting the NEF function. For simplicity, it is assumed here that the device AF 5 is reliable and trusted.

[0139] Therefore, the device NWDAF 4 sends a request to the device AF 5 (more specifically to its request module 28) in order for it to collect data from the UE 8, in particular all or part of the information INFO_CURR that the UE 8 has received; for this purpose, the service Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe is called here (or the service Nnef_EventExposure_Subscribe, if the intervention of the network function NEF is required), such as described in the document 3GPP TS 23.502 (step E73a). This service allows the device NWDAF 4 to subscribe to notifications about any event that affects the UE 8 detected by the device AF 5. In the example envisaged here, the device NWDAF 4 indicates during its subscription request that it wishes to be notified about the information about the current deployment status of the cells representing the network NW that the UE 8 has at its disposal (in other words, in the example envisaged here, the information INFO_CURR about the cells C1 to C6 managed by the base stations 6 and 7). In order to indicate the events to which the device NWDAF 4 subscribes (information representing the current deployment status of the cell), it is conceivable that when calling the service Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe, the device NWDAF 4 uses a new event type defined for the needs of the present invention.

[0140] It should be noted that when calling the service Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe, the device NWDAF 4 can indicate the type of information INFO_CURR in which it is interested and / or the cells for which it wishes to obtain all or part of the information INFO_CURR. Thus, it may wish to receive the information INFO_CURR held by the UE 8, or conversely, to select from this information according to one or more selection criteria. Typically, the information INFO_CURR that it wishes to receive may be limited to certain cells of the network NW (e.g., cells C1, C2 and C3 managed by the base station 6), or to cells managed by a specific base station (e.g., managed by the base station 6 that manages the cell in which the UE 8 is located or used by the UE 8). Similarly, it may be targeted at the type of information INFO_CURR that it wishes to receive, for example only for information related to the type of deployment of the cell. The restrictions on the required information INFO_CURR may be determined by the device NWDAF 4, in particular based on the information INPUT_DATA that it has collected and / or based on the nature of the forecast / statistical data requested from it.

[0141] After the device NWDAF 4 has made this subscription, the device AF 5 collects data corresponding to the events to which the device NWDAF 4 has subscribed (including the information INFO_CURR held by the UE 8 that the base stations 6 and 7 have transmitted to the UE 8) via its collection module 29 (step E73b). The UE 8 transmits the data required by the device to the device AF 5 via its processing module 22 (step E73b). After receiving these data, the device AF 5 notifies the device NWDAF 4 of this according to the subscription of the device NWDAF 4 (step E73c).

[0142] It should be noted that in the embodiment described here, the device NWDAF 4 obtains the information INFO_CURR via the device AF 5 (and possibly the device NEF) using the existing procedure Naf_EventExposure_Subscribe defined in the 3GPP standard (and adapted for the needs of the present invention to notify the information INFO_CURR). This has the advantage that, as long as the subscription is valid, the device NWDAF 4 is informed of the events to which it has subscribed, and in particular of any updates to the information INFO_CURR (e.g. the UE 8 receives new information INFO_CURR related to a new cell). As a variant, the device NWDAF 4 may obtain this information using a simple request addressed to the device AF 5 (or device NEF) to trigger the collection of the required data from the UE 8 (including all or part of the information INFO_CURR held by the UE 8), the request indicating the required data; or by directly addressing the UE 8 (via a subscription to an event or by sending a simple request as previously described).

[0143] Generally speaking, the means NWDAF 4 can address the UE 8 via the means AF 5 directly associated with the forecast / statistical data request addressed to it, or in an asynchronous manner (eg by forecasting future requests). Furthermore, the UE 8 can be queried via the means AF 5 multiple times for the same request.

[0144] Furthermore, the information INFO_CURR may be transmitted by the UE 8 to the device AF 5 and / or by the device AF 5 to the device NWDAF 4 in raw or compressed form, as previously described for the transmission of these data by the base stations 6 and 7 to the UE 8 .

[0145] The means NWDAF 4 then uses the collected data INPUT_DATA and all or part of the information INFO_CURR that it has received and collected from the UE 8 through the means AF5 to establish a mobility prediction of the UE 8 requested by the means AMF 2 (step E80). The mobility prediction of the UE 8 performed by the means NWDAF 4 may be influenced, for example, by the type of deployment of the cell C1 and in particular by the fact that this cell is deployed to support a given infrastructure, such as a highway: the future positions of the UE 8 will then have a higher probability of being located on this highway. According to another example, if the last X (for example X=3) cells used by the UE 8 covered the same highway, the means NWDAF 4 may predict with a fairly high probability that the next cell visited by the UE 8 also covers this highway. Of course, these examples are given by way of illustration only and are not limiting in themselves.

[0146] The means NWDAF 4 transmits the mobility prediction thus established on the UE 8 to the means AMF 2 ("Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo response" message) (step E90), which in turn uses this for the implementation of the functions for which it is responsible. For example, the means AMF 2 uses the prediction of the means NWDAF 4 in order to establish a registration area (or RA) for the UE 8 (step E100) in a manner known to a person skilled in the art and not described in detail here. The RA thus established may in particular contain all TAs containing the future position of the UE 8 predicted by the means NWDAF 4. Of course, this example is given only by way of illustration and is not limiting in itself.

[0147] Similarly, other network functions of the core network CN, such as, in particular, the SMF means 3, may address the means NWDAF 4 in order to obtain predictions and / or statistics related to the UE 8 (for example, predictions of the communications of the UE 8) or related to other aspects, using the Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo service defined by the 3GPP standard as described previously (“Nnwdaf_AnalysticsInfo request” message) (step E110). Then, in order to establish these predictions / statistics requested by the means SMF 3, the means NWDAF 4 may use the data already collected during step E70 (including the information INFO_CURR), if they are relevant, or address the various entities again in order to collect new data in a manner similar to or identical to that previously described for establishing the predictions / statistics requested by the means AMF 2 during step E70 (in particular, if the predictions / statistics requested by the means SMF 3 are different from those requested by the means AMF 2) (step E120).

[0148] The device NWDAF 4 then transmits the established predictions / statistical data to the device SMF 3 (“Nnwdaf_AnalyticsInfo response” message) (step E130), which can use these predictions / statistical data to optimize the various processes for managing its session with the UE 8 (step E140). For example, the device SMF 3 can use these predictions to determine in an optimal way certain parameters of the session, such as one or more network functions of the user plane (or UPF, standing for “User Plane Function”), which will channel the data according to the data rate of the communication predicted by the device NWDAF 4 (for example, depending on whether the rate is very high or, on the contrary, whether the transmission is sporadic). Of course, this example is given only by way of illustration and is not limiting in itself.

[0149] In the embodiment described here, the UE 8 transmits the information INFO_CURR it has received from the base station of the system 1 to the means of the core network CN, in particular to the network functions, via its processing module 22, to allow these network functions to use the information to implement the functions for which they are responsible in the core network CN. In another embodiment, as described above, the UE 8 can transmit the information INFO_CURR to other application entities of the network, in particular to the base station of the access network. The base station can then use the knowledge of the information INFO_CURR to select the target cell in the best way during a handover (handover of the UE 8 or another UE).

[0150] Furthermore, in the embodiment described here, the base stations 6 and 7 of the system 1 transmit respectively in the SIB broadcast to the cells they manage information INFO_CURR representing the actual deployment status of the cells. As a variant, it is conceivable to transmit the information INFO_CURR to the UE (e.g., UE 8) in a dedicated signaling channel. The base station can then adjust (or otherwise) the information INFO_CURR sent to the UE according to the UE (e.g., according to its mobile environment, its location, etc.). As described above for the SIB, the information INFO_CURR can be transmitted in a dedicated signaling channel in original form or in compressed form.

[0151] The present invention has just been described with reference to a 5G cellular network defined by the 3GPP standard. This assumption itself is not limiting, and the present invention can be applied in other environments, such as a 6G cellular network or a proprietary cellular network.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining information by a user equipment (8) of a cellular communication network (NW), the method comprising: - a step (E10, E20) for receiving information (INFO_CURR) originating from at least one base station (6, 7) of the network, the information representing the current deployment status of at least one cell (C1-C6) of the network managed by said at least one base station; and - A step (E73b) for transmitting all or part of said received information to at least one application entity of the network.

2. The method for obtaining information according to claim 1, wherein: The information (INFO_CURR) is received in: - at least one system information block broadcast by the at least one base station on the at least one cell or transmitted according to a request of the user equipment; or - A signalling channel dedicated to this user equipment.

3. The method for obtaining information according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising a step (E30) for using all or part of said received information to select and / or reselect a cell of the network.

4. The method for obtaining information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The application entity (5) is a device that hosts an application function that is requested by the device (4) for collecting and analyzing data of the network to collect data originating from the user equipment.

5. The method for obtaining information according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: All or part of this information is received in compressed form from said at least one base station and / or transmitted to said at least one application entity of the network.

6. The method for obtaining information according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: All or part of the received information depends on the mobile environment of the user equipment.

7. A method for collecting data by an application entity (5) of a cellular communication network (NW), the method comprising a step (E73b) for receiving information (INFO_CURR) originating from a user equipment (8), the information representing the current deployment status of at least one cell (C1-C6) of the network managed by at least one base station (6, 7) of the network.

8. The collection method according to claim 7, further comprising a step (E73c) for transmitting all or part of the information received from the user equipment to a device (4) for collecting and analyzing data of the network.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: At least one of the information (INFO_CURR) representing the current deployment status of the cell relates to the deployment of the cell within the architecture of the network, the geographical environment of the cell, the configuration of at least one antenna of the cell, the deployment type of the cell, at least one infrastructure covered by the cell and / or the status of the cell.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: At least one of said pieces of information (INFO_CURR) representative of the current deployment status of the cells has been evaluated by said at least one base station and / or obtained by the base station from a radio planning system suitable for the network.

11. A user equipment (8) of a cellular communication network, the user equipment comprising: - a receiver module (21) configured to receive information originating from at least one base station of the network, the information representing the current deployment status of at least one cell of the network managed by said at least one base station; as well as - a processing module (22) configured to transmit all or part of said received information to at least one application entity of the network.

12. An application entity (5) of a cellular communication network, the application entity comprising: A collection module (29) is configured to receive information originating from a user equipment, the information representing a current deployment status of at least one cell of the network managed by at least one base station of the network.

13. A system (1) of a cellular communication network (NW), the system comprising: - at least one base station (6, 7) managing at least one cell (C1-C6) of the network and comprising a transmission module (15) configured to send information representative of a current deployment status of the at least one cell to at least one user equipment of the network; - at least one user equipment (8) according to claim 11, which receives said information sent by said at least one base station; as well as - at least one application entity (5) of a network as claimed in claim 12; The user equipment is configured to send information representing a current deployment status of at least one cell managed by the at least one base station to the at least one application entity of the network.

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