Method, user equipment, system or telecommunication network, program and computer program product for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment or when operating user equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operating a user equipment or when operating a user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, where the user equipment comprises or is capable of accessing or obtaining energy-related information, the user equipment routing policy information comprises energy-related information elements, and wherein the user equipment routing policy information comprises energy-related information elements, the method comprising the following steps in order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information:-in a first step, the user equipment comprises or receives specific user equipment routing policy information to be evaluated,-in a second step, the specific user equipment routing policy information comprising energy-related information elements; wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information comprises or is associated with a specific energy-related information element,-in a second step, depending on whether the specific energy-related information element of the specific user equipment routing policy information corresponds to the energy-related information, the user equipment applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information.

Description

Methods, user equipment, systems, or telecommunications networks, programs, and computer program products for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment or when operating user equipment connected to a telecommunications network. Background Technology

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment or operating user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, wherein the user equipment includes or is able to access or obtain energy-related information.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for receiving and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operated or when operated in connection with a telecommunications network, wherein the user equipment includes or is able to access or obtain energy-related information.

[0003] Additionally, the present invention relates to a system or telecommunications network for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment or user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, wherein the user equipment includes or is able to access or obtain energy-related information.

[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program and computer-readable medium for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information according to the method of the present invention.

[0005] In conventional telecommunications networks, 5G mobile communication networks or 5G systems also define User Equipment Routing Policy (or UE Routing Policy, URSP) for situations requiring uplink traffic routing—a distinction particularly evident in 4G and earlier mobile communication systems. The UE routing policy allows the network to instruct the User Equipment on a set of rules regarding how to route data packets (specifically, it allows the network to deploy routing logic within the User Equipment) so that specific traffic can be routed to a specific PDU session based on criteria specified by the network (especially the User Equipment's home network).

[0006] However, in conventional telecommunications networks, energy-related criteria, especially sustainability-related criteria, cannot currently be considered regarding how user equipment routes traffic via user equipment routing policy rules. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of this invention is to provide a technically simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution for transmitting and / or using user equipment (UE) routing policy information when operating UE or UE connected to a telecommunications network, particularly in a manner that energy-related, and / or energy consumption-related, and / or energy production-related aspects can be considered when using and / or applying UE routing policy rules or information; that is, such considerations are embedded within the framework of using UE routing policy rules and / or during their use. A further object of this invention is to provide corresponding UE, corresponding systems or corresponding telecommunications networks, and corresponding programs and computer-readable media.

[0008] The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment or user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, wherein the user equipment includes or is able to access or obtain energy-related information, and the user equipment routing policy information includes energy-related information elements, wherein, in order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information, the method includes the following steps: -- In a first step, the user equipment includes or receives specific user equipment routing policy information to be evaluated, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information includes or is associated with specific energy-related information elements; -- In a second step, depending on whether the specific energy-related information elements of the specific user equipment routing policy information correspond to the energy-related information, the user equipment applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information.

[0009] According to the present invention, it may be advantageous to consider energy-related, and / or energy consumption-related, and / or energy production-related aspects when using and / or applying user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information.

[0010] Therefore, according to the invention, it is advantageous that user equipment (and / or its user) be able to perform (or be performed by the service network and / or the home network instruction) an action concerning data transmission (task or amount or volume of data to be transmitted) or concerning the manner or path (or via which entity or network node) of actually transmitting such data (amount or volume), taking into account energy-related (and / or energy consumption-related, and / or energy production-related) aspects (concerning the energy used (by the entity or network node) to actually perform the corresponding data transmission), especially in such a way that, with regard to such data transmission, a particular category or range of energy-related (and / or energy consumption-related, and / or energy production-related) values ​​are satisfied or complied with (especially in a verifiable or provable manner)).

[0011] Therefore, according to the present invention, it may be advantageous to consider energy-related criteria, especially sustainability-related criteria, in contrast to those in conventionally known telecommunications or mobile communication networks, particularly regarding how the corresponding user equipment routes traffic via user equipment routing policy rules.

[0012] In particular, according to the invention, it may be advantageous to achieve this by extending the concept of user equipment routing policy traffic categories, especially by at least one of the following: -- by enhancing user equipment routing policy rules to consider energy-related criteria in the routing descriptor RSD; -- by allowing user equipment to indicate energy-related criteria in the information it provides to user equipment routing policy rules (e.g., via connectivity); -- by allowing user equipment to use information (retrieved from the network) associated with a given application traffic for a particular user equipment routing policy rule based on energy-related criteria.

[0013] Therefore, according to the present invention, it may be advantageous to achieve higher granularity when applying user equipment routing policy rules based on traffic categories, while avoiding the problems caused by using explicit application identifiers, thereby enabling more flexible slice application in user equipment.

[0014] According to the present invention, when the user equipment under consideration is operated, especially when it is operated when connected to a telecommunications network or a mobile communication network, one user equipment routing policy rule or multiple user equipment routing policy rules are used (i.e., the term used in the context of the present invention that is synonymous with the term user equipment routing policy information).

[0015] According to the present invention, the user equipment already includes energy-related information (or information that can be associated with energy-related information), or the user equipment is able to access or obtain such energy-related information (or information that can be associated with energy-related information).

[0016] According to the present invention, user equipment routing policy information includes energy-related information elements, and in order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information, the method includes the following steps: -- In a first step, the user equipment includes or receives specific user equipment routing policy information to be evaluated, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information includes or is associated with specific energy-related information elements; -- In a second step, depending on whether the specific energy-related information elements of the specific user equipment routing policy information correspond to the energy-related information, the user equipment applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information.

[0017] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous that the application of specific user equipment routing policy information or rules depends on specific energy-related information elements (of the specific user equipment routing policy information) and whether they correspond to or match that energy-related information.

[0018] While it may be known in conventional telecommunications networks to transmit energy-related information to network nodes (e.g., to user equipment in the context of mobile communication networks), particularly in relation to IP routing, this is unknown in the context of user equipment routing policy rules. That is, regardless of how energy-related information from other networks is transmitted to the user equipment, the method according to the invention focuses on guiding user equipment routing policy rules and proposes additional routing and / or traffic descriptors for this purpose. In particular, the invention does not necessarily and does not directly relate only to information characterizing the network, but more specifically to applying such information to evaluate user equipment routing policy rules, detect traffic, and route traffic via user equipment supporting user equipment routing policies.

[0019] Generally, it is known that IP routing (or similar routing) is based on energy-related criteria. However, although UE routing policy rules include the word "routing" in their names, a more appropriate and concise description would be "5G characteristics used to associate application traffic in UE with one or more PDU sessions." The use of UE routing policy rules involves the functionality of matching newly detected application traffic with traffic-related factors (e.g., IP address), application-related factors (i.e., about application ID or identifier), requested connectivity capability traffic descriptors, UE-related factors (e.g., about the network to which the UE is attached), and factors based on general validity criteria (UE routing policy rules may include routing validation criteria, such as time validity when the UE routing policy rule is valid). UE routing policy rules are guided by the Policy Control Function (PCF) and allow the PCF to instruct UEs to apply UE policies and under what circumstances. This traffic guidance approach is indeed quite different from classic data packet routing because it is inappropriate to directly apply any (general) routing mechanism to UE routing policy rules. In this regard, it is particularly important that the traffic descriptor structure is quite complex, and combined with equally complex routing descriptors and routing validation criteria, these correspond to examples of aspects that cannot be achieved using purely traffic-based routing methods, such as: -- the conditional validity of centrally guided traffic routing, -- transmission using information not included in data packets (e.g., application ID, connectivity capabilities), -- routing not based on interface or IP address (see the full range of routing descriptors), -- associating UE routing policy rules with specific UEs via UE policies, -- achieving secure association between UE routing policy rule signaling and non-access stratum connections via Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs), -- reusing currently used policy frameworks (especially UE policies) in mobile networks to support energy-related information.

[0020] Additionally, the user equipment also considers information contained within the non-access stratum container used to send user equipment routing policy rules. One example is the authorization of policy control functions, which is implicitly implemented through the non-access stratum security context. Therefore, the applicability of a given user equipment routing policy rule can also be related to information not only contained within the user equipment routing policy rule but also to information associated with and / or mapped to the user equipment routing policy rule, such as the network identifier contained in or associated with the non-access stratum message containing the user equipment routing policy rule.

[0021] Typically, a telecommunications network includes an access network and a core network; however, this invention also relates to situations where, strictly speaking, the telecommunications network does not include both the access network and the core network, but rather the telecommunications network is only associated with or assigned to the access network (and particularly includes the core network), or the telecommunications network is only associated with or assigned to the core network (and particularly includes the access network), or the telecommunications network is only associated with or assigned to both the access network and the core network. According to this invention, the core network specifically provides data connectivity to the data network for user equipment.

[0022] According to the present invention, user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, including a core network comprising policy and accounting functions, is particularly considered. The policy and accounting functions are typically configured to transmit user equipment routing policy information to the user equipment.

[0023] In conventional telecommunications networks, and according to the present invention, user equipment typically communicates with the access network (or radio access network) via an interface (typically a radio interface or air interface). This is used to convey both signaling information (typically referred to as the control plane) and data traffic (typically referred to as the user plane), but logical separation (logical channel) is typically present for the transmission of these two types of traffic. Similarly, signaling information and user data are typically separated between the access network (especially the radio access network, and especially the gNB base station entity) and the core network.

[0024] To establish a data connection enabling user equipment (UE) to communicate with the data network (or core network), a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session is typically required. A PDU session is a logical data transmission channel, usually terminated in the core network, providing connectivity to the data network. A PDU session may have one or more associated Quality of Service (QoS) levels or flows (e.g., one or more QoS flows within a PDU session) for underlying data transmission. PDU session establishment is performed by the UE via the radio interface; the radio access network is aware of the PDU session (it needs this information, for example, for physical resource allocation at the Uu reference point between the base station entity (specifically the gNB) and the UE), but the PDU session is managed by the core network. Currently, different PDU sessions are considered independent; that is, PDU session establishment is not linked to other PDU session establishment requests.

[0025] In currently known telecommunications networks and according to the present invention, user equipment routing policy information or user equipment routing policy rules are used by the telecommunications network to force user equipment to use a set of rules to apply to or guide uplink traffic, i.e., how to route data packets. Specifically, such user equipment routing policy rules typically instruct or direct user equipment to route specific traffic to a given or predetermined Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session. In particular, such user equipment routing policy rules or such user equipment routing policy information are set or defined by the core network of the telecommunications network; that is, the telecommunications network (or its core network) sets specific user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information by transmitting a corresponding message to the user equipment as part of the control data flow exchange between the telecommunications network and the user equipment on the air interface between the user equipment and the corresponding access network element (typically a base station entity, such as, for example, a gB node entity). As a result of the user equipment receiving such user equipment routing policy rules (or multiple rules) or user equipment routing policy information, the user equipment can (or will) apply such rule information, i.e., traffic, especially application traffic that matches the corresponding user equipment routing policy rules or information (application traffic in the uplink direction, toward the telecommunications network), and can be routed by (or by) the user equipment in accordance with the manner instructed or specified by the user equipment routing policy rules / information. However, according to the present invention, in cases where a specific energy-related information element (of a particular user equipment routing policy rule or information) does not correspond to or match with energy-related information, the user equipment (or its user equipment routing policy functionality) can also refuse to apply the considered user equipment routing policy rule.

[0026] In currently known telecommunications networks, the User Equipment (UE) routing policy rule or UE routing policy information itself (i.e., its structure) is functionally defined in 3GPP TS 23.503. It is a collection containing one or more UE routing policy rules. A typical UE routing policy rule includes: a priority value, a traffic descriptor, one or more routing descriptors, and validity criteria (e.g., the time and / or location at which the UE routing policy rule applies). The validity criteria are usually part of the routing descriptors. The priority value of a UE routing policy rule indicates its priority among all existing UE routing policy rules (whether existing at the UE or transmitted as part of the UE routing policy information). Traffic descriptors include full-match traffic descriptors, or at least one of the following components: one or more application identifiers; one or more IP 3-tuples as defined in 3GPP TS 23.503, i.e., destination IP address, destination port number, and protocol used on the IP; one or more non-IP descriptors, i.e., destination information for non-IP traffic; one or more DNNs (data network names); one or more connectivity capabilities; and one or more domain descriptors, i.e., destination FQDNs (fully qualified domain names).

[0027] Each routing descriptor includes a routing descriptor priority value, a non-seamless non-3GPP offload indication, or a PDU session type, and (optionally) one or more of the following: SSC mode (session and service continuity mode), one or more S-NSSAI (single network slice selection aids), one or more DNNs, preferred access type, multiple access preferences, time window, and location criteria.

[0028] In this context, the time window indication and location criteria are part of the routing descriptor, even though they do not actually describe traffic routes, but correspond to routing validation criteria: a given or considered routing descriptor is considered valid only if it meets all the provided validation criteria, and controls the validity of the elements.

[0029] Regarding the application of user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information, for each newly detected application (i.e., an uplink data stream that needs to be transmitted by the user equipment), the user equipment evaluates the available (i.e., stored or received) user equipment routing policy rules in order of rule priority and determines whether the application matches any URSP rule traffic descriptor; when it is determined that a URSP rule is applicable to a given application, the user equipment routes the traffic of that application according to the routing descriptor of that URSP rule.

[0030] According to the present invention, it is advantageous, possible, and preferred, that in the second step, in the case where a specific energy-related information element corresponds to energy-related information of a user equipment, specific user equipment routing policy information can be applied, and wherein in the case where a specific energy-related information element does not correspond to energy-related information of a user equipment, specific user equipment routing policy information is not applied.

[0031] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0032] According to the invention, it is further advantageous, possibly and preferably, that the energy-related information and / or energy-related information elements relate to or indicate at least one of the following: -- the amount or relative amount of available energy, or a threshold, range, or tag of energy efficiency, relating to user equipment or devices locally connected to or associated with user equipment; -- a threshold, range, or tag of the amount or relative amount of energy available to a base station entity or radio cell of a telecommunications network (which may potentially serve user equipment); -- a threshold, range, or tag of energy cost, particularly the energy cost to the user or user equipment, particularly relating to surcharges for the use of a particular radio cell, or as a billing indicator or cost tag; -- a threshold, range, or tag of energy intensity or efficiency of data transmission; -- a threshold, range, or tag of the type or category of energy generation used, particularly whether the energy used is renewable, and / or whether a particular energy generation technology is used, and / or whether a particular maximum threshold or range of greenhouse gas emissions is complied with.

[0033] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous, possible, and preferred that the specific user equipment routing policy information includes specific energy-related information elements according to at least one of the following: -- traffic descriptor, -- routing descriptor, -- routing verification criteria, -- as energy-related information elements.

[0035] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be implemented and carried out efficiently in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous, possible, and preferred that the specific user equipment routing policy information includes at least one specific user equipment routing policy rule, wherein a specific energy-related information element is part of the specific user equipment routing policy rule, particularly according to at least one of the following: -- The specific energy-related information element is part of the specific user equipment routing policy rule as part of at least one of its specific routing descriptors, particularly in addition to the priority value, traffic descriptor, and / or at least one other routing descriptor; -- The specific energy-related information element is part of the specific user equipment routing policy rule as part of at least one of its specific traffic descriptors (part of or one of the connectivity capability information elements of the specific traffic descriptor), particularly in addition to the priority value, routing descriptor, and / or at least one other traffic descriptor.

[0037] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageous, possible, and preferred, that the method further includes the following steps: particularly before or during the first step, the user equipment includes or receives energy-related information, wherein the energy-related information particularly includes mapping information, wherein the energy-related information is transmitted to the user equipment, particularly using a secure channel (particularly within a non-access stratum message and / or a container therein).

[0039] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageous, possible, and preferred, that specific energy-related information elements and / or energy-related information are transmitted to the user equipment using at least one of the following mechanisms or possibilities: -- transmission via or using radio cellular broadcast (especially via broadcast control channels, especially using system information blocks), -- transmission via or using access stratum signaling from the access network serving the user equipment, and / or transmission via or using radio resource control signaling, -- transmission via or using non-access stratum signaling from the user equipment or the core network serving the user equipment, wherein, in particular, transmission via or using non-access stratum signaling utilizes access and mobility containers, and / or closed access group information, and / or dedicated non-access stratum messages, and / or user equipment configuration update procedures, and / or user equipment parameter update procedures, and / or roaming procedure guidance.

[0041] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner.

[0042] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for receiving and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operated or when connected to a telecommunications network, wherein the user equipment includes or is able to access or acquire energy-related information, and wherein the user equipment routing policy information includes energy-related information elements, wherein, in order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information, the user equipment is configured such that: -- the user equipment includes or receives specific user equipment routing policy information to be evaluated, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information includes or is associated with specific energy-related information elements, -- the user equipment applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information depending on whether the specific energy-related information elements of the specific user equipment routing policy information correspond to the energy-related information.

[0043] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or telecommunication network for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment or when operating user equipment connected to a telecommunication network, wherein the user equipment includes or is able to access or obtain energy-related information, and wherein the user equipment routing policy information includes energy-related information elements, wherein, in order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information, the system or telecommunication network is configured such that: -- the user equipment includes or receives specific user equipment routing policy information to be evaluated, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information includes or is associated with specific energy-related information elements; -- the user equipment applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information depending on whether the specific energy-related information elements of the specific user equipment routing policy information correspond to the energy-related information.

[0044] Additionally, the present invention relates to a program comprising computer-readable program code that, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment and / or on a network node of a telecommunications network, or partially on a user equipment and / or partially on a network node of a telecommunications network, causes the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the telecommunications network to perform the method according to the invention.

[0045] Additionally, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment and / or at a network node of a telecommunications network, or partially on a user equipment and / or partially at a network node of a telecommunications network, cause the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the telecommunications network to perform the method of the present invention.

[0046] These and other features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the principles of the invention are illustrated by way of example. This specification is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings cited below. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a telecommunications network including an access network, a core network, and user equipment. The core network typically includes several network functions or services, such as policy and charging functions, which are usually configured to transmit user equipment routing policy information to the user equipment.

[0048] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the transmission of user equipment routing policy information toward the user equipment.

[0049] Figure 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the structure of user equipment routing policy information according to the present invention.

[0050] Figure 4 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the structure of the user equipment routing policy information according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0051] The invention will be described with respect to specific embodiments and with reference to certain accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto, but is defined only by the claims. The described drawings are merely illustrative and not restrictive. In the drawings, some elements may be enlarged and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0052] Use the indefinite or definite article when referring to a singular noun. For example, unless otherwise specified, “one,” “a,” and “the” include the plural form of the noun.

[0053] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third, etc., used in the specification and claims are used to distinguish between similar elements and are not necessarily used to describe order or chronological sequence. It is to be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate, and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in an order different from that described or illustrated herein.

[0054] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a telecommunications network 100 including an access network 110 and a core network 120. The access network 110 includes multiple radio cells 11, 12. In the exemplary case or scenario shown in Figure 1, a first base station entity 111 is generated, associated with, or spans the first radio cell 11, and a second base station entity 112 is generated, associated with, or spans the second radio cell 12. User equipment 20 is schematically shown, and user equipment 20 includes user equipment routing policy information 400 (i.e., one user equipment routing policy rule or multiple user equipment routing policy rules). Furthermore, user equipment 20 includes (or has access to or can obtain) energy-related information 22.

[0055] User equipment 20 is typically, but not necessarily, mobile, i.e., capable of moving relative to (typically, but not necessarily, static) radio cells 11, 12 or corresponding base station entities 111, 112 of access network 110. In the exemplary illustration of Figure 1, core network 120 includes or is connected to data network 130. Core network 120 provides data connectivity to user equipment 20 toward data network 130. Telecommunication network 100 (especially core network 120) typically includes several network functions or services, such as policy and charging function 131, which is typically configured to transmit user equipment routing policy information 400 to user equipment 20.

[0056] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the transmission of user equipment routing policy information 400 (or specific user equipment routing policy information 401) toward user equipment 20 using a communication diagram between user equipment 20, access network 110, and core network 120. According to the present invention, user equipment routing policy information 400 (or user equipment routing policy rule 400) is used by telecommunications network 100 to force user equipment 20 to use a set of rules to apply to or guide uplink traffic, i.e., how to route data packets to core network 120 and / or data network 130. Specifically, such user equipment routing policy information or rule 400 (or such specific user equipment routing policy information or rule 401) instructs or directs user equipment 20 to direct specific traffic to a given or predetermined PDU (Protocol Data Unit) session. Specifically, such (specific) user equipment routing policy rules or information 400 or 401 are set or defined by the core network 120 of the telecommunications network 100. That is, the telecommunications network 100 (or its core network 120) sets the (considered) specific user equipment routing policy rules or information 401 by transmitting the corresponding message to the user equipment 20 as part of the control data flow exchange (control plane) between the telecommunications network 100 and the user equipment 20 on the air interface between the user equipment 20 and the corresponding access network element (typically base station entities 111, 112, such as, for example, g B node entities). As a result of the user equipment 20 receiving a specific user equipment routing policy rule (or multiple rules) 401 or a specific user equipment routing policy information 401, the user equipment 20 applies such rules or information (during the second processing step 202), that is, the user equipment 20 routes the traffic, especially the application traffic (in the uplink direction toward the telecommunications network 100) that matches the corresponding (specific) user equipment routing policy rule or information 400, 401, according to the provisions or requirements of the (specific) user equipment routing policy rule / information 400, 401 (during or during the third processing step 203).

[0057] According to the present invention, it should be understood that fragments of the user equipment routing policy information 400 (i.e., user equipment routing policy rules) itself, particularly its structure, are defined in a manner such as to include energy-related information elements. With respect to a particular user equipment routing policy information 401 under consideration, such particular user equipment routing policy information 401 includes or is associated with a particular energy-related information element, which is indicated by reference numeral 441.

[0058] Figures 3 and 4 schematically illustrate different exemplary embodiments of the possible structures of user equipment routing policy information 400 (or more precisely, specific user equipment routing policy information 401) according to the present invention, wherein the exemplary representations of Figures 3 and 4 show that the (specific) user equipment routing policy information 400, 401 includes a plurality of user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490 (i.e., a first user equipment routing policy rule 460, a second user equipment routing policy rule 470, a third user equipment routing policy rule 480, and a fifth user equipment routing policy rule 490), and wherein, for simplicity, only the structure of one of these rules (i.e., user equipment routing policy rule 460 or the first user equipment routing policy rule 460) is schematically shown; however, it should be understood that other user equipment routing policy rules 470, 480, 490 can be constructed similarly.

[0059] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as exemplarily shown in FIG3, in addition to the priority value 461, the traffic descriptor 462, and at least one routing descriptor (list) 463, the energy-related information element 441 of the (first) user equipment routing policy rule 460 is also part thereof. That is, the (first) user equipment routing policy rule 460 includes a specific energy-related information element 441 in addition to the (or its) priority value 461, the (or its) traffic descriptor 462, and at least one routing descriptor (list) 463. In the exemplary representation of FIG3, the routing descriptor (list) 463 further includes a routing component 464 and a routing verification criterion 465.

[0060] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as exemplarily shown in FIG4, the (first) user equipment routing policy rule 460 again includes a priority value 461, a traffic descriptor 462, and at least one routing descriptor (list) 463, wherein the access mode related validity element 441 of the (first) user equipment routing policy rule 460 is part of such at least one routing descriptor (list) 463, that is, the user equipment routing policy rule 460 includes a specific access mode related validity element 441 as part of at least one routing descriptor (list) 463, or in addition to the routing component 464 and the routing verification criterion 465, or as part of the routing verification criterion 465 (as schematically shown in FIG4).

[0061] According to the present invention, the (specific) user equipment routing policy information 400, 401 may include one user equipment routing policy rule 460 or multiple user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490. In any case, according to the invention, the specific energy-related information element 441 is preferably part of one (i.e., only) user equipment routing policy rule 460 (in the (specific) user equipment routing policy information 400, 401), or, in the case where multiple user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490 exist (in the (specific) user equipment routing policy information 400, 401), the specific energy-related information element 441 is part of one of these user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490; alternatively, the specific energy-related information element 441 is part of more than one of these user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490 (or, alternatively, multiple specific energy-related information elements 441 are part of such user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490). Whether in the case where a user equipment routing policy rule exists as part of (specific) user equipment routing policy elements 400, 401, or in the case where more than one rule exists, (specific) energy-related information element 441 is part of at least one routing descriptor (list) 463, and / or in addition to the priority value 461, traffic descriptor 462, and at least one routing descriptor (list) 463 of the one or more user equipment routing policy rules or rules 460, 470, 480, 490.

[0062] Apart from the specific energy-related information element 441, the structure of the (specific) user equipment routing policy information 400, 401 corresponds to the definition in the current version of 3GPP TS 23.503, that is, it is or corresponds to a set containing one or more user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490, wherein the user equipment routing policy rule or each user equipment routing policy rule 460, 470, 480, 490 typically includes three parts: a priority value, a traffic descriptor, and one or more routing descriptors.

[0063] Regarding the user equipment 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is assumed that the telecommunications network 100 may be a standalone non-public network (SNPN) and / or a public land mobile network (PLMN). User equipment 20 includes (or accesses) energy-related information 22.

[0064] According to the present invention, the specific user equipment routing policy information 401 is either received by the user equipment 20 (and transmitted by the telecommunications network 100), or alternatively, the user equipment 20 has included the specific user equipment routing policy information 401.

[0065] In any case, the specific user equipment routing policy information 401 is evaluated (especially regarding user plane traffic transmitted by user equipment 20 in the uplink direction), and user equipment 20 applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information 401 including the specific energy-related information element 441, depending on whether the specific energy-related information element 441 of the specific user equipment routing policy information 401 corresponds to the energy-related information element 22.

[0066] Examples include the following: Energy-related information 22 and / or energy-related information element 441 may relate to or indicate energy-based criteria such as: -- the amount or efficiency of available energy, such as battery high / low (i.e., a threshold, range, or tag for the amount or relative amount of available energy of user equipment 20, or locally connected or associated with user equipment 20, and / or a threshold, range, or tag for the amount or relative amount of available energy of base station entities or radio cells of telecommunications network 100 (which base station entities or radio cells are potentially capable of serving user equipment 20), such as whether the user equipment is using a power-saving mode, whether the user equipment has activated or is and / or is capable of using power-saving features, -- Energy costs, which may also be user costs incurred due to energy, i.e., surcharges or billing indicators for using a specific radio cell, or “cost values” or “cost tags,” such as “low cost,” “high cost” (i.e., thresholds, ranges, or tags regarding energy costs, especially energy costs for users or user equipment 20, particularly surcharges or billing indicators or cost tags regarding the use of a specific radio cell), -- origin, such as country or region, i.e., whether the (electric) energy is locally generated—e.g., whether the energy is collaboratively shared among members within a closed group, or the nature / type of the energy, such as whether the energy is sustainably generated or how sustainable it is—(i.e., thresholds, ranges, or tags regarding the type or category of energy generated, especially whether the energy used is renewable, and / or whether specific energy generation technologies are used, and / or whether specific maximum thresholds or ranges for greenhouse gas emissions are complied with), -- The energy intensity or efficiency of data transmission, such as the amount (threshold, range, or label of energy intensity of data transmission) related to CO2 emissions (or equivalent CO2 emissions) generated by using the transmission in a particular manner, and the (estimated) amount of energy required for a given transmission.

[0067] Thus, user equipment 20 may select between different telecommunications networks or mobile communication networks, and / or between different base station entities. That is, in practical applications of the present invention, user equipment 20 will be able to use its user equipment routing policy rules to guide (uplink user plane) traffic (depending on energy-related information 22 and specific energy-related information elements 441 of specific user equipment routing policy information 401, and depending on whether they match) so as to use radio cells (or mobile communication networks) powered by renewable energy, and / or avoid using radio cells (or mobile communication networks) with low battery power, and / or use radio cells (or mobile communication networks) with current low energy cost / occupancy, and / or especially use conventionally powered radio cells (or mobile communication networks) in cases where no better match can be found.

[0068] Therefore, according to the present invention, by adding energy-related criteria to the specific user equipment routing policy information 401 (especially in the routing descriptor of the specific user equipment routing policy rule), it is advantageous that the telecommunications network (especially the home network of user equipment 20) can instruct user equipment 20 to route specific matching traffic (it should be understood that the traffic descriptor may be unrelated to energy efficiency and may only match video streaming applications) only to resources that match the specified criteria, such as radio cells using renewable energy.

[0069] According to the present invention, it is further advantageous that the association between application traffic and user equipment routing policy rules can be realized based on energy-related information.

[0070] As an alternative to the routing descriptor (or in combination with it), this invention proposes incorporating energy-related information into the traffic descriptor (TD). Applications generating traffic can request specific capabilities from the network. In this case, a connectivity capability (CC) information element (IE) is proposed in the traffic descriptor of the extended URSP rule, allowing the application to indicate its need for specific energy characteristics for the traffic it wishes to handle.

[0071] One example is an application that is part of an end-to-end (E2E) service and is legally required to provide E2E “green service.” This service requirement cannot be met unless a radio cell powered by green energy is selected; in this case, energy-related information 22 is part of (or transmitted as part of) such an application, or is selected, and the specific user equipment routing policy information 401 is applied only if a specific energy-related information element 441 of the specific user equipment routing policy information 401 meets such a requirement.

[0072] Therefore, conditional validity of such considered UE routing policy rules (or UE routing policy information) based on energy criteria is achieved—that is, depending on whether energy-related information 22 and specific energy-related information elements 441 correspond to or match it. Therefore, according to the invention, it is advantageous to apply UE routing policy rules only when specific energy-related conditions are met; practical examples include (but are not limited to): -- activating UE routing policy rules for transmitting traffic via high-performance network slices (e.g., S-NSSAI / DNN) only when the access network is energy-efficient (or meets a specific or predefined energy efficiency level or range); -- activating UE routing policy rules for transmitting traffic via WiFi access (e.g., prioritizing non-3GPP access to avoid sudden PDU session failures in the event of sudden radio node downtime) if there is no energy-efficient 3GPP-based access network;

[0073] According to the invention, alternative route verification descriptors (or combinations thereof) may also be, and preferably, evaluated only when user equipment 20 is operating in a particular energy-dependent mode, particularly when user equipment 20 is operating in an energy-efficient mode.

[0074] Alternatively or cumulatively, according to the invention, it is also possible and preferred to achieve indirect association of energy-related information, i.e., not (or in addition to) directly transmitting energy-related information, the user equipment can evaluate and provide an indirect mapping to the user equipment, which can be transmitted, for example, via a secure channel (as opposed to, for example, via a System Information Block (SIB)); practical examples include (but are not limited to): -- transmitting a mapping (information) that associates a specific network (e.g., Public Land Mobile Network A) with "green energy"; -- transmitting user equipment routing policy rules that associate a specific application (e.g., application X) with the use of green energy; -- by combining the content of the user equipment routing policy rules and the individual mappings, the user equipment associates the traffic of application X with public land mobile network A.

[0075] Regarding the transmission of energy-related information 22 and / or specific energy-related information elements 441, especially energy-related data—that is, the transmission of energy-related information or mappings of energy-related information to user equipment 20—according to the present invention, several methods can be used: -- Via access network 110, especially radio access network, considering the use of SIB (e.g., cell broadcast) or access layer signaling (AS); thus, the transmission of energy information (or energy-related information 22) to user equipment 20 is realized from (radio) access network 110 to user equipment 20; -- From core network (CN) 120, considering the transmission of energy-related information 22 via non-access layer NAS (message), i.e., from core network 120; in this regard, non-access layer can be used to employ several methods and / or procedures: -- Access and Mobility (AM) containers can be used, which are used to guide mobility-related information and can be used for the transmission of mapping information (i.e., energy-related information 22); -- Alternatively or cumulatively, Closed Access Group (CAG) information can be used; since this information is used for cell selection, according to the present invention, it is recommended to incorporate energy-related information into the CAG identifier; -- Alternatively or cumulatively, dedicated NAS messages can be used, which use different (new) information element types (IE types) to transmit energy-related information 22; -- Alternatively or cumulatively, User Equipment Configuration Update (UCU) procedures can be used, which are currently used to transmit User Equipment routing policy rules / information; -- Alternatively or cumulatively, User Equipment Parameter Update (UPU) procedures can be used; -- Alternatively or cumulatively, Roaming Guidance (SoR) procedures can be used; particularly regarding the use of SoR procedures, according to the invention, it is possible and preferred that a network guides traffic when the UE is registered in another network (e.g., when it is roaming). In this scenario, the (specific) energy-related information element 441 included in the (specific) user equipment routing policy rule of the home network (or H-PLMN) of user equipment 20 can be combined with (existing) roaming-related information (i.e., energy-related information 22) to enable user equipment 20 to consider all available information while roaming. In particular, user equipment 20 can make a selection based on energy-related information 22 regarding a first network (e.g., a first public land mobile network) and / or energy-related information 22 regarding a second network (e.g., a second public land mobile network) (or other energy-related information 22). For example, it can select the second network instead of the first network based on its respective energy-related information 22 (and also based on the (specific) energy-related information element 441 of the user equipment routing policy information or rule).

[0076] Therefore, according to the invention, it is advantageous to send a (specific) user equipment routing policy rule to user equipment 20 (via a mobile network), wherein the specific user equipment routing policy rule includes or is associated with (at least one specific) energy-related information element 441 (e.g., in a traffic descriptor, route verification, and / or route descriptor), wherein user equipment 20 uses energy-related information element 441 and energy-related information 22 to associate incoming application traffic with the user equipment routing policy rule.

[0077] Energy-related information element 441 specifically corresponds to or relates to any of the following: -- the amount of available energy, -- energy efficiency, -- energy cost, -- the source or nature / type of energy (e.g., whether it is renewablely generated), -- the energy intensity of data transmission.

[0078] In particular, energy-related information 22 can be provided by the application when requesting data transmission, so that the user equipment routing policy rules can use the information as part of the traffic descriptor, especially since the energy-related information is included in the connectivity capability information element.

[0079] In addition, specifically, energy-related information element 441 is included in the traffic descriptor of the user equipment routing policy rule, particularly as part of the connectivity capability information element or as a new information element.

[0080] In addition, particularly, a mobile network or another mobile network provides energy-related information to a user device, wherein the energy-related information pertains to that mobile network or the other mobile network, which in particular covers situations where network A provides information about itself or about network B (and vice versa).

[0081] In particular, the association between a specific network, cell, frequency, and / or slice and energy-related information 22 is sent by the mobile network (preferably repeatedly, e.g., in the case of updates) (this also involves indirect setting of energy-related information rather than direct transmission), especially via: -- SIB broadcasts (e.g., MIB / SIB1), on-demand SIBs, -- RRC signaling, -- non-access stratum signaling, such as in access and mobility (AM) containers, roaming bootstrap messages, closed access group (CAG) information, dedicated NAS messages, user equipment configuration update (UCU) procedures, user equipment parameter update (UPU) procedures, and roaming bootstrap (SoR) procedures.

[0082] (Specific) energy-related information element 441 is particularly included in: -- in the routing descriptor of the user equipment routing policy rule, particularly relating to information received for the network, particularly the (radio) access network of a mobile network or another mobile network, particularly as part of the access type preference information element or as a new information element; -- in the routing verification criteria of the user equipment routing policy rule, particularly as part of the network-related information element or as a new information element.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information (400) when operating user equipment (20) or when operating user equipment (20) connected to a telecommunications network (100), wherein the user equipment (20) includes or is able to access or obtain energy-related information (22), and wherein the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes energy-related information elements, wherein, In order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information (401), the method includes the following steps: -- In a first step, the user equipment (20) includes or receives the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) to be evaluated, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) includes or is associated with a specific energy-related information element (441); -- In a second step, the user equipment (20) applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) depending on whether the specific energy-related information element (441) of the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) corresponds to the energy-related information (22).

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein, In the second step, if the specific energy-related information element (441) corresponds to the energy-related information (22) of the user equipment (20), the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) can be applied, and if the specific energy-related information element (441) does not correspond to the energy-related information (22) of the user equipment (20), the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) is not applied.

3. The method as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy-related information (22) and / or the specific energy-related information element (441) relates to or indicates at least one of the following: -- a threshold or range or label of the amount or relative amount of energy available to the user equipment (20) or a device locally connected to or associated with the user equipment (20), -- a threshold or range or label of the amount or relative amount of energy available to a base station entity or radio cell of the telecommunications network (100), wherein the base station entity or radio cell is potentially capable of serving the user equipment (20), -- a threshold or range or label of energy cost, particularly the energy cost to the user or the user equipment (20), particularly the surcharge for the use of a specific radio cell or as a billing indicator or cost label, -- a threshold or range or label of energy intensity or efficiency of data transmission, -- a threshold or range or label of the type or category of energy generation used, particularly whether the energy used is renewable and / or whether a specific energy generation technology is used and / or whether a specific maximum threshold or range of greenhouse gas emissions is complied with.

4. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) includes the specific energy-related information element (441) according to at least one of the following: -- traffic descriptor, -- routing descriptor, -- routing verification criteria, -- as energy-related information element.

5. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) comprises at least one specific user equipment routing policy rule, wherein the specific energy-related information element (441) is part of the specific user equipment routing policy rule, particularly according to at least one of the following: -- the specific energy-related information element (441) is part of at least one specific routing descriptor of the specific user equipment routing policy rule and, in particular, in addition to a priority value, a traffic descriptor, and / or at least one other routing descriptor, is part of the specific user equipment routing policy rule; -- the specific energy-related information element (441) is part of at least one specific traffic descriptor of the specific user equipment routing policy rule, particularly as part of a connectivity capability information element of the specific traffic descriptor, or as part of one of the connectivity capability information elements and, in particular, in addition to a priority value, a routing descriptor, and / or at least one other traffic descriptor, is part of the specific user equipment routing policy rule.

6. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises the following steps, particularly before or during the first step, wherein the user equipment (20) includes or receives the energy-related information (22), wherein the energy-related information (22) particularly includes mapping information, wherein, in particular, the energy-related information (22) is transmitted to the user equipment (20) using a secure channel, particularly in a container within a non-access stratum message and / or the non-access stratum message.

7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the specific energy-related information element (441) and / or the energy-related information element (22) is transmitted to the user equipment (20) using at least one of the following mechanisms or possibilities: -- transmission via or using radio cellular broadcast, particularly via broadcast control channel, particularly using system information block; -- transmission via or using access stratum signaling from the access network serving the user equipment (20), and / or transmission via or using radio resource control signaling; -- transmission via or using non-access stratum signaling from the user equipment (20) or the core network serving the user equipment (20), wherein, in particular, transmission via or using non-access stratum signaling uses access and mobility containers, and / or closed access group information, and / or dedicated non-access stratum messages, and / or user equipment configuration update procedures, and / or user equipment parameter update procedures, and / or roaming procedure guidance.

8. A user equipment (20) for receiving and / or using user equipment routing policy information (400) when operated or when operated in connection with a telecommunications network (100), wherein the user equipment (20) includes or is able to access or acquire energy-related information (22), and wherein the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes energy-related information elements, wherein, In order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information (401), the user equipment (20) is configured such that: -- the user equipment (20) includes or receives the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) to be evaluated, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) includes or is associated with a specific energy-related information element (441); -- the user equipment (20) applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) depending on whether the specific energy-related information element (441) of the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) corresponds to the energy-related information (22).

9. A system or telecommunications network (100) for transmitting and / or using user equipment routing policy information (400) when operating user equipment (20) or when operating user equipment (20) connected to a telecommunications network (100), wherein the user equipment (20) includes or is able to access or obtain energy-related information (22), and wherein the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes energy-related information elements, wherein, In order to transmit and / or use specific user equipment routing policy information (401), the system or telecommunications network (100) is configured such that: -- the user equipment (20) includes or receives the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) to be evaluated, wherein the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) includes or is associated with a specific energy-related information element (441); -- the user equipment (20) applies or does not apply the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) depending on whether the specific energy-related information element (441) of the specific user equipment routing policy information (401) corresponds to the energy-related information (22).

10. A program comprising computer-readable program code, which, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment (20) and / or on a network node of a telecommunications network (100), or partially on the user equipment (20) and / or partially on a network node of a telecommunications network (100), causes the computer and / or the user equipment (20) and / or the network node of the telecommunications network (100) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

11. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment (20) and / or on a network node of a telecommunications network (100), or partially on the user equipment (20) and / or partially on a network node of a telecommunications network (100), cause the computer and / or the user equipment (20) and / or the network node of the telecommunications network (100) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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