Method to improve analytics via utilizing physical environment digital twin

Abstract

A method and apparatuses for utilising a physical environment digital twin to generate analytics. An apparatus (e.g. a network data analytics function, NWDAF) 520 receives a request for analytics from

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The examples and non-limiting example embodiments relate generally to communications and, more particularly, to a method to improve analytics of a communication network. BACKGROUND

[0002] It is known for a communication device to gain access to a communication network via a radio access network node. SUMMARY

[0003] In accordance with an aspect, an apparatus includes means for receiving, from a network node, a request for analytics; means for collecting data related to at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; means for generating analytics using the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for transmitting, to the network node, the analytics generated using the collected data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the analytics.

[0004] In accordance with an aspect, an apparatus includes means for maintaining at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; means for receiving a request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for transmitting the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is configured to be used to generate analytics.

[0005] In accordance with an aspect, an apparatus includes means for receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; means for forwarding, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the at least one instance of the physical 1 environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network data analytics function; means for receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for forwarding, to the network data analytics function, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0006] In accordance with an aspect, an apparatus includes means for receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for an address of at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; and means for transmitting, to the network data analytics function, the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The foregoing aspects and other features are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting system in which the example embodiments may be practiced.

[0009] FIG. 2 shows examples of analytics supported by an NWDAF.

[0010] FIG 3 is a table from the 3GPP specification showing an example of input data granularity input for UE mobility behavior NWDAF analytics.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a table from the 3GPP specification showing an example of input data granularity output for UE mobility behavior NWDAF analytics.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a signaling diagram showing incorporating a physical environment digital twin (PEDT) in NWDAF analytics generation.

[0013] FIG. 6 is an example apparatus configured to implement the examples described herein.

[0014] FIG. 7 shows a representation of an example of non-volatile memory media used to store instructions that implement the examples described herein.

[0015] FIG. 8 is an example architecture that implements the examples described herein.

[0016] FIG. 9 is an example method, based on the examples described herein.

[0017] FIG. 10 is an example method, based on the examples described herein.

[0018] FIG. 11 is an example method, based on the examples described herein.

[0019] FIG. 12 is an example method, based on the examples described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Turning to FIG. 1, this figure shows a block diagram of one possible and nonlimiting example in which the examples may be practiced. A user equipment (UE) 110, radio access network (RAN) node 170, and network element(s) 190 are illustrated. In the example of FIG. 1, the user equipment (UE) 110 is in wireless communication with a wireless network 100. A UE is a wireless device that can access the wireless network 100. The UE 110 includes one or more processors 120, one or more memories 125, and one or more transceivers 130 interconnected through one or more buses 127. Each of the one or more transceivers 130 includes a receiver, Rx, 132 and a transmitter, Tx, 133. The one or more buses 127 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, and the like. The one or more transceivers 130 are connected to one or more antennas 128. The one or more memories 125 include computer program code 123. The UE 110 includes a module 140, comprising one of or both parts 140-1 and / or 140-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module 140 may be implemented in hardware as module 140-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 120. The module 140-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module 140 may be implemented as module 140-2, which is implemented as computer program code 123 and is executed by the one or more processors 120. For instance, the one or more memories 125 and the computer program code 123 may be configured to, with the one or more processors 120, cause the user equipment 110 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. The UE 110 communicates with RAN node 170 via a wireless link 111.

[0021] The RAN node 170 in this example is a base station that provides access for wireless devices such as the UE 110 to the wireless network 100. The RAN node 170 may be, for example, a base station for 5G, also called New Radio (NR). In 5G, the RAN node 170 may be a NG-RAN node, which is defined as either a gNB or an ng-eNB. A gNB is a node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface (such as connection 131) to a 5GC (such as, for example, the network element(s) 190). The ng-eNB is a node providing E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface (such as connection 131) to the 5GC. The NG-RAN node may include multiple gNBs, which may also include a central unit (CU) (gNB-CU) 196 and distributed unit(s) (DUs) (gNB-DUs), of which DU 195 is shown. Note that the DU 195 may include or be coupled to and control a radio unit (RU). The gNB-CU 196 is a logical node hosting radio resource control (RRC), SDAP and PDCP protocols of the gNB or RRC and PDCP protocols of the en-gNB that control the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU 196 terminates the Fl interface connected with the gNB-DU 195. The Fl interface is illustrated as reference 198, although reference 198 also illustrates a link between remote elements of the RAN node 170 and centralized elements of the RAN node 170, such as between the gNB-CU 196 and the gNB-DU 195. The gNB-DU 195 is a logical node hosting RLC, MAC and PHY layers of the gNB or en-gNB, and its operation is partly controlled by gNB-CU 196. One gNB-CU 196 supports one or multiple cells. One cell may be supported with one gNB-DU 195, or one cell may be supported / shared with multiple DUs under RAN sharing. The gNB-DU 195 terminates the Fl interface 198 connected with the gNB-CU 196. Note that the DU 195 is considered to include the transceiver 160, e.g., as part of a RU, but some examples of this may have the transceiver 160 as part of a separate RU, e.g., under control of and connected to the DU 195. The RAN node 170 may also be an eNB (evolved NodeB) base station, for LTE (long term evolution), or any other suitable base station or node.

[0022] The RAN node 170 includes one or more processors 152, one or more memories 155, one or more network interfaces (N / W I / F(s)) 161, and one or more transceivers 160 interconnected through one or more buses 157. Each of the one or more transceivers 160 includes a receiver, Rx, 162 and a transmitter, Tx, 163. The one or more transceivers 160 are connected to one or more antennas 158. The one or more memories 155 include computer program code 153. The CU 196 may include the processor(s) 152, one or more memories 155, and network interfaces 161. Note that the DU 195 may also contain its own memory / memories and processor(s), and / or other hardware, but these are not shown.

[0023] The RAN node 170 includes a module 150, comprising one of or both parts 150-1 and / or 150-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module 150 may be implemented in hardware as module 150-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 152. The module 150-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module 150 may be implemented as module 150-2, which is implemented as computer program code 153 and is executed by the one or more processors 152. For instance, the one or more memories 155 and the computer program code 153 are configured to, with the one or more processors 152, cause the RAN node 170 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. Note that the functionality of the module 150 may be distributed, such as being distributed between the DU 195 and the CU 196, or be implemented solely in the DU 195.

[0024] The one or more network interfaces 161 communicate over a network such as via the links 176 and 131. Two or more gNBs 170 may communicate using, e.g., link 176. The link 176 may be wired or wireless or both and may implement, for example, an Xn interface for 5G, an X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards.

[0025] The one or more buses 157 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, wireless channels, and the like. For example, the one or more transceivers 160 may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) 195 for LTE or a distributed unit (DU) 195 for gNB implementation for 5G, with the other elements of the RAN node 170 possibly being physically in a different location from the RRH / DU 195, and the one or more buses 157 could be implemented in part as, for example, fiber optic cable or other suitable network connection to connect the other elements (eg., a central unit (CU), gNB-CU 196) of the RAN node 170 to the RRH / DU 195. Reference 198 also indicates those suitable network link(s).

[0026] A RAN node / gNB can comprise one or more TRPs to which the methods described herein may be applied. FIG. 1 shows that the RAN node 170 comprises TRP 51 and TRP 52, in addition to the TRP represented by transceiver 160. Similar to transceiver 160, TRP 51 and TRP 52 may each include a transmitter and a receiver. The RAN node 170 may host or comprise other TRPs not shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] A relay node in NR is called an integrated access and backhaul node. A mobile termination part of the IAB node facilitates the backhaul (parent link) connection. In other words, the mobile termination part comprises the functionality which carries UE functionalities. The distributed unit part of the IAB node facilitates the so called access link (child link) connections (i.e. for access link UEs, and backhaul for other IAB nodes, in the case of multi-hop IAB). In other words, the distributed unit part is responsible for certain base station functionalities. The IAB scenario may follow the so called split architecture, where the central unit hosts the higher layer protocols to the UE and terminates the control plane and user plane interfaces to the 5G core network.

[0028] It is noted that the description herein indicates that “cells” perform functions, but it should be clear that equipment which forms the cell may perform the functions. The cell makes up part of a base station. That is, there can be multiple cells per base station. For example, there could be three cells for a single carrier frequency and associated bandwidth, each cell covering one-third of a 360 degree area so that the single base station’s coverage area covers an approximate oval or circle. Furthermore, each cell can correspond to a single carrier and a base station may use multiple carriers. So if there are three 120 degree cells per carrier and two carriers, then the base station has a total of 6 cells.

[0029] The wireless network 100 may include a network element or elements 190 that may include core network functionality, and which provides connectivity via a link or links 181 with a further network, such as a telephone network and / or a data communications network (e.g., the Internet). Such core network functionality for 5G may include location management functions (LMF(s)) and / or access and mobility management function(s) (AMF(S)) and / or user plane functions (UPF(s)) and / or session management function(s) (SMF(s)). Such core network functionality for LTE may include MME (mobility management entity) / SGW (serving gateway) functionality. Such core network functionality may include SON (self-organizing / optimizing network) functionality. These are merely example functions that may be supported by the network element(s) 190, and note that both 5G and LTE functions might be supported. The RAN node 170 is coupled via a link 131 to the network element 190. The link 131 may be implemented as, e.g., an NG interface for 5G, or an SI interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards. The network element 190 includes one or more processors 175, one or more memories 171, and one or more network interfaces (N / W LF(s)) 6 180, interconnected through one or more buses 185. The one or more memories 171 include computer program code 173. Computer program code 173 may include SON and / or MRO functionality 172.

[0030] The wireless network 100 may implement network virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, or a virtual network. Network virtualization involves platform virtualization, often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized as either external, combining many networks, or parts of networks, into a virtual unit, or internal, providing network-like functionality to software containers on a single system. Note that the virtualized entities that result from the network virtualization are still implemented, at some level, using hardware such as processors 152 or 175 and memories 155 and 171, and also such virtualized entities create technical effects.

[0031] The computer readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, non-transitory memory, transitory memory, fixed memory and removable memory. The computer readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be means for performing storage functions. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as nonlimiting examples. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be means for performing functions, such as controlling the UE 110, RAN node 170, network element(s) 190, and other functions as described herein.

[0032] In general, the various example embodiments of the user equipment 110 can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones such as smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback devices having wireless communication capabilities, internet appliances including those permitting wireless internet access and browsing, tablets with wireless communication capabilities, head mounted displays such as those that 7 implement virtual / augmented / mixed reality, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions. The UE 110 can also be a vehicle such as a car, or a UE mounted in a vehicle, a UAV such as e.g. a drone, or a UE mounted in a UAV. The user equipment 110 may be terminal device, such as mobile phone, mobile device, sensor device etc., the terminal device being a device used by the user or not used by the user.

[0033] UE 110, RAN node 170, and / or network element(s) 190, (and associated memories, computer program code and modules) may be configured to implement (e.g. in part) the methods described herein. Thus, computer program code 123, module 140-1, module 140-2, and other elements / features shown in FIG. 1 of UE 110 may implement user equipment related aspects of the examples described herein. Similarly, computer program code 153, module 150-1, module 150-2, and other elements / features shown in FIG. 1 of RAN node 170 may implement gNB / TRP related aspects of the examples described herein. Computer program code 173 and other elements / features shown in FIG. 1 of network element(s) 190 may be configured to implement network element related aspects of the examples described herein.

[0034] Having thus introduced a suitable but non-limiting technical context for the practice of the example embodiments, the example embodiments are now described with greater specificity.

[0035] NWDAF (NetWork Data Analytics Function) is an NF (Network Function) in the CN (Core Network) that provides analytics in the form of statistics or predictions to authorized consumers which can be 0AM (Orchestration and Management), AF (Application Function) or other CN NFs. Analytics are generated based on the request, subscription or local / operator configuration. To generate the analytics, the NWDAF collects data from different entities such as 0AM, CN NFs, and AF. Examples of analytics supported by the NWDAF as of 3GPP Rei 18 TS 23.288 are provided in FIG. 2.

[0036] The quality of the generated analytics mainly depends on the availability of input data. Some other factors that determine the quality of the analytics include input data granularity, input data adherence to the analytics request characteristics, (I.e., one or more of time constraint for when the analytics response should be sent to the client, area or UE(s) which the analytics should focus on, etc.). Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an example regarding the input data granularity (item 310 and item 320), input (item 310 and item 320) and output (item 410) for NWDAF analytics “UE mobility behavior” is provided in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0037] For more information, please refer to TS 23.288 Table 6.7.2.2-1 and Table 6.7.2.3-1.

[0038] New input data or input data sources can provide improvements in the generated analytics. One such data source could be the digital twins. In the context of cellular networks, digital twinning involves the creation of a digital copy of the physical environment as well as network entities and their functionalities, such as CN, RAN, and UE. As these digital models mimic the real world / physical entity, the data that can be generated, while synthetic, is highly realistic making them a viable solution to address real data scarcity issues.

[0039] It is possible to use a digital twin (DT) of the CN NFs (physical resources and their simulation in the digital environment) as an input for improving NWDAF’s analytics. In this case, a digital twin controller network function can instantiate a DT of network functions (e.g., AMF Digital twin, SMF digital twin). DT can be used to generate additional data. The digital twin controller function can be discovered from a NRF (Network Repository Function). However, this approach does not consider the physical environment digital twin (PEDT) which can provide additional useful insights to different network operations (such as traffic steering, mobility management, radio resource utilization, etc.) and thus enable further optimizations.

[0040] A network digital twin (NDT)-consumer driven scoping and configuration method may be implemented and enabled, to define request characteristics from a consumer and the negotiation steps for the requested characteristics (e.g., hardware / software resources, data sources, synchronization conditions between real network entity and its requested NDT, etc.) between the consumer and the producer (so the desired NDT instance can be created and operated). Described herein is a method related to how a physical environment DT (PEDT) can be fetched and utilized for the analytics generation services, addressing the impacts on the interfaces and NFs focusing on a specific use case and its enablement in standardized interfaces.

[0041] Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a family of methods that allow accurate 3D physical map construction, such as buildings, roads, obstacles, etc. So, Simultaneous localization and mapping provides a means to create a digital twin of physical 9 environments. However, this is just an enabler for digital twin creation, and it does not address how such digital twin can be utilized in the network.

[0042] Regarding PEDT, the information of the physical environment can help scoping down the possibilities of the expected output values. Some examples on this scoping down can be given (1-7): 1) A UE in a forest area is more likely to experience NLOS (non-line of sight), 2) A reflecting material on the surface of a building may impact expected QoS for a UE, group of UEs, 3) A UE may prefer staying at home in bad weather conditions, meaning low mobility for the UE, 4) A UE in a vehicle is expected to follow the direction of the road, 5) A UE may change its usual route if it experiences blockage due to road constructions or high traffic jam due to road accidents, resulting to a lower number of UEs that could be expected in the affected areas and a higher number of UEs could be expected in alternative routes, 6) A UE, similar to point (3), would likely be in high-speed mobility (while crossing a highway, on board a train, etc.) or completely immobile (e.g., when at home or at the office) if the weather condition is bad, 7) Information obtained via keeping track of big objects that can have considerable blockage / shadowing impacts can indicate service interruption.

[0043] Further examples can cover different granularities offered by analytics, such as per UE, group of UEs, slice, specific area(s), etc. Thus, an instance of a PEDT as described herein may refer to a PEDT of, associated with, or related to a UE, a group of UEs, network slice, one or more specific areas, etc.

[0044] Physical attributes of the environment are currently not utilized in the network. This means that currently there is no means: (1) for the network to consider PEDT as a data source for generating analytics or network operation or service offering decisions, and (2) how to receive and / or collect the relevant PEDT data over the standardized interfaces.

[0045] The examples described herein improve the NWDAF analytics by enabling the use of a digital twin of (all or parts of) the physical environment. More specifically, NWDAF includes the physical environment digital twin (PEDT) as a new data source in its data collection process. The NWDAF collects data from the data source providing the physical environment digital twin which can be 0AM, AF, third (3rd) party app, a new CN NF (e.g., DTNF (Digital Twin Network Function)), RAN or NWDAF itself. The NWDAF can also subscribe to updates to the PEDT. The NWDAF generates the requested analytics utilizing the PEDT.

[0046] PEDT information is taken as input data by the NWDAF. Such input includes attributes regarding the physical element such as (1-6): 1) type (building, road, weather, area (farm, sea, etc.) etc.), 2) location, height, width, length, 3) surface material (or reflection, emission, dispersion characteristics), 4) mobility (mobile, immobile, etc.), 5) state change dynamics (static (e.g., building), semi-static (e.g., construction site), dynamic (e.g., weather)), 6) additional limitations (e.g., direction or traffic load in case the physical element is road), etc.

[0047] All or parts of the input data can be collected from different entities in the network, such as 0AM, AF(s), or even RAN / via RAN or outside the network such as a 3rd party app. There could also be a new entity in the CN (e.g., DTNF) that provides the input. In another alternative, NWDAF may implement a mechanism to collect any data to generate the PEDT as well.

[0048] NWDAF uses PEDT-generated data to fine tune its analytics generation processes, e.g., QoS / QoE analytics, UE behavior regarding mobility, location accuracy, relative proximity, etc.

[0049] NWDAF can also subscribe to the updates related to the PEDT and can be notified. Subscription to the updates can be for all or a subset of the elements / attributes. The event triggers for the updates for each element / attribute can be same or different. For example, updates on dynamic elements (such as changes in road traffic congestion, user mobility state (in a given area / road, etc.) can be requested every hour while more static elements (such as vegetation, buildings, forests, etc.) can be requested every month. This saves networks from the potential high payload on the notification messages.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows the steps in utilizing Physical Environment Digital Twin (PEDT) for NWDAF analytics generation. An assumption is that the PEDT 550 on the right of the call flow in FIG. 5 is able to provide a DT of a physical environment. FIG. 5 shows the signaling exchange between the consumer or intermediary node 510, the NWDAF 520, the NFs or 0AM 530, the ADRF 535, the NRF 540, and DT 550.

[0051] 1. NWDAF 520 receives a request for analytics. In the example, a subscribe / notify communication model is used, but a request / response model can also be used.

[0052] 2. NWDAF 520 starts data collection, a. This can include requesting digital twin of the physical environment, b. Such a request can be made directly towards the digital twin entity (or via the NEF) or via the 0AM 530. c. If directly or via the NEF, such request can be preceded by first discovering such digital twin entity by querying the NRF 540. Alternatively, PEDT entity information (I.e., address, etc.) can be configured at the NWDAF 520. d. The request can include the category or area or identifier if the identifier is known, e. The request can also include other request characteristics (e.g., only the road traffic information, etc.), f. The response includes the PEDT of the requested category, identifier and area information.

[0053] 3. NWDAF 520 generates the analytics, a. NWDAF 520 is capable of processing the received PEDT information together with other collected data to generate analytics. PEDT data can be images, text, etc. and can thus be provided in different data formats.

[0054] 4. NWDAF 520 sends the generated analytics response to the consumer.

[0055] 5. In case NWDAF 520 is subscribed to PEDT updates and there is an update in the DT 550 related to the subscription, refer to step 6.

[0056] 6. DT 550 sends subscription notify of updated PEDT to NWDAF 520 and / or 0AM 530. If 0AM 530 receives the subscription notify of the updated PEDT from DT 550, OAM 530 forwards the content to NWDAF 520.

[0057] 7 NWDAF 520 generates the analytics, a. NWDAF 520 is capable of processing the received PEDT information together with other collected data to generate analytics.

[0058] 8. NWDAF 520 sends the generated analytics response to the consumer.

[0059] Accordingly, FIG. 5 shows incorporating the PEDT in NWDAF Analytics Generation. Operation 1 shows the consumer and intermediary node transmitting an Nnwdaf^AnalyticsSubscription Subscriberequest message to the NWDAF 520 . Operation 2 is data collection performed with NWDAF 520, NFs or OAM 530, NRF 540, and DT 550, and includes operations 21, 22a and 22b. Operation 21 performed by NWDAF 520 and NFs or OAM 530 includes event subscriptions to NFs and getting notified of data collection from the ADRF 535 and the OAM 530.

[0060] Operation 22a (where the DT providing entity can be contacted by NWDAF 520 (via an NEF or directly)) includes operations 22a 1, 22a2, 22a3, 22a4, 22a5, and 22a6. Operation 22al includes the NWDAF 520 transmitting to the NRF 540 an Nnf_NFDiscovery Request message including physical environment DT services discovery, area, etc. Operation 22a2 includes the NRF 540 transmitting to the NWDAF 520 an Nnf NFDiscoveryResponse message including physical environment DT function instances offering requested services. Operation 22a3 includes the NWDAF 520 performing physical environment DT function selection. Operation 22a4 includes the NWDAF 520 transmitting to the DT 550 a physical environment DT subscribe request message having request characteristics, the request characteristics including an environment DT, an area, and an id and possibly other characteristics. Operation 22a5 performed with DT 550 includes checking if the DT is available, and if not instantiate DT generation. Operation 22a6 includes the DT 550 transmitting to the NWDAF 520 a physical environment DT (Notify) Response message including a physical environment DT, an area, and an id, and possibly other items, in response to the message transmitted during operation 22a4.

[0061] Operation 22b, where the DT providing entity can be contacted by 0AM 530, includes operations 22bl, 22b2, 22b3, 22b4, and 22b5. Operation 22bl includes the NWDAF 520 transmitting to the NFs or 0AM 530 a physical environment DT (Subscribe) Request message including request characteristics such as an environment DT, an area, an id, and possibly other characteristics. Operation 22b2 includes the NFs or OAM 530 transmitting to the DT 550 a physical environment DT (Subscribe) Request message including request characteristics such as an environment DT, an area, an id, and possibly other characteristics. Operation 22b3 performed with the DT 550 includes checking if a DT is available, and if not instantiating DT generation. Operation 22b4 includes the DT 550 transmitting to the NFs or OAM 530 a physical environment DT (Notify) Response message including an environment DT, an area, an id, and possibly other information, in response to the message transmitted at 22b2. Operation 22b5 includes the NFs or OAM 530 transmitting to the NWDAF 520 a physical environment DT (Notify) Response message including an environment DT, an area, and id, and possibly other information, in response to the message received during operation 22b 1.

[0062] Operation 3 performed with the NWDAF 520 includes preparing response content, including implementing a mechanism to process DT information and integrating the DT information into the analytics.

[0063] Operation 4 includes NWDAF 520 transmitting to the consumer or intermediary node 510 an Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe response message, in response to the 13 message received at operation 1.

[0064] Item 560 related to the update on physical environment DT being available includes operations 5, 6a, 6b, 6b 1, 6b2, 7, and 8.

[0065] Operation 5 includes DT 550 performing an update on the physical environment DT that the NWDAF 520 or the 0AM 530 subscribed to.

[0066] Operation 6a, related to that the NWDAF 520 can be contacted by the DT providing entity, is performed with NWDAF 520, NFs and / or 0AM 530, NRF 540, and DT 550 and includes operation 6al. Operation 6al includes the DT 550 transmitting to the NWDAF 520 a physical environment DT (Notify) response message including an environment DT, an area, and id, and possibly other information.

[0067] Operation 6b, related to that the DT providing entity can be contacted by the 0AM 530, includes operations 6bl and 6b2. Operation 6bl includes DT 550 transmitting to NFs and / or 0AM 530 a physical environment DT (Notify) response message including an environment DT, an area, an id, and possibly other information. Operation 6b2 includes the NFs and / or 0AM 530 transmitting to NWDAF 520 a physical environment DT (Notify) response message including an environment DT, an area, and an id, and possibly other information.

[0068] Operation 7 includes the NWDAF 520 preparing response content, including implementing a mechanism to process DT information and integrating the DT information into analytics. Operation 8 includes NWDAF 520 transmitting to the consumer or intermediary node 510 an Nnwdaf_AnalyticsSubscription_Subscribe response message, in response to the message transmitted during operation 1.

[0069] The ‘area’ referred to in FIG. 5 (for example with reference to the message transmitted at operation 22a4 and other messages) may correspond to an area related to the physical environment digital twin (for example a geographical area), and the ‘id’ referred to in FIG. 5 (for example with reference to the message transmitted at operation 22a4 and other messages) may correspond to an identifier of a physical environment digital twin.

[0070] Digital twinning is currently a hot topic for telecommunications. This is one of the areas that can bring technical implementation opportunities. This idea integrates a digital twin of the physical environment to improve the NWDAF analytics. This consequently can improve the RAN optimization due to enhanced RAN assistance information sent from the CN.

[0071] The idea is thought for 6G as there is currently no opportunity to contribute in 5GA releases (Rei 19). However, the idea is compliant with the current 5G architecture and specifications. Contribution to 6G research projects or discussions with bilateral customer collaboration meetings is possible. The examples described herein may be standardized. The methods described herein may be implemented through the defined metadata and message contents in determined API service operations.

[0072] FIG. 6 is an example apparatus 600, which may be implemented in hardware, configured to implement the examples described herein. The apparatus 600 comprises at least one processor 602 (e.g. an FPGA and / or CPU), one or more memories 604 including computer program code 605, the computer program code 605 having instructions to carry out the methods described herein, wherein the at least one memory 604 and the computer program code 605 are configured to, with the at least one processor 602, cause the apparatus 600 to implement circuitry, a process, component, module, or function (implemented with control module 606) to implement the examples described herein. The memory 604 may be a non-transitory memory, a transitory memory, a volatile memory (e.g. RAM), or a non-volatile memory (e.g. ROM).

[0073] PEDT 630 implements the examples described herein related to a method to improve analytics via utilizing a physical environment digital twin.

[0074] The apparatus 600 includes a display and / or I / O interface 608, which includes user interface (UI) circuitry and elements, that may be used to display aspects or a status of the methods described herein (e.g., as one of the methods is being performed or at a subsequent time), or to receive input from a user such as with using a keypad, camera, touchscreen, touch area, microphone, biometric recognition, one or more sensors, etc. The apparatus 600 includes one or more communication e.g. network (N / W) interfaces (I / F(s)) 610. The communication IZF(s) 610 may be wired and / or wireless and communicate over the Intemet / other network(s) via any communication technique including via one or more links 624. The link(s) 624 may be the link(s) 131 and / or 176 from FIG. 1. The link(s) 131 and / or 176 from FIG. 1 may also be implemented using transceiver(s) 616 and corresponding wireless link(s) 626. The communication EF(s) 610 may comprise one or more transmitters or one or more receivers.

[0075] The transceiver 616 comprises one or more transmitters 618 and one or more receivers 620. The transceiver 616 and / or communication I / F(s) 610 may comprise standard well-known components such as an amplifier, filter, frequency-converter, (de)modulator, and encoder / decoder circuitries and one or more antennas, such as antennas 614 used for communication over wireless link 626.

[0076] The control module 606 of the apparatus 600 comprises one of or both parts 606-1 and / or 606-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The control module 606 may be implemented in hardware as control module 606-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 602. The control module 606-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the control module 606 may be implemented as control module 606-2, which is implemented as computer program code (having corresponding instructions) 605 and is executed by the one or more processors 602. For instance, the one or more memories 604 store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors 602, cause the apparatus 600 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. Furthermore, the one or more processors 602, the one or more memories 604, and example algorithms (e.g., as flowcharts and / or signaling diagrams), encoded as instructions, programs, or code, are means for causing performance of the operations described herein.

[0077] The apparatus 600 to implement the functionality of control 606 may be UE 110, RAN node 170 (e.g. gNB), or network element(s) 190 (e.g. LMF 190). Thus, processor 602 may correspond to processor(s) 120, processor(s) 152 and / or processor(s) 175, memory 604 may correspond to one or more memories 125, one or more memories 155 and / or one or more memories 171, computer program code 605 may correspond to computer program code 123, computer program code 153, and / or computer program code 173, control module 606 may correspond to module 140-1, module 140-2, module 150-1, and / or module 150-2, and communication I / F(s) 610 and / or transceiver 616 may correspond to transceiver 130, antenna(s) 128, transceiver 160, antenna(s) 158, N / W I / F(s) 161, and / or N / W I / F(s) 180. Alternatively, apparatus 600 and its elements may not correspond to either of UE 110, RAN node 170, or network element(s) 190 and their respective elements, as apparatus 600 may be part of a self-organizing / optimizing network (SON) node or other node, such as a node in a 16 cloud.

[0078] Apparatus 600 may also correspond to an apparatus for controlling consumer or intermediary node 510, NWDAF 520, NFs and / or 0AM 530, ADRF 535, NRF 540, or DT 550.

[0079] The apparatus 600 may also be distributed throughout the network (e.g. 100) including within and between apparatus 600 and any network element (such as a network control element (NCE) 190 and / or the RAN node 170 and / or UE 110).

[0080] Interface 612 enables data communication and signaling between the various items of apparatus 600, as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the interface 612 may be one or more buses such as address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, and the like. Computer program code (e.g. instructions) 605, including control 606 may comprise object-oriented software configured to pass data or messages between objects within computer program code 605 or computer program code (e.g. instructions) 605 including control 606 may comprise functional language, procedural language, or scripting language. The apparatus 600 need not comprise each of the features mentioned, or may comprise other features as well. The various components of apparatus 600 may at least partially reside in a common housing 628, or a subset of the various components of apparatus 600 may at least partially be located in different housings, which different housings may include housing 628.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media 700a (e.g. computer / compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)) and 700b (e.g. universal serial bus (USB) memory stick) and 700c (e.g. cloud storage for downloading instructions and / or parameters 702 or receiving emailed instructions and / or parameters 702) storing instructions and / or parameters 702 which when executed by a processor allows the processor to perform one or more of the steps of the methods described herein. Instructions and / or parameters 702 may represent a non-transitory computer readable medium.

[0082] FIG. 8 is an example architecture that implements the examples described herein. Data sources 802 include 0AM 530, UE 110, RAN 170, CN 812 which includes network function NFx 816 and network function NFy 818, and AF 814. The data sources 802 provide input data (830, 832) to derive the PEDT during PEDT generation 804. In option 1, a DTNF 17 820 of the CN 812 provides a PEDT generation service or PEDT generation functionality, and in option 2, the NWDAF 520 of the CN 812 provides a PEDT generation service or PEDT generation functionality. All or parts of the PEDT are provided via link or input 842 by data sources 802 to NWDAF 520 of the CN 812, and / or all or parts of the PEDT are provided via link or input 844 by PEDT generation 804 to the NWDAF 520 of the CN 812. Item 806 shows use of the PEDT by CN 812 and NWDAF 520 for analytics generation, event exposure, and / or network optimization triggers.

[0083] FIG. 9 is an example method 900, based on the example embodiments described herein. At 910, the method includes receiving, from a network node, a request for analytics. At 920, the method includes collecting data related to at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin. At 930, the method includes generating analytics using the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. At 940, the method includes transmitting, to the network node, the analytics generated using the collected data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the analytics. Method 900 may be performed with NWDAF 520, DTNF 820, apparatus 600, or one or more network elements 190.

[0084] FIG. 10 is an example method 1000, based on the example embodiments described herein. At 1010, the method includes maintaining at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin. At 1020, the method includes receiving a request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. At 1030, the method includes transmitting the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. At 1040, the method includes wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is configured to be used to generate analytics. Method 1000 may be performed with DT 550, UE 110, RAN node 170, 0AM 530, CN 812, AF 814, apparatus 600, or one or more network elements 190.

[0085] FIG. 11 is an example method 1100, based on the example embodiments described herein. At 1110, the method includes receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. At 1120, the method includes forwarding, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical 18 environment digital twin, the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network data analytics function. At 1130, the method includes receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. At 1140, the method includes forwarding, to the network data analytics function, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. Method 1100 may be performed with NF or 0AM (530), apparatus 600, or one or more network elements 190.

[0086] FIG. 12 is an example method 1200, based on the example embodiments described herein. At 1210, the method includes receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for an address of at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin. At 1220, the method includes transmitting, to the network data analytics function, the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin. Method 1200 may be performed with NRF 540, apparatus 600, or one or more network elements 190.

[0087] The following examples are provided and described herein.

[0088] Example 1. An apparatus including: means for receiving, from a network node, a request for analytics; means for collecting data related to at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; means for generating analytics using the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for transmitting, to the network node, the analytics generated using the collected data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the analytics.

[0089] Example 2. The apparatus of example 1, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0090] Example 3. The apparatus of any of examples 1 to 2, further including: means for transmitting a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or data related to the at least one instance of 19 the physical environment digital twin; and means for receiving the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0091] Example 4. The apparatus of example 3, further including: means for transmitting, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0092] Example 5. The apparatus of any of examples 3 to 4, wherein the subscription to the at least one update is for one of: all elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a subset of elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0093] Example 6. The apparatus of any of examples 3 to 5, further including: means for receiving the at least one update for a first element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a first frequency; and means for receiving the at least one update for a second element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a second frequency; wherein the first element is more dynamic and less static than the second element; wherein the first frequency with which the at least one update for the first element is received is higher than the second frequency with which the at least one update for the second element is received.

[0094] Example 7. The apparatus of any of examples 3 to 6, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0095] Example 8. The apparatus of example 7, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin indirectly via the network function or the orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received indirectly from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0096] Example 9. The apparatus of any of examples 1 to 8, further including: means for transmitting a request for at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for receiving at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0097] Example 10. The apparatus of example 9, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted directly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0098] Example 11. The apparatus of any of examples 9 to 10, further including: means for transmitting the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted indirectly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0099] Example 12. The apparatus of any of examples 9 to 11, further including: means for querying a network repository function to obtain an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin obtained from the network repository function.

[0100] Example 13. The apparatus of any of examples 9 to 12, further including: means for configuring, at the apparatus, an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin configured at the apparatus.

[0101] Example 14. The apparatus of any of examples 9 to 13, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0102] Example 15. The apparatus of example 14, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0103] Example 16. The apparatus of any of examples 9 to 15, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0104] Example 17. The apparatus of any of examples 1 to 16, wherein at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, is collected or received from at least one or more of: an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network function, or a network data analytics function, or a function within the apparatus.

[0105] Example 18. An apparatus including: means for maintaining at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; means for receiving a request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for transmitting the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is configured to be used to generate analytics.

[0106] Example 19. The apparatus of example 18, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0107] Example 20. The apparatus of any of examples 18 to 19, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data analytics function; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function.

[0108] Example 21. The apparatus of any of examples 18 to 20, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network entity.

[0109] Example 22. The apparatus of example 21: wherein: the request for the at least one 23 instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity.

[0110] Example 23. The apparatus of any of examples 21 to 22, wherein the network entity comprises one of: a network function, or an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network function.

[0111] Example 24. The apparatus of any of examples 18 to 23, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0112] Example 25. The apparatus of example 24, further including: means for transmitting the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0113] Example 26. The apparatus of example 25, wherein: the at least one update is transmitted directly to a network data and analytics function, or the at least one update is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via a network entity.

[0114] Example 27. The apparatus of any of examples 18 to 26, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin.

[0115] Example 28. The apparatus of example 27, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0116] Example 29. The apparatus of any of examples 18 to 28, wherein the apparatus comprises a user equipment.

[0117] Example 30. An apparatus including: means for receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; means for forwarding, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network data analytics function; means for receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and means for forwarding, to the network data analytics function, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0118] Example 31. The apparatus of example 30, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0119] Example 32. The apparatus of example 31, further including: means for receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription; and means for forwarding, to the network data analytics function, at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0120] Example 33. The apparatus of any of examples 30 to 32, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at 25 least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0121] Example 34. The apparatus of example 33, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0122] Example 35. An apparatus including: means for receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for an address of at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; and means for transmitting, to the network data analytics function, the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0123] Example 36. The apparatus of example 35, wherein: the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function as a network function discovery request; and wherein the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function as a network function discovery response.

[0124] Example 37. The apparatus of example 36, wherein: the network function discovery request related to the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function via an Nnrf interface; and the discovery response related to the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function via the Nnrf interface.

[0125] Example 38. The apparatus of any of examples 35 to 37, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin transmitted to the network data analytics function is configured to be used with the network data analytics function to generate analytics using data collected from the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0126] Example 39. The apparatus of any of examples 35 to 38, wherein the apparatus comprises a network repository function.

[0127] Example 40. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network node, a request for analytics; collect data related to at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; generate analytics using the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and transmit, to the network node, the analytics generated using the collected data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the analytics.

[0128] Example 41. The apparatus of example 40, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0129] Example 42. The apparatus of any of examples 40 to 41, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receive the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0130] Example 43. The apparatus of example 42, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receive, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0131] Example 44. The apparatus of any of examples 42 to 43, wherein the subscription to the at least one update is for one of: all elements or attributes related to the at least one instance 27 of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a subset of elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0132] Example 45. The apparatus of any of examples 42 to 44, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive the at least one update for a first element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a first frequency; and receive the at least one update for a second element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a second frequency; wherein the first element is more dynamic and less static than the second element; wherein the first frequency with which the at least one update for the first element is received is higher than the second frequency with which the at least one update for the second element is received.

[0133] Example 46. The apparatus of any of examples 42 to 45, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0134] Example 47. The apparatus of example 46, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin indirectly via the network function or the orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received indirectly from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0135] Example 48. The apparatus of any of examples 40 to 47, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit a request for at least one of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receive at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0136] Example 49. The apparatus of example 48, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted directly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0137] Example 50. The apparatus of any of examples 48 to 49, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted indirectly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0138] Example 51. The apparatus of any of examples 48 to 50, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: query a network repository function to obtain an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin obtained from the network repository function.

[0139] Example 52. The apparatus of any of examples 48 to 51, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: configure, at the apparatus, an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin configured at the apparatus.

[0140] Example 53. The apparatus of any of examples 48 to 52, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0141] Example 54. The apparatus of example 53, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0142] Example 55. The apparatus of any of examples 48 to 54, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0143] Example 56. The apparatus of any of examples 40 to 55, wherein at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, is collected or received from at least one or more of: an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network function, or a network data analytics function, or a function within the apparatus.

[0144] Example 57. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: maintain at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; receive a request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and transmit the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance 30 of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is configured to be used to generate analytics.

[0145] Example 58. The apparatus of example 57, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0146] Example 59. The apparatus of any of examples 57 to 58, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data analytics function; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function.

[0147] Example 60. The apparatus of any of examples 57 to 59, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network entity.

[0148] Example 61. The apparatus of example 60: wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity.

[0149] Example 62. The apparatus of any of examples 60 to 61, wherein the network entity comprises one of: a network function, or an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network function.

[0150] Example 63. The apparatus of any of examples 57 to 62, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0151] Example 64. The apparatus of example 63, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0152] Example 65. The apparatus of example 64, wherein: the at least one update is transmitted directly to a network data and analytics function, or the at least one update is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via a network entity.

[0153] Example 66. The apparatus of any of examples 57 to 65, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin.

[0154] Example 67. The apparatus of example 66, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0155] Example 68. The apparatus of any of examples 57 to 67, wherein the apparatus comprises a user equipment.

[0156] Example 69. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network data analytics function, a request for at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; forward, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network data analytics function; receive, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and forward, to the network data analytics function, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0157] Example 70. The apparatus of example 69, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0158] Example 71. The apparatus of example 70, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription; and forward, to the network data analytics function, at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0159] Example 72. The apparatus of any of examples 69 to 71, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0160] Example 73. The apparatus of example 72, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0161] Example 74. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network data analytics function, a request for an address of at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; and transmit, to the network data analytics function, the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0162] Example 75. The apparatus of example 74, wherein: the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function as a network function discovery request; and wherein the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function as a network function discovery response.

[0163] Example 76. The apparatus of example 75, wherein: the network function discovery request related to the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function via an Nnrf interface; and the discovery response related to the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function via the Nnrf interface.

[0164] Example 77. The apparatus of any of examples 74 to 76, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin transmitted to the network data analytics function is configured to be used with the network data analytics function to generate analytics using data collected from the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0165] Example 78. The apparatus of any of examples 74 to 77, wherein the apparatus comprises a network repository function.

[0166] Example 79. A method including: receiving, from a network node, a request for analytics; collecting data related to at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; generating analytics using the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and transmitting, to the network node, the analytics generated using the collected data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the analytics.

[0167] Example 80. The method of example 79, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0168] Example 81. The method of any of examples 79 to 80, further including: transmitting a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receiving the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0169] Example 82. The method of example 81, further including: transmitting, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0170] Example 83. The method of any of examples 81 to 82, wherein the subscription to the at least one update is for one of: all elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a subset of elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0171] Example 84. The method of any of examples 81 to 83, further including: receiving the at least one update for a first element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a first frequency; and receiving the at least one update for a second element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a 35 second frequency; wherein the first element is more dynamic and less static than the second element; wherein the first frequency with which the at least one update for the first element is received is higher than the second frequency with which the at least one update for the second element is received.

[0172] Example 85. The method of any of examples 81 to 84, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0173] Example 86. The method of example 85, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin indirectly via the network function or the orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received indirectly from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0174] Example 87. The method of any of examples 79 to 86, further including: transmitting a request for at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receiving at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0175] Example 88. The method of example 87, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted directly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0176] Example 89. The method of any of examples 87 to 88, further including: transmitting the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted indirectly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0177] Example 90. The method of any of examples 87 to 89, further including: querying a network repository function to obtain an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin obtained from the network repository function.

[0178] Example 91. The method of any of examples 87 to 90, further including: configuring, with an apparatus, an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin configured at the apparatus.

[0179] Example 92. The method of any of examples 87 to 91, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0180] Example 93. The method of example 92, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical 37 environment digital twin is received based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0181] Example 94. The method of any of examples 87 to 93, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0182] Example 95. The method of any of examples 79 to 94, wherein at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, is collected or received from at least one or more of: an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network function, or a network data analytics function, or a function within an apparatus.

[0183] Example 96. A method including: maintaining at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; receiving a request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and transmitting the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is configured to be used to generate analytics.

[0184] Example 97. The method of example 96, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0185] Example 98. The method of any of examples 96 to 97, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data analytics function; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function.

[0186] Example 99. The method of any of examples 96 to 98, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network entity.

[0187] Example 100. The method of example 99: wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity.

[0188] Example 101. The method of any of examples 99 to 100, wherein the network entity comprises one of: a network function, or an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network function.

[0189] Example 102. The method of any of examples 96 to 101, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0190] Example 103. The method of example 102, further including: transmitting the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0191] Example 104. The method of example 103, wherein: the at least one update is transmitted directly to a network data and analytics function, or the at least one update is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via a network entity.

[0192] Example 105. The method of any of examples 96 to 104, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin.

[0193] Example 106. The method of example 105, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0194] Example 107. The method of any of examples 96 to 106, performed with a user equipment.

[0195] Example 108. A method including: receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; forwarding, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network data analytics function; receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and forwarding, to the network data analytics function, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0196] Example 109. The method of example 108, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0197] Example 110. The method of example 109, further including: receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, 40 the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription; and forwarding, to the network data analytics function, at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0198] Example 111. The method of any of examples 108 to 110, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0199] Example 112. The method of example 111, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0200] Example 113. A method including: receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for an address of at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; and transmitting, to the network data analytics function, the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0201] Example 114. The method of example 113, wherein: the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function as a network function discovery request; and wherein the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function as a network function discovery response.

[0202] Example 115. The method of example 114, wherein: the network function discovery request related to the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function via an Nnrf interface; and the discovery response related to the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function via the Nnrf interface.

[0203] Example 116. The method of any of examples 113 to 115, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin transmitted to the network data analytics function is configured to be used with the network data analytics function to generate analytics using data collected from the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0204] Example 117. The method of any of examples 113 to 116, performed with a network repository function.

[0205] Example 118. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: receiving, from a network node, a request for analytics; collecting data related to at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; generating analytics using the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and transmitting, to the network node, the analytics generated using the collected data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the analytics.

[0206] Example 119. The computer readable medium of example 118, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0207] Example 120. The computer readable medium of any of examples 118 to 119, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: transmitting a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receiving the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0208] Example 121. The computer readable medium of example 120, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: transmitting, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least 42 one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0209] Example 122. The computer readable medium of any of examples 120 to 121, wherein the subscription to the at least one update is for one of: all elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a subset of elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0210] Example 123. The computer readable medium of any of examples 120 to 122, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: receiving the at least one update for a first element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a first frequency; and receiving the at least one update for a second element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a second frequency; wherein the first element is more dynamic and less static than the second element; wherein the first frequency with which the at least one update for the first element is received is higher than the second frequency with which the at least one update for the second element is received.

[0211] Example 124. The computer readable medium of any of examples 120 to 123, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0212] Example 125. The computer readable medium of example 124, wherein: the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin indirectly via the network function or the orchestration and management entity; and the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received indirectly from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0213] Example 126. The computer readable medium of any of examples 118 to 125, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: transmitting a request for at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and receiving at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0214] Example 127. The computer readable medium of example 126, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted directly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0215] Example 128. The computer readable medium of any of examples 126 to 127, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: transmitting the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted indirectly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

[0216] Example 129. The computer readable medium of any of examples 126 to 128, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: querying a network repository function to obtain an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin obtained from the network repository function.

[0217] Example 130. The computer readable medium of any of examples 126 to 129, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: configuring, with an apparatus, an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin configured at the apparatus.

[0218] Example 131. The computer readable medium of any of examples 126 to 130, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0219] Example 132. The computer readable medium of example 131, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0220] Example 133. The computer readable medium of any of examples 126 to 132, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0221] Example 134. The computer readable medium of any of examples 118 to 133, wherein at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, is collected or received from at least one or more of: an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network 45 function, or a network data analytics function, or a function within an apparatus.

[0222] Example 135. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: maintaining at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; receiving a request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and transmitting the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is configured to be used to generate analytics.

[0223] Example 136. The method of example 135, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of: at least one terminal device, or a geographical area, or one or more cells, or a tracking area, or a network slice.

[0224] Example 137. The computer readable medium of any of examples 135 to 136, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data analytics function; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function.

[0225] Example 138. The computer readable medium of any of examples 135 to 137, wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network entity.

[0226] Example 139. The computer readable medium of example 138: wherein: the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity; and the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the 46 physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via the network entity.

[0227] Example 140. The computer readable medium of any of examples 138 to 139, wherein the network entity comprises one of: a network function, or an orchestration and management entity, or an operations, administration, and maintenance entity, or an application function, or a radio access network, or a third party application, or a core network, or a digital twin network function.

[0228] Example 141. The computer readable medium of any of examples 135 to 140, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0229] Example 142. The computer readable medium of example 141, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: transmitting the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription.

[0230] Example 143. The computer readable medium of example 142, wherein: the at least one update is transmitted directly to a network data and analytics function, or the at least one update is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via a network entity.

[0231] Example 144. The computer readable medium of any of examples 135 to 143, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin, or an identifier related to the at least one instance of the digital environment digital twin.

[0232] Example 145. The computer readable medium of example 144, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0233] Example 146. The computer readable medium of any of examples 135 to 145, wherein the instructions are performed with a user equipment.

[0234] Example 147. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; forwarding, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network data analytics function; receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; and forwarding, to the network data analytics function, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0235] Example 148. The computer readable medium of example 147, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0236] Example 149. The computer readable medium of example 148, further including instructions stored thereon for performing at least: receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription; and forwarding, to the network data analytics function, at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0237] Example 150. The computer readable medium of any of examples 147 to 149, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of: a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or a time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or an identifier of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0238] Example 151. The computer readable medium of example 150, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

[0239] Example 152. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for an address of at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; and transmitting, to the network data analytics function, the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0240] Example 153. The computer readable medium of example 152, wherein: the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function as a network function discovery request; and wherein the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function as a network function discovery response.

[0241] Example 154. The computer readable medium of example 153, wherein: the network function discovery request related to the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function via an Nnrf interface; and the discovery response related to the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function via the Nnrf interface.

[0242] Example 155. The computer readable medium of any of examples 152 to 154, wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin transmitted to the network data analytics function is configured to be used with the network data analytics function to generate analytics using data collected from the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

[0243] Example 156. The computer readable medium of any of examples 152 to 155, wherein the instructions are performed with a network repository function.

[0244] References to a ‘computer’, ‘processor’, etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single / multi-processor architectures and sequential or parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific circuits (ASICs), signal processing devices and other processing circuitry. References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc.

[0245] The memories as described herein may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, non-transitory memory, transitory memory, fixed memory and removable memory. The memories may comprise a database for storing data.

[0246] As used herein, the term ‘circuitry’ may refer to the following: (a) hardware circuit implementations, such as implementations in analog and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and / or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s) / software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memories that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessors), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present. As a further example, as used herein, the term ‘circuitry’ would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term ‘circuitry’ would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or another network device.

[0247] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative. Various alternatives and modifications may be devised by those skilled in the art. For example, features recited in the various dependent claims could be combined with each other in any suitable combination(s). In addition, features from different example embodiments described above could be selectively combined into a new example embodiment. Accordingly, this description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which 5 fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0248] The following acronyms and abbreviations that may be found in the specification and / or the drawing figures are given as follows (the abbreviations and acronyms may be appended / combined with each other or with other characters using e.g. a dash, hyphen, slash, letter, or number, and may be case insensitive): 10 3D 3 GPP three-dimensional third generation partnership project 4G fourth generation 5G fifth generation 5GA 5G Americas 15 5G core network 6G sixth generation ADRF analytics data repository function AF application function AMF access and mobility management function 20 AOI area of interest API application programming interface ASIC application-specific integrated circuit CD compact / computer disc CM connection management 25 CN core network CPU central processing unit cu central unit or centralized unit DN data network DSP digital signal processor 30 DT digital twin DTNF digital twin network function DU distributed unit DVD digital versatile disc eNB evolved Node B (e.g., an LTE base station) EN-DC E-UTRAN new radio - dual connectivity en-gNB node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol 5 terminations towards the UE, and acting as a secondary node in EN- DC E-UTRA evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access, i.e., the LTE radio access technology E-UTRAN E-UTRA network 10 Fl interface between the CU and the DU FPGA field-programmable gate array GAD geographical area description GMLC gateway mobile location center gNB base station for 5G / NR, i.e., a node providing NR user plane and 15 control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GC GPRS general packet radio services IAB integrated access and backhaul ID identifier 20 I / F interface I / O input / output T c Lv o location services LMF location management function LTE long term evolution (4G) 25 MAC medium access control MME mobility management entity MRO mobility robustness optimization NCE network control element NDT network digital twin 30 NEF network exposure function NF network function NLOS non line of sight ng or NG new generation ng-eNB new generation eNB NG-RAN new generation radio access network Nnf interface defined for the NWDAF to request subscription to data delivery for a particular context, to cancel subscription to data delivery and to request a specific report of data for a particular 5 context Nnwdaf interface defined for 5GC NFs NR new radio NRF network repository function NSACF network slice admission control function 10 NSSF network slice selection function N / W network NWDAF network data analytics function OAM orchestration and management, or operations, administration and maintenance 15 PCF policy control function PDA personal digital assistant PDCP packet data convergence protocol PEDT physical environment digital twin PFD packet flow detection 20 PHY physical layer QoE quality of experience QoS quality of service RAM random access memory RAN radio access network 25 Rei release RLC radio link control RM registration management ROM read-only memory RRC radio resource control 30 RU radio unit Rx receive, or receiver, or reception SDAP service data adaptation protocol SGW serving gateway SLAM simultaneous localization and mapping SMF session management function SON self-organizing / optimizing network SUPI subscription permanent identifier TA tracking area 5 TAC type allocation code TRP transmission and reception point TS technical specification Tx transmit, or transmitter, or transmission UAV unmanned aerial vehicle 10 UDM unified data management UE user equipment (e.g., a wireless, typically mobile device) UI user interface UL uplink UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System 15 UP user plane UPF user plane function URSP user equipment route selection policy USB universal serial bus UTRAN UMTS terrestrial radio access network 20 X2 network interface between RAN nodes and between RAN and the core network Xn network interface between NG-RAN nodes

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:means for receiving, from a network node, a request for analytics;means for collecting data related to at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin;means for generating analytics using the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; andmeans for transmitting, to the network node, the analytics generated using the collected data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the analytics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is related to a physical environment of one or more of:at least one terminal device, ora geographical area, orone or more cells, ora tracking area, ora network slice.

3. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 2, further comprising:means for transmitting a request for a subscription to at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; andmeans for receiving the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on the subscription;wherein the subscription to the at least one update is for one of:all elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, ora subset of elements or attributes related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:means for transmitting, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; andmeans for receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 3 to 4, further comprising:means for receiving the at least one update for a first element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a first frequency; andmeans for receiving the at least one update for a second element related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin with a second frequency;wherein the first element is more dynamic and less static than the second element;wherein the first frequency with which the at least one update for the first element is received is higher than the second frequency with which the at least one update for the second element is received.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 3 to 5, wherein:the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network function or an orchestration and management entity; andthe at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:the request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin indirectly via the network function or the orchestration and management entity; andthe at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received indirectly from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:means for transmitting a request for at least one of: the at least one instance ofthe physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; andmeans for receiving at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, in response to the request for the at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted directly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

10. The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 9, further comprising:means for transmitting the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin to a network function or an orchestration and management entity;wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted indirectly to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin via the network function or the orchestration and management entity.

11. The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 10, further comprising:means for querying a network repository function to obtain an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin;wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin obtained from the network repository function.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 11, further comprising:means for configuring, at the apparatus, an address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin;wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted based on the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin configured at the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 12,wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises at least one or more of:a category of the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, ora time interval comprising the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, oran area related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, oran identifier related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin;wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received based on the category, the area, or the identifier.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for a subscription to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

15. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein at least one of: the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, is collected or received from at least one or more of:an orchestration and management entity, oran operations, administration, and maintenance entity, oran application function, ora radio access network, ora third party application, ora core network, ora digital twin network function, ora network data analytics function, ora function within the apparatus.

16. An apparatus comprising:means for maintaining at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin;means for receiving a request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; andmeans for transmitting the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin;wherein the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin isconfigured to be used to generate analytics.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network data analytics function; andthe at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function.

18. The apparatus of any of claims 16 to 17, wherein:the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from a network entity; andthe at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network entity.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 16 to 18, further comprising:means for transmitting at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on a subscription;wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for the subscription to the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin;wherein: the at least one update is transmitted directly to a network data and analytics function, or the at least one update is transmitted to the network data and analytics function indirectly via a network entity.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the apparatus comprises a userequipment.

21. An apparatus comprising:means for receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin or for data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin;means for forwarding, to a network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network data analytics function;means for receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin; andmeans for forwarding, to the network data analytics function, the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin received from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:means for receiving, from the network entity comprising the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin, based on a subscription; andmeans for forwarding, to the network data analytics function, the at least one update related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin;wherein the request for the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin or for the data related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin comprises a request for the subscription to the at least oneupdate related to the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

23. An apparatus comprising:means for receiving, from a network data analytics function, a request for an address of at least one instance of a physical environment digital twin; andmeans for transmitting, to the network data analytics function, the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function as a network function discovery request; andwherein the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function as a network function discovery response.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein:the network function discovery request related to the request for the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is received from the network data analytics function via an Nnrf interface; andthe discovery response related to the address of the at least one instance of the physical environment digital twin is transmitted to the network data analytics function via the Nnrf interface.

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