First node, second node, fourth node, communications system and methods performed thereby for handling a change of status

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, performed by a first node (111) operating in a communications system (100). The first node (111) receives a single indication from a second node (112). The single indication indicates to change a status of a complete set of network functions matching one or more criteria, or an entire locality served by the communications system (100), to a first status. A plurality of third nodes (113) are comprised in the set of network functions or the locality. The first node (111) determines (405) the plurality of third nodes (113) that are comprised in the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the locality, based on a respective profile of the third nodes. The first node (111) then initiates (406), responsive to the received single indication, updating a respective status of the third nodes in the determined plurality of third nodes (113) to the first status.

Description

[0001] FIRST NODE, SECOND NODE, FOURTH NODE, COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND

[0002] METHODS PERFORMED THEREBY FOR HANDLING A CHANGE OF STATUS

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to a first node and methods performed thereby for handling a change of status. The present disclosure also relates generally to a second node, and methods performed thereby for handling the change of status. The present disclosure further relates generally to a fourth node, and methods performed thereby for handling the change of status. The present disclosure also relates generally to a communications system, and methods performed thereby for handling the change of status.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Computer systems in a communications network or communications system may comprise one or more nodes. A node may comprise a processing circuitry which, together with computer program code may perform different functions and actions, a memory, a receiving port, and a sending port. A node may be, for example, a server. Nodes may perform their functions entirely on the cloud.

[0007] The communications system may cover a geographical area which may be divided into cell areas, each cell area being served by a type of node, a network node in the Radio Access Network (RAN), radio network node or Transmission Point (TP), for example, an access node such as a Base Station (BS), e.g., a Radio Base Station (RBS), which sometimes may be referred to as e.g., gNB, evolved Node B (“eNB”), “eNodeB”, “NodeB”, “B node”, or Base Transceiver Station (BTS), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations may be of different classes such as e.g., Wide Area Base Stations, Medium Range Base Stations, Local Area Base Stations, and Home Base Stations, based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. A cell may be understood to be the geographical area where radio coverage may be provided by the base station at a base station site. One base station, situated on the base station site, may serve one or several cells. Further, each base station may support one or several communication technologies. The telecommunications network may also comprise network nodes which may serve receiving nodes, such as user equipments, with serving beams.

[0008] The standardization organization Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently in the process of specifying a New Radio Interface called Next Generation Radio or New Radio (NR) or 5G-Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), as well as a Fifth Generation (5G) Packet Core Network, which may be referred to as 5G Core Network (5GC), abbreviated as 5GC. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a particular example of a 5G reference architecture of a policy and charging control framework, as defined by 3GPP, which may be used as a reference for the present disclosure. An Application Function (AF) 1 may provide a service in the communications system and may interact with the 3GPP Core Network through a Network Exposure Function (NEF) 2. The AF 1 may allow external parties to use the Exposure Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) offered by the network operator. In case the AF 1 is trusted, e.g., internal to the network operator, the AF 1 may interact with the 3GPP Core Network directly, with no NEF 2 involved. The NEF 2 may support different functionality. Specifically, the NEF 2 may support different Exposure APIs. An Session Management Function (SMF) 3 may support different functionalities, e.g., the SMF 3 may receive Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rules from a Policy Control Function (PCF) 4 and may configure a User Plane function (UPF) 5 accordingly. The UPF 5 may support handling of user plane traffic, including packet inspection, packet routing and forwarding, traffic usage reporting, and Quality of Service (QoS) handling. A Unified Data Repository (UDR) 6 may store data, grouped into distinct collections of subscription-related information: subscription data, policy data, structured data for exposure, and application data. The PCF 4 may support a unified policy framework to govern the network behavior. Specifically, the PCF 4 may provide PCC rules to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF), that is, the SMF 3 and / or the UPF 5 that may enforce policy and charging decisions according to provisioned PCC rules. A Charging Function (CHF) 7 may support charging related functionality, specifically online and offline charging. The PCF 4 may provide policy rules to a User Equipment (UE) through an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) 8. The AMF 8 may support different functionality, e.g. Termination of Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signalling, NAS ciphering and integrity protection, registration management, connection management, mobility management, access authentication and authorization, and security context management. Particularly relevant for this disclosure, the AMF 8 may be used to convey information from / to the UE through NAS signaling, including the UE Policies provided by the PCF 4. A Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) 9 may be understood to represent an operator managed network analytics logical function. The NWDAF 9 may be part of the 5GC architecture and may use the mechanisms and interfaces specified for 5GC and Operations, Administration and Maintenance (QAM). Each of the UDR 6, the NEF 2, the NWDAF 9, the AF 1 , the PCF 4, the CHF 7, the AMF 8, the SMF 3 and the UPF 5 may have an interface through which they may be accessed, which as depicted in the Figure, may be, respectively: Nudr 10, Nnef 11 , Nnwdaf 12, Naf 13, Npcf 14, Nchf 15, Namf 16, Nsmf 17 and N4 18. 3GPP TS 28.310, v. 18.3.0 describes the principles and mechanism for energy savings in 5G-RAN. In 3GPP Rel-17 the work for 5G Core Network was started, as described in the SA5 study [1],

[0009] As described in the SA5 results, the work will take place in Rel-18, and one of the main requirements is to activate and / or deactivate energy savings in a centralized manner, see TS 28.310, v. 18.3.0, clause 6.2.2. In the ongoing study, some Network Functions (NFs), e.g., UPFs in a certain locality, may be considered to be switched-off in low traffic / off-peak hours, see TS 28.310, v. 18.3.0, clause 5.2.3.2.

[0010] Some cloud providers may be also request to “power off” an entire cluster, or data center, or locality, which may be understood to comprise to shut down the workers and / or pods. This may be understood to result in energy consumption efficiency during nights or weekends, usually off-peak hours. Cloud native may be understood to demand zero-touch, so this regular / periodic procedure may be triggered by a single command or Application Programming Interface (API) call.

[0011] Existing methods to handle changes of status in a communications system may result in waste of signalling and / or processing resources, as well as causing increased latency.

[0012] SUMMARY

[0013] According to the foregoing, it is an object of embodiments herein to improve the handling of a change of status in a communications system.

[0014] According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer- implemented method, performed by a first node. The method is handling a change of status. The first node operates in a communications system. The first node receives a single indication from a second node operating in the communication system. The single indication indicates to change a status of a complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system, matching one or more criteria, or an entire locality served by the communications system, to a first status. A plurality of third nodes are comprised in the set of network functions or the locality. The first node then determines the plurality of third nodes, operating in the communications system, that are comprised in the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the locality. The determining is based on a respective profile of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes. The first node initiates, responsive to the received single indication, updating a respective status of the third nodes in the determined plurality of third nodes to the first status.

[0015] According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer-implemented method, performed by the second node. The method is for handling the change of status. The second node operates in the communications system. The second node sends the single indication to the first node operating in the communication system. The single indication indicates to change the status of the complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system, matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality served by the communications system, to the first status. The plurality of third nodes are comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

[0016] According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer-implemented method, performed by a fourth node. The method is for handling the change of status. The fourth node operates in the communications system. The fourth node sends a respective third indication, to the first node operating in the communications system. The respective second indication requests, in another single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes. The respective second indication mandatorily includes an identifier of a respective instance corresponding to the fourth node. The plurality of third nodes are comprised in the complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system, matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality served by the communications system. The fourth node then receives, from the first node, a single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality. The receiving of the single second indication is responsive to the sent respective third indication.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the first node, for handling the change of status. The first node is configured to operate in the communications system. The first node is configured to receive the single indication from the second node configured to operate in the communication system 10. The single indication is configured to indicate to change a status of a complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system, configured to the match one or more criteria, or the entire locality configured to be served by the communications system, to the first status. The plurality of third nodes are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions or the locality. The first node is further configured to determine the plurality of third nodes, configured to operate in the communications system, that are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the locality. The first node is further configured to perform the determining based on the respective profile of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes. The first node is also configured to initiate, responsive to the single indication configured to be received, updating the respective status of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes configured to be determined, to the first status.

[0018] According to a fifth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the second node, for handling the change of status. The second node is configured to operate in the communications system. The second node is configured to send the single indication to the first node configured to operate in the communication system. The single indication is configured to indicate to change the status of the complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system, configured to match the one or more criteria, or the entire locality configured to be served by the communications system, to the first status, wherein the plurality of third nodes are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

[0019] According to a sixth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the device, for handling the change of status. The device is configured to operate in the communications system. The device is configured to send the respective third indication, to the first node configured to operate in the communications system. The respective second indication is configured to request, in the another single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes. The respective second indication is configured to mandatorily include the identifier of the a respective instance configured to correspond to the fourth node. The plurality of third nodes are configured to be comprised in the complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system, configured to match the one or more criteria, or the entire locality configured to be served by the communications system. The fourth node is further configured to receive, from the first node, the single second indication configured to indicate the change of status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality. The receiving of the single second indication may be configured to be responsive to the respective third indication configured to be sent.

[0020] According to a seventh aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the communications system, for handling the information. The communications system is configured to comprise one or more of: the first node, the second node and the fourth node, e.g., one or more fourth nodes as the fourth node described.

[0021] By receiving the single indication, the first node may enable a ZERO-TOUCH approach. This may be understood to be since one single request / instruction in one single place, to the first node, e.g., NRF, may be required, e.g., a single CLI, single API call.

[0022] An additional advantage of receiving the single indication may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be scalable, since no matter the value of N, the result may be understood to be the same, traffic- and O&M- wise.

[0023] Furthermore, by receiving the single indication, the first node may then be enabled to initiate the change of the status, shutdown, of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, in an immediate and centralized manner, as the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality may be identified as a unit.

[0024] By determining the plurality of third nodes, the first node may then be enabled to initiate the change of the status, shutdown, of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, in an immediate and centralized manner, as the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality may be identified as a unit.

[0025] By sending the respective third indication requesting, in the single another single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes, the respective third indication mandatorily including the identifier of the respective third indication, the fourth node may enable the first node to identify the identity of the fourth node which may be subscribing to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes, so that the first node may take actions based on that identity. That is, first node may then be enabled to refrain from notifying individually to that fourth node when there may be a change of status in the set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality.

[0026] By receiving the single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, the fourth node may enable the first node to initiate the change of the status, shutdown, of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, in an immediate and centralized manner, as the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality may be identified as a unit.

[0027] Furthermore with one single notification towards the fourth node, the number of notifications, may be enabled to not be affected by the number of third nodes, e.g., NFs, in the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality. The number of notifications may be decreased.

[0028] A further advantage may be understood to be that the first node may enable notifications to be less prone to signaling risks, e.g., requests being lost, since the procedure towards the fourth node, e.g., NF, subscribed may be reduced to a single request.

[0029] Yet another advantage may be understood to be that the first node may enable that traffic steering may be controlled in a consistent and controlled manner when compared to existing behavior, since for the fourth node, e.g., NF-A, there may be no transient situation in which some third nodes, e.g., NFs 1..N, may be SUSPENDED and some others may not yet be, e.g. if NF-A selects NF-1 in another locality, but NF-N is selected in the switched-off locality, since the notification for NF-1 has been received but the notification for NF-N has not yet, there may be undesired inter-site communication between switched-off locality and the rest of localities.

[0030] An additional advantage may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be scalable, since no matter the value of N, the result may be understood to be the same, traffic- and O&M- wise.

[0031] Furthermore, a further advantage may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be future proof, that is, extensible to other scenarios, since this example may be focused on energy savings for an entire locality / cluster / site / DC being switched-off, but the energy savings, or recovery, may be more selective, that is, based on a slice temporary being suspended, removed, etc.

[0032] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Examples of embodiments herein are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, according to the following description.

[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a 5G Network Architecture, according to existing methods.

[0035] Figure 2 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method to suspend or deactivate an entire locality in 5GC, according to existing methods.

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of a communications system, according to embodiments herein.

[0037] Figure 4 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method in a first node, according to embodiments herein.

[0038] Figure 5 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method in a second node, according to embodiments herein.

[0039] Figure 6 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method in a fourth node, according to embodiments herein.

[0040] Figure 7 is a signalling diagram depicting a non-limiting example of a method in a communications system, according to embodiments herein.

[0041] Figure 8 is a signalling diagram depicting another non-limiting example of a method in a communications system, according to embodiments herein.

[0042] Figure 9 is a signalling diagram depicting yet another non-limiting example of a method in a communications system, according to embodiments herein.

[0043] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating two non-limiting examples, a) and b), of a first node, according to embodiments herein.

[0044] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram illustrating two non-limiting examples, a) and b), of a second node, according to embodiments herein.

[0045] Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating two non-limiting examples, a) and b), of a fourth node, according to embodiments herein.

[0046] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] As part of the development of embodiments herein, one or more challenges with the existing technology will first be identified and discussed.

[0048] Efforts are currently underway to produce a disaster recovery playbook, which may be understood to try to tackle potential life cycle management problems, e.g., if an infrastructure is software (SW) upgraded, or a group of cloud 5GC network functions, e.g., UPF, Unified Data Management (UDM), AMF, are SW upgraded, there may be a need to isolate the entire cluster and / or data center and / or locality if severe problems occur, e.g., storage issues, latency issues. This may require the 5GC network to quickly and safely react upon Mobile Network Operator (MNO) instructions to “remove” the locality from 5GC traffic.

[0049] Before powering off an entire infrastructure, which may comprise computing, memory and storage demanding energy consumption, 5GC NFs running on top of it may be understood to be required to be also “powered off’ at 5G core network level, so that the traffic may be sent to other NFs in another locality, e.g., data center. This step may need to be performed prior to “shutting down” the infrastructure, in order to avoid loss of traffic and transient and unexpected scenarios.

[0050] In the event of server issues in a cluster and / or data center and / or locality, the requirement may be similar: the MNO may administratively deviate and / or steer traffic to other NF instances, in e.g., other localities.

[0051] In Geo-Redundant 5GC deployments, many NFs may be deployed in the same locality, not only UPFs, but also AMFs, SMFs, UDMs, UDRs, etc., and to distribute the traffic in peak hours, they may have several instances for each NF type. This may lead to some customers currently, and still in 5GC dawn, deploying around 30 instances in the same locality.

[0052] Figure 2 is a signalling diagram depicting the problems currently existing with the existing methods to “suspend” or deactivate an entire locality at 5GC network level. As depicted in Figure 2, at 1 , an MNO may need to send via Operations & Maintenance (O&M), an order, usually a Command Line Interface (CLI) command, to each, 1 ... N, NF instance 20 intended to be suspended, e.g., in the same locality, due to a disaster recovery, for a SW upgrade, or periodically, e.g., for energy savings. This may be understood to mean that according to existing methods, CLIs are sent to each UDM instance, each UDR instance, each AMF instance, each SMF instance, etc. At 2, each instance receiving the order / command may set its own status to SUSPENDED. At 3, each instance may send an NF-update to the Network Repository Function (NRF) 21 to indicate that its status is now SUSPENDED. This may be performed by sending an HTTP PUT message setting the NF-N status update to SUSPENDED. At 4, the NRF 21 may check the existing subscriptions to NF status change in the existing NF profile, and send a notification to each subscribing NF 22, e.g., if AMF-1 , SMF- 1 , etc. subscribed to UDM-1 status, and UDM-1 was suspended, the NRF 21 may send a notification to AMF-1 , SMF-1 , etc. to inform about the change in UDM-1 status. The same may be understood to apply to all other subscriptions to NF status change, e.g., the UDM may be also subscribing to NF status of SMF-1 , AMF-1 , etc. In the example depicted in Figure 2, at of 5, 6, 7 and 8, the NRF 21 sends an HTTP POST message indicating the status of NF-1 has changed to SUSPENDED, respectively, to each of Network Function A (NF-A) 23, Network Function B (NF-B) 24, Network Function C (NF-C) 25, and Network Function D (NF-D) 26. At 9, steps 2-5 for NF instance 1 may be repeated for each of the N instances, that is, a notification procedure may be repeated for each NF 20 SUSPENDED, from 1 to N instances, to each subscribing NF instances 22, e.g., from 1 to M.

[0053] The existing methods, as illustrated with the example depicted in Figure 2, have the following problems. First, a request towards each NF 20 (1..N) in the affected locality is required, that is, N instructions, one on each NF 22, e.g., CLIs towards N different endpoints. Second, a notification per each NF affected 20 (1..N) is required, that is, N notifications towards each NF subscribed 22, e.g., NF-A,NF-B,NF-C,NF-D. Third, the method is prone to signaling risks. For example, some notifications may be lost since there is large number of them, that is, N instances suspended 20 x M instances subscribed 22, potentially in a very short period of time. Fourth, the method is prone to many transient situations, e.g., a given NF 20, between 1..N, may be SUSPENDED in NF-A 23 and not SUSPENDED yet in NF-B 24. Fifth, the method is not a scalable solution when N 20 and M 22 may be growing.

[0054] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments address one or more of the challenges identified with the existing methods and provide solutions to the challenges discussed.

[0055] Embodiments herein may be understood to address the problems identified with the existing methods and may be understood to relate to apparatus, and methods performed therein, for energy and power consumption automated savings in 5GC. More particularly, some embodiments herein may relate to defining a procedure to allow an operator a centralized procedure by offering a single point of touch, that is, one order / CLI instead of N orders / CLIs. The centralized point may be, in some examples, the NRF, so that via O&M, or API call, the NRF may be instructed to “shut down” an entire locality, including the N instances deployed in the locality, and inform the 5GC network about it. The rest of NFs may be informed by indicating a new notification Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) as part of its NF profile registered in NRF. The notification URI may be associated to a new notification type for an “energy savings” feature.

[0056] The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which examples are shown. In this section, embodiments herein are illustrated by exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that these embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment or example may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment or example and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description.

[0057] Figure 3 depicts two non-limiting examples, in panels “a” and “b”, respectively, of a communications system 100, in which embodiments herein may be implemented. In some example implementations, such as that depicted in the non-limiting example of Figure 3a, the communications system 100 may be a computer network. In other example implementations, such as that depicted in the non-limiting example of Figure 3b, the communications system 100 may be implemented in a telecommunications system, sometimes also referred to as a telecommunications network, cellular radio system, cellular network, or wireless communications system. In some examples, the telecommunications system may comprise network nodes which may serve receiving nodes, such as wireless devices. The communications system 100 may for example be a network such as a 5G system, or a newer system supporting similar functionality, such as for example, a Sixth Generation (6G) system. In some examples, the communications system 100 may support, additionally, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network and may support other technologies such as a for example, e.g., LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), LTE Half-Duplex Frequency Division Duplex (HD-FDD), and LTE operating in an unlicensed band. The telecommunications system may also support other technologies, such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) TDD, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, GSM / Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) network, Ultra-Mobile Broadband (UMB), EDGE network, network comprising any combination of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such as e.g. Multi-Standard Radio (MSR) base stations, multi-RAT base stations etc., any 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) cellular network, Wireless Local Area Network / s (WLAN) or WiFi network / s, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), IEEE 802.15.4-based low-power short-range networks such as IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LowPAN), Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or any cellular network or system. The telecommunications system may for example support a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN). LPWAN technologies may comprise Long Range physical layer protocol (LoRa), Haystack, SigFox, LTE-M, and Narrow-Band loT (NB-loT).

[0058] The communications system 100 may comprise a plurality of nodes, whereof a first node 111, a second node 112, a plurality of third nodes 113, one or more fourth nodes 114, which may be in some embodiments a plurality of fourth nodes 114, and one or more fifth nodes 115 are depicted in Figure 3. It may be understood that the communications system 100 may comprise and / or operate in communication with more nodes than those represented on Figure 3.

[0059] Any of the first node 111 , the second node 112, the plurality of third nodes 113, the one or more fourth nodes 114 and the one or more fifth nodes 115 may be understood, respectively, as a first computer system, a second computer system, a plurality of third computer systems, one or more fourth computer systems and one or more fifth computer systems. In some examples, any of the first node 111 , the second node 112, the plurality of third nodes 113, the one or more fourth nodes 114 and the one or more fifth nodes 115 may be implemented as a standalone server in e.g., a host computer in the cloud 120, as depicted in the non-limiting example depicted in panel b) of Figure 3. Any of the first node 111 , the second node 112, the plurality of third nodes 113, the one or more fourth nodes 114 and the one or more fifth nodes 115 may in some examples be a distributed node or distributed server, with some of their respective functions being implemented locally, e.g., by a client manager, and some of their functions implemented in the cloud 120, by e.g., a server manager. Yet in other examples, any of the first node 111 , the second node 112, the plurality of third nodes 113, the one or more fourth nodes 114 and the one or more fifth nodes 115 may also be implemented as processing resources in a server farm.

[0060] The first node 111 may be understood to be a node having a capability to provide registration and discovery of NF services, enabling NFs to identify appropriate services in one another. In a particular non-limiting example, wherein the communications system 100 may be a 5G network, the first node 111 may be an NRF, as depicted in the non-limiting examples of Figure 3.

[0061] The second node 112, in some examples may be a node having a capability to send an order or command to a core, e.g., 5GC, network. As depicted in Figure 3, a particular nonlimiting example, wherein the communications system 100 may be a 5G network, the second node 112 may, in such examples, be an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) node.

[0062] Any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113 may be a node having a capability to perform one or more functions, e.g., in a 3GPP network, such as a 5G network. In a particular non-limiting example, wherein the communications system 100 may be a 5G network, the plurality of third nodes 113 may be a plurality of NFs 1... N, as depicted in the non-limiting examples of Figure 3.

[0063] Any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114 may also be a node having a capability to perform one or more functions, e.g., in a 3GPP network, such as a 5G network. In a particular non-limiting example, wherein the communications system 100 may be a 5G network, the one or more fourth nodes 114 may be another plurality of NFs A... B, as depicted in the non-limiting examples of Figure 3.

[0064] Any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115 may also be a node having a capability to perform one or more functions, e.g., in a 3GPP network, such as a 5G network. In a particular non-limiting example, wherein the communications system 100 may be a 5G network, the one or more fifth nodes 115 may be another plurality of NFs C... D, as depicted in the non-limiting examples of Figure 3.

[0065] It may be noted that the number of nodes depicted as comprised in each of the plurality of third nodes 113, one or more fourth nodes 114 and one or more fifth nodes 115 in Figure 3 is non-limiting and for illustrative purposes only. A different number of nodes may be comprised in each of these in other examples of embodiments herein.

[0066] The plurality of third nodes 113 may be the same, co-localize, or partially overlap with at least one node, with the one or more fourth nodes 114. The plurality of third nodes 113 may be the same, or partially overlap with at least one node, with the one or more fifth nodes 115.

[0067] The one or more fourth nodes 114 and the one or more fifth nodes 115 may be understood to be different nodes, and may be understood to not overlap with even one node.

[0068] The first node 111 may be understood to be different from any of the fifth nodes 115 in the plurality of fifth nodes 115.

[0069] The communications system 100 may also comprise a device 130. The device 130 may be also known as a e.g., user equipment (UE), wireless device, mobile terminal, wireless terminal and / or mobile station, mobile telephone, cellular telephone, or laptop with wireless capability, an Internet of Things (loT) device, or a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), just to mention some further examples. The device 130 in the present context may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or a vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and / or data, via a RAN, with another entity, such as a server, a laptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a tablet, a Machine-to- Machine (M2M) device, an Internet of Things (loT) device, e.g., a sensor or a camera, a device equipped with a wireless interface, such as a printer or a file storage device, modem, Laptop Embedded Equipped (LEE), Laptop Mounted Equipment (LME), USB dongles, CPE or any other radio network unit capable of communicating over a radio link in the communications system 100. The device 130 may be wireless, i.e. , it may be enabled to communicate wirelessly in the communications system 100 and, in some particular examples, may be able support transmission using beamforming. The communication may be performed e.g., between two devices, between a device and a radio network node, and / or between a device and a server. The communication may be performed e.g., via a RAN and possibly one or more core networks, comprised, respectively, within the communications system 100.

[0070] The communications system 100 may comprise one or more radio network nodes, whereof a radio network node 140 is depicted in Figure 3b. The radio network node 140 may typically be a base station or Transmission Point (TP), or any other network unit capable to serve a wireless device or a machine type node in the communications system 100. The radio network node 140 may be e.g., a 5G gNB, a 4G eNB, or a radio network node in an alternative 5G radio access technology, e.g., fixed or WiFi. The radio network node 140 may be e.g., a Wide Area Base Station, Medium Range Base Station, Local Area Base Station, and Home Base Station, based on transmission power and thereby also coverage size. The radio network node 140 may be a stationary relay node or a mobile relay node. The radio network node 140 may support one or several communication technologies, and its name may depend on the technology and terminology used. The radio network node 140 may be directly connected to one or more networks and / or one or more core networks.

[0071] The communications system 100 covers a geographical area which may be divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area may be served by a radio network node, although, one radio network node may serve one or several cells.

[0072] The first node 111 may communicate with the second node 112 over a first link 151, e.g., a radio link or a wired link. The first node 111 may communicate with the any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113 over respective second link 152, e.g., a radio link or a wired link. The first node 111 may communicate with any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114 over a respective third link 153, e.g., a radio link or a wired link. The first node 111 may communicate with any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115 over a respective fourth link 154, e.g., a radio link or a wired link. Only one respective third link 153, one respective fourth link 154 and one respective fifth link 155 is depicted in Figure 3 to simplify the figure. The first node 111 may communicate with the radio network node 140 over a fifth link 155, e.g., a radio link or a wired link. The radio network node 140 may communicate with the device 130 over a sixth link 156, e.g., a radio link or a wired link.

[0073] Any of the first link 151 , the respective second link 152, the respective third link 153, the respective fourth link 154, the fifth link 155 and / or and the sixth link 156 may be a direct link or it may go via one or more computer systems or one or more core networks in the communications system 100, or it may go via an optional intermediate network. The intermediate network may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private, or hosted network; the intermediate network, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet, which is not shown in Figure 3.

[0074] Although terminology from Long Term Evolution (LTE) / 5G has been used in this disclosure to exemplify the embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems supporting similar or equivalent functionality may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

[0075] As depicted in the non-limiting examples of Figure 3, in some embodiments wherein the communications system 100 may be a 5G system, the first node 111 may be an NRF, the second node 112 may be a and O&M node, the plurality of third nodes 113 may be a plurality of NFs 1... N, the one or more fourth nodes 114 may be another plurality of NFs A... B and the one or more fifth nodes 115 may be yet another plurality of NFs C... D. In future telecommunication networks, e.g., in the sixth generation (6G), the terms used herein may need to be reinterpreted in view of possible terminology changes in future technologies. In general, the usage of “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, “fifth” and / or “sixth” herein may be understood to be an arbitrary way to denote different elements or entities and may be understood to not confer a cumulative or chronological character to the nouns they modify.

[0076] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0077] Embodiments of a computer-implemented method, performed by the first node 111 , will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 4. The method may be understood to be for handling a change of status. The first node 111 operates in the communications system 100.

[0078] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may be a 3GPP network. In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may be a 5G network.

[0079] Several embodiments are comprised herein. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some embodiments, two or more actions may be performed. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first node 111 is depicted in Figure 4. The actions of the method performed by the first node 111 may be performed in a different order than that depicted in Figure 4.

[0080] In Figure 4, optional actions are represented with dashed lines.

[0081] Action 401

[0082] In this Action 401 , the first node 111 may receive a respective first indication from the plurality of fourth nodes 114 operating in the communications system 100. That is, the first node 111 may receive a respective first indication from each respective fourth node 114 in the plurality of fourth nodes 114. If there are two fourth nodes 114, e.g., NF-A and NF-B, the first node 111 may receive in this Action 401 two respective first indications, one from each fourth node 114.

[0083] The respective first indication may indicate a capability of the respective fourth node 114 to receive, in a single second indication, a notification of a change of a status of a complete set of network functions matching one or more criteria or a locality. The set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be a data center. A data center may be understood as, e.g., a plurality of physical servers which may be in charge of computing and storage, e.g., of any of the plurality of third nodes 113, the one or more fourth nodes 114 and the one or more fifth nodes 115, e.g., of the 5GC NFs.

[0084] The first node 111 may receive the respective first indication, e.g., via the respective third link 153, during a registration of the respective fourth node 114 in the first node 111.

[0085] In some embodiments, the first node 111 may manage an NRF.

[0086] In some embodiments, each of the one or more fourth nodes 114 may manage an NF.

[0087] For example, this Action 401 may be performed when the respective fourth node 114, e.g., NF-A, may register in the first node 111 , e.g., the NRF.

[0088] The respective first indication may correspond to an enumerated type of notification provided during a registration process of the respective fourth node 114 with the first node 111.

[0089] The enumerated type of notification may be energy savings.

[0090] In some embodiments, the respective first indication may further comprise a default uniform resource indicator (URI) to receive the single second indication.

[0091] The new default notification URI and its new type (notification type=energy savings) may be included added in 3GPP TS 29.510, v. 18.5.0, as highlighted below in bold font:

[0092] NotificationType: description: >

[0093] Types of notifications used in Default Notification URIs in the NF Profile of an NF Instance anyOf:

[0094] - type: string enum:

[0095] - N1_MESSAGES

[0096] - N2JN FORMATION

[0097] - LOCATION_NOTIFICATION

[0098] - DATA_REMOVAL_NOTIFICATION

[0099] - DATA_CHANGE_NOTIFICATION

[0100] - LOCATION_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION

[0101] - NSSAA_REAUTH_NOTIFICATION

[0102] - NSSAA_REVOC_NOTIFICATION

[0103] - MATCH_INFO_NOTIFICATION

[0104] - DATA_RESTORATION_NOTIFICATION

[0105] - TSCTS_NOTIFICATION - LCS_KEY_DELIVERY_NOTIFICATION

[0106] - ENERGY_SAVINGS

[0107] In some examples, the respective first indication may be, e.g., an HTTP PUT message. The respective first indication may indicate a profile of the respective fourth node 114. In further particular examples, the respective first indication may be an HTTP PUT message indicating the profile of the respective fourth node 114 further comprising the new default notification URI, and the enumerated type of notification with a type of value of energy savings.

[0108] It may be understood that a respective first indication may be received from each of the fourth network nodes 114 comprised in the plurality of fourth nodes 114. This may be, for example, an HTTP PUT message indicating NF-A profile (Default Notification URI, notificationtype value=energy savings).

[0109] By receiving the respective first indication from the plurality of fourth nodes 114, the first node 111 may be enabled to be aware that the plurality of fourth nodes 114 may be able to be notified with a single notification about the change of status of a complete set of network functions matching one or more criteria or a locality, so it may act accordingly when such a notification may need to send, e.g., upon request.

[0110] Action 402

[0111] In some embodiments, in this Action 402, the first node 111 may receive a respective third indication, from each of the fourth nodes in the plurality of fourth nodes 114. That is, the first node 111 may receive a respective third indication from each respective fourth node 114 in the plurality of fourth nodes 114. If there are two fourth nodes 114, e.g., NF-A and NF-B, the first node 111 may receive in this Action 402 two respective third indications, one from each fourth node 114.

[0112] The respective third indication may request, in a single indication, referred to herein as “another single indication”, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes 113. In some embodiments, each of the third nodes 113 may manage an NF. In some of such embodiments, the respective third indication may be a subscription to NF status changes, e.g., NF profile changes, e.g., NF-1... NF-N profile changes.

[0113] The first node 111 may receive, from each respective fourth node 114 in the plurality of fourth nodes 114, a respective third indication requesting, in the same respective third indication, to be notified of changes of status of the whole plurality of third node 113, e.g., NF- 1... NF-N.

[0114] The respective third indication may mandatorily include an identifier of a respective instance corresponding to the respective fourth node of the one or more fourth nodes 114 from which the respective third indication may be received. In some embodiments, the respective third indication may be a subscription to status, e.g., profile, changes of the plurality of third nodes 113.

[0115] The respective third indication may be, for example, an HTTP POST message.

[0116] The identifier of the respective instance corresponding to the respective fourth node of the one or more fourth nodes 114 from which the respective third indication may be received may e.g., an instance identifier (id). It may be noted that the instance id was optionally included in existing methods. If the respective fourth node 114, e.g., an NF, supports the new energy savings feature according to embodiments herein, it may be required to include the instance id .That is, inclusion of the id may be mandatory, not optional, when sending the respective third indication, e.g., when subscribing to NF status, e.g., profile, changes.

[0117] In particular examples, the respective third indication may be an HTTP POST message received from a respective fourth node 114 subscribing to NF profile changes for NF-1 ... NF-N, and mandatory including its own instance instance-id.

[0118] It may be understood that a respective third indication may be received from each of the fourth network nodes 114 comprised in the plurality of fourth nodes 114.

[0119] By in this Action 402 receiving the respective third indication, from each of the fourth nodes requesting, in the single another single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes 113, the respective third indication mandatorily including the identifier of the respective third indication, the first node 111 may be enabled to identify the identity of the fourth node 114 which may be subscribing to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes, so that the first node 111 may take actions based on that identity. That is, first node 111 may then be enabled to refrain from notifying individually to that fourth node 114 when there may be a change of status in the set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality.

[0120] Action 403

[0121] The first node 111 may receive a respective further indication from the plurality of fifth nodes 115 operating in the communications system 100. may receive in this Action 401 two respective first indications, one from each fourth node 114. That is, the first node 111 may receive a respective further indication from each respective fifth node 115 in the plurality of fifth nodes 115. If there are two fifth nodes 115, e.g., NF-C and NF-D, the first node 111 may receive two respective further indications, one from each fifth node 115. The respective further indication may indicate a respective profile of the respective fifth node 115. The respective further indication may further indicate a lack of a capability of the respective fifth node 115 to receive, in a single second indication, a notification of a change of a status of a complete set of network functions matching one or more criteria or a locality. For example, the respective further indication may lack the new default URI to receive the single second indication. The respective further indication may further lack the enumerated type of notification of energy savings. For example, the profile of the respective fifth node 115 may be a legacy profile.

[0122] The one or more fifth nodes 115 may be understood to operate as according to legacy procedures, e.g., they may be understood to manage legacy NFs not supporting the energy savings feature. That is, the one or more fifth nodes 115 may lack the capability to receive, in a single second indication, the notification of the change of the status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the locality.

[0123] In some embodiments, each of the one or more fifth nodes 115 may manage an NF.

[0124] The first node 111 may receive the respective further indication, e.g., via the respective fourth link 154, during a registration of the respective fifth node 115 in the first node 111.

[0125] For example, the first node 111 may receive the respective further indication when the one or more fifth nodes 115, e.g., NF-C, NF-D may register in the first node 111 , e.g., the NRF.

[0126] In some examples, the respective further indication may be, e.g., an HTTP PUT message. The respective further indication may comprise a profile of a respective fifth node 115. In further particular examples, the respective further indication may be an HTTP PUT message comprising the profile of the respective fifth node 115 lacking the new default notification URI, and the enumerated type of notification with the type of value of energy savings.

[0127] In this Action 403, the first node 111 may receive a respective fourth indication, from each of the one or more fifth nodes 115 operating in the communications network 100. That is, the first node 111 may receive a respective fourth indication from each respective fifth node 115 in the plurality of fifth nodes 115. If there are two fifth nodes 115, e.g., NF-C and NF-D, the first node 111 may receive in this Action 403 two respective fourth indications, one from each fifth node 115.

[0128] The respective fourth indication may request to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes 113. The respective fourth indication may optionally include the identifier of the respective instance corresponding to a respective fifth node of the one or more fifth nodes 115 from which the respective fourth indication may be received.

[0129] The change of status may be e.g., a change of profile.

[0130] The first node 111 may receive the respective fourth indication, e.g., via the respective fourth link 154, during a registration of the respective fifth node 115 in the first node 111.

[0131] For example, this Action 403 may be performed when the one or more fifth nodes 115, e.g., NF-C, NF-D may register in the first node 111 , e.g., the NRF.

[0132] In some examples, the respective fourth indication may be, e.g., an HTTP POST message. In further particular examples, the respective fourth indication may be an HTTP POST message requesting profile changes for the plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., NF-1... NF- N.

[0133] It may be understood that a respective fourth indication may be received from each of the fifth network nodes 115 comprised in the plurality of fifth nodes 115.

[0134] In some examples of embodiments herein, Action 405 may comprise the receiving of the respective further indication and the receiving of the respective fourth indication.

[0135] The plurality of fifth nodes 115, e.g., NF-C and NF-D, may perform in this Action 403 the usual registration procedure according to existing methods, that is, they may register its NF profile in the first node 111 , e.g., the NRF, without including the new notification URI and type, and they may optionally include their instance id in the subscription. For these NFs, this may be understood to not be required, since they do not support the energy savings feature.

[0136] Action 404

[0137] In this Action 404, the first node 111 receives a single indication from the second node 112 operating in the communication system 100. The single indication indicates to change a status of a complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system 100, matching one or more criteria, or an entire locality served by the communications system 100, to a first status. The plurality of third nodes 113 are comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

[0138] The first status may be understood to be a new status, e.g., SUSPENDED. That is, a status different than the status previous to the change.

[0139] The single indication received from the second node 112 in this Action 404 may be understood to be a fifth indication.

[0140] The one or more criteria may comprise, for example, a locality. The one or more criteria may optionally comprise other constraints, such as for example, a network slice.

[0141] The single indication received in this Action 404, that is, the fifth indication, may be understood to be an instruction, e.g., CLI, API call, to switch-off the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality.

[0142] The receiving in this Action 404 of the single indication may be performed with the proviso the respective first indication may have been received in Action 401 .

[0143] In some embodiments, the second node 112 may manage an Operations and Maintenance node.

[0144] The fifth indication may be received in this Action 404, e.g., due to a SW upgrade, or periodically, e.g., for energy savings, with a single request, e.g., API call, CLI.

[0145] By receiving the single indication, that is, the fifth indication, in this Action 404, the first node 111 may enable a ZERO-TOUCH approach. This may be understood to be since one single request / instruction in one single place, to the first node 111 , e.g., NRF, may be required, e.g., a single CLI, single API call.

[0146] An additional advantage of receiving the single indication, that is, the fifth indication, in this Action 404, may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be scalable, since no matter the value of N, the result may be understood to be the same, traffic- and O&M- wise.

[0147] Furthermore, by receiving the single indication, that is, the fifth indication, in this Action 404, the first node 111 may then be enabled to initiate the change of the status, shutdown, of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, in an immediate and centralized manner, as the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality may be identified as a unit.

[0148] Action 405

[0149] In this Action 405, the first node 111 determines the plurality of third nodes 113, operating in the communications system 100, that are comprised in the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the locality. The determining in this Action 405 is based on a respective profile of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes 113.

[0150] After receiving the fifth indication in Action 404, the first node 111 may be enabled to inspect all profiles of the nodes, e.g., NF profiles registered in its database, whose locality may match the requested one or more criteria, e.g., locality, and may build a list of instances, e.g., NF instances, affected (1... N). These affected third nodes 113, e.g., NFs, may be the ones whose profile, e.g., NF profile, registered may have included a locality matching the requested one or more criteria, e.g., locality, in Action 404.

[0151] By determining the plurality of third nodes 113 in this Action 405, the first node 111 may then be enabled, in the next Action 406, to initiate the change of the status, shutdown, of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, in an immediate and centralized manner, as the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality may be identified as a unit.

[0152] Action 406

[0153] In this Action 406, the first node 111 initiates, responsive to the received single indication in Action 404, updating a respective status of the third nodes in the determined plurality of third nodes 113 to the first status.

[0154] Initiating may be understood as triggering, enabling, facilitating, the enforcing by another node, or starting the managing itself.

[0155] For example, with the proviso the single indication may have indicated to shut down the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, the first node 111 may, in this Action 406, change the status of each third node 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., NF (1... N) to SUSPENDED.

[0156] By in this Action 406 the first node 111 initiating to update the respective status of the third nodes in the determined plurality of third nodes 113 to the first status, responsive to the received single indication the first node 111 may be enabled to initiate the change of the status, shutdown, of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, in an immediate and centralized manner, as the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality may be identified as a unit.

[0157] Action 407

[0158] In this Action 407, the first node 111 may send, for each third node of the plurality of third nodes 113, a respective sixth indication to the one or more fifth nodes 115. The respective sixth indication may indicate the change of status is of the respective third node of the plurality of third nodes 113. The sending in this Action 407 of the respective sixth indication may be based on at least one of: i) the received respective fourth indication lacking the identifier, and ii) a respective profile corresponding to the one or more fifth nodes 115 lacking the respective first indication. That is, the first node 111, in this Action 407, may individually notify each of the one or more fifth nodes 115 about the changes of status, separately, for each third node 113, e.g., NF-1... N, having changed status. That is, each fifth node 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115 may receive N different respective sixth indications.

[0159] In other words, in this Action 407, the first node 111 may send a notification to the legacy nodes, e.g., NFs, not supporting the energy savings feature. For each affected third node 113 of the plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., NF instance, the first node 111 may send a notification for each existing subscription to the change of status, e.g., NF profile changes, associated to the affected plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., NF instances if: a) the respective fourth indication, e.g., the subscription, may not have included the identifier, e.g., instance id; or b) the subscription may have included the identifier, e.g., instance id, but there may be no notification URI to receive the single second indication, that is, no notification URI for the new notification type, energy savings in the profile of the respective fifth node 115.

[0160] For example, the plurality of fourth nodes 114, e.g., NF-A and NF-B, and the plurality of fifth nodes 115, e.g., NF-C and NF-D, may have subscribed, in Action 402 and Action 403, respectively, to NF profile / status changes of the plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., they may have all subscribed to the NF profile / status changes of the third nodes 113 in a locality which may be being switched-off. In this Action 407, the first node 111 may detect that NF-C and NF- D, which subscribed to NF profile / status changes, do not support the energy savings feature, and the first node 111 may behave as in legacy behavior, that is, the first node 111 may send a notification towards NF-C and NF-D for each third node 113 which may have been SUSPENDED. That is, for each third node 113, e.g., NF instance, in the locality that may have been switched-off. This may be understood to mean that there may be as many respective sixth indications, that is, individual notifications, as third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., NF instances affected. This may be understood to correspond to legacy behavior prior to the new procedure described according to embodiments herein.

[0161] The respective sixth indication may be an HTTP POST.

[0162] In particular examples, the respective sixth indication may be an HTTP POST indicating NF-1 status change (SUSPENDED).

[0163] Action 408

[0164] In this Action 408, the first node 111 may send, respectively to each fourth node of the plurality of fourth nodes 114, the single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality. The sending in this Action 408 of the single second indication may be responsive to the updating in Action 406 of the respective status. The sending in this Action 408 of the single second indication may be responsive to the received respective third indication in Action 402. The first node 111 may be understood to refrain from sending a respective sixth indication, that is, an individual notification of the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, to each fourth node of the plurality of fourth nodes 114.

[0165] Continuing with the example provided in Action 407, in this Action 408, for each fourth node 114 found, e.g., NF-A and NF-B, the first node 111 may send a new notification with the requested locality and the requested status=switched-off. Even if the NF-A and NF-B may have also subscribed to NF profile / status changes, no individual notification for each third node 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., affected NF instance, may be sent by the first node 111, since the subscriptions may be detected by the first node 111 to belong to NF-A and NF-B which may support the energy savings feature. Accordingly, a single notification for the entire locality being switched off may be sent by the first node 111 towards a respective fourth node 114, e.g., NF-A, and a single notification for the entire locality being switched off may be sent by first node 111 towards another respective fourth node 114, e.g., NF-B.

[0166] The single second indication may be a new HTTP POST.

[0167] In particular examples, the single second indication may be an HTTP POST indicating (Locality=X, status=switched-off).

[0168] In any of the embodiments described so far, at least one of the following may apply: a) the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be a data center, b) the first node 111 may manage an NRF, c) the second node 112 may manage the Operations and Maintenance node, d) each of the third nodes 113 may manage an NF, e) the communications system 100 may be a 3GPP network, and f) the communications system 100 may be a 5G network.

[0169] In any of the embodiments described so far, at least one of the following may apply: a) the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be a data center, b) the first node 111 may manage an NRF, c) the second node 112 may manage the Operations and Maintenance node, d) each of the third nodes 113 may manage an NF, e) each of the one or more fourth nodes 114 may manage an NF, f) each of the one or more fifth nodes 115 may manages an NF, g) the communications system 100 may be a 3GPP network, and h) the communications system 100 may be a 5G network.

[0170] By sending, respectively to each fourth node of the plurality of fourth nodes 114, the single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, the first node 111 may enable the respective fourth nodes 114 to, e.g., upon receiving the new notification, check all cached profiles of the plurality of third nodes 113, e.g., NF profiles. For each profile found matching the locality received, the respective fourth node 114 may set the status to SUSPENDED, e.g., NF-1... N may be set to SUSPENDED. If the own locality of the respective fourth node 114 also matches the received locality, the respective fourth node 114 own status may be set to SUSPENDED.

[0171] When the first node 111 may have completed the procedure, that is, when the plurality of fourth nodes 114 and the plurality of fifth nodes 115, e.g., all M instances, may have been notified, if the locality of the first node 111 matches the requested locality, the first node 111 may set itself to locked / SUSPENDED status. Also, an alarm may be raised, a notification alarm, to indicate that the entire locality is SUSPENDED.

[0172] As a result, an entire locality may be shut down in an immediate and centralized manner. An operator may thereby be enabled to proceed with the shutting down of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, e.g., cluster / data center, or, if the complete set of network functions or the entire locality was experiencing problems, troubleshooting may be started in a safe manner. That is, all the network functions in the locality may be shut down at the same time, which may be understood to prevent transient and risky scenarios with some network functions in the locality down and some others up.

[0173] By in this Action 408, sending, respectively to each fourth node of the plurality of fourth nodes 114, the single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, the first node 111 may enable to initiate the change of the status, shutdown, of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, in an immediate and centralized manner, as the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality may be identified as a unit.

[0174] Another advantage of this Action 408 may be understood to be with one single notification towards each fourth node 114, e.g., NF, subscribed, e.g., NF-A.NF-B, the number of notifications, may be enabled to not be affected by the number of third nodes 113, e.g., NFs, in the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality. The number of notifications may be decreased.

[0175] A further advantage of this Action 408 may be understood to be that the first node 111 may enable notifications to be less prone to signaling risks, e.g., requests being lost, since the procedure towards each fourth node 114, e.g., NF, subscribed may be reduced to a single request.

[0176] Yet another advantage of this Action 408 may be understood to be that the first node 111 may enable that traffic steering may be controlled in a consistent and controlled manner when compared to existing behavior, since for each fourth node 114, e.g., NF-A,B, there may be no transient situation in which some third nodes 113, e.g., NFs 1..N, may be SUSPENDED and some others may not yet be, e.g. if NF-A selects NF-1 in another locality, but NF-N is selected in the switched-off locality, since the notification for NF-1 has been received but the notification for NF-N has not yet, there may be undesired inter-site communication between switched-off locality and the rest of localities.

[0177] An additional advantage of this Action 408 may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be scalable, since no matter the value of N, the result may be understood to be the same, traffic- and O&M- wise.

[0178] Furthermore, a further advantage of this Action 408 may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be future proof, since this example may be focused on energy savings for an entire locality / cluster / site / DC being switched-off, but the energy savings, or recovery, may be more selective, that is, based on a slice temporary being suspended, removed, etc.

[0179] Embodiments of a computer-implemented method performed by the second node 112, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 5. The method may be understood to be for handling a change of status. The second node 112 operates in the communications system 100.

[0180] The method may comprise the following actions. Several embodiments are comprised herein. In some embodiments, the method may comprise all the actions. In other embodiments, the method may comprise one or more actions. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. Components from one example may be tacitly assumed to be present in another example and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other examples.

[0181] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first node 111 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the change of status may be e.g., a change of profile.

[0182] Action 501

[0183] In this Action 501 , the second node 112 sends the single indication to the first node 111 operating in the communication system 100. The single indication indicates to change the status of the complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system 100, matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality served by the communications system 100, to the first status. The plurality of third nodes 113 are comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

[0184] In some embodiments, at least one of the following may apply: a) the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be a data center, b) the first node 111 may manage the NRF, c) the second node 112 may manage the Operations and Maintenance node, d) each of the third nodes 113 may manage an NF, e) the communications system 100 may be a 3GPP network, and f) the communications system 100 may be a 5G network.

[0185] Embodiments of a computer-implemented method performed by the fourth node 114, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 6. The method may be understood to be for handling the change of status. The fourth node 114 is operating in the communications system 100.

[0186] The method may comprise the following actions. Several embodiments are comprised herein. In some embodiments, the method may comprise all the actions. In other embodiments, the method may comprise two or more actions. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. Components from one example may be tacitly assumed to be present in another example and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other examples. In Figure 6, an optional action is depicted with dashed lines.

[0187] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first node 111 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the change of status may be e.g., a change of profile.

[0188] Action 601

[0189] In this Action 601, the fourth node 114 may send the respective first indication to the first node 111. The respective first indication may indicate the capability of the fourth node 114 to receive, in a single second indication, a notification of a change of the status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality.

[0190] In any of the embodiments, at least one of the following may apply: a) the respective first indication may indicate the profile of the respective fourth node 114, and b) the respective first indication may correspond to the enumerated type of notification provided during the registration process of the respective fourth node 114 with the first node 111.

[0191] In some embodiments, the enumerated type of notification may be energy savings.

[0192] In some embodiments, the respective first indication may further comprise the default URI to receive the single second indication.

[0193] Action 602

[0194] The fourth node 114, in this Action 602, sends the respective third indication, to the first node 111 operating in the communications system 100. The respective second indication requests, in the (another) single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes 113. The respective second indication mandatorily includes the identifier of the respective instance corresponding to the fourth node 114. The plurality of third nodes 113 are comprised in the complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system 100, matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality served by the communications system 100.

[0195] In any of the embodiments described so far, at least one of the following may apply: a) the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be a data center, b) the first node 111 may manage the NRF, c) each of the third nodes 113 may manage an NF, d) the fourth node 114 may manage an NF, e) the communications system 100 may be a 3GPP network, and f) the communications system 100 may be a 5G network.

[0196] Action 603

[0197] In this Action 603, the fourth node 114 receives, from the first node 111 , the single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality. The receiving in this Action 603 of the single second indication is responsive to the sent respective third indication. The receiving in this Action 603 of the single second indication may be performed with the proviso the respective first indication may have been sent in Action 601.

[0198] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram depicting a non-limiting example of signalling between nodes in the communications system 100, according to a first part of embodiments herein. In Figure 7, the communications system 100 is a 5G network, the first node 111 is an NRF, the plurality of third nodes 113 are a plurality of N Network Functions (NFs) NF-1... NF-N, the plurality of fourth nodes 114 are a plurality of NFs comprising Network Function A 114A and Network Function B 114B, and the one or more fifth nodes 115 are a plurality of NFs comprising Network Function C 115C and Network Function D 115D. It may be understood that in the following example depicted in Figure 7 that any reference to the NRF may be understood to equally refer to the first node 111 , any reference to Network Function A 114A may be understood to equally refer to one fourth node 114, any reference to Network Function B 114B may be understood to equally refer to another fourth node 114, any reference to Network Function C 115C may be understood to equally refer to one fifth node 115 and any reference to Network Function D 115D may be understood to equally refer to another fifth node 115. Starting on panel a), in Steps 1 and 2) NF-A 114A, according to Action 401 and Action 601 , may register in the NRF as usual. The NF-A 114A may send an HTTP PUT including the profile of NF-A 114A as well as a new default notification URI and its new type (notification type=energy savings). The addition that may be required in TS 29.510, v. 18.5.0 described above in the description of Action 401 may be understood to apply here as well. At Step 3 and 4), according to Action 402 and Action 602, when subscribing to NF status changes, NF-A 114A may include its own instance identifier (id). It may be noted that the instance id was optionally included in existing methods. If an NF supports the new energy savings feature according to embodiments herein, it may be required to include it. That is, inclusion of the id may be mandatory, not optional. NF-A 114A may send an HTTP POST requesting to be notified of profile changes for NF-1 ... NF-N and the instance id. At Step 5, and continuing on panel b) Steps 6-8) NF-B 114B may register in the NRF as usual. The same procedure described in steps 1-4 may be performed by NF-B 114B in Steps 5-8, also in accordance with Action 401 , 402, 601 and 602. At Step 9) NF-C 115C and NF-D 115D may, according to Action 403, perform the usual procedure according to existing methods, that is, they may register its NF profile in the NRF without including the new notification URI and type, and they may optionally include their instance id in the subscription. For these NFs 115C- 115D, this may be understood to not be required, since they do not support the energy savings feature. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram depicting a non-limiting example of signalling between nodes in the communications system 100, according to a second part of embodiments herein. Particularly, Figure 8 depicts notification of changes of status for legacy NFs not supporting the energy savings feature. In Figure 8, the communications system 100 and the entities depicted are the same as those depicted in Figure 7. It may be understood that in the following example depicted in Figure 8 that any reference to the NRF may be understood to equally refer to the first node 111, any reference to Network Function A 114A may be understood to equally refer to one fourth node 114, any reference to Network Function B 114B may be understood to equally refer to another fourth node 114, any reference to Network Function C 115C may be understood to equally refer to one fifth node 115 and any reference to Network Function D 115D may be understood to equally refer to another fifth node 115. Starting on panel a), in Step 1), the NRF, according to Action 404 and Action 501 , may receive, via O&M, with a single request or instruction, e.g., CLI, API call, to switch-off a requested locality. This may be, e.g., due to a SW upgrade, or periodically, e.g., for energy savings. In Step 2), the NRF, according to Action 405 and Action 406, may inspect all NF profiles registered in its database, and may build a list of affected NFs (1..N), that is, the plurality of third nodes 113. These affected NFs may be the ones whose NF profile registered may have included a locality matching the requested locality in step 1. The NRF may update the status of the affected NF instances (1..N) to SUSPENDED. At Step 3, and continuing on panel b) Steps 4-8), for each affected NF instance, the NRF may, according to Action 407, send a notification for each existing subscription to the NF profile changes associated to the affected NF instances if: a) the subscription may not have included the instance id; or b) the subscription may have included the instance id, but there may be no notification URI for the new notification type (energy savings). It may be noted that in this figure / flow, it may be assumed that all NF-A and NF-B and NF-C and NF-D subscribed to NF profile / status changes of the affected NF instances, e.g., they may have all subscribed to the NF profile / status changes of the NF instances in the locality which may be being switched-off. At 4-8, since the NRF may detect that NF-C and NF-D, which subscribed to NF profile / status changes, do not the support energy savings feature, the NRF may behave as in legacy behavior, that is, it may send a notification towards NF-C and NF-D for each affected NF instance which may have been SUSPENDED. That is, for each NF instance in the locality that may have been switched-off. This may be understood to mean that there may be as many individual notifications as NF instances affected. This may be understood to correspond to legacy behavior prior to the new procedure described according to embodiments herein. Each notification may be an HTTP POST message indicating NF-N status change (SUSPENDED). This may be repeated for each of NF-1... until NF-N, for each of NF-C 115C and NF-D 115D. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram depicting a non-limiting example of signalling between nodes in the communications system 100, according to a third part of embodiments herein. Particularly, Figure 9 depicts notifications of changes of status to NFs supporting the new feature for energy savings. In Figure 9, the communications system 100 and the entities depicted are the same as those depicted in Figure 7. It may be understood that in the following example depicted in Figure 9 that any reference to the NRF may be understood to equally refer to the first node 111, any reference to Network Function A 114A may be understood to equally refer to one fourth node 114, any reference to Network Function B 114B may be understood to equally refer to another fourth node 114, any reference to Network Function C 115C may be understood to equally refer to one fifth node 115 and any reference to Network Function D 115D may be understood to equally refer to another fifth node 115. Starting on panel a), Steps 1 and 2) may be understood to be the same than in previous figure. At Step 3, for each NF found, e.g., NF-A 114A and NF-B 114B, the NRF may, according to Action 408 and Action 603, send a new notification with the requested locality and the requested status=switched-off. Even if NF-A 114A and NF-B 114B may have also subscribed to NF profile / status changes, no individual notification for each affected NF instance may be sent by the NRF since the subscriptions may be detected by the NRF to belong to NF-A 114A and NF-B 114AB, which may support the energy savings feature. At Step 4), according to Action 408 and Action 603, a single notification for the entire locality being switched off may be sent by the NRF towards NF-A 114A. The notification may be an HTTP POST indicating (Locality=X, status=switched-off). At Step 5), upon receiving the new notification, NF-A 114A may check all cached NF profiles. For each NF profile found matching the locality received, NF-A 114A may set the status to SUSPENDED. Continuing on panel b), if the own locality of NF-A 114A also matches the received locality, the own status of NF-A 114A may be set to SUSPENDED. At Step 6), according to Action 408 and Action 603, a single notification for the entire locality being switched off may be sent by NRF towards NF-B 114B. The notification may be an HTTP POST indicating (Locality=X, status=switched-off). At Step 7), the same procedure as in step 5 may be performed by NF-B 114B when receiving the notification. When the NRF may have completed the procedure, that is, when all M instances may have been notified, if the locality of the NRF matches the requested locality, the NRF may set itself to locked / SUSPENDED status. Also, an alarm may be raised, a notification alarm, to indicate that the entire locality is SUSPENDED. As a result, an entire locality may be shut down in an immediate and centralized manner. An operator may now proceed with the shutting down of the cluster / data center / locality or, if the locality was experiencing problems, troubleshooting may be started in a safe manner. As a summarized overview of the foregoing, embodiments herein may be understood to define a new notification type (“energy savings”) and notification URI, so that a fourth node 114, e.g., an NF instance, when registering in the first node 111 , e.g., NRF, may be able to indicate that it may support the energy savings feature and the notification address where it may wish to receive the related notifications.

[0199] Embodiments herein may also provide a new O&M procedure in NRF to indicate that a specified locality may have to be switched-off.

[0200] Embodiments herein may also provide new logic in the NRF to send a single notification, regardless of the N instances deployed in the requested locality, to each NF instance which may have previously registered the new notification type and URI associated to “energy savings”.

[0201] Certain embodiments disclosed herein may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s), which may be summarized as follows.

[0202] One advantage of embodiments herein may be understood to be that they may enable a ZERO-TOUCH approach. This may be understood to be since one single request / instruction in one single place, to the first node 111 , e.g., NRF, may be required, e.g., a single CLI, single API call.

[0203] Another advantage of embodiments herein may be understood to be that they may enable one single notification towards each fourth node 114, e.g., NF, subscribed, e.g., NF- A,NF-B,NF-C,NF-D, that is, the number of notifications, according to embodiments herein, may be enabled to not be affected by the number of third nodes 113, e.g., NFs, in the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria, or the entire locality, that is, if N=10 and M=10. As a non-limiting example, in comparison with the method described in Figure 2, the number of notifications may be decreased by 90%.

[0204] A further advantage of embodiments herein may be understood to be that they may be less prone to signaling risks, e.g., requests being lost, since the procedure towards each fourth node 114, e.g., NF, subscribed may be reduced to a single request.

[0205] Yet another advantage of embodiments herein may be understood to be that they may enable that traffic steering may be controlled in a consistent and controlled manner when compared to existing behavior, since for each fourth node 114, e.g., NF-A,B,C,D, there may be no transient situation in which some third nodes 113, e.g., NFs 1..N, may be SUSPENDED and some others may not yet be, e.g. if NF-A selects NF-1 in another locality, but NF-N is selected in the switched-off locality, since the notification for NF-1 has been received but the notification for NF-N has not yet, there may be undesired inter-site communication between switched-off locality and the rest of localities. An additional advantage of embodiments herein may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be scalable, since no matter the value of N, the result may be understood to be the same, traffic- and O&M- wise.

[0206] Furthermore, a further advantage of embodiments herein may be understood to be that the approach may be understood to be future proof, since this example may be focused on energy savings for an entire locality / cluster / site / DC being switched-off, but the energy savings, or recovery, may be more selective, that is, based on a slice temporary being suspended, removed, etc.

[0207] Figure 10 depicts an example of the arrangement that the first node 111 may comprise to perform the method described in Figure 4, Figure 7, Figure 8 and / or Figure 9. The first node 111 may be understood to be for handling the change of status. The first node 111 is configured to operate in the communications system 100.

[0208] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first node 111 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the change of status may be configured to be e.g., a change of profile.

[0209] The first node 111 is configured to receive the single indication from the second node 112 configured to operate in the communication system 100. The single indication is configured to indicate to change a status of a complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system 100, configured to the match one or more criteria, or the entire locality configured to be served by the communications system 100, to the first status. The plurality of third nodes 113 are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

[0210] The first node 111 is further configured to determine the plurality of third nodes 113, configured to operate in the communications system 100, that are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the locality. The first node 111 is further configured to perform the determining based on the respective profile of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes 113.

[0211] The first node 111 is also configured to initiate, responsive to the single indication configured to be received, updating the respective status of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes 113 configured to be determined, to the first status. In some embodiments, the first node 111 may be further configured to receive the respective first indication from the plurality of fourth nodes 114 configured to operate in the communications system 100. The respective first indication may be configured to indicate the capability of the respective fourth node 114 to receive, in the single second indication, the notification of the change of the status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the locality. The receiving of the single indication may be configured to be performed with the proviso the respective first indication may have been received.

[0212] In some embodiments, at least one of the following may apply: a) the respective first indication may be configured to indicate the profile of the respective fourth node 114, and b) the respective first indication may be configured to correspond to the enumerated type of notification configured to be provided during the registration process of the respective fourth node 114 with the first node 111.

[0213] In some embodiments, the enumerated type of notification may be configured to be energy savings.

[0214] In some embodiments, the respective first indication may be configured to further comprise the default uniform resource indicator to receive the single second indication.

[0215] In some embodiments, the first node 111 may be further configured to receive the respective third indication, from each of the fourth nodes in the plurality of fourth nodes 114. The respective third indication may be configured to request, in another single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes 113. The respective third indication may be configured to mandatorily include the identifier of the respective instance corresponding to the respective fourth node of the one or more fourth nodes 114 from which the respective third indication may be configured to be received.

[0216] In some embodiments, the single indication configured to be received from the second node 112 may be configured to be the fifth indication, and the first node 111 may be further configured with the two following configurations.

[0217] In some embodiments, the first node 111 may be further configured to receive the respective fourth indication, from each of one or more fifth nodes 115 configured to operate in the communications network 100. The respective fourth indication may be configured to request to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes 113. The respective fourth indication may be configured to optionally include the identifier of the respective instance corresponding to the respective fifth node of the one or more fifth nodes 115 from which the respective fourth indication may be configured to be received.

[0218] In some embodiments, the first node 111 may be further configured to send, for each third node of the plurality of third nodes 113, the respective sixth indication to the one or more fifth nodes 115. The respective sixth indication may be configured to indicate the change of status may be of the respective third node of the plurality of third nodes 113. The sending of the respective sixth indication may be configured to be based on at least one of: i) the respective fourth indication configured to be received, lacking the identifier, and ii) the respective profile configured to correspond to the one or more fifth nodes 115 configured to lack the respective first indication.

[0219] In some embodiments, the first node 111 may be further configured to send, respectively to each fourth node of the plurality of fourth nodes 114, the single second indication configured to indicate the change of status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality. The sending of the single second indication may be configured to be responsive to the updating of the respective status. The sending of the single second indication may be configured to be responsive to the respective third indication configured to be received.

[0220] In some embodiments, each of the one or more fifth nodes 115 may be configured to manage an NF.

[0221] In some embodiments, each of the one or more fourth nodes 114 may be configured to manage an NF.

[0222] In some embodiments, at least one of the following may apply: a) the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be configured to be a data center, b) the first node 111 may be configured to manage an NRF, c) the second node 112 may be configured to manage an Operations and Maintenance node, d) each of the third nodes 113 may be configured to manage an NF, e) the communications system 100 may be configured to be a 3GPP network, and f) the communications system 100 may be configured to be a 5G Network.

[0223] The embodiments herein in the first node 111 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1001 in the first node 111 depicted in Figure 10, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the first node 111. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the first node 111.

[0224] The first node 111 may further comprise a memory 1002 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1002 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the first node 111. In some embodiments, the first node 111 may receive information from, e.g., the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100, through a receiving port 1003. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1003 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in first node 111. In other embodiments, the first node 111 may receive information from another structure in the communications system 100 through the receiving port 1003. Since the receiving port 1003 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1001 , the receiving port 1003 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1001. The receiving port 1003 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0225] The processing circuitry 1001 in the first node 111 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100, through a sending port 1004, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1001, and the memory 1002.

[0226] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the units comprised within the first node 111 described above as being configured to perform different actions, may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1001 , perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0227] The first node 111 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 4, Figure 7, Figure 8 and / or Figure 9, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 1001 within the first node 111 , configured to perform any of such actions.

[0228] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the first node 111 may be configured to perform the different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1001.

[0229] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the first node 111 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1005 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1001, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1001 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first node 111. The computer program 1005 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1006. The computer- readable storage medium 1006, having stored thereon the computer program 1005, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1001, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1001 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first node 111. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1006 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1005 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1005 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1006, as described above.

[0230] The first node 111 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate, or an interface unit to facilitate, communications between the first node 111 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0231] In other embodiments, the first node 111 may comprise a radio circuitry 1007, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1003 and the sending port 1004.

[0232] The radio circuitry 1007 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0233] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the first node 111 , operative to operate in the communications system 100. The first node 111 may comprise the processing circuitry 1001 and the memory 1002, said memory 1002 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1001, whereby the first node 111 is further operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the first node 111, e.g., in Figure 4, Figure 7, Figure 8 and / or Figure 9.

[0234] Figure 11 depicts an example of the arrangement that the second node 112 may comprise to perform the method described in Figure 5, Figure 8 and / or Figure 9. The second node 112 may be understood to be for handling the change of status. The second node 112 is configured to operate in the communications system 100.

[0235] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the second node 111 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the change of status may be configured to be e.g., a change of profile.

[0236] The second node 112 is configured to send the single indication to the first node 111 configured to operate in the communication system 100. The single indication is configured to indicate to change the status of the complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system 100, configured to match the one or more criteria, or the entire locality configured to be served by the communications system 100, to the first status, wherein the plurality of third nodes 113 are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

[0237] In some embodiments, at least one of the following may apply: a) the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be configured to be a data center, b) the first node 111 may be configured to manage an NRF, c) the second node 112 may be configured to manage an Operations and Maintenance node, d) each of the third nodes 113 may be configured to manage an NF, e) the communications system 100 may be configured to be a 3GPP network, and f) the communications system 100 may be configured to be a 5G Network.

[0238] The embodiments herein in the second node 112 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1101 in the second node 112 depicted in Figure 11 , together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the second node 112. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the second node 112.

[0239] The second node 112 may further comprise a memory 1102 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1102 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the second node 112.

[0240] In some embodiments, the second node 112 may receive information from, e.g., the first node 111 , any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100, through a receiving port 1103. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1103 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in second node 112. In other embodiments, the second node 112 may receive information from another structure in the communications system 100 through the receiving port 1103. Since the receiving port 1103 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1101 , the receiving port 1103 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1101. The receiving port 1103 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0241] The processing circuitry 1101 in the second node 112 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first node 111, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100, through a sending port 1104, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1101, and the memory 1102.

[0242] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the units comprised within the second node 112 described above as being configured to perform different actions, may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1101 , perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0243] The second node 112 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 5, Figure 8 and / or Figure 9, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 1101 within the second node 112, configured to perform any of such actions.

[0244] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the second node 112 may be configured to perform different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1101.

[0245] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the second node 112 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1105 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1101 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 1101 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second node 112. The computer program 1105 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1106. The computer- readable storage medium 1106, having stored thereon the computer program 1105, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1101 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 1101 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second node 112. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1106 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1105 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1105 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1106, as described above.

[0246] The second node 112 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate, or an interface unit to facilitate, communications between the second node 112 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first node 111, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0247] In other embodiments, the second node 112 may comprise a radio circuitry 1107, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1103 and the sending port 1104.

[0248] The radio circuitry 1107 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first node 111, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0249] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the second node 112, operative to operate in the communications system 100. The second node 112 may comprise the processing circuitry 1101 and the memory 1102, said memory 1102 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1101, whereby the second node 112 is further operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the second node 112, e.g., in Figure 5, Figure 8 and / or Figure 9. Figure 12 depicts an example of the arrangement that the fourth node 114 may comprise to perform the method described in Figure 6, Figure 7 and / or Figure 9. The fourth node 114 may be understood to be for handling the change of status. The fourth node 114 is configured to operate in the communications system 100.

[0250] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the fourth node 114 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the change of status may be configured to be e.g., a change of profile.

[0251] The fourth node 114 is configured to send the respective third indication, to the first node 111 configured to operate in the communications system 100. The respective second indication is configured to request, in the (another) single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes 113. The respective second indication is configured to mandatorily include the identifier of the a respective instance configured to correspond to the fourth node 114. The plurality of third nodes 113 are configured to be comprised in the complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system 100, configured to match the one or more criteria, or the entire locality configured to be served by the communications system 100.

[0252] The fourth node 114 is further configured to receive, from the first node 111 , the single second indication configured to indicate the change of status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality. The receiving of the single second indication may be configured to be responsive to the respective third indication configured to be sent.

[0253] In some embodiments, the fourth node 114 may be further configured to send the respective first indication to the first node 111. The respective first indication may be configured to indicate the capability of the fourth node 114 to receive, in the single second indication, the notification of the change of the status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality. The receiving of the single second indication may be configured to be performed with the proviso the respective first indication may be configured to have been sent.

[0254] In some embodiments, at least one of the following may apply: a) the respective first indication may be configured to indicate the profile of the respective fourth node 114, and b) the respective first indication may be configured to correspond to the enumerated type of notification configured to be provided during the registration process of the fourth node 114 with the first node 111.

[0255] In some embodiments, the enumerated type of notification may be configured to be energy savings.

[0256] In some embodiments, the respective first indication may be configured to further comprise the default uniform resource indicator to receive the single second indication.

[0257] In some embodiments, at least one of the following may apply: a) the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria may be configured to be a data center, b) the first node 111 may be configured to manage an NRF, c) each of the third nodes 113 may be configured to manage an NF, d) the fourth node 114 may be configured to manage an NF, e) the communications system 100 may be configured to be a 3GPP network, and f) the communications system 100 may be configured to be a 5G Network.

[0258] The embodiments herein in the fourth node 114 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1201 in the fourth node 114 depicted in Figure 12, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the fourth node 114. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the fourth node 114.

[0259] The fourth node 114 may further comprise a memory 1202 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1202 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the fourth node 114.

[0260] In some embodiments, the fourth node 114 may receive information from, e.g., the first node 111 , the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the other fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100, through a receiving port 1203. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1203 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in fourth node 114. In other embodiments, the fourth node 114 may receive information from another structure in the communications system 100 through the receiving port 1203. Since the receiving port 1203 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1201, the receiving port 1203 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1201. The receiving port 1203 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0261] The processing circuitry 1201 in the fourth node 114 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first node 111 , the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the other fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100, through a sending port 1204, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1201, and the memory 1202.

[0262] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the units comprised within the fourth node 114 described above as being configured to perform different actions, may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1201 , perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0263] The fourth node 114 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 6, Figure 7 and / or Figure 9, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 1201 within the fourth node 114, configured to perform any of such actions.

[0264] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the fourth node 114 may be configured to perform the different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1201.

[0265] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the fourth node 114 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1205 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1201 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 1201 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the fourth node 114. The computer program 1205 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1206. The computer- readable storage medium 1206, having stored thereon the computer program 1205, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1201 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 1201 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the fourth node 114. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1206 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1205 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1205 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1206, as described above.

[0266] The fourth node 114 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate, or an interface unit to facilitate, communications between the fourth node 114 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first node 111, the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the other fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0267] In other embodiments, the fourth node 114 may comprise a radio circuitry 1207, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1203 and the sending port 1204.

[0268] The radio circuitry 1207 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first node 111 , the second node 112, any of the third nodes 113 in the plurality of third nodes 113, any of the other fourth nodes 114 of the one or more fourth nodes 114, any of the fifth nodes 115 of the one or more fifth nodes 115, the radio network node 140, the device 130, another node or user equipment, and / or another structure in the communications system 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0269] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the fourth node 114 operative to operate in the communications system 100. The fourth node 114 may comprise the processing circuitry 1201 and the memory 1202, said memory 1202 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1201, whereby the fourth node 114 is further operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the fourth node 114, e.g., in Figure 6, Figure 7 and / or Figure 9.

[0270] Embodiments herein may also comprise the communications system 100 comprising one or more of: the first node 111 configured as described in relation to Figure 10, the second node 112 configured as described in relation to Figure 11 , and the fourth node 114 configured as described in relation to Figure 12.

[0271] When using the word "comprise" or “comprising”, it shall be interpreted as non- limiting, i.e. , meaning "consist at least of".

[0272] The embodiments herein are not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0273] As used herein, the expression “at least one of:” followed by a list of alternatives separated by commas, and wherein the last alternative is preceded by the “and” term, may be understood to mean that only one of the list of alternatives may apply, more than one of the list of alternatives may apply or all of the list of alternatives may apply. This expression may be understood to be equivalent to the expression “at least one of:” followed by a list of alternatives separated by commas, and wherein the last alternative is preceded by the “or” term.

[0274] Any of the terms processor and circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0275] As used herein, the expression “in some embodiments” has been used to indicate that the features of the embodiment described may be combined with any other embodiment or example disclosed herein.

[0276] As used herein, the expression “in some examples” has been used to indicate that the features of the example described may be combined with any other embodiment or example disclosed herein.

[0277] REFERENCES

[0278] 1. https: / / www.3qpp.org / technoloqies / enerqv-efficiencv-ee-sa5-work-and-results.

[0279] 2. 3GPP TS 33.501 (https: / / www.3gpp.org / ftp / Specs / archive / 33_series / 33.501 / 33501- i10.zip).

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A computer-implemented method, performed by a first node (111), the method being for handling a change of status, the first node (111) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:- receiving (404) a single indication from a second node (112) operating in the communication system (100), the single indication indicating to change a status of a complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system (100), matching one or more criteria, or an entire locality served by the communications system (100), to a first status, wherein a plurality of third nodes (113) are comprised in the set of network functions or the locality,- determining (405) the plurality of third nodes (113), operating in the communications system (100), that are comprised in the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the locality, based on a respective profile of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes (113), and- initiating (406), responsive to the received single indication, updating a respective status of the third nodes in the determined plurality of third nodes (113) to the first status.

2. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:- receiving (401) a respective first indication from a plurality of fourth nodes (114) operating in the communications system (100), the respective first indication indicating a capability of a respective fourth node (114) to receive, in a single second indication, a notification of a change of the status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the locality, and wherein the receiving (404) of the single indication is performed with the proviso the respective first indication has been received.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of: a. the respective first indication indicates a profile of the respective fourth node (114), and b. the respective first indication corresponds to an enumerated type of notification provided during a registration process of the respective fourth node (114) with the first node (111).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the enumerated type of notification is energy savings.

5. The method according to any of claims 2-4, wherein the respective first indication further comprises a default uniform resource indicator to receive the single second indication.

6. The method according to any of claims 2-5, the method further comprising:- receiving (402) a respective third indication, from each of the fourth nodes in the plurality of fourth nodes (114), the respective third indication requesting, in another single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes(113), wherein the respective third indication mandatorily includes an identifier of a respective instance corresponding to a respective fourth node of the one or more fourth nodes (114) from which the respective third indication is received.

7. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the single indication received from the second node (112) is a fifth indication, and the method further comprising:- receiving (403) a respective fourth indication, from each of one or more fifth nodes (115) operating in the communications network (100), the respective fourth indication requesting to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes (113), wherein the respective fourth indication optionally includes the identifier of the respective instance corresponding to a respective fifth node of the one or more fifth nodes (115) from which the respective fourth indication is received, and wherein the method further comprises:- sending (407), for each third node of the plurality of third nodes (113), a respective sixth indication to the one or more fifth nodes (115), the respective sixth indication indicating the change of status is of the respective third node of the plurality of third nodes (113), wherein the sending (407) of the respective sixth indication is based on at least one of: i. the received respective fourth indication lacking the identifier, and ii. a respective profile corresponding to the one or more fifth nodes (115) lacking the respective first indication.

8. The method according to any of claims 2-5 and claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:- sending (408), respectively to each fourth node of the plurality of fourth nodes(114), the single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, and wherein the sending (408) of the single second indication is responsive to theupdating (406) of the respective status and wherein the sending (408) of the single second indication is responsive to the received respective third indication.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein at least one of: each of the one or more fifth nodes (115) manages an NF.

10. The method according to any of claims 2-6 or 8, wherein each of the one or more fourth nodes (114) manages an NF.

11. The method according to any of claims 1-10, wherein at least one of: a. the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria is a data center, b. the first node (111) manages a Network Repository Function, NRF, c. the second node (112) manages an Operations and Maintenance node, d. each of the third nodes (113) manages a Network Function, NF, e. the communications system (100) is a Third Generation Partnership Project network, and f. the communications system (100) is a Fifth Generation Network.

12. A computer-implemented method, performed by a second node (112), the method being for handling a change of status, the second node (112) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:- sending (501) a single indication to a first node (111) operating in the communication system (100), the single indication indicating to change a status of a complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system (100), matching one or more criteria, or an entire locality served by the communications system (100), to a first status, wherein a plurality of third nodes (113) are comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of: a. the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria is a data center, b. the first node (111) manages a Network Repository Function, NRF, c. the second node (112) manages an Operations and Maintenance node, d. each of the third nodes (113) manages a Network Function, NF, e. the communications system (100) is a Third Generation Partnership Project network, and f. the communications system (100) is a Fifth Generation Network.

14. A computer-implemented method, performed by a fourth node (114), the method being for handling a change of status, the fourth node (114) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:- sending (602) a respective third indication, to a first node (111) operating in the communications system (100), the respective second indication requesting, in a single indication, to be notified of changes of status of a plurality of third nodes (113), wherein the respective second indication mandatorily includes an identifier of a respective instance corresponding to the fourth node (114), wherein the plurality of third nodes (113) are comprised in a complete set of network functions, operating in the communications system (100), matching one or more criteria, or an entire locality served by the communications system (100), and- receiving (603), from the first node (111), a single second indication indicating the change of status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, and wherein the receiving (603) of the single second indication is responsive to the sent respective third indication.

15. The method according to claim 14, the method further comprising:- sending (601) a respective first indication to the first node (111), the respective first indication indicating a capability of the fourth node (114) to receive, in a single second indication, a notification of a change of the status of the complete set of network functions matching the one or more criteria or the entire locality, and wherein the receiving (603) of the single second indication is performed with the proviso the respective first indication has been sent.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of: a. the respective first indication indicates a profile of the respective fourth node (114), and b. the respective first indication corresponds to an enumerated type of notification provided during a registration process of the fourth node (114) with the first node (111).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the enumerated type of notification is energy savings.

18. The method according to any of claims 15-17, wherein the respective first indication further comprises a default uniform resource indicator to receive the single second indication.

19. The method according to any of claims 14-18, wherein at least one of: a. the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria is a data center, b. the first node (111) manages a Network Repository Function, NRF, c. each of the third nodes (113) manages a Network Function, NF, d. the fourth node (114) manages an NF, e. the communications system (100) is a Third Generation Partnership Project network, and f. the communications system (100) is a Fifth Generation Network.

20. A first node (111), for handling a change of status, the first node (111) being configured to operate in a communications system (100), the first node (111) being further configured to:- receive a single indication from a second node (112) configured to operate in the communication system (100), the single indication being configured to indicate to change a status of a complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system (100), configured to match one or more criteria, or an entire locality configured to be served by the communications system (100), to a first status, wherein a plurality of third nodes (113) are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions or the locality,- determine the plurality of third nodes (113), configured to operate in the communications system (100), that are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the locality, based on a respective profile of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes (113), and- initiate, responsive to the single indication configured to be received, updating a respective status of the third nodes in the plurality of third nodes (113) configured to be determined, to the first status.

21. The first node (111) according to claim 20, the first node (111) being further configured to:- receive a respective first indication from a plurality of fourth nodes (114) configured to operate in the communications system (100), the respective first indication being configured to indicate a capability of a respective fourth node (114) to receive, in a single second indication, a notification of a change of the status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the locality,and wherein the receiving of the single indication is configured to be performed with the proviso the respective first indication has been received.

22. The first node (111) according to claim 21, wherein at least one of: a. the respective first indication is configured to indicate a profile of the respective fourth node (114), and b. the respective first indication is configured to correspond to an enumerated type of notification configured to be provided during a registration process of the respective fourth node (114) with the first node (111).

23. The first node (111) according to claim 22, wherein the enumerated type of notification is configured to be energy savings.

24. The first node (111) according to any of claims 21-23, wherein the respective first indication is configured to further comprise a default uniform resource indicator to receive the single second indication.

25. The first node (111) according to any of claims 21-24, the first node (111) being further configured to:- receive a respective third indication, from each of the fourth nodes in the plurality of fourth nodes (114), the respective third indication being configured to request, in another single indication, to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes (113), wherein the respective third indication is configured to mandatorily include an identifier of a respective instance corresponding to a respective fourth node of the one or more fourth nodes (114) from which the respective third indication is configured to be received.

26. The first node (111) according to any of claims 20-25, wherein the single indication configured to be received from the second node (112) is configured to be a fifth indication, and the first node (111) is further configured to:- receive a respective fourth indication, from each of one or more fifth nodes (115) configured to operate in the communications network (100), the respective fourth indication being configured to request to be notified of changes of status of the plurality of third nodes (113), wherein the respective fourth indication is configured to optionally include the identifier of the respective instance corresponding to a respective fifth node of the one or more fifth nodes (115) from which the respectivefourth indication is configured to be received, and wherein the first node (111) is further configured to:- send, for each third node of the plurality of third nodes (113), a respective sixth indication to the one or more fifth nodes (115), the respective sixth indication being configured to indicate the change of status is of the respective third node of the plurality of third nodes (113), wherein the sending of the respective sixth indication is configured to be based on at least one of: i. the respective fourth indication configured to be received, lacking the identifier, and ii. a respective profile configured to correspond to the one or more fifth nodes (115) configured to lack the respective first indication.

27. The first node (111) according to any of claims 21-24 and claim 25, wherein the first node (111) is further configured to:- send, respectively to each fourth node of the plurality of fourth nodes (114), the single second indication configured to indicate the change of status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality, and wherein the sending of the single second indication is configured to be responsive to the updating of the respective status and wherein the sending of the single second indication is configured to be responsive to the respective third indication configured to be received.

28. The first node (111) according to claim 27, wherein each of the one or more fifth nodes (115) is configured to manage an NF.

29. The first node (111) according to any of claims 21-25 or 27, wherein each of the one or more fourth nodes (114) is configured to manage an NF.

30. The first node (111) according to any of claims 20-29, wherein at least one of: a. the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria is configured to be a data center, b. the first node (111) is configured to manage a Network Repository Function, NRF, c. the second node (112) is configured to manage an Operations and Maintenance node, d. each of the third nodes (113) is configured to manage a Network Function, NF,e. the communications system (100) is configured to be a Third Generation Partnership Project network, and f. the communications system (100) is configured to be a Fifth Generation Network.

31. A second node (112), for handling a change of status, the second node (112) being configured to operate in a communications system (100), the second node (112) being further configured to:- send a single indication to a first node (111) configured to operate in the communication system (100), the single indication being configured to indicate to change a status of a complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system (100), configured to match one or more criteria, or an entire locality configured to be served by the communications system (100), to a first status, wherein a plurality of third nodes (113) are configured to be comprised in the set of network functions or the locality.

32. The second node (112) according to claim 31, wherein at least one of: a. the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria is configured to be a data center, b. the first node (111) is configured to manage a Network Repository Function, NRF, c. the second node (112) is configured to manage an Operations and Maintenance node, d. each of the third nodes (113) is configured to manage a Network Function, NF, e. the communications system (100) is configured to be a Third Generation Partnership Project network, and f. the communications system (100) is configured to be a Fifth Generation Network.

33. A fourth node (114), for handling a change of status, the fourth node (114) being configured to operate in a communications system (100), the fourth node (114) being further configured to:- send a respective third indication, to a first node (111) configured to operate in the communications system (100), the respective second indication being configured to request, in a single indication, to be notified of changes of status of a plurality of third nodes (113), wherein the respective second indication is configured to mandatorily include an identifier of a respective instance configured to correspondto the fourth node (114), wherein the plurality of third nodes (113) are configured to be comprised in a complete set of network functions, configured to operate in the communications system (100), configured to match one or more criteria, or an entire locality configured to be served by the communications system (100), and- receive, from the first node (111), a single second indication configured to indicate the change of status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality, and wherein the receiving of the single second indication is configured to be responsive to the respective third indication configured to be sent.

34. The fourth node (114) according to claim 33, the fourth node (114) being further configured to:- send a respective first indication to the first node (111), the respective first indication being configured to indicate a capability of the fourth node (114) to receive, in a single second indication, a notification of a change of the status of the complete set of network functions configured to match the one or more criteria or the entire locality, and wherein the receiving of the single second indication is configured to be performed with the proviso the respective first indication is configured to have been sent.

35. The fourth node (114) according to claim 34, wherein at least one of: a. the respective first indication is configured to indicate a profile of the respective fourth node (114), and b. the respective first indication is configured to correspond to an enumerated type of notification configured to be provided during a registration process of the fourth node (114) with the first node (111).

36. The fourth node (114) according to claim 35, wherein the enumerated type of notification is configured to be energy savings.

37. The fourth node (114) according to any of claims 34-36, wherein the respective first indication is configured to further comprise a default uniform resource indicator to receive the single second indication.

38. The fourth node (114) according to any of claims 33-37, wherein at least one of: a. the set of network functions matching the one or more criteria is configured to be a data center,b. the first node (111) is configured to manage a Network Repository Function, NRF, c. each of the third nodes (113) is configured to manage a Network Function, NF, d. the fourth node (114) is configured to manage an NF, e. the communications system (100) is configured to be a Third Generation Partnership Project network, and f. the communications system (100) is configured to be a Fifth Generation Network.

39. A communications system (100) comprising one or more of: a first node (111) according to any of the claims 20-30, a second node (112) according to any of the claims 31-32, and one or more fourth nodes (114) according to any of the claims 33-38.

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