Method, apparatus and computer program

Abstract

There is provided a user equipment comprising means for: sending, to an access node, information indicating the user equipment's capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from the access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment's capability for aggregating ambient device data; obtaining, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data; aggregating the obtained ambient device data based on the one or more user equipment aggregation rules; and sending, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data.

Description

[0001] METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] [1] Various examples of this disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, system and computer program, and in particular - but not exclusively to - ambient device data reporting.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] [2] A communication network can be seen as a facility that enables communications between two or more communication devices or provides communication devices access to a data network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network. A communication device may be provided with a service by an application server.

[0006] [3] Such communication networks operate in accordance with standards, such as those provided by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) or ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). Examples of standards provided by 3GPP are the so-called 3GPP standards for cellular technology generations, such as 3GPP standards for 4G technology, 5G technology, and 6G technology.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] [4] Some examples of this disclosure will be described with respect to certain aspects. These aspects are not intended to indicate key or essential features of the various examples of this disclosure, nor are they intended to be used to limit the scope of thereof. Other features, aspects, and elements will be apparent to a person skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, it should be appreciated that further aspects may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the various aspects described below.

[0009] [5] According to a first aspect, there is provided a method performed by a user equipment, the method comprising: receiving, from an access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation; obtaining, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data; aggregating the obtained ambient device data based on the one or more user equipment aggregation rules; and sending, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data. [6] The sending may further comprise sending, to the access node, information indicating that the user equipment’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0010] [7] The one or more user equipment aggregation rules may comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; an ambient device type from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the user equipment.

[0011] [8] The method may comprise: sending, to the access node, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy may be based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data.

[0012] [9] The method may comprise: prior to receiving the user equipment aggregation policy, receiving, from the access node, a further user equipment aggregation policy; determining that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy; and sending, to the access node, information indicating that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0013]

[0010] Receiving the user equipment aggregation policy may be based on sending the information indicating one of: that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy; that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy; or that the user equipment supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0014]

[0011] According to a second aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising means for performing any of the method of first aspect.

[0015]

[0012] According to a third aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the first aspect.

[0013] According to fourth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a user equipment, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the first aspect.

[0016]

[0014] According to fifth aspect there is provided a method performed by an access node, the method comprising: receiving, from a network function, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation; sending, to a user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the user equipment, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the network function, aggregated ambient device data.

[0017]

[0015] Receiving the aggregated ambient device data may comprise receiving, from the user equipment, information indicating that the user equipment’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0018]

[0016] The method may comprise receiving an access node aggregation policy comprising one or more access node aggregation rules for the access node to perform ambient device data aggregation.

[0019]

[0017] The one or more access node aggregation rules may comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; one or more user equipments from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a serving cell of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the access node.

[0020]

[0018] The method may comprise aggregating the received aggregated ambient device data based on the access node aggregation policy; wherein sending the aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0021]

[0019] The method may comprise: sending, to a further user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0022]

[0020] The method may comprise: receiving, from the further user equipment, additional aggregated ambient device data; and further aggregating the aggregated ambient device data received from the user equipment and the additional aggregated ambient device data received from the further user equipment; wherein sending, to the network function, the aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0023]

[0021] Sending the further aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending, to the network function, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0024]

[0022] The method may comprise: receiving, from the user equipment, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; and sending, to the network function, the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy may be based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data.

[0025]

[0023] The method may comprise: receiving, from the network function, information indicating one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from, wherein sending the user equipment aggregation policy may be based on the information indicating the one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data.

[0026]

[0024] The method may comprise: prior to receiving the user equipment aggregation policy, receiving, from the network function, a further user equipment aggregation policy; sending, to the user equipment, the further user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the user equipment, information indicating that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy; and sending, to the network function, the information indicating that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0027]

[0025] Receiving the user equipment aggregation policy may be based on sending the information indicating one of: that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy; that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy; or that the user equipment supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0028]

[0026] According to a sixth aspect, there is provided an access node comprising means for performing any of the method of the fifth aspect.

[0027] According to a seventh aspect, there is provided an access node comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the access node to perform any of the method of the fifth aspect.

[0029]

[0028] According to eighth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an access node, cause the access node to perform any of the method of the fifth aspect.

[0030]

[0029] According to ninth aspect there is provided a method performed by a network function, the method comprising: receiving, from an application function, one or more application function service requirements; determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation; sending, to one or more access nodes, the user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the one or more access nodes, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0031]

[0030] The one or more user equipment aggregation rules may comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; an ambient device type from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the user equipment.

[0032]

[0031] The method may comprise: determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, at least one of: an access node aggregation policy comprising one or more access node aggregation rules for an access node to perform ambient device data aggregation; or a network function aggregation policy comprising one or more network function aggregation rules for the network function to perform ambient device data aggregation.

[0033]

[0032] The one or more access node aggregation rules may comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; one or more user equipments from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a serving cell of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the access node.

[0034]

[0033] Receiving the aggregated ambient device data may comprise receiving, from the access node, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0035]

[0034] The method may comprise: further aggregating the received aggregated ambient device data based on the one or more network function aggregation rules; wherein sending the aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0036]

[0035] Sending the further aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending, to the application function, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0037]

[0036] The one or more application function service requirements may comprise at least one of: an ambient device type or ambient device category from which ambient device data is to be aggregated; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated; time information indicating a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated; a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated.

[0038]

[0037] The method may comprise: receiving, from the access node, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, wherein determining the user equipment aggregation policy may be further based on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data.

[0039]

[0038] The method may comprise: determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from; and sending, to the one or more access nodes, information indicating the determined one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from.

[0040]

[0039] The method may comprise: sending, to the access node, a further user equipment aggregation policy; and receiving, from the access node, information indicating one of: that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy; that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy; or that the user equipment supports the further user equipment aggregation policy, wherein determining the user equipment aggregation policy may be further based on the information indicating that the user equipment does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the user equipment partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the user equipment supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0041]

[0040] According to a tenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for providing a network function configured to perform any of the method of the ninth aspect.

[0042]

[0041] According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform any of the method of the ninth aspect.

[0043]

[0042] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform any of the method of the ninth aspect.

[0044]

[0043] According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a method performed by a user equipment, the method comprising: sending, to an access node, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from the access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; obtaining, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data; aggregating the obtained ambient device data based on the one or more user equipment aggregation rules; and sending, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0045]

[0044] The sending may comprise sending, to the access node, information indicating that the user equipment’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0046]

[0045] The one or more user equipment aggregation rules may comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; an ambient device type from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the user equipment.

[0046] According to a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising means for performing any of the method of the thirteenth aspect.

[0047]

[0047] According to a fifteenth aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the thirteenth aspect.

[0048]

[0048] According to sixteenth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a user equipment, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the thirteenth aspect.

[0049]

[0049] According to a seventeenth aspect, there is provided a method performed by an access node, the method comprising: receiving, from a user equipment, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; sending, to a network function, the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from the network function, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; sending, to a user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the user equipment, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the network function, aggregated ambient device data.

[0050]

[0050] Receiving the aggregated ambient device data may comprise receiving, from the user equipment, information indicating that the user equipment’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0051]

[0051] The method may comprise: receiving an access node aggregation policy comprising one or more access node aggregation rules for the access node to perform ambient device data aggregation.

[0052]

[0052] The one or more access node aggregation rules may comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; one or more user equipments from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a serving cell of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the access node.

[0053]

[0053] The method may comprise further aggregating the received aggregated ambient device data based on the access node aggregation policy; wherein sending the aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0054]

[0054] The method may comprise: sending, to a further user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0055]

[0055] The method may comprise: receiving, from the further user equipment, additional aggregated ambient device data; and further aggregating the aggregated ambient device data received from the user equipment and the additional aggregated ambient device data received from the further user equipment; wherein sending, to the network function, the aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0056]

[0056] Sending the further aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending, to the network function, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0057]

[0057] The method may comprise: receiving, from the network function, information indicating one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from, wherein sending the user equipment aggregation policy may be based on the information indicating the one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data.

[0058]

[0058] According to an eighteenth aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising means for performing any of the method of the seventeenth aspect.

[0059]

[0059] According to a ninteenth aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the seventeenth aspect.

[0060]

[0060] According to twentieth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a user equipment, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the seventeenth aspect.

[0061] According to a twenty-first aspect, there is provided a method performed by a network function, the method comprising: receiving, from an access node, information indicating a user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from an application function, one or more application function service requirements; determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements and the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation; sending, to one or more access nodes, the user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the one or more access nodes, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0061]

[0062] The one or more user equipment aggregation rules may comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; an ambient device type from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the user equipment.

[0062]

[0063] The method may comprise determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, at least one of: an access node aggregation policy comprising one or more access node aggregation rules for an access node to perform ambient device data aggregation; or a network function aggregation policy comprising one or more network function aggregation rules for the network function to perform ambient device data aggregation.

[0063]

[0064] The one or more access node aggregation rules comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; one or more user equipments from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a serving cell of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the access node.

[0064]

[0065] Receiving the aggregated ambient device data may comprise receiving, from the access node, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0066] The method may comprise further aggregating the received aggregated ambient device data based on the one or more network function aggregation rules; wherein sending the aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0065]

[0067] Sending the further aggregated ambient device data may comprise sending, to the application function, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

[0066]

[0068] The one or more application function service requirements may comprise at least one of: an ambient device type or ambient device category from which ambient device data is to be aggregated; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated; time information indicating a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated; a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated.

[0067]

[0069] The method may comprise: determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from; and sending, to the one or more access nodes, information indicating the determined one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from.

[0068]

[0070] According to a twenty-second aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising means for performing any of the method of the twenty-first aspect.

[0069]

[0071] According to a twenty-third aspect, there is provided a user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the twenty- first aspect.

[0070]

[0072] According to twenty-fourth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a user equipment, cause the user equipment to perform any of the method of the twenty-first aspect.

[0073] According to a twenty-fifth, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method according to any of the preceding aspects.

[0071]

[0074] In the above, many different aspects have been described. As previously noted, it should be appreciated that further aspects may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the aspects described above. Other features, aspects, and elements will become apparent in view of the following.

[0072] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0073]

[0075] Some examples will now be described, by way of non-limiting and illustrative example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures (FIGs.) in which:

[0074]

[0076] FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication network to which examples disclosed herein may be applied;

[0075]

[0077] FIG. 2 shows a representation of a 5thgeneration communication system;

[0076]

[0078] FIG. 3 illustrates a first network topology including an ambient device;

[0077]

[0079] FIG. 4 illustrates a second network topology including an ambient device;

[0078]

[0080] FIG. 5 shows a method performed by a user equipment according to some examples;

[0079]

[0081] FIG. 6 shows a method performed by an access node according to some examples;

[0080]

[0082] FIG. 7 shows a method performed by a network function according to some examples;

[0081]

[0083] FIG. 8 shows a method performed by an application function according to some examples;

[0082]

[0084] FIG. 9 shows a signalling procedure according to some examples;

[0083]

[0085] FIG. 10 shows a signalling procedure according to some examples;

[0084]

[0086] FIG. 11 shows a method performed by a user equipment according to some examples;

[0085]

[0087] FIG. 12 shows a method performed by an access node according to some examples;

[0086]

[0088] FIG. 13 shows a method performed by a network function according to some examples;

[0087]

[0089] FIG. 14 shows an apparatus according to some examples.

[0088] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0089]

[0090] Some examples of this disclosure may be implemented in a communication network, such as any of the following radio access technologies (RATs): World-wide Interoperability for Micro-wave Access (WiMAX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM, 2G), GSM EDGE radio access Network (GERAN), General Packet Radio Service (GRPS), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS, 3G) based on basic wideband-code division multiple access (W-CDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, and enhanced LTE (eLTE), 5G (also called NR), or any future RAT such as 6G. Moreover, communication within the communication network may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), and / or Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM).

[0090]

[0091] As used herein, the term “network device” or “network node” may refer to a node in a communication network via which user equipment may access the network and / or which is capable of controlling radio communication and managing radio resources within a cell. The network node or network device may be referred to as a base station (BS), an access point (AP) or an access node. The network device may be, depending on the applied technology, for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio head (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node, a nonterrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, or an aircraft network device.

[0091]

[0092] Moreover, in connection of split radio access network (RAN), the network device may refer to a centralised unit (CU) of a base station and / or a distributed unit (DU) of a base station. An interface between CU and DU may be referred to as an F1 interface in NR. In the split RAN architecture, node operations may be carried out, at least partly, in the central / centralized unit, CU, (e.g. server, host or node) operationally coupled to the DU, (e.g. a radio head / node). One CU may control one or more DUs, acting at least as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. In some examples, the DUs may comprise e.g. a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the CU may comprise the layers above RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC) and an internet protocol (IP) layers. Other functional splits are possible too. In practice, any processing task may be performed in either the CU or the DU and the boundary where the responsibility is shifted between the CU and the DU may depend on the applied implementation.

[0093] The term “terminal device” may refer to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example, a terminal device may be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), or a Mobile Station (MS). The terminal device may include a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and play-back appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, USB dongles, an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like.

[0092]

[0094] A term “resource”, as used herein, may refer to radio resources in time domain, in frequency domain, in space domain, and / or in code domain. Some examples of resources include e.g. a physical resource block (PRB), a radio frame, a subframe, a time slot, a subband, a frequency region, a sub-carrier, a beam, etc. The term “transmission” and / or “reception” may refer to wirelessly transmitting and / or receiving via a wireless propagation channel on radio resources.

[0093]

[0095] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a communication network to which examples disclosed herein may be applied. The communication network or a cellular communication network may comprise a network node 110 providing one or more cells, such as cell 100, and a network node 112 providing one or more other cells, such as cell 102. Each cell may be, e.g., a macro cell, a micro cell, femto, or a pico cell, for example. The cell may define a coverage area or a service area of the corresponding access node.

[0094]

[0096] The network node 110 may provide a user equipment (UE) 120 (one or more UEs) with wireless access to the communication network. The wireless access may comprise downlink (DL) communication from the network node to the UE 120 and uplink (UL) communication from the UE 120 to the network node. Examples of uplink channels comprise physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmitting control information and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for transmitting data towards the network. Examples of downlink channels comprise physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for transmitting control information and physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for transmitting data towards the user equipment.

[0097] There may be a plurality of UEs 120, 122 in the system. Each UE may be served by the same or by different network nodes 110, 112. A UE may be configured with dual connectivity (DC), wherein the UE, e.g. UE 120, may be connected to multiple network nodes 110, 112. The UEs 120, 122 may communicate with each other, in case device-to-device (D2D) communication interface is established between them via a so-called sidelink (SL). Such D2D communications may be referred to as machine-to-machine, peer-to-peer (P2P) communications, or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), for example.

[0095]

[0098] In the case of multiple network nodes in the communication network, the network nodes may be connected to each other via an interface. LTE specifications call such an interface as X2 interface. An interface between an LTE node and a 5G node, or between two 5G nodes may be called Xn interface. The network nodes 110 and 112 may be further connected via another interface to a core network 116 of the communication network.

[0096]

[0099] In the following, various examples are explained with reference to communication devices capable of communication with a communication system. Before explaining in detail the various examples of this disclosure, a 5thgeneration communication system (5GS), an access network and a core network (5GC) thereof, and communication devices are briefly explained with reference to FIG. 2.

[0097]

[0100] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a 5G communication system (5GS). The 5GS may comprise a user equipment (UE) or Terminal 120,, a 5G core network 202 (which may be an example of core network 116 described previously), and one or more application functions 203. An application function 203 may be deployed in the 5GS as trusted application function or may be deployed or host on one or more application servers of the data network (DN) 204. Such application functions are untrusted application functions. The 5GS connects the UE to a data network, the access network, and the 5GC 202 (e.g., a U PF of the 5GC).

[0098]

[0101] The 5GC may comprise the following network functions: Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF); Network Exposure Function (NEF) 205; Network Repository Function (NRF); Policy Control Function (PCF); Unified Data Management (UDM) 206; Application Function (AF) 203; Authentication Server Function (AUSF) 207; an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 208; Session Management Function (SMF) 209; and a user plane function (UPF) 210. FIG. 2 also shows the various interfaces (N1 , N2 etc.) that may be implemented between the various elements of the system. It should be understood that not all of the above network functions are shown in FIG. 2, and that - in some examples - the 5GC may comprise additional network functions other than those mentioned above.

[0102] The LTE specifications specify the core network as an evolved packet core (EPC), and the core network may comprise e.g. a mobility management entity (MME) and a gateway node. The MME may handle mobility of terminal devices in a tracking area encompassing a plurality of cells and handle signalling connections between the terminal devices and the core network. The gateway node may handle data routing in the core network and to / from the terminal devices. The 5G specifications specify the core network as a 5G core (5GC). The AMF 208 may handle termination of non-access stratum (NAS) signalling, NAS ciphering & integrity protection, registration management, connection management, mobility management, access authentication and authorization, security context management. The UPF 210 may support packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection and quality of service (QoS) handling, for example.

[0099]

[0103] Various examples of this disclosure relate to the retrieval and aggregation of data from one or more ambient devices. An ambient device may refer to a device that utilizes energy from received signals in order to emit signals onto which certain information may be encoded. For example, an ambient device may receive a first signal (which may be referred to as activation signal) from an activator device and use the energy of the first signal to generate and emit a second signal encoded with some information associated with the ambient device, for example an identifier of the ambient device. The second signal may then be detected by a reader device. In some examples, the activator device and reader device may be the same device or may be different devices. The activator device and / or the reader device may for example comprise the terminal device (e.g., a UE), or a network node, such as those described previously.

[0100]

[0104] An example of am ambient device is an ambient internet of things (AloT) device. AloT may complement existing loT technologies and help provide a cost-effective and powerefficient solutions. For example, AloT devices may be provided in the form of tags attached to stock in a warehouse and used to determine the warehouse inventory by activating the AloT devices and determining which AloT device(s) respond.

[0101]

[0105] AloT devices may be incorporated into communications networks using different network topologies. In a first topology (Topology 1), depicted in FIG. 3, the AloT device directly and bidirectionally communicates with an access node of the network, such as a base station (BS). The communication between the base station and the AloT device includes AloT data and / or signalling. The link between BS and the AloT device in downlink is referred to as R2D. The link between AloT device and the BS is referred to as D2R. In a second topology (Topology 2), depicted in FIG. 4, the AloT device communicates bidirectionally with an intermediate node between the AloT device and BS. In topology 2, the intermediate node can be a relay node, I AB node, UE, repeater, etc. which is capable of AloT. The intermediate node transfers Ambient loT data and / or signalling between BS and the AloT device. The link between intermediate node and the AloT device in downlink is referred to as R2D. The link between AloT device and the intermediate node is referred to as D2R.

[0102]

[0106] A consumer application function (AF) may request, via the core network, to communicate with one or more target AloT devices, for example to retrieve data from the one or more target AloT devices. This may for example be for specific AloT devices, or AloT devices within a certain area, or a certain type of AloT device. For example, an AF may request temperature data from all temperature sensor type AloT devices in a geographic location. When the number of requested AloT devices is high, it may be inefficient for the network to provide data enclosed in the responses from each AloT device one-by-one. Therefore, aggregation of ambient device from multiple AloT devices may be performed before forwarding the aggregated data to the AF.

[0103]

[0107] Existing AloT solutions may not provide solutions for defining the criteria of when ambient device data aggregation should be performed, how those criteria are determined, and how the criteria are provided to the various network entities involved in retrieving the ambient device data. Various examples of this disclosure pertain to and can address one or more of these issues.

[0104]

[0108] Reference is made to FIG. 5, which shows a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in some examples. The UE may comprise an ambient device reader. The UE may be separate from the ambient device activator (i.e. the ambient device activator may emit the activation signal to activate the ambient devices, and the UE may receive the signals emitted by the ambient devices in response to the activation signal), or the UE may also comprise the ambient device activator (i.e. the UE may emit the activation signal to activate the ambient devices, and receive the signals emitted by the ambient devices in response to the activation signal).

[0105]

[0109] At 500, the method comprises receiving, from an access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation. The user equipment aggregation policy may be received in an ambient internet of things request message.

[0110] At 502, the method comprises obtaining, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data.

[0106]

[0111] The obtaining may comprise sending an activation signal to the one or more ambient devices and receiving one or more responses comprising ambient device data (e.g., when the UE comprises the activator device and the reader device). Alternatively, the obtaining may comprise receiving one or more responses comprising ambient device data (e.g., when the UE does not comprise the activator device).

[0107]

[0112] At 504, the method comprises aggregating the obtained ambient device data based on the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0108]

[0113] At 506, the method comprises sending, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0109]

[0114] The aggregated ambient device data may be sent in an ambient internet of things response message. The UE may also send information indicating that the UE’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed. The information indicating that the UE’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed may for example comprise a flag that is set (or not set) to indicate completion. For example, the UE may send the aggregated ambient device data in two parts - the UE may send a first part of the aggregated ambient device data (without information indicating that the UE’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed), and subsequently send a second part of the aggregated ambient device data along with information indicating that the UE’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0110]

[0115] The one or more user equipment aggregation rules may comprise at least one of:

[0111] (a) A time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment;

[0112] (b) An ambient device type (e.g., sensor type, logistic tag type, etc.) from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment;

[0113] (c) A geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; or

[0114] (d) A priority or criticality of ambient devices (e.g., high priority, low priority, mission critical, etc.) that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the user equipment.

[0116] Reference is made to FIG. 6, which shows a method performed by an access node (AN) in some examples. The AN may for example comprise a gNB.

[0115]

[0117] At 600, the method comprises receiving, from a network function, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation. The aggregation policy may be received in an ambient internet of things request message.

[0116]

[0118] At 602, the method comprises sending, to a user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy. The user equipment aggregation policy may be sent in a further ambient internet of things request message.

[0117]

[0119] At 604, the method comprises receiving, from the user equipment, aggregated ambient device data. The AN may also receive information indicating that the UE’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed as described previously. The aggregated ambient device data may be received in an ambient internet of things response message.

[0118]

[0120] At 606, the method comprises sending, to the network function, aggregated ambient device data. The aggregated ambient device data may be sent in a further ambient internet of things response message.

[0119]

[0121] In some examples, the AN may perform further aggregation of ambient device data. For example, the AN may receive an access node aggregation policy comprising one or more access node aggregation rules for the access node to perform ambient device data aggregation. The AN may perform the further aggregation based on the access node aggregation policy. Sending the aggregated ambient device data at 606 may comprise sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0120]

[0122] The one or more access node aggregation rules may comprise at least one of:

[0121] (a) A time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node;

[0122] (b) One or more user equipments from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node;

[0123] (c) A serving cell of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node;

[0124] (d) A geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; or (e) A priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the access node.

[0125]

[0123] For instance, in some examples the AN may further send, to a further UE, the UE aggregation policy. The AN may further receive, from the further UE, additional aggregated ambient device data. Based on the AN aggregation policy, the AN may aggregate the aggregated ambient device data (received from the UE) and the additional aggregated ambient device data (received from the further UE). The AN may send, to a network function, the further aggregated ambient device data.

[0126]

[0124] When sending the aggregated ambient device data at 606, the AN may also send information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed. The information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed may for example comprise a flag that is set (or not set) to indicate completion. For example, the AN may send the aggregated ambient device data in two parts - the AN may send a first part of the aggregated ambient device data (without information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed), and subsequently send a second part of the aggregated ambient device data along with information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0127]

[0125] In some examples, the AN may receive, from the network function, information indicating one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from. The AN may perform the sending at 602 based on the information indicating the one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from.

[0128]

[0126] Reference is made to FIG. 7, which shows a method performed by a network function in some examples. The network function may for example be a NEF, or an AloT network function (AloTF). The AloTF may be a NF that supports AloT services, such as but not limited to performing inventory and device context management, command delivery, authentication and authorization, ambient device reader selection, topology selection (e.g., topology 1 or 2), etc. The network function may communicate with an access node directly, or via one or more intermediary nodes (e.g., an AMF).

[0129]

[0127] At 700, the method comprises receiving, from an application function, one or more application function service requirements. The one or more application function service requirements may be received in an ambient internet of things request message. For example, the application function may send, to the network function, an AloT request message for an inventory service, where the AloT request message comprises the one or more application function service requirements.

[0130]

[0128] The one or more application function service requirement may comprise at least one of:

[0131] (a) An ambient device type or ambient device category from which ambient device data is to be aggregated;

[0132] (b) A geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated;

[0133] (c) Time information indicating a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated; or

[0134] (d) A priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated.

[0135]

[0129] At 702, the method comprises determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation. The user equipment aggregation policy may be as described previously.

[0136]

[0130] At 704, the method comprises sending, to one or more access nodes, the user equipment aggregation policy. The user equipment aggregation policy may be sent in a further ambient internet of things request message.

[0137]

[0131] At 706, the method comprises receiving, from the one or more access nodes, aggregated ambient device data. The aggregated ambient device data may be received in an ambient internet of things response message.

[0138]

[0132] At 708, the method comprises sending, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data. The aggregated ambient device data may be sent in a further ambient internet of things response message.

[0139]

[0133] In some examples, the network function may determine, based on the one or more application function service requirements, one or more UEs to obtain the ambient device data from. For instance, the AF service requirements may indicate that the AF requires data aggregated from logistics tag devices in a warehouse. The network function may determine UE’s located in that warehouse for obtaining the ambient device data from. As a further example, the AF service requirements may indicate that theAF requires data from temperature sensor devices located on a particular floor of a building between 0800 and 0815 GMT, and the network function may determine UEs that are expected to be on the floor of that building within the indicated time. The network function may then send, to the access node(s), information indicating the determined one or more UEs.

[0140]

[0134] In some examples, the network function may further determine, based on the one or more application function service requirements, an access node aggregation policy and / or a network function aggregation policy.

[0141]

[0135] The access node aggregation policy may comprise one or more access node aggregation rules for an access node to perform ambient device data aggregation as described previously. The network node may send, to the access node, the access node aggregation policy.

[0142]

[0136] The network function may receive, from the access node, information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed. The information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed may for example comprise a flag that is set (or not set) to indicate completion. For example, the network function may receive the aggregated ambient device data in two parts - a first part of the aggregated ambient device data (without information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed), and subsequently a second part of the aggregated ambient device data along with information indicating that the AN’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0143]

[0137] The network function aggregation policy may apply one or more access node sessions for which the network function has to perform ambient device data aggregation. The network function may perform further aggregation of the received aggregated ambient device data based on the network function aggregation policy, and send further aggregated ambient device data to the application function.

[0144]

[0138] In some examples, the network function may send information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed. The information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed may for example comprise a flag that is set (or not set) to indicate completion. For example, the network function may send the aggregated ambient device data in two parts - a first part of the aggregated ambient device data (without information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed), and subsequently a second part of the aggregated ambient device data along with information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0145]

[0139] Reference is made to FIG. 8, which shows a method performed by an application function (AF) in some examples.

[0146]

[0140] At 800, the method comprises sending, to a network function, one or more application function service requirements for receiving aggregated ambient device data. The one or more application function service requirements may be as described previously. The one or more application functions service requirements may be sent in an ambient internet of things request message.

[0147]

[0141] At 802, the method comprises receiving, from the network function, aggregated ambient device data aggregated based on the one or more application function service requirements. The aggregated ambient device data may be received in an ambient internet of things response message.

[0148]

[0142] In some examples, the network function may receive, from the network function, information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed. The information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed may for example comprise a flag that is set (or not set) to indicate completion. For example, the application function may receive the aggregated ambient device data in two parts - a first part of the aggregated ambient device data (without information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed), and subsequently a second part of the aggregated ambient device data along with information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0149]

[0143] In some examples, the UE may not support the received user equipment aggregation policy, either entirely or partially. For example, the UE may not have sufficient memory capacity for aggregating the ambient device data according to the user equipment aggregation policy, or that the UE may not be capable of aggregation at all. In some examples, the UE may provide feedback to the network function for the network function to use for determining a subsequent user equipment aggregation policy.

[0144] For example, prior to the network function determining and sending to the UE the user equipment aggregation policy described above, the network function may determine a further user equipment aggregation policy. The network function may send the further user equipment aggregation policy to the access node, which may in turn send the further user equipment aggregation policy to the UE. The use of “further” when describing the further user equipment aggregation policy is used to distinguish the further user equipment aggregation policy from the user equipment aggregation policy described previously. The further user equipment aggregation policy may differ at least in part from the user equipment aggregation policy - for example one or more of the one or more user equipment aggregation rules comprised in the further user equipment aggregation policy may be different from the one or more user equipment aggregation rules comprised in the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0150]

[0145] The UE, upon receiving the further user equipment aggregation policy, may determine whether the UE can support the further user equipment aggregation policy. For example, the UE may determine that the UE cannot support the further user equipment aggregation policy, or that the UE can only partially support the further user equipment aggregation policy, or that the user equipment supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0151]

[0146] The UE may then send, to the access node, feedback information indicating whether the UE supports the further user equipment aggregation policy. For example, the UE may send, to the access node, information indicating one of:

[0152] (a) that the UE does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy;

[0153] (b) that the UE partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy; or

[0154] (c) that the user equipment supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0155]

[0147] The access node may then forward, to the network function, the information indicating that the UE does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the UE partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the user equipment supports the further user equipment aggregation policy.

[0156]

[0148] The network function, on receiving the information indicating that the UE does not support the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the UE partially supports the further user equipment aggregation policy or that the UE supports the further user equipment aggregation policy, may then determine the user equipment aggregation policy accordingly. Thus the user equipment aggregation policy (received by the UE at 500) may be based on the feedback information from the UE.

[0157]

[0149] For instance, the UE may indicate in the feedback that it can support the further user equipment aggregation policy over only half the time window indicated in the further user equipment aggregation policy (e.g., due to limited memory capacity at the UE. The network function may then adapt the policy such that the user equipment aggregation policy subsequently sent to the UE covers a shorter time duration or fewer ambient devices (i.e. has a smaller memory capacity requirement at the UE).

[0158]

[0150] In some examples, prior to the determination of the user equipment aggregation policy, the UE may send, to the network function (via the access node), information indicating the UE’s capability for data aggregation. For example, the UE may simply indicate that it is capable of aggregation (e.g., in the form of a flag that is set or not set according to the capability), or more detailed information such as the UE’s data capacity for storing data for aggregation. The network function may determine the user equipment aggregation policy based on the UE’s indicated capability. This may help avoid situations where the network function determines a user equipment aggregation policy that cannot be supported, or can only be partially supported, by the UE.

[0159]

[0151] FIGs. 11 to 13 show example methods performed by a UE, access node, and network function respectively for examples when the UE capability information is used by the network function to determine the user equipment aggregation policy, as described above.

[0160]

[0152] With reference to FIG. 11 , a method performed by a user equipment is shown.

[0161]

[0153] At 1100, the method comprises sending, to an access node, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data.

[0162]

[0154] At 1102, the method comprises receiving, from the access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data. The user equipment aggregation policy may be as described previously.

[0163]

[0155] At 1104, the method comprises obtaining, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data. The UE may obtain the ambient device data as described previously.

[0156] At 1106, the method comprises aggregating the obtained ambient device data based on the one or more user equipment aggregation rules.

[0164]

[0157] At 1108, the method comprises sending, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0165]

[0158] With reference to FIG. 12, a method performed by an access node is shown.

[0166]

[0159] At 1200, the method comprises receiving, from a user equipment, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data.

[0167]

[0160] At 1202, the method comprises sending, to a network function, the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data.

[0168]

[0161] At 1204, the method comprises receiving, from the network function, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data. The user equipment aggregation policy may be as described previously.

[0169]

[0162] At 1206, the method comprises sending, to a user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0170]

[0163] At 1208, the method comprises receiving, from the user equipment, aggregated ambient device data.

[0171]

[0164] At 1210, the method comprises sending, to the network function, aggregated ambient device data.

[0172]

[0165] With reference to FIG. 13, a method performed by a network function is shown. The network function may for example be a NEF or AloTF as described previously.

[0173]

[0166] At 1300, the method comprises receiving, from an access node, information indicating a user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data.

[0174]

[0167] At 1302, the method comprises receiving, from an application function, one or more application function service requirements. The one or more application function service requirements may be as described previously.

[0168] At 1304, the method comprises determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements and the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation. The user equipment aggregation policy may be as described previously.

[0175]

[0169] At 1306, the method comprises sending, to one or more access nodes, the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0176]

[0170] At 1308, the method comprises receiving, from the one or more access nodes, aggregated ambient device data.

[0177]

[0171] At 1310, the method comprises sending, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0178]

[0172] It should be understood that the methods described above in relation to FIGs. 11 to 13 may be combined with any one or more of the features described previously. For example, the methods of FIGs. 11 to 13 may further comprise the network function determining an access node aggregation policy, sending the access node aggregation policy to the access node, and the access node performing further aggregation of the aggregated ambient device data received from one or more UEs.

[0179]

[0173] Reference is made to FIG. 9, which shows a signalling procedure according to some examples.

[0180]

[0174] Optionally, at 900, the UE sends, to the network function (via the access node and optionally AMF), information indicating the UE’s capability for data aggregation. The information indicating the UE’s capability for data aggregation may be as described previously. Thus, the network function is aware of the UE’s capability for data aggregation after step 900.

[0181]

[0175] At 902, the application function sends, to the network function, the application function service requirements as described previously.

[0182]

[0176] Optionally, at 904, the network function determines one or more UEs based on the application function service requirements, as described previously.

[0177] At 906, based on the application function service requirements, and optionally the information indicating the UE’s capability for data aggregation, the network function determines the user equipment aggregation policy as described previously. The network function may also determine the access node aggregation policy and / or network function aggregation policy based on the application function service requirements, as described previously.

[0183]

[0178] At 908, the network function sends, to the access node, the determined user equipment aggregation policy, and optionally the access node aggregation policy (if determined at 906) The network function may also send, to the access node, information identifying an AloT session (e.g., AloT session ID) associated with the user equipment aggregation policy and / or information identifying one or more target ambient devices (e.g., one or more AloT device IDs) for obtaining ambient data from, and / or information identifying the determined one or more UEs (if determined at 906).

[0184]

[0179] Optionally, at 910, the access node applies the access node aggregation policy (if received at 908).

[0185]

[0180] At 912, the access node sends, to the UE (and optionally one or more further UEs), the user equipment aggregation policy. The access node may determine the UE based on the information identifying the determined one or more UEs (if received at 908). The access node may also send, to the UE, the information identifying the AloT session and / or the information identifying one or more target ambient devices (if received at 908).

[0186]

[0181] At 914, the UE applies the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0187]

[0182] At 916, the UE obtains ambient device data from one or more ambient devices, and at 918 aggregates the ambient device data based on the user equipment aggregation policy.

[0188]

[0183] At 920, the UE sends the aggregated ambient device data to the access node, as described previously. The UE may send the aggregated ambient device data in a message comprising the information identifying the AloT session and / or information identifying one or more target ambient devices from which the ambient data was obtained. The UE may also send information indicating that the UE’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0184] At 922, optionally the access node may further aggregate the ambient device data received from the UE based on the access node aggregation policy. For instance, the access node may aggregate the ambient device data received from the UE with ambient device data received from one or more further UEs. As a further example, the UE may aggregate ambient device data obtained over a first interval (e.g., 2 seconds), while the access node may aggregate the ambient device data received from the UE over a second interval longer than the first interval (e.g., 5 minutes).

[0189]

[0185] At 924, the access node sends the aggregated ambient device data to the network function. The access node may send the aggregated ambient device data in a message comprising the information identifying the AloT session and / or information identifying one or more target ambient devices from which the ambient data was obtained and / or information identifying one or more UEs from which the aggregated ambient device data was received. The access node may also send information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0190]

[0186] Optionally, at 926, the network function may perform further aggregation of the ambient device data received form the access node based on the network function aggregation policy (if determined at 906).

[0191]

[0187] At 928, the network function sends, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data. The network function may send the aggregated ambient device data in a message comprising the information identifying the AloT session and / or information identifying one or more target ambient devices from which the ambient data was obtained. The network function may also send information indicating that the network function’s reporting of the aggregated ambient device data is completed.

[0192]

[0188] Reference is made to FIG. 10, which shows a signalling procedure for a specific implementation of the concepts described above. It should be understood that the concepts described above are not necessarily limited to being implemented by the procedure shown in FIG. 10.

[0193]

[0189] In step 1 , the AF initiates an AloT request or subscription. This request / subscription could be for an inventory service using the AloT devices. The request includes parameters such as the target AloT devices, expected locations of the target AloT devices and specific service requirements which include at least one of the following: (a) Report per AloT device type or category: the AF may want to receive aggregated data from devices of the same type (e.g., temperature sensors, logistics tags) at once to simplify processing and analysis.

[0194] (b) Geographical location: the AF may want to receive aggregated data from devices that are located within the same geographical area to improve relevance.

[0195] (c) Time-based aggregation: the AF may want to receive aggregated data within a specific time window to provide time-synchronized information.

[0196] (d) Priority or criticality: the AF may want to receive aggregated data from high- priority or critical devices separately from less critical data to ensure timely processing.

[0197]

[0190] In step 2, the NEF / AloTF selects a UE reader based on location information based on the selection mechanisms captured in solution#11. This UE reader will be responsible for interacting with the target AloT devices.

[0198]

[0191] In step 3, the NEF / AloTF decides on the aggregation rules (which may be comprised in the aggregation policies described above). This decision is based on operator policy and the specific service requirements provided by the AF. These rules will govern how data collected from multiple AloT devices will be aggregated before being sent back to the AF.

[0199]

[0192] The aggregation rule can include the followings:

[0200] (a) UE level aggregation

[0201] 1. Per time window

[0202] 2. Per device type

[0203] 3. Per priority / criticality level

[0204] 4. Per location

[0205] 5. Any combination of above

[0206] (b) gNB level aggregation (optional)

[0207] 1. Per time window

[0208] 2. Per U E reader

[0209] 3. Per cell

[0210] 4. Per location

[0211] 5. Per priority / criticality level

[0212] 6. Any combination of above.

[0193] In step 4, the NEF / AloTF sends an AloT request to the gNB over the AM F. This request includes the AloT session ID, the target AloT devices, and the aggregation rule that was decided in Step 3.

[0213]

[0194] In step 5, the gNB may apply the aggregation policy as directed by the NEF / AloTF. This step ensures that the gNB correctly handles data from AloT devices according to the policy.

[0214]

[0195] In step 6, the gNB forwards the AloT request, including the AloT session ID, target AloT devices, and aggregation policy, to the UE reader. The gNB instructs the selected UE reader to apply the aggregation policy.

[0215]

[0196] In step 7, the UE reader applies the aggregation policy as directed by the NEF / AloTF. This step ensures that the UE reader correctly handles data from AloT devices according to the policy.

[0216]

[0197] In step 8, the UE reader begins communication with the AloT devices, collecting data as per the AloT request.

[0217]

[0198] In step 9, the UE reader aggregates the data collected from the AloT devices according to the applied aggregation policy.

[0218]

[0199] In step 10, the UE reader sends the aggregated data back to the gNB. The response includes the AloT session ID, the aggregated data, AloT device IDs, and a flag indicating the completion of data aggregation. If data aggregation is done, the flag is set to be a specific value like true or false otherwise.

[0219]

[0200] In step 11 , if multiple UE readers are involved, the gNB aggregates data from all the UE readers to compile a comprehensive dataset according to the aggregation rule that was decided in Step 3.

[0220]

[0201] In step 12, the gNB sends the AloT response back to the NEF / AloTF, including the AloT session ID, the list of target AloT devices, the aggregated data, and a flag indicating completion.

[0221]

[0202] In step 13, the NEF / AloTF may perform further aggregation at the session level if needed, combining data from various sources into a final format.

[0203] In step 14, the NEF / AloTF sends the final AloT response to theAF, including the target AloT devices, the fully aggregated data, and the end flag, indicating that the data processing is complete. If not completed, further AloT responses can be provided until the session is completed.

[0222]

[0204] The above-described procedure may have the following impacts on services, entities and interfaces:

[0223]

[0205] Entity in 5GC, responsible for AloT service handling (e.g., NEF or AloTF) :

[0224] (a) Supports determining and providing the aggregation rule considering the AF requirements and the local policy

[0225] (b) Supports aggregating the AloT data at the session level.

[0226]

[0206] AloT UE reader:

[0227] (a) Supports performing the UE level aggregation according to the aggregation rule provided by the network.

[0228]

[0207] RAN node:

[0229] (a) Supports performing the gNB level aggregation according to the aggregation rule provided by the network.

[0230]

[0208] Thus examples have been described whereby an application function may provide requirements to a network function for receiving aggregated ambient device data. The network function may determine aggregation policies based on the requirements and distribute the aggregation policies to the relevant network entities, including a UE. The UE may obtain and aggregate ambient device data according to it’s aggregation policy, and report the aggregated data back to the network function. The reported data may be further aggregated by the network entities along the way to the network function (e.g., by the access node) and may be further aggregated by the network function before the network function reports the aggregated data to the application function. The different levels of data aggregation (i.e., UE, access node, network function) may provide additional flexibility for data aggregation based on the capabilities of the entities involved to meet the requirements of the application function.

[0231]

[0209] In some examples, there is provided a user equipment comprising means for: sending, to an access node, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from the access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; obtaining, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data; aggregating the obtained ambient device data based on the one or more user equipment aggregation rules; and sending, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0232]

[0210] In some examples, there is provided a user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to: send, to an access node, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receive, from the access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; obtain, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data; aggregate the obtained ambient device data based on the one or more user equipment aggregation rules; and send, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0233]

[0211] In some examples, there is provided an access node comprising means for: receiving, from a user equipment, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; sending, to a network function, the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from a network function, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; sending, to a user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the user equipment, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the network function, aggregated ambient device data.

[0234]

[0212] In some examples, there is provided an access node comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the access node at least to: receive, from a user equipment, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; send, to a network function, the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receive, from a network function, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; send, to a user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy; receive, from the user equipment, aggregated ambient device data; and send, to the network function, aggregated ambient device data.

[0235]

[0213] In some examples, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for providing a network function configured to perform: receiving, from an access node, information indicating a user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from an application function, one or more application function service requirements; determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements and the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation; sending, to one or more access nodes, the determined user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the one or more access nodes, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0236]

[0214] In some examples, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from an access node, information indicating a user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receive, from an application function, one or more application function service requirements; determine, based on the one or more application function service requirements and the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation; send, to one or more access nodes, the determined user equipment aggregation policy; receive, from the one or more access nodes, aggregated ambient device data; and send, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data.

[0237]

[0215] In some examples, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for providing an application function configured to perform: sending, to a network function, one or more application function service requirements for receiving aggregated ambient device data; and receiving, from the network function, aggregated ambient device data aggregated based on the one or more application function service requirements.

[0216] In some examples, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: send, to a network function, one or more application function service requirements for receiving aggregated ambient device data; and receive, from the network function, aggregated ambient device data aggregated based on the one or more application function service requirements.

[0238]

[0217] While reference may be made to “an”, “one”, or “some” example(s) throughout this disclosure, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same example(s), or that a particular feature only applies to a single example. Single features of different examples may also be combined to provide other examples. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection of an example, it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to apply such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other examples whether or not explicitly described. It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second” and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

[0239]

[0218] It is understood that references in the above to various network functions (e.g., to an AMF, an SMF, etc.) may be implemented by apparatus that perform at least some of the functionality associated with those network functions. Further, an apparatus configured to implement a network function may further be configured to implement a virtual network function instance of that network function.

[0240]

[0219] It should be understood that the apparatuses may comprise or be coupled to other units or modules etc., such as radio parts or radio heads, used in or for transmission and / or reception. Although the apparatuses have been described as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

[0241]

[0220] It is noted that whilst some examples have been described in relation to 5G networks, similar examples can be applied in relation to other networks and communication systems. Therefore, although certain examples were described above by way of example with reference to certain example architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, further examples may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

[0221] It is also noted herein that there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the various examples described herein without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0242]

[0222] As used herein, the phrases “at least one of A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, and “A and / or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of this disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and / or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C). .

[0243]

[0223] As used herein, the term “or” refers to a non-exclusive “or” unless otherwise indicated (e.g., use of “or else” or “or in the alternative”).

[0244]

[0224] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included. Analogously, performing a step or functionality “based on A” does not indicate that the step or functionality is performed solely based on “A” as one or more additional conditions may be included.

[0245]

[0225] FIG. 14 shows, by way of example, a block diagram of an apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 comprises, for example, at least one processor 12 and at least one memory 14 storing instructions 15 that, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the apparatus 10 at least to perform the method or methods as disclosed herein. In an example, the at least one memory and the instructions (e.g. a computer program code, software), are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus 10 to perform the method or methods as disclosed herein.

[0246]

[0226] A processor 12 may comprise circuitry, or be constituted as circuitry or circuitries, the circuitry or circuitries being configured to perform phases of methods in accordance with examples described herein. As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a user equipment, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this disclosure, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this disclosure, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0247]

[0227] The memory 14 may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology. The memory may comprise a database for storing data. The memory 14 may be at least in part external to apparatus 10 but accessible to apparatus 10.

[0248]

[0228] The instructions 15 may be comprised in a computer readable medium or a non- transitory computer readable medium. A term non-transitory, as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g. random access memory, RAM, vs. read only memory, ROM).

[0249]

[0229] For example, the apparatus 10 may be a terminal device, such as the UE described previously. As another example, the apparatus may be comprised in such a terminal device, e.g. as a chipset configured to control the terminal device. The apparatus 10 may be caused or configured to perform at least the method of FIG. 5 and / or any one or more of the examples described.

[0250]

[0230] As another example, the apparatus 10 may be a network node, such as the access node described previously. In another example, the apparatus may be comprised in such a network node, e.g. as a chipset configured to control the network node. The apparatus 10 may be caused or configured to perform at least the method of FIG. 6 and / or any one or more of the examples described.

[0251]

[0231] The apparatus may comprise one or more entities of any of protocol layers, such as a MAC entity, an RRC entity, an RLC entity, a PDCP entity or a PHY entity. In some examples, the entity may be configured to perform at least the method of any one or more of the examples described.

[0252]

[0232] The apparatus 10 may comprise a radio interface 16. The radio interface 16 may provide the apparatus 10 with communication capabilities. The radio interface 16 may comprise a receiver configured to receive information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The radio interface 16 may comprise a transmitter configured to transmit information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The receiver may comprise more than one receiver. The transmitter may comprise more than one transmitter. The radio interface 16 may comprise a transceiver configured to receive and transmit information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The transceiver may comprise more than one transceiver.

[0253]

[0233] The apparatus 10 may comprise a user interface 18 comprising, for example, at least one of a keypad, a microphone, a touch display, a display, a speaker, etc. The user interface 18 may be used to control the apparatus by the user. The user interface 18 may be external to the apparatus 10. For example, the apparatus 10 may be connected to another device, such as a computer, either via wireless or wired connection, and the apparatus 10 is controlled by the user via the computer.

[0254]

[0234] In some examples, at least some of the processes described herein may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for carrying out at least some of the described processes. Means for performing method steps as disclosed herein may include software and / or hardware components of the apparatus 10. For example, the at least one processor 12, the memory 14, and the computer program code form means for carrying out the method or methods as disclosed herein, and any of the examples. As used herein the term “means” is to be construed in singular form, i.e. referring to a single element, or in plural form, i.e. referring to a combination of single elements. Therefore, terminology “means for [performing A, B, C]”, is to be interpreted to cover an apparatus in which there is only one means for performing A, B and C, or where there are separate means for performing A, B and C, or partially or fully overlapping means for performing A, B, C. Further, terminology “means for performing A, means for performing B, means for performing C” is to be interpreted to cover an apparatus in which there is only one means for performing A, B and C, or where there are separate means for performing A, B and C, or partially or fully overlapping means for performing A, B, C.

[0255]

[0235] The scope of protection sought for various examples of the disclosure is set out by the independent claims. The examples and features thereof, if any, described in this disclosure that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various examples of the disclosure.

[0256]

[0236] Even though examples of this disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is clear that the examples are not restricted thereto but can be modified in several ways within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the examples. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the subject matter of this disclosure can be implemented in various ways. Further, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the described examples may, but are not required to, be combined with other examples in various ways.

Claims

1. CLAIMS1 . A user equipment comprising means for: sending, to an access node, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from the access node, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least in part, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; obtaining, from one or more ambient devices, ambient device data; aggregating the obtained ambient device data based on the one or more user equipment aggregation rules; and sending, to the access node, the aggregated ambient device data.

2. The user equipment of claim 1 , wherein the sending further comprises sending, to the access node, information indicating that the user equipment’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

3. The user equipment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more user equipment aggregation rules comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; an ambient device type from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the user equipment.

4. An access node comprising means for: receiving, from a user equipment, information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; sending, to a network function, the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from the network function, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation, wherein the user equipment aggregation policy is based, at least inpart, on the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; sending, to a user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the user equipment, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the network function, aggregated ambient device data.

5. The access node of claim 4, wherein receiving the aggregated ambient device data further comprises receiving, from the user equipment, information indicating that the user equipment’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

6. The access node of claim 4 or 5, wherein the means is for receiving an access node aggregation policy comprising one or more access node aggregation rules for the access node to perform ambient device data aggregation.

7. The access node of claim 6, wherein the one or more access node aggregation rules comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; one or more user equipments from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a serving cell of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the access node.

8. The access node of claim 6 or 7, wherein the means is for further aggregating the received aggregated ambient device data based on the access node aggregation policy; wherein sending the aggregated ambient device data comprises sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

9. The access node of any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the means is for: sending, to a further user equipment, the user equipment aggregation policy.

10. The access node of claim 9, wherein the means is for:receiving, from the further user equipment, additional aggregated ambient device data; and further aggregating the aggregated ambient device data received from the user equipment and the additional aggregated ambient device data received from the further user equipment; wherein sending, to the network function, the aggregated ambient device data comprises sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

11. The access node of claim 10, wherein sending the further aggregated ambient device data further comprises sending, to the network function, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

12. The access node of any of claims 4 to 11 , wherein the means is for: receiving, from the network function, information indicating one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from, wherein sending the user equipment aggregation policy is based on the information indicating the one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data.

13. An apparatus comprising means for providing a network function configured to perform: receiving, from an access node, information indicating a user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data; receiving, from an application function, one or more application function service requirements; determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements and the information indicating the user equipment’s capability for aggregating ambient device data, a user equipment aggregation policy comprising one or more user equipment aggregation rules for the user equipment to perform ambient device data aggregation; sending, to one or more access nodes, the user equipment aggregation policy; receiving, from the one or more access nodes, aggregated ambient device data; and sending, to the application function, the aggregated ambient device data.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more user equipment aggregation rules comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment;an ambient device type from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the user equipment; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the user equipment.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein the means is further for determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, at least one of: an access node aggregation policy comprising one or more access node aggregation rules for an access node to perform ambient device data aggregation; or a network function aggregation policy comprising one or more network function aggregation rules for the network function to perform ambient device data aggregation.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more access node aggregation rules comprise at least one of: a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; one or more user equipments from which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a serving cell of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated by the access node; or a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated by the access node.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 or 16, wherein receiving the aggregated ambient device data further comprises receiving, from the access node, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

18. The apparatus of any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the means is for further aggregating the received aggregated ambient device data based on the one or more network function aggregation rules; wherein sending the aggregated ambient device data comprises sending the further aggregated ambient device data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein sending the further aggregated ambient device data further comprises sending, to the application function, information indicating that the access node’s reporting of the ambient device data is completed.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 13 to 19, wherein the one or more application function service requirements comprise at least one of: an ambient device type or ambient device category from which ambient device data is to be aggregated; a geographical location of one or more ambient devices for which ambient device data is to be aggregated; time information indicating a time window during which ambient device data is to be aggregated; a priority or criticality of ambient devices that provide ambient device data to be aggregated.21 . The apparatus of any of claims 13 to 20, wherein the means is for: determining, based on the one or more application function service requirements, one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from; and sending, to the one or more access nodes, information indicating the determined one or more user equipments to obtain the ambient device data from.

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