PDU Session Environmental Impact Tracking Across Network Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy usage reporting methods in the telecommunications industry provide only a coarse-grained view per device and consider longer time-periods and summed impacts, lacking a detailed understanding of the environmental impact of individual PDU sessions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system to determine and aggregate the environmental impact of individual PDU sessions across multiple nodes in a communications network, providing a comprehensive view of energy consumption and emissions associated with specific sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current energy usage reporting methods are used, then device-level energy tracking is available, but only a coarse-grained view per device is provided without detailed session-level information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the environmental impact measurement from device-level to session-level granularity. Each PDU session is assigned a unique identifier, and environmental impact metrics are calculated, stored, and reported separately for each session rather than aggregated at device level. This segmentation enables precise tracking of environmental impact for individual sessions while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured data organization.
2Loss of information
If device-level energy tracking is implemented, then commercial cost optimization is enabled, but detailed environmental impact understanding for individual sessions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a message exchange system between network nodes (AMF, SMF, UPF) and the UE. Environmental impact data is calculated by network nodes and transmitted to the UE through standardized message interfaces. This intermediary layer enables detailed session-level environmental impact information to be delivered to users without requiring complex end-device processing, thus preventing information loss while maintaining tracking efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If session-level environmental impact tracking is implemented, then end-to-end visibility per PDU session is achieved, but multiple nodes must coordinate and exchange data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal message exchange framework that can be used by multiple network nodes (AMF, SMF, UPF) for different purposes. The same standardized message interfaces carry both session management information and environmental impact data. This multi-functional approach allows session-level environmental impact tracking to be achieved without creating separate complex coordination protocols, as the existing network infrastructure is leveraged for dual purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method (1000) in a first node in a communications network comprises determining (1002) a first environmental impact caused by the first node due to the first node supporting a first Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session, and sending (1004) a first message to a second node wherein the first message comprises the determined first environmental impact.