Apparatus, methods, and computer programs

1 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine that a trigger event has occurred for causing a user equipment associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle to lose connectivity to a network;

transmit, based on a determination that the trigger event has occurred, to at least one of: the user equipment, the unmanned aerial vehicle, or an unmanned aerial vehicle controller of the unmanned aerial vehicle that is configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle, an indication that the user equipment will lose said connectivity to the network;

initiate a timer in response to the transmitting of the indication; and

delay proceeding with causing the at least one of the user equipment, the unmanned aerial vehicle, or the unmanned aerial vehicle controller to lose said connectivity to the network until at least one of the following has occurred:

receipt of a signal authorizing the at least one of the user equipment, the unmanned aerial vehicle, or the unmanned aerial vehicle controller to lose the connectivity to the network, or

a determination that said timer has expired.

2 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transmit the indication to the at least one of: the user equipment, the unmanned aerial vehicle, or the unmanned aerial vehicle controller, using the network.

3 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

transmit the indication to the user equipment indirectly through at least one network function.

4 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the at least one network function comprises at least one of: an access and mobility function of the network, a network exposure function of the network, an application function, a function of an unmanned aerial systems service supplier, or a function associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle.

5 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indication includes at least one of: an identifier of the user equipment; an identifier of the unmanned aerial vehicle; or a value for an initial duration of the timer.

6 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a request to extend an initial duration of the timer; and

extend, based on the request to extend, the timer to an extended duration.

7 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive an indication indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle has changed a flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle or has landed on the ground.

8 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

control a flight path of an unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle being associated with a user equipment configured to maintain connectivity with a network;

receive, from a network function of the network, a first indication indicating that the user equipment will lose said connectivity with the network;

transmit, based on the first indication that was received, to at least one of the user equipment or the unmanned aerial vehicle, a second indication indicating that the user equipment will lose the connectivity with the network;

receive, in response to transmission of the second indication, from the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle or the user equipment, a third indication that the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle or the user equipment has performed at least one action based on the second indication; and

transmit, based on the third indication that was received, to the network function, in response to the first indication that was received, a fourth indication that the network function is to proceed with an action causing loss of the connectivity.

9 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said first indication comprises at least one of: an identifier of the user equipment; an identifier of the unmanned aerial vehicle; or a value indicating an initial duration of a timer.

10 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said first indication comprises an initial duration of a timer, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

transmit, to the network function, a request to extend the initial duration of the timer.

11 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one action comprises at least one of: a change of the flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle, or acknowledgement that the at least one of the user equipment or the unmanned aerial vehicle will perform signalling previously associated with the connectivity that is to be lost, using an alternative connection.

12 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

maintain a connection to a network;

receive signalling indicating that the connection to the network will be lost;

receive an indication of an initial time at which the network will proceed with causing loss of the connection;

request that the initial time be delayed to a later time; and

transmit, in response to receipt of an authorization that the initial time be delayed to a later time, an indication to proceed with the loss of the connection.

13 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least one of:

cause a change in a flight path of an unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the apparatus in response to said signalling, or

cause at least one of the apparatus or the unmanned aerial vehicle associated with the apparatus to perform the signalling previously associated with the connectivity that is to be lost, using an alternative connection.

14 . A method comprising:

determining, by a network function, that a trigger event has occurred for causing a user equipment associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle to lose connectivity to a network;

transmitting, by the network function, based on a determination that the trigger event has occurred, to at least one of: the user equipment, the unmanned aerial vehicle, or an unmanned aerial vehicle controller of the unmanned aerial vehicle that is configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle, an indication that the user equipment will lose said connectivity to the network;

initiating, by the network function, a timer in response to the transmitting of the indication; and

delaying, by the network function, proceeding with causing the at least one of the user equipment, the unmanned aerial vehicle, or the unmanned aerial vehicle controller to lose said connectivity to the network until at least one of the following has occurred:

receipt of a signal authorizing the at least one of the user equipment, the unmanned aerial vehicle, or the unmanned aerial vehicle controller to lose said connectivity to the network; or

a determination that said timer has expired.

15 . A method comprising:

controlling, by a controller of an unmanned aerial vehicle, a flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle being associated with a user equipment configured to maintain connectivity with a network;

receiving, at the controller, from a network function of the network, a first indication indicating that the user equipment will lose said connectivity with the network;

transmitting, by the controller, based on the first indication that was received, to at least one of: the user equipment or the unmanned aerial vehicle, a second indication that the user equipment will lose said connectivity with the network;

receiving, at the controller, response to transmission of the second indication, from the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle or the user equipment, a third indication that the at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicle or the user equipment has performed at least one action based on the second indication; and

transmitting, by the controller, based on the third indication that was received, to the network function, in response to the first indication that was received, a fourth indication that the network function is to proceed with an action causing loss of the connectivity.

16 . A method comprising:

maintaining, by a user equipment, a connection to a network;

receiving, by the user equipment, signalling indicating that the connection to the network will be lost;

receiving, by the user equipment, an indication of an initial time at which the network will proceed with causing loss of the connection;

requesting, by the user equipment, that the initial time be delayed to a later time; and

transmitting, by the user equipment, in response to receipt of an authorization that the initial time be delayed to a later time, an indication to proceed with the loss of the connection.