Handling quality-of-experience (QoE) configurations exceeding maximum number

1 . A method performed by a radio access network (RAN) node configured to manage quality-of-experience (QoE) measurements by user equipment (UEs) operating in the RAN, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network node or function (NNF), a first number of QoE measurement collection (QMC) configurations;

identifying a UE to perform QoE measurements according to the first number of QMC configurations; and

selectively providing the first number of QMC configurations to the UE, based on the first number and one or more of the following: a maximum number of concurrent QMC configurations the UE can retain, respective priority levels of the first number of QMC configurations, and current signaling load in the RAN.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively providing the first number of QMC configurations to the UE comprises:

determining a second number of QMC configurations currently stored by the UE;

when a sum of the first number and the second number is less than or equal to the maximum number, sending the first number of QMC configurations to the UE; and

when the sum of the first number and the second number is greater than the maximum number, storing at least one of the first number of QMC configurations in a context for the UE.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein storing at least one of the first number of QMC configurations in a context for the UE comprises storing one or more of the following indications in association with each of the at least one stored QMC configurations:

an indication that the QMC configuration has not been sent to the UE; and

an indication of the reason why the QMC configuration has not been sent to the UE.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising sending, to a second RAN node, a message including the at least one stored QMC configuration and the one or more indications stored in association therewith, wherein the message is sent to the second RAN node in association with a handover of the UE to a target cell served by the second RAN node.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the NNF is a second RAN node that serves a source cell for a UE handover,

the RAN node serves a target cell for the UE handover,

the first number of QMC configurations are received in association with the UE handover, and,

the one or more indications stored in association with each of the at least one stored QMC configurations are received from the second RAN node.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein for each of the first number of QMC configurations, the priority level is indicated by one or more of the following:

an explicit relative priority level, which is one of a plurality of values indicating different priority levels;

one or more parameters of the QMC configuration, from which the priority level can be inferred or determined;

an indication of whether the QMC configuration can be pre-empted or overridden by other QMC configurations;

an indication of whether the QMC configuration can pre-empt or override other QMC configurations; and

whether the QMC configuration is a signaling-based QMC configuration or a management-based QMC configuration.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein selectively providing the one or more QMC configurations to the UE further comprises, when the sum of the first number and the second number is greater than the maximum number:

dividing the first number of QMC configurations into a first portion of QMC configurations and a second portion of QMC configurations based on the respective priority levels, wherein the sum of the first portion and the second number is less than or equal to the maximum number; and

sending the first portion to the UE,

wherein the second portion is stored in the context for the UE.

8 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising, for each of the at least one QMC configuration stored in the UE context, discarding the stored QMC configuration in response to any of the following:

sending the stored QMC configuration to the UE or to a second RAN node;

storing further QMC configurations for the UE in the UE context, such that the number of stored QMC configurations for the UE exceeds a retention limit associated with the UE; and

expiration of a retention duration associated with the QMC configuration or with the UE.

9 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending to the NNF an indication that the at least one QMC configuration has been stored by the RAN node and not sent to the UE.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the maximum number of concurrent QMC configurations the UE can retain comprises a first maximum number that applies to RAN-visible QMC configurations and a second maximum number that applies to non-RAN-visible QMC configurations;

the sum of the first number and the second number comprises respective sums for RAN-visible QMC configurations and for non-RAN-visible QMC configurations; and

selectively providing is performed for RAN-visible QMC configurations and for non-RAN-visible QMC configurations based on the respective sums.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a UE to perform QoE measurements according to the first number of QMC configurations is based on one of the following received with the first number of QMC configurations:

a UE identifier; or

an area scope and a service type.

12 . A method for a user equipment (UE) configured to perform quality-of-experience (QoE) measurements in a radio access network (RAN), the method comprising:

receiving, from a RAN node, a first number of QoE measurement collection (QMC) configurations; and

selectively applying the first number of QMC configurations to perform QoE measurements, wherein the selectively applying is based on the first number and one or more of the following: a maximum number of concurrent QMC configurations the UE can retain, and respective priority levels of the first number of QMC configurations.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein selectively applying the first number of QMC configurations to perform QoE measurements comprises:

determining a second number of QMC configurations currently stored by the UE;

when the sum of the first number and the second number is less than or equal to the maximum number, applying the first number of QMC configurations to perform QoE measurements accordingly; and

when the sum of the first number and the second number is greater than the maximum number, discarding at least one QMC configuration from among the first number and the second number.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the RAN node serves a target cell for a UE handover,

the first number of QMC configurations are received in association with the UE handover, and

the method further comprises sending to the RAN node an indication that the at least one QMC configuration has been discarded and/or not applied by the UE.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein for each of the first number of QMC configurations, the priority level is indicated by one or more of the following:

an explicit relative priority level, which is one of a plurality of values indicating different priority levels;

one or more parameters of the QMC configuration, from which the priority level can be inferred or determined;

an indication of whether the QMC configuration can be pre-empted or overridden by other QMC configurations;

an indication of whether the QMC configuration can pre-empt or override other QMC configurations; and

whether the QMC configuration is a signaling-based QMC configuration or a management-based QMC configuration.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the second number of QMC configurations currently stored by the UE are associated with respective priority levels; and

selectively applying the first number of QMC configurations to perform QoE measurements further comprises, when the sum of the first number and the second number is greater than the maximum number:

ordering QMC configurations comprising the first number and the second number according to their respective priority levels;

selecting the maximum number of the ordered QMC configurations starting from highest priority level;

retaining the selected QMC configurations that are among the second number currently stored; and

applying the selected QMC configurations that are among the first number received,

wherein the unselected QMC configurations are discarded.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:

the maximum number of concurrent QMC configurations the UE can retain comprises a first maximum number that applies to RAN-visible QMC configurations and a second maximum number that applies to non-RAN-visible QMC configurations;

the sum of the first number and the second number comprises respective sums for RAN-visible QMC configurations and for non-RAN-visible QMC configurations; and

selectively applying is performed for RAN-visible QMC configurations and for non-RAN-visible QMC configurations based on the respective sums.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising discarding at least one of the second number of QMC configurations currently stored by the UE in response to one of the following: a handover of the UE to a target cell served by a second RAN node, or an instruction from the RAN node.

19 . A user equipment (UE) configured to perform quality-of-experience (QoE) measurements in a radio access network (RAN), the UE comprising:

communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with one or more RAN nodes; and

processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to perform the method of claim 12 .

20 . A radio access network (RAN) node configured to manage quality-of-experience (QoE) measurements by user equipment (UEs) operating in the RAN, the RAN node comprising:

communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with UEs and with one or more other network nodes or functions (NNFs); and

processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to:

receive, from an NNF, a first number of QoE measurement collection (QMC) configurations;

identify a UE to perform QoE measurements according to the first number of QMC configurations; and

selectively provide the first number of QMC configurations to the UE, based on the first number and one or more of the following: a maximum number of concurrent QMC configurations the UE can retain, respective priority levels of the first number of QMC configurations, and current signaling load in the RAN.