User equipment data collection

1 . A method for collecting user equipment (UE) data, the method comprising:

receiving, at a network data analytics function (NWDAF), a request for data analytics;

performing, at the NWDAF, discovery of an application function (AF) for data collection, wherein the discovery of the AF is based on the received request;

subscribing to the AF for data collection at the NWDAF;

determining, by the AF for data collection, one or more target UEs for data collection;

performing discovery of a policy control function (PCF) by the AF for data collection;

storing the request for data analytics in a User Data Repository (UDR) to trigger a notification to the PCF;

sending a policy from the PCF to the one or more target UEs, wherein sending the policy from the PCF is triggered by the storage of the request for data analytics in the UDR;

establishing an association between at least one of the one or more target UEs and the AF for data collection;

instructing the one or more target UEs to collect data and to send the collected data to the AF; and

sending the collected data from the AF to the NWDAF.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein sending the policy from the PCF to the one or more target UEs is requested by the AF based on a Service Specific Information provisioning from the AF.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing, by the NWDAF to the AF, at least one of: a location criterion, a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) group, or a SUPI list, and wherein determining one or more target UEs for data collection by the AF is based on the received at least one of: a location criterion, a SUPI group, or a SUPI list.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising registering the AF in a Network Repository Function (NRF) by triggering a message including an indication of a network function (NF) type and a list of Event identifiers, wherein an Event identifier indicates a supported event related to the collection of UE data.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , further comprising, upon registration of the AF in the NRF, providing an address of the AF to the NWDAF.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein subscribing to the AF for data collection comprises sending a subscription request message to the AF for data collection, wherein the subscription request message comprises: an Event identifier and a UE identifier, wherein the Event identifier indicates a supported event related to the collection of UE data and the UE identifier indicates one or more target UEs.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the policy includes at least one of: an address of the AF, Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session characteristics to use for data reporting, or one or more conditions for data reporting.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: producing, at the NWDAF, analytics based on the collected data; and sending the analytics to a consumer Network Function (NF).

9 . A method for collecting user equipment (UE) data, the method comprising:

receiving, at a network data analytics function (NWDAF), a request for data analytics;

determining, by the NWDAF, one or more target UEs for data collection, wherein the determination of the one or more target UEs is based on the received request;

performing discovery of a policy control function (PCF) by the NWDAF;

storing the request for data analytics in a User Data Repository (UDR) to trigger a notification to the PCF;

sending a policy from the PCF to the one or more target UEs, wherein sending the policy from the PCF is triggered by the storage of the request for data analytics in the UDR;

establishing an association between at least one of the one or more target UEs and the NWDAF; and

instructing the one or more target UEs to collect data and to send the collected data to the NWDAF.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein sending the policy from the PCF to the one or more target UEs is requested by the NWDAF based on a Service Specific Information provisioning from an application function (AF).

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein determining one or more target UEs for data collection by the NWDAF is based on at least one of: a location criterion, a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) group, or a SUPI list.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the policy includes at least one of: an address of the NWDAF, Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session characteristics to use for data reporting, or one or more conditions for data reporting.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising requesting, by the NWDAF, specific UE data by indicating an Event identifier and additional reporting information, wherein instructing the one or more target UEs to collect data and to send the collected data to the NWDAF is based on the request for specific UE data.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

producing, at the NWDAF, analytics based on the collected data; and sending the analytics to a consumer Network Function (NF).

15 . An apparatus comprising a processor coupled with a memory, wherein the apparatus is configured to:

receive, at a network data analytics function (NWDAF), a request for data analytics:

perform discovery of an application function (AF) for data collection, wherein the discovery of the AF is based on the received request;

subscribe to the AF for data collection at the NWDAF;

determine, by the AF for data collection, one or more target UEs for data collection;

perform discovery of a policy control function (PCF) by the AF for data collection;

store the request for data analytics in a User Data Repository (UDR) to trigger a notification to the PCF;

send a policy from the PCF to the one or more target UEs, wherein sending the policy from the PCF is triggered by the storage of the request for data analytics in the UDR;

establish an association between at least one of the one or more target UEs and the AF for data collection;

instruct the one or more target UEs to collect data and to send the collected data to the AF; and

send the collected data from the AF to the NWDAF.

16 . An apparatus comprising a processor coupled with a memory, wherein the apparatus is configured to:

receive, at a network data analytics function (NWDAF), a request for data analytics;

determine, by the NWDAF, one or more target UEs for data collection;

perform discovery of a policy control function (PCF) by the NWDAF;

store the request for data analytics in a User Data Repository (UDR) to trigger a notification to the PCF;

send a policy from the PCF to the one or more target UEs, wherein sending the policy from the PCF is triggered by the storage of the request for data analytics in the UDR;

establish an association between at least one of the one or more target UEs and the NWDAF; and

instruct the one or more target UEs to collect data and to send the collected data to the NWDAF.