Network analytics based on multiple resolutions of UE locations

1 . A method performed by a first network entity in a mobile communication system for providing information relating to relative proximity of user equipments (UEs), the method comprising:

receiving, from a second network entity, a request for network analytics;

receiving, from one or more third network entities, input data relating to the UEs;

generating analytics based on the input data; and

providing the generated analytics to the second network entity as a response to the request,

wherein the request comprises an analytics identifier (ID) indicating relative proximity information, and

wherein the input data includes speed information and orientation information per individual UE retrieved from an operations administration and maintenance (OAM) entity.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a target for analytics reporting.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the target for analytics reporting comprises one or more of:

a single UE;

a group of UEs; and

any UE.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request comprises one or more analytics filters.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more analytics filters comprise one or more of:

an area of interest;

directions of interest;

a number of UEs to be accounted for relative positioning;

attributes to be accounted for relative positioning including at least one of a velocity, average speed, orientation, and mobility trajectory;

a single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI); and

a data network name (DNN).

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input data includes one or more information elements in the following table:

Information

Source

Description

Proximity Attribute

Application

Characterise a set of UEs in relative

Function

proximity based on the criteria set

for Data

Collection

(DCAF)

>Number of UEs

Total number of UEs that fulfil a

proximity criteria

>Timestamp

A time stamp of time that the prox-

imity attribute derived

>Application ID(s)

Identifying the applications(s)

providing this information

> List of UE IDs

UE IDs that fulfil a proximity criteria

>Other attribute(s)

Other attributes the set of UEs in

proximity fulfil as a collective attri-

bute (e.g. destination, route, average

speed, time of arrival)

> Confidence

Confidence on relative proximity

data.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated analytics includes relative proximity statistics information the UEs or relative proximity predictions information of the UEs.

8 . A first network entity in a mobile communication system for providing information relating to relative proximity of user equipments (UEs), the first network entity comprising:

a transceiver; and

a controller configured to:

receive, from a second network entity via the transceiver, a request for network analytics,

receive, from one or more third network entities via the transceiver, input data relating to the UEs,

generate analytics based on the input data, and

provide the generated analytics to the second network entity as a response to the request,

wherein the request comprises an analytics identifier (ID) indicating relative proximity information, and

wherein the input data includes speed information and orientation information per individual UE retrieved from an operations administration and maintenance (OAM) entity.

9 . The first network entity of claim 8 , wherein the request comprises a target for analytics reporting.

10 . The first network entity of claim 9 , wherein the target for analytics reporting comprises one or more of:

a single UE;

a group of UEs; and

any UE.

11 . The first network entity of claim 8 , wherein the request comprises one or more analytics filters.

12 . The first network entity of claim 11 , wherein the one or more analytics filters comprise one or more of:

an area of interest;

directions of interest;

a number of UEs to be accounted for relative positioning;

attributes to be accounted for relative positioning including at least one of a velocity, average speed, orientation, and mobility trajectory;

a single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI); and

a data network name (DNN).

13 . The first network entity of claim 8 , wherein the input data includes one or more information elements in the following table:

Information

Source

Description

Proximity Attribute

Application

Characterise a set of UEs in relative

Function

proximity based on the criteria set

for Data

Collection

(DCAF)

>Number of UEs

Total number of UEs that fulfil a

proximity criteria

>Timestamp

A time stamp of time that the prox-

imity attribute derived

>Application ID(s)

Identifying the applications(s)

providing this information

> List of UE IDs

UE IDs that fulfil a proximity criteria

>Other attribute(s)

Other attributes the set of UEs in

proximity fulfil as a collective

attribute (e.g. destination, route,

average speed, time of arrival)

> Confidence

Confidence on relative proximity

data.

14 . The first network entity of claim 8 , wherein the generated analytics includes relative proximity statistics information of the UEs or relative proximity predictions information of the UEs.

15 . The first network entity of claim 8 , wherein the first network entity is a network data analytics function (NWDAF) and the second network entity is a network function (NF).