Flexible data analytics processing and exposure in 5GC

1. A method, performed by a first network node of a Fifth Generation, 5G, Core Network, 5GC, for providing flexible information exposure in the 5GC and an Operations, Administration, and Maintenance, OAM, system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a second network node, a request to register the second network node as a provider of data or a compute function;

registering the second network node as a provider of the data or the compute function;

storing information associating the second network node with the data or the compute function provided by the second network node;

sending, to the second network node, a response to the request to register the second network node as a provider of the data or the compute function;

receiving, from a data consumer, a request for information;

deducing how to produce the requested information;

producing the requested information; and

sending, to the data consumer, an information response.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request to register the second network node as a provider of the data or the compute function comprises a request to register the second network node as a provider of the data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the request comprises metadata that at least one of:

identifies the data that the second network node can provide;

indicates how often the second network node can provide the data;

indicates a location where the data provided by the second network node is stored;

indicates how long the data provided by the second network node will be stored; or

indicates a schema or format for the data provided by the second network node.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the request to register the second network node as a provider of the data or the compute function comprises a request to register the second network node as a provider of the compute function.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the request comprises metadata that at least one of:

identifies the compute function that the second network node can provide;

indicates the input or inputs to the compute function;

indicates options or parameters that can modify operation of the compute function;

indicates an output or outputs from the compute function; or

identifies data operated upon by the compute function.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network node comprises a Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF, a Network Exposure Function, NEF, or a Service Capability Exposure Function, SCEF.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second network node comprises a 5GC Network Function, NF, an Application Function, AF, or a 5G OAM node or Management Function, MF.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the response comprises sending an indication that the registration request was accepted or was rejected.