Patent Publication Number: US-2023164598-A1

Title: Self-organizing network coordination and energy saving assisted by management data analytics

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/057,770, which was filed 28 Jul. 2020; the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Various embodiments generally may relate to the field of wireless communications. For example, some embodiments may relate to solutions for MDA (Management Data Analytics)-assisted self-organizing network (SON) coordination and energy saving. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The management data analytics (MDA) process, use case and potential requirements on MDA machine learning (ML) model training has been documented in draft 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 28.809, v. 0.4.0, 2020-06-17. The use cases and potential requirements on MDA assisted SON coordination and energy saving have also been introduced in draft TR 28.809. Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure help provide solutions for these use cases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a block diagram showing an example of MDA processes in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    schematically illustrates a wireless network in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    schematically illustrates components of a wireless network in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
         FIG.  5    depicts an example procedure for practicing the various embodiments discussed herein. 
         FIG.  6    depicts another example procedure for practicing the various embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    depicts another example procedure for practicing the various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers may be used in different drawings to identify the same or similar elements. In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular structures, architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of various embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the various aspects of the various embodiments may be practiced in other examples that depart from these specific details. In certain instances, descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the various embodiments with unnecessary detail. For the purposes of the present document, the phrases “A or B” and “A/B” mean (A), (B), or (A and B). 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a block diagram showing an example of MDA processes in accordance with various embodiments. Some of the following embodiments define solutions for MDA (Management Data Analytics)-assisted SON coordination and energy saving, and machine learning (ML) model training for MDA. Among other things, the MDA helps brings intelligence and automation to network management and orchestration by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI)/ML techniques. 
     To Add the Following Solutions on MDA Assisted SON Coordination to TR 28.809. 
     6.9.1.3 Possible Solutions for MDA Assisted SON Coordination 
     6.9.1.3.1 Solution Description 
     The management data analytics service (MDAS) producer correlates and analyzes the data described in the following subclause within a time period on a regular basis or trigged by events (e.g., the RLF report) to identify a potential SON conflict or a SON conflict already occurred. 
     Once a potential or already occurred SON conflict is identified, the MDAS producer provides the analytics report to describe the SON conflict as shown in subclause 6.9.1.3.3. 
     6.9.1.3.2 Data Required for SON Conflict Analysis 
     The following table describes the data required for SON conflict analysis: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Data category 
                 Required data 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 CM notification 
                 Notifications of the NRM updates made by SON functions and non-SON 
               
               
                   
                 functions. 
               
               
                   
                 The notification needs to include the Id of the SON function or non-SON 
               
               
                   
                 function who made the NRM updates. 
               
               
                 Performance 
                 The performance measurements related to the SON functions, see TS 
               
               
                 measurements 
                 28.313, v. 0.5.0, 2020 Jun. 17. 
               
               
                 NRM 
                 The attributes of the MOIs to be analyzed, see TS 28.541, v. 16.5.0, 
               
               
                   
                 2020 Jul. 10. 
               
               
                   
                 The policy and targets of the SON functions, see TS 28.313, v. 0.5.0, 
               
               
                   
                 2020 Jun. 17. 
               
               
                 RLF report 
                 RLF reports containing RSRP(s) and RSRQ(s) of the serving cell and 
               
               
                   
                 neighbour cells reported by each UE with anonymous id (e.g., C-RNTI) 
               
               
                   
                 and location information. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     6.9.1.3.3 Analytics Report for SON Conflict Prevention and Resolution 
     Following table provides the potential contents of the analytics report for SON conflict prevention and resolution: 
                                             Attribute Name   Description                                                Analytics   Conflict type   Indicates the conflict is a potential conflict or an       report for       already occurred conflict.       SON conflict   Conflicting   Indicates the Id of the conflicting SON functions or       prevention and   functions Id   non-SON functions       resolution   Conflicting attributes   The MOI and attributes where the conflict occurred or               is potentially to occur.           Conflict reason   The description of the reason for the conflict.           Recommended actions   The MOI and attributes recommended to be               configured/changed:               The policy and targets of the SON functions, see TS               28.313;               The range of attributes value each conflicting SON               function can change;               The priority of each conflicting SON function;               Value of the attributes of the affected MOIs (e.g.,               NRCellCU) where the conflict already occurred;               Switch off the conflicting SON functions, see TS               28.313.                    
To Enhance the MDA Assisted Energy Saving with Focus of Providing Energy Saving Instructions by MDAS Producer in TR 28.809.
 
     6.6.1 MDA Assisted Energy Saving 
     6.6.1.1 Use Case 
     Energy saving is a significant issue for 5G operators. Energy saving is achieved by activating the energy saving mode of the NR capacity booster cell or 5GC NF (e.g. UPF etc.), and the energy saving activation decision making may be based on the various information such as load information of the related cells/UPFs and the energy saving policies set by operators as specified in TS 28.310, v. 16.1.0, 2020-07-09. 
     As indicated in the conclusion from clause 7.2 of the TR 21.866, v. 15.0.0, 2017-06-12, “The EE Control and Coordination Function: a self-managed automated process to control and coordinate system wide power saving operations including the access networks, core network, backhaul/fronthaul transmission networks, backbone networks and other subsystems”, the management system has the overall view of network load information and it could also take the inputs from the control plane analysis (e.g. the analytics provided by NWDAF). The management system may provide the network wide analytics and cooperate with Core and RAN domains and decide on which NF/cell should move into energy saving mode in a coordinated manner. 
     There are various performance measurements that could be used as inputs by MDA for energy saving, for example, the EE related performance measurements, (e.g. PDCP data volume of cells, PNF temperature, and PNF power consumption, etc.) for gNBs, and the data volume, number of PDU sessions with SSC mode 1 (see TS 23.501, v. 16.5.0, 2020-07-09), delay related measurements, and VR usage for UPFs. 
     The composition of the traffic load could be also considered as inputs for energy saving analysis, e.g., the percentage of high-value traffic in the traffic load. The variation of traffic load may be related to the network data (e.g., historical handover information of the UEs or network congestion status). Collecting and analysing the network data with machine learning tools may provide predictions related to the trends of traffic load. The composition and the trend of the traffic load may be used as references for making decision on energy saving. 
     MDAS may also obtain NF location or other inventory information such as energy efficiency and the energy cost of the data centers, while analyzing historical network information. Based on the collected information, MDAS producer makes analysis and gives suggestions to network management in optimization suggestion for 5G Core NF deployment options in high-value traffic region (e.g. location of VNF in context of energy saving). The information from control plane data analysis from NWDAF, such as UE Communication analytics (see TS 23.288, v. 16.4.0, 2020-07-09) may also be used as input for energy saving analysis and instruction. 
     The decision of core NF and RAN node energy saving should be coordinated by a management system to guarantee the overall network and service performance are not affected as much as possible. 
     To achieve an optimized balance between the energy consumed and the performance provided by the network, MDAS can be used to provide an analytics report by analyzing the above information comprehensively to instruct the energy saving. 
     6.6.1.2 Potential Requirements 
     REQ-MDA_ES-CON-1 The MDAS producer should have a capability to provide the analytics report describing the energy saving instruction. 
     REQ-MDA_ES-CON-2 The analytics report describing the energy saving instruction should contain the following information:
         The identifier of the energy saving instruction described in the analytics report;   The location where energy could be saved;   Root cause of the energy consumption issue;   Recommended NR Cells (ES-Cell) to enter energy Saving state;   Recommended candidate cells with precedence for taking over the traffic of each ES-Cell.   Recommended UPFs (ES-UPF) to enter energySaving state;   Recommended candidate UPFs with precedence for taking over the traffic of each ES-UPF.       

     6.6.1.3 Possible Solutions 
     6.6.1.3.1 Solution Description 
     The MDAS producer correlates and analyses the management data described in the following subclause to assist the management energy saving function to make energy efficiency decisions. As the table in 6.6.1.3.3 shows, the analytics report is able to be provided by the MDAS producer to describe the analytics result and recommendations of energy saving. This procedure may be triggered by the request or periodically. 
     6.6.1.3.2 Data Required for MDA Assisted Energy Saving 
     Following table shows the potential data required to analyze the energy saving issue. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Data Category 
                 Required Data 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Performance 
                 PNF Power Consumption: Power consumed over 
               
               
                 Measurements 
                 the measurement period, see clause 5.1.1.19.2 
               
               
                   
                 of TS 28.552, v. 16.6.0, 2020 Jul. 10; 
               
               
                   
                 PNF Energy consumption: The energy consumed, 
               
               
                   
                 see clause 5.1.1.19.3 of TS 28.552; 
               
               
                   
                 PNF Energy Temperature: The temperature over 
               
               
                   
                 the measurement period, see clause 5.1.1.19.4 
               
               
                   
                 of TS 28.552; 
               
               
                   
                 PNF Voltage: The voltage, see clause 5.1.1.19.5 
               
               
                   
                 of TS 28.552; 
               
               
                   
                 PNF Current: The current, see clause 5.1.1.19.6 
               
               
                   
                 of TS 28.552; 
               
               
                   
                 PNF humidity consumption: The percentage of 
               
               
                   
                 humidity during the measurement period, see 
               
               
                   
                 clause 5.1.1.19.7 of TS 28.552; 
               
               
                   
                 PDCP Data Volume of cells: The transmitted 
               
               
                   
                 PDCP data volume, see clause 5.1.2.1 and 
               
               
                   
                 5.1.3.6 of TS 28.552; 
               
               
                   
                 Data volume of UPF: see clause 5.4 of TS 
               
               
                   
                 28.552.Delay related measurements of UPF: 
               
               
                   
                 see clause 5.4 of TS 28.552. 
               
               
                   
                 Number of PDU sessions with SSC mode 1 
               
               
                   
                 on UPF. 
               
               
                   
                 Virtual resource usage of NF: The resource usage 
               
               
                   
                 of virtual network functions, see clause 
               
               
                   
                 5.7.1 of TS 28.552. 
               
               
                 NRM 
                 Attributes of MOIs of the cells, UPFs and SMFs 
               
               
                 Inventory 
                 The energy efficiency information of the data 
               
               
                 information 
                 centers, e.g., which data server have higher 
               
               
                   
                 energy efficiency; The energy cost information 
               
               
                   
                 of the data centers, e.g., the data centers 
               
               
                   
                 are powered by renewable energy or a cheaper 
               
               
                   
                 energy supply. 
               
               
                 Alarm 
                 The alarm information of the cells, 
               
               
                 information 
                 UPFs and SMFs. 
               
               
                 QoE Data 
                 The measurements that are collected are DASH 
               
               
                   
                 and MTSI measurements. The detailed information 
               
               
                   
                 of QoE data required by this case is FFS. 
               
               
                 Network 
                 The network analysis result from the NWDAF 
               
               
                 analytics data 
                 defined in TS 23.288, v. 16.4.0, 2020 Jul. 09, 
               
               
                   
                 e.g., UE Communication analytics. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Note: 
               
               
                 The above parameters may not be the complete list. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     6.6.1.3.3 Analytics Report for MDA Assist Energy Saving 
     Following table shows the potential information carried in the analytics report of MDA assist energy saving. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Attribute Name 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Analytics Report 
                 Energy saving 
                 The identifier of the MDA assisted energy saving 
               
               
                 of MDA assisted 
                 instruction 
               
               
                 energy saving 
                 identifier 
               
               
                   
                 Location 
                 The geographical area, UPFs or the cells where the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unreasonable energy consumption exists 
               
               
                   
                 Root cause 
                 The root cause of the part of the energy consumption 
               
               
                   
                   
                 that may be conserved, e.g., ultra-low traffic load area 
               
               
                   
                   
                 with energy consumption, excessive energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consumption 
               
               
                   
                 Energy saving 
                 Instruction for ES on NR cells. 
               
               
                   
                 instruction 
                 recommended NR Cell (ES-Cell) to enter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 energy Saving state; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 recommended candidate cells with precedence for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 taking over the traffic of the ES-Cell. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Instruction for ES on UPFs. It contains a set of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 recommended UPF (ES-UPF) to enter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 energySaving state; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 recommended candidate UPFs with precedence for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 taking over the traffic of the ES-UPF. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     To Add the Following Solution on MDA ML Model Training to TR 28.809. 
     6.99.1.3 Possible Solutions for ML Model Training for MDA 
     6.99.1.3.1 Solution Description 
     The MDAS producer trains the ML model with the training data or the validation data (which may also be referred to as “validation feedback”) received from a consumer. 
     For the ML model training with the training data, the training data (see subclause 6.99.1.3.2) should include the training Id, the training input and expected training output:
         The training Id is used to identify the ML model training request, and to associate with the training report.   The training input is a set of training input data with the indicated data type (e.g., performance measurements, MDT report, NRM, etc.).   The expected training output specifies the analysis result that the ML model should aim to achieve based on the training input.   The ML model (algorithm) is trained to be able to produce the expected training output from the training input.       

     For the ML model training with the validation data, the validation data (see subclause 6.99.1.3.2) should include the validation report Id, analytics report Id that was validated, and the validated information including the data that are rectified. The MDAS producer looks up the historical data that are associated with the validated analytics report and trains the ML model with the historical data and the validation data. 
     The MDAS producer provides a training report (as shown in subclause 6.99.1.3.3) to the consumer, with indication of whether the training (identified by the training Id or validation Id) is successful and possibly the failure cause if the training is not fully successful. 
     One example of the MDAS consumer is the SON function (e.g., MRO), or SON coordination function. The consumer can train the ML model with the SON performance data (for instance the number of too late handover failures) and the current network configurations, as well as the expected changes of the network parameters. For example, based on the number of too late handover failures, the handover margins are expected to be decreased by a certain number of steps/levels (e.g., 10 db per step/level). 
     6.99.1.3.2 Data Required for ML Model Training for MDA 
     The following table describes the data required for ML model training for MDA: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Data category 
                 Required data 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Training data 
                 The training data include a training identifier, the 
               
               
                   
                 training input and the expected training output. 
               
               
                   
                 Training Id: Identifier of the training. 
               
               
                   
                 The training input is a set of: 
               
               
                   
                 Training input data type: indication of the data type of 
               
               
                   
                 the training input, e.g., performance measurements, 
               
               
                   
                 MDT report, RLF report, NRM, etc. 
               
               
                   
                 Training input data: the data used as input for ML 
               
               
                   
                 model training. The data include the attribute 
               
               
                   
                 name and value pairs. 
               
               
                   
                 The expected training output includes the information 
               
               
                   
                 that should be contained by a normal analytics 
               
               
                   
                 report, such as: 
               
               
                   
                 Issue type: the issue type identified by analysis 
               
               
                   
                 of the training input, e.g., coverage issue. 
               
               
                   
                 Root cause 
               
               
                   
                 The severity level 
               
               
                   
                 Affected cells 
               
               
                   
                 Recommended actions 
               
               
                 Validation 
                 The validation data includes a validation feedback Id, 
               
               
                 data 
                 analytics report Id or training report Id that was 
               
               
                   
                 validated, and the data that are rectified. One example 
               
               
                   
                 of rectified data is that the originally reported root 
               
               
                   
                 cause is not accurate by validation and should be 
               
               
                   
                 updated to another. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     6.99.1.3.3 ML Model Training Report 
     Following table provides the potential contents of the ML model training report. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Attribute Name 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 ML model 
                 Training Id 
                 The training Id that the training 
               
               
                 training 
                   
                 report is associated to. 
               
               
                 report 
                 Validation 
                 The validation feedback Id that the 
               
               
                   
                 feedback Id 
                 training report is associated to. 
               
               
                   
                 Training result 
                 Indication of whether the training 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is successful, partially successful 
               
               
                   
                   
                 or failed. 
               
               
                   
                 Failure cause 
                 The cause of the failure if the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 training is not fully successful. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Systems and Implementations 
       FIGS.  2 - 4    illustrate various systems, devices, and components that may implement aspects of disclosed embodiments. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a network  200  in accordance with various embodiments. The network  200  may operate in a manner consistent with 3GPP technical specifications for LTE or 5G/NR systems. However, the example embodiments are not limited in this regard and the described embodiments may apply to other networks that benefit from the principles described herein, such as future 3GPP systems, or the like. 
     The network  200  may include a UE  202 , which may include any mobile or non-mobile computing device designed to communicate with a RAN  204  via an over-the-air connection. The UE  202  may be communicatively coupled with the RAN  204  by a Uu interface. The UE  202  may be, but is not limited to, a smartphone, tablet computer, wearable computer device, desktop computer, laptop computer, in-vehicle infotainment, in-car entertainment device, instrument cluster, head-up display device, onboard diagnostic device, dashtop mobile equipment, mobile data terminal, electronic engine management system, electronic/engine control unit, electronic/engine control module, embedded system, sensor, microcontroller, control module, engine management system, networked appliance, machine-type communication device, M2M or D2D device, IoT device, etc. 
     In some embodiments, the network  200  may include a plurality of UEs coupled directly with one another via a sidelink interface. The UEs may be M2M/D2D devices that communicate using physical sidelink channels such as, but not limited to, PSBCH, PSDCH, PSSCH, PSCCH, PSFCH, etc. 
     In some embodiments, the UE  202  may additionally communicate with an AP  206  via an over-the-air connection. The AP  206  may manage a WLAN connection, which may serve to offload some/all network traffic from the RAN  204 . The connection between the UE  202  and the AP  206  may be consistent with any IEEE 802.11 protocol, wherein the AP  206  could be a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi®) router. In some embodiments, the UE  202 , RAN  204 , and AP  206  may utilize cellular-WLAN aggregation (for example, LWA/LWIP). Cellular-WLAN aggregation may involve the UE  202  being configured by the RAN  204  to utilize both cellular radio resources and WLAN resources. 
     The RAN  204  may include one or more access nodes, for example, AN  208 . AN  208  may terminate air-interface protocols for the UE  202  by providing access stratum protocols including RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and L1 protocols. In this manner, the AN  208  may enable data/voice connectivity between CN  220  and the UE  202 . In some embodiments, the AN  208  may be implemented in a discrete device or as one or more software entities running on server computers as part of, for example, a virtual network, which may be referred to as a CRAN or virtual baseband unit pool. The AN  208  be referred to as a BS, gNB, RAN node, eNB, ng-eNB, NodeB, RSU, TRxP, TRP, etc. The AN  208  may be a macrocell base station or a low power base station for providing femtocells, picocells or other like cells having smaller coverage areas, smaller user capacity, or higher bandwidth compared to macrocells. 
     In embodiments in which the RAN  204  includes a plurality of ANs, they may be coupled with one another via an X2 interface (if the RAN  204  is an LTE RAN) or an Xn interface (if the RAN  204  is a 5G RAN). The X2/Xn interfaces, which may be separated into control/user plane interfaces in some embodiments, may allow the ANs to communicate information related to handovers, data/context transfers, mobility, load management, interference coordination, etc. 
     The ANs of the RAN  204  may each manage one or more cells, cell groups, component carriers, etc. to provide the UE  202  with an air interface for network access. The UE  202  may be simultaneously connected with a plurality of cells provided by the same or different ANs of the RAN  204 . For example, the UE  202  and RAN  204  may use carrier aggregation to allow the UE  202  to connect with a plurality of component carriers, each corresponding to a Pcell or Scell. In dual connectivity scenarios, a first AN may be a master node that provides an MCG and a second AN may be secondary node that provides an SCG. The first/second ANs may be any combination of eNB, gNB, ng-eNB, etc. 
     The RAN  204  may provide the air interface over a licensed spectrum or an unlicensed spectrum. To operate in the unlicensed spectrum, the nodes may use LAA, eLAA, and/or feLAA mechanisms based on CA technology with PCells/Scells. Prior to accessing the unlicensed spectrum, the nodes may perform medium/carrier-sensing operations based on, for example, a listen-before-talk (LBT) protocol. 
     In V2X scenarios the UE  202  or AN  208  may be or act as a RSU, which may refer to any transportation infrastructure entity used for V2X communications. An RSU may be implemented in or by a suitable AN or a stationary (or relatively stationary) UE. An RSU implemented in or by: a UE may be referred to as a “UE-type RSU”; an eNB may be referred to as an “eNB-type RSU”; a gNB may be referred to as a “gNB-type RSU”; and the like. In one example, an RSU is a computing device coupled with radio frequency circuitry located on a roadside that provides connectivity support to passing vehicle UEs. The RSU may also include internal data storage circuitry to store intersection map geometry, traffic statistics, media, as well as applications/software to sense and control ongoing vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The RSU may provide very low latency communications required for high speed events, such as crash avoidance, traffic warnings, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the RSU may provide other cellular/WLAN communications services. The components of the RSU may be packaged in a weatherproof enclosure suitable for outdoor installation, and may include a network interface controller to provide a wired connection (e.g., Ethernet) to a traffic signal controller or a backhaul network. 
     In some embodiments, the RAN  204  may be an LTE RAN  210  with eNBs, for example, eNB  212 . The LTE RAN  210  may provide an LTE air interface with the following characteristics: SCS of 15 kHz; CP-OFDM waveform for DL and SC-FDMA waveform for UL; turbo codes for data and TBCC for control; etc. The LTE air interface may rely on CSI-RS for CSI acquisition and beam management; PDSCH/PDCCH DMRS for PDSCH/PDCCH demodulation; and CRS for cell search and initial acquisition, channel quality measurements, and channel estimation for coherent demodulation/detection at the UE. The LTE air interface may operating on sub-6 GHz bands. 
     In some embodiments, the RAN  204  may be an NG-RAN  214  with gNBs, for example, gNB  216 , or ng-eNBs, for example, ng-eNB  218 . The gNB  216  may connect with 5G-enabled UEs using a 5G NR interface. The gNB  216  may connect with a 5G core through an NG interface, which may include an N2 interface or an N3 interface. The ng-eNB  218  may also connect with the 5G core through an NG interface, but may connect with a UE via an LTE air interface. The gNB  216  and the ng-eNB  218  may connect with each other over an Xn interface. 
     In some embodiments, the NG interface may be split into two parts, an NG user plane (NG-U) interface, which carries traffic data between the nodes of the NG-RAN  214  and a UPF  248  (e.g., N3 interface), and an NG control plane (NG-C) interface, which is a signaling interface between the nodes of the NG-RAN214 and an AMF  244  (e.g., N2 interface). 
     The NG-RAN  214  may provide a 5G-NR air interface with the following characteristics: variable SCS; CP-OFDM for DL, CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM for UL; polar, repetition, simplex, and Reed-Muller codes for control and LDPC for data. The 5G-NR air interface may rely on CSI-RS, PDSCH/PDCCH DMRS similar to the LTE air interface. The 5G-NR air interface may not use a CRS, but may use PBCH DMRS for PBCH demodulation; PTRS for phase tracking for PDSCH; and tracking reference signal for time tracking. The 5G-NR air interface may operating on FR1 bands that include sub-6 GHz bands or FR2 bands that include bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. The 5G-NR air interface may include an SSB that is an area of a downlink resource grid that includes PSS/SSS/PBCH. 
     In some embodiments, the 5G-NR air interface may utilize BWPs for various purposes. For example, BWP can be used for dynamic adaptation of the SCS. For example, the UE  202  can be configured with multiple BWPs where each BWP configuration has a different SCS. When a BWP change is indicated to the UE  202 , the SCS of the transmission is changed as well. Another use case example of BWP is related to power saving. In particular, multiple BWPs can be configured for the UE  202  with different amount of frequency resources (for example, PRBs) to support data transmission under different traffic loading scenarios. A BWP containing a smaller number of PRBs can be used for data transmission with small traffic load while allowing power saving at the UE  202  and in some cases at the gNB  216 . A BWP containing a larger number of PRBs can be used for scenarios with higher traffic load. 
     The RAN  204  is communicatively coupled to CN  220  that includes network elements to provide various functions to support data and telecommunications services to customers/subscribers (for example, users of UE  202 ). The components of the CN  220  may be implemented in one physical node or separate physical nodes. In some embodiments, NFV may be utilized to virtualize any or all of the functions provided by the network elements of the CN  220  onto physical compute/storage resources in servers, switches, etc. A logical instantiation of the CN  220  may be referred to as a network slice, and a logical instantiation of a portion of the CN  220  may be referred to as a network sub-slice. 
     In some embodiments, the CN  220  may be an LTE CN  222 , which may also be referred to as an EPC. The LTE CN  222  may include MME  224 , SGW  226 , SGSN  228 , HSS  230 , PGW  232 , and PCRF  234  coupled with one another over interfaces (or “reference points”) as shown. Functions of the elements of the LTE CN  222  may be briefly introduced as follows. 
     The MME  224  may implement mobility management functions to track a current location of the UE  202  to facilitate paging, bearer activation/deactivation, handovers, gateway selection, authentication, etc. 
     The SGW  226  may terminate an Si interface toward the RAN and route data packets between the RAN and the LTE CN  222 . The SGW  226  may be a local mobility anchor point for inter-RAN node handovers and also may provide an anchor for inter-3GPP mobility. Other responsibilities may include lawful intercept, charging, and some policy enforcement. 
     The SGSN  228  may track a location of the UE  202  and perform security functions and access control. In addition, the SGSN  228  may perform inter-EPC node signaling for mobility between different RAT networks; PDN and S-GW selection as specified by MME  224 ; MME selection for handovers; etc. The S3 reference point between the MME  224  and the SGSN  228  may enable user and bearer information exchange for inter-3GPP access network mobility in idle/active states. 
     The HSS  230  may include a database for network users, including subscription-related information to support the network entities&#39; handling of communication sessions. The HSS  230  can provide support for routing/roaming, authentication, authorization, naming/addressing resolution, location dependencies, etc. An S6a reference point between the HSS  230  and the MME  224  may enable transfer of subscription and authentication data for authenticating/authorizing user access to the LTE CN  220 . 
     The PGW  232  may terminate an SGi interface toward a data network (DN)  236  that may include an application/content server  238 . The PGW  232  may route data packets between the LTE CN  222  and the data network  236 . The PGW  232  may be coupled with the SGW  226  by an S5 reference point to facilitate user plane tunneling and tunnel management. The PGW  232  may further include a node for policy enforcement and charging data collection (for example, PCEF). Additionally, the SGi reference point between the PGW  232  and the data network  2   36  may be an operator external public, a private PDN, or an intra-operator packet data network, for example, for provision of IMS services. The PGW  232  may be coupled with a PCRF  234  via a Gx reference point. 
     The PCRF  234  is the policy and charging control element of the LTE CN  222 . The PCRF  234  may be communicatively coupled to the app/content server  238  to determine appropriate QoS and charging parameters for service flows. The PCRF  232  may provision associated rules into a PCEF (via Gx reference point) with appropriate TFT and QCI. 
     In some embodiments, the CN  220  may be a 5GC  240 . The 5GC  240  may include an AUSF  242 , AMF  244 , SMF  246 , UPF  248 , NSSF  250 , NEF  252 , NRF  254 , PCF  256 , UDM  258 , and AF  260  coupled with one another over interfaces (or “reference points”) as shown. Functions of the elements of the 5GC  240  may be briefly introduced as follows. 
     The AUSF  242  may store data for authentication of UE  202  and handle authentication-related functionality. The AUSF  242  may facilitate a common authentication framework for various access types. In addition to communicating with other elements of the 5GC  240  over reference points as shown, the AUSF  242  may exhibit an Nausf service-based interface. 
     The AMF  244  may allow other functions of the 5GC  240  to communicate with the UE  202  and the RAN  204  and to subscribe to notifications about mobility events with respect to the UE  202 . The AMF  244  may be responsible for registration management (for example, for registering UE  202 ), connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception of AMF-related events, and access authentication and authorization. The AMF  244  may provide transport for SM messages between the UE  202  and the SMF  246 , and act as a transparent proxy for routing SM messages. AMF  244  may also provide transport for SMS messages between UE  202  and an SMSF. AMF  244  may interact with the AUSF  242  and the UE  202  to perform various security anchor and context management functions. Furthermore, AMF  244  may be a termination point of a RAN CP interface, which may include or be an N2 reference point between the RAN  204  and the AMF  244 ; and the AMF  244  may be a termination point of NAS (N1) signaling, and perform NAS ciphering and integrity protection. AMF  244  may also support NAS signaling with the UE  202  over an N3 IWF interface. 
     The SMF  246  may be responsible for SM (for example, session establishment, tunnel management between UPF  248  and AN  208 ); UE IP address allocation and management (including optional authorization); selection and control of UP function; configuring traffic steering at UPF  248  to route traffic to proper destination; termination of interfaces toward policy control functions; controlling part of policy enforcement, charging, and QoS; lawful intercept (for SM events and interface to LI system); termination of SM parts of NAS messages; downlink data notification; initiating AN specific SM information, sent via AMF  244  over N2 to AN  208 ; and determining SSC mode of a session. SM may refer to management of a PDU session, and a PDU session or “session” may refer to a PDU connectivity service that provides or enables the exchange of PDUs between the UE  202  and the data network  236 . 
     The UPF  248  may act as an anchor point for intra-RAT and inter-RAT mobility, an external PDU session point of interconnect to data network  236 , and a branching point to support multi-homed PDU session. The UPF  248  may also perform packet routing and forwarding, perform packet inspection, enforce the user plane part of policy rules, lawfully intercept packets (UP collection), perform traffic usage reporting, perform QoS handling for a user plane (e.g., packet filtering, gating, UL/DL rate enforcement), perform uplink traffic verification (e.g., SDF-to-QoS flow mapping), transport level packet marking in the uplink and downlink, and perform downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering. UPF  248  may include an uplink classifier to support routing traffic flows to a data network. 
     The NSSF  250  may select a set of network slice instances serving the UE  202 . The NSSF  250  may also determine allowed NSSAI and the mapping to the subscribed S-NSSAIs, if needed. The NSSF  250  may also determine the AMF set to be used to serve the UE  202 , or a list of candidate AMFs based on a suitable configuration and possibly by querying the NRF  254 . The selection of a set of network slice instances for the UE  202  may be triggered by the AMF  244  with which the UE  202  is registered by interacting with the NSSF  250 , which may lead to a change of AMF. The NSSF  250  may interact with the AMF  244  via an N22 reference point; and may communicate with another NSSF in a visited network via an N31 reference point (not shown). Additionally, the NSSF  250  may exhibit an Nnssf service-based interface. 
     The NEF  252  may securely expose services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions for third party, internal exposure/re-exposure, AFs (e.g., AF  260 ), edge computing or fog computing systems, etc. In such embodiments, the NEF  252  may authenticate, authorize, or throttle the AFs. NEF  252  may also translate information exchanged with the AF  260  and information exchanged with internal network functions. For example, the NEF  252  may translate between an AF-Service-Identifier and an internal 5GC information. NEF  252  may also receive information from other NFs based on exposed capabilities of other NFs. This information may be stored at the NEF  252  as structured data, or at a data storage NF using standardized interfaces. The stored information can then be re-exposed by the NEF  252  to other NFs and AFs, or used for other purposes such as analytics. Additionally, the NEF  252  may exhibit an Nnef service-based interface. 
     The NRF  254  may support service discovery functions, receive NF discovery requests from NF instances, and provide the information of the discovered NF instances to the NF instances. NRF  254  also maintains information of available NF instances and their supported services. As used herein, the terms “instantiate,” “instantiation,” and the like may refer to the creation of an instance, and an “instance” may refer to a concrete occurrence of an object, which may occur, for example, during execution of program code. Additionally, the NRF  254  may exhibit the Nnrf service-based interface. 
     The PCF  256  may provide policy rules to control plane functions to enforce them, and may also support unified policy framework to govern network behavior. The PCF  256  may also implement a front end to access subscription information relevant for policy decisions in a UDR of the UDM  258 . In addition to communicating with functions over reference points as shown, the PCF  256  exhibit an Npcf service-based interface. 
     The UDM  258  may handle subscription-related information to support the network entities&#39; handling of communication sessions, and may store subscription data of UE  202 . For example, subscription data may be communicated via an N8 reference point between the UDM  258  and the AMF  244 . The UDM  258  may include two parts, an application front end and a UDR. The UDR may store subscription data and policy data for the UDM  258  and the PCF  256 , and/or structured data for exposure and application data (including PFDs for application detection, application request information for multiple UEs  202 ) for the NEF  252 . The Nudr service-based interface may be exhibited by the UDR  221  to allow the UDM  258 , PCF  256 , and NEF  252  to access a particular set of the stored data, as well as to read, update (e.g., add, modify), delete, and subscribe to notification of relevant data changes in the UDR. The UDM may include a UDM-FE, which is in charge of processing credentials, location management, subscription management and so on. Several different front ends may serve the same user in different transactions. The UDM-FE accesses subscription information stored in the UDR and performs authentication credential processing, user identification handling, access authorization, registration/mobility management, and subscription management. In addition to communicating with other NFs over reference points as shown, the UDM  258  may exhibit the Nudm service-based interface. 
     The AF  260  may provide application influence on traffic routing, provide access to NEF, and interact with the policy framework for policy control. 
     In some embodiments, the 5GC  240  may enable edge computing by selecting operator/3rd party services to be geographically close to a point that the UE  202  is attached to the network. This may reduce latency and load on the network. To provide edge-computing implementations, the 5GC  240  may select a UPF  248  close to the UE  202  and execute traffic steering from the UPF  248  to data network  236  via the N6 interface. This may be based on the UE subscription data, UE location, and information provided by the AF  260 . In this way, the AF  260  may influence UPF (re)selection and traffic routing. Based on operator deployment, when AF  260  is considered to be a trusted entity, the network operator may permit AF  260  to interact directly with relevant NFs. Additionally, the AF  260  may exhibit an Naf service-based interface. 
     The data network  236  may represent various network operator services, Internet access, or third party services that may be provided by one or more servers including, for example, application/content server  238 . 
       FIG.  3    schematically illustrates a wireless network  300  in accordance with various embodiments. The wireless network  300  may include a UE  302  in wireless communication with an AN  304 . The UE  302  and AN  304  may be similar to, and substantially interchangeable with, like-named components described elsewhere herein. 
     The UE  302  may be communicatively coupled with the AN  304  via connection  306 . The connection  306  is illustrated as an air interface to enable communicative coupling, and can be consistent with cellular communications protocols such as an LTE protocol or a 5G NR protocol operating at mmWave or sub-6 GHz frequencies. 
     The UE  302  may include a host platform  308  coupled with a modem platform  310 . The host platform  308  may include application processing circuitry  312 , which may be coupled with protocol processing circuitry  314  of the modem platform  310 . The application processing circuitry  312  may run various applications for the UE  302  that source/sink application data. The application processing circuitry  312  may further implement one or more layer operations to transmit/receive application data to/from a data network. These layer operations may include transport (for example UDP) and Internet (for example, IP) operations The protocol processing circuitry  314  may implement one or more of layer operations to facilitate transmission or reception of data over the connection  306 . The layer operations implemented by the protocol processing circuitry  314  may include, for example, MAC, RLC, PDCP, RRC and NAS operations. 
     The modem platform  310  may further include digital baseband circuitry  316  that may implement one or more layer operations that are “below” layer operations performed by the protocol processing circuitry  314  in a network protocol stack. These operations may include, for example, PHY operations including one or more of HARQ-ACK functions, scrambling/descrambling, encoding/decoding, layer mapping/de-mapping, modulation symbol mapping, received symbol/bit metric determination, multi-antenna port precoding/decoding, which may include one or more of space-time, space-frequency or spatial coding, reference signal generation/detection, preamble sequence generation and/or decoding, synchronization sequence generation/detection, control channel signal blind decoding, and other related functions. 
     The modem platform  310  may further include transmit circuitry  318 , receive circuitry  320 , RF circuitry  322 , and RF front end (RFFE)  324 , which may include or connect to one or more antenna panels  326 . Briefly, the transmit circuitry  318  may include a digital-to-analog converter, mixer, intermediate frequency (IF) components, etc.; the receive circuitry  320  may include an analog-to-digital converter, mixer, IF components, etc.; the RF circuitry  322  may include a low-noise amplifier, a power amplifier, power tracking components, etc.; RFFE  324  may include filters (for example, surface/bulk acoustic wave filters), switches, antenna tuners, beamforming components (for example, phase-array antenna components), etc. The selection and arrangement of the components of the transmit circuitry  318 , receive circuitry  320 , RF circuitry  322 , RFFE  324 , and antenna panels  326  (referred generically as “transmit/receive components”) may be specific to details of a specific implementation such as, for example, whether communication is TDM or FDM, in mmWave or sub-6 gHz frequencies, etc. In some embodiments, the transmit/receive components may be arranged in multiple parallel transmit/receive chains, may be disposed in the same or different chips/modules, etc. 
     In some embodiments, the protocol processing circuitry  314  may include one or more instances of control circuitry (not shown) to provide control functions for the transmit/receive components. 
     A UE reception may be established by and via the antenna panels  326 , RFFE  324 , RF circuitry  322 , receive circuitry  320 , digital baseband circuitry  316 , and protocol processing circuitry  314 . In some embodiments, the antenna panels  326  may receive a transmission from the AN  304  by receive-beamforming signals received by a plurality of antennas/antenna elements of the one or more antenna panels  326 . 
     A UE transmission may be established by and via the protocol processing circuitry  314 , digital baseband circuitry  316 , transmit circuitry  318 , RF circuitry  322 , RFFE  324 , and antenna panels  326 . In some embodiments, the transmit components of the UE  304  may apply a spatial filter to the data to be transmitted to form a transmit beam emitted by the antenna elements of the antenna panels  326 . 
     Similar to the UE  302 , the AN  304  may include a host platform  328  coupled with a modem platform  330 . The host platform  328  may include application processing circuitry  332  coupled with protocol processing circuitry  334  of the modem platform  330 . The modem platform may further include digital baseband circuitry  336 , transmit circuitry  338 , receive circuitry  340 , RF circuitry  342 , RFFE circuitry  344 , and antenna panels  346 . The components of the AN  304  may be similar to and substantially interchangeable with like-named components of the UE  302 . In addition to performing data transmission/reception as described above, the components of the AN  308  may perform various logical functions that include, for example, RNC functions such as radio bearer management, uplink and downlink dynamic radio resource management, and data packet scheduling. 
       FIG.  4    is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Specifically,  FIG.  4    shows a diagrammatic representation of hardware resources  400  including one or more processors (or processor cores)  410 , one or more memory/storage devices  420 , and one or more communication resources  430 , each of which may be communicatively coupled via a bus  440  or other interface circuitry. For embodiments where node virtualization (e.g., NFV) is utilized, a hypervisor  402  may be executed to provide an execution environment for one or more network slices/sub-slices to utilize the hardware resources  400 . 
     The processors  410  may include, for example, a processor  412  and a processor  414 . The processors  410  may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a DSP such as a baseband processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor (including those discussed herein), or any suitable combination thereof. 
     The memory/storage devices  420  may include main memory, disk storage, or any suitable combination thereof. The memory/storage devices  420  may include, but are not limited to, any type of volatile, non-volatile, or semi-volatile memory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), Flash memory, solid-state storage, etc. 
     The communication resources  430  may include interconnection or network interface controllers, components, or other suitable devices to communicate with one or more peripheral devices  404  or one or more databases  406  or other network elements via a network  408 . For example, the communication resources  430  may include wired communication components (e.g., for coupling via USB, Ethernet, etc.), cellular communication components, NFC components, Bluetooth® (or Bluetooth® Low Energy) components, Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components. 
     Instructions  450  may comprise software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code for causing at least any of the processors  410  to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The instructions  450  may reside, completely or partially, within at least one of the processors  410  (e.g., within the processor&#39;s cache memory), the memory/storage devices  420 , or any suitable combination thereof. Furthermore, any portion of the instructions  450  may be transferred to the hardware resources  400  from any combination of the peripheral devices  404  or the databases  406 . Accordingly, the memory of processors  410 , the memory/storage devices  420 , the peripheral devices  404 , and the databases  406  are examples of computer-readable and machine-readable media. 
     Example Procedures 
     In some embodiments, the electronic device(s), network(s), system(s), chip(s) or component(s), or portions or implementations thereof, of  FIGS.  2 - 4   , or some other figure herein, may be configured to perform one or more processes, techniques, or methods as described herein, or portions thereof. One such process is depicted in  FIG.  5   . For example, the process  500  may include, at  505 , identifying, based on self-organizing network (SON) conflict data, a potential or existing SON conflict, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a network resource model (NRM) update made by an SON function or a non-SON function. The process further includes, at  510 , providing an analytics report to management data analytics service (MDAS) consumer that includes an indication of the potential or existing SON conflict. 
     Another such process is illustrated in  FIG.  6   . In this example, process  600  includes, at  605 , receiving self-organizing network (SON) conflict data that includes an indication of a network resource model (NRM) update made by an SON function or a non-SON function. The process further includes, at  610 , identifying, based on the SON conflict data, a potential or existing SON conflict. The process further includes, at  615 , providing an analytics report to an MDAS consumer that includes an indication of the potential or existing SON conflict. 
     Another such process is illustrated in  FIG.  7   . In this example, process  700  includes, at  705 , encoding a message containing validation data for transmission to a management data analytics service (MDAS) producer. The process further includes, at  710 , receiving, from the MDAS producer, a training report that includes an indication of: a training identifier, a validation feedback identifier, a training result, or a failure cause. 
     For one or more embodiments, at least one of the components set forth in one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, and/or methods as set forth in the example section below. For example, the baseband circuitry as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth below. For another example, circuitry associated with a UE, base station, network element, etc. as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth below in the example section. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Example 1 may include a service producer for MDA supported by one or more processors, that is configured to:
         receive the data for ML model training;   train the ML model;   provide the ML model training report.       

     Example 2 may include the service producer for MDA of example 1 or some other example herein, wherein the received data for ML model training is the training data including at least one of the following:
         training identifier   training input; and   expected output.       

     Example 3 may include the training data of example 2 or some other example herein, wherein the training input is a set of the following:
         training input data type;   training input data.       

     Example 4 may include the service producer for MDA of example 1 or some other example herein, wherein the received data for ML model training is the validation data provided by the consumer and contains at least one of the following:
         validation identifier   validated analytics report Id   rectified data.       

     Example 5 may include the service producer for MDA of example 1 or some other example herein, wherein is further configured to:
         receive the data for SON conflict analysis;   identify the potential or already occurred SON conflicts;   provide the analytics report for SON coordination.       

     Example 6 may include the service producer for MDA of example 5 or some other example herein, wherein the receive the data for SON conflict analysis contain at least one of the following:
         notifications of the NRM (Network Resource Model) updates made by SON functions and non-SON functions;   performance measurements related to the SON functions;   the attributes of the MOIs to be analyzed;   the policy and targets of the SON functions;   RLF reports related to the serving cell and neighbour cells.       

     Example 7 may include the service producer for MDA of example 5 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report for SON coordination contains at least one of the following:
         conflict type;   conflicting functions Id;   conflicting attributes;   conflict reason;   recommended actions for preventing the potential conflict or for solving the already occurred conflict.       

     Example 8 may include the service producer for MDA of example 1 or some other example herein, wherein is further configured to:
         receive the data for Energy Saving analysis;   analyzes the received data for Energy Saving analysis;   provide the analytics report for assisting Energy Saving.       

     Example 9 may include the service producer for MDA of example 5 or some other example herein, wherein the receive the data for Energy Saving analysis contain at least one of the following:
         performance measurements related to data volume or number of PDU sessions with SS mode 1;   attributes of MOIs of the cells, UPFs and SMFs;   the energy efficiency information of the data centers;   the energy cost information of the data centers;   the alarm information of the cells, UPFs and SMFs;   the network analysis result from the NWDAF defined in TS 23.288, including UE Communication analytics.       

     Example 10 may include the service producer for MDA of example 5 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report for assisting Energy Saving contains at least one of the following:
         the identifier of the MDA assisted energy saving;   geographical area, UPFs or the cells where the unreasonable energy consumption exists;   root cause of the part of the energy consumption that may be conserved;   conflict reason;   recommended NR Cell (ES-Cell) to enter energySaving state;   recommended candidate cells with precedence for taking over the traffic of the ES-Cell.   recommended UPF (ES-UPF) to enter energySaving state.   recommended candidate UPFs with precedence for taking over the traffic of the ES-UPF.       

     Example 11 may include the methods of examples 1 to 10 or some other example herein, wherein the service producer of MDA is MDAF. 
     Example 12 includes a method comprising: 
     receiving self-organizing network (SON) conflict data; 
     identifying, based on the SON conflict data, a potential or existing SON conflict; and 
     generating an analytics report that includes an indication of the potential or existing SON conflict. 
     Example 13 includes the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a network resource model (NRM) update made by an SON function or a non-SON function. 
     Example 14 includes the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a performance measurement associated with an SON function. 
     Example 15 includes the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of an attribute of a managed object instance (MOI), a policy of an SON function, or a target of an SON function. 
     Example 16 includes the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a radio link failure (RLF) report. 
     Example 17 includes the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of: a conflict type, a conflicting functions identifier, a conflicting attribute, a conflict reason, or a recommended action. 
     Example 18 includes the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of an energy-saving instruction identifier. 
     Example 19 includes the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of a new radio (NR) cell to enter an energy saving state or a user plane function (UPF) to enter an energy-saving state. 
     Example 20 includes the method of any of examples 12-19 or some other example herein, wherein the method is performed by a management data analytics service (MDAS). 
     Example X1 includes an apparatus comprising: 
     memory to store self-organizing network (SON) conflict data; and 
     processing circuitry, coupled with the memory, to: 
     identify, based on the SON conflict data, a potential or existing SON conflict, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a network resource model (NRM) update made by an SON function or a non-SON function; and 
     provide an analytics report to a management data analytics service (MDAS) consumer that includes an indication of the potential or existing SON conflict. 
     Example X2 includes the apparatus of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a performance measurement associated with an SON function. 
     Example X3 includes the apparatus of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of an attribute of a managed object instance (MOD, a policy of an SON function, or a target of an SON function. 
     Example X4 includes the apparatus of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a radio link failure (RLF) report. 
     Example X5 includes the apparatus of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of: a conflict type, a conflicting functions identifier, a conflicting attribute, a conflict reason, or a recommended action. 
     Example X6 includes the apparatus of any of examples X1-X5 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of an energy-saving instruction identifier. 
     Example X7 includes the apparatus of example X6 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of a new radio (NR) cell to enter an energy saving sate or a user plane function (UPF) to enter an energy-saving state. 
     Example X8 includes the apparatus of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein the processing circuitry is further to cause the MDAS producer to provide a training report to the MDAS consumer, the training report including an indication of: a training identifier, a validation feedback identifier, a training result, or a failure cause. 
     Example X9 includes one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a management data analytics service (MDAS) producer to: 
     receive self-organizing network (SON) conflict data that includes an indication of a network resource model (NRM) update made by an SON function or a non-SON function; 
     identify, based on the SON conflict data, a potential or existing SON conflict; and 
     provide an analytics report to an MDAS consumer that includes an indication of the potential or existing SON conflict. 
     Example X10 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X9 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a performance measurement associated with an SON function. 
     Example X11 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X9 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of an attribute of a managed object instance (MOD, a policy of an SON function, or a target of an SON function. 
     Example X12 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X9 or some other example herein, wherein the SON conflict data includes an indication of a radio link failure (RLF) report. 
     Example X13 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X9 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of: a conflict type, a conflicting functions identifier, a conflicting attribute, a conflict reason, or a recommended action. 
     Example X14 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of examples X9-X12, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of an energy-saving instruction identifier. 
     Example X15 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X14 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of a new radio (NR) cell to enter an energy saving sate or a user plane function (UPF) to enter an energy-saving state. 
     Example X16 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X9 or some other example herein, wherein the media further stores instructions to cause the MDAS producer to provide a training report to the MDAS consumer, the training report including an indication of: a training identifier, a validation feedback identifier, a training result, or a failure cause. 
     Example X17 includes one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a management data analytics service (MDAS) consumer to: 
     encode a message containing validation data for transmission to an MDAS producer; and 
     receive, from the MDAS producer, a training report that includes an indication of: a training identifier, a validation feedback identifier, a training result, or a failure cause. 
     Example X18 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X17 or some other example herein, wherein the validation data includes an indication of: a validation feedback identifier, an analytics report identifier, an identifier for a validated training report, or data that has been rectified. 
     Example X19 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X17 or some other example herein, wherein the media further stores instructions to cause the MDAS consumer to receive an analytics report. 
     Example X20 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X19 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of: a conflict type, a conflicting functions identifier, a conflicting attribute, a conflict reason, or a recommended action. 
     Example X21 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of examples X17-X20 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of an energy-saving instruction identifier. 
     Example X22 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example X21 or some other example herein, wherein the analytics report includes an indication of a new radio (NR) cell to enter an energy saving sate or a user plane function (UPF) to enter an energy-saving state. 
     Example Z01 may include an apparatus comprising means to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or any other method or process described herein. 
     Example Z02 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the electronic device, to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or any other method or process described herein. 
     Example Z03 may include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-20, or any other method or process described herein. 
     Example Z04 may include a method, technique, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions or parts thereof. 
     Example Z05 may include an apparatus comprising: one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions thereof. 
     Example Z06 may include a signal as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions or parts thereof. 
     Example Z07 may include a datagram, packet, frame, segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure. 
     Example Z08 may include a signal encoded with data as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure. 
     Example Z09 may include a signal encoded with a datagram, packet, frame, segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure. 
     Example Z10 may include an electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of the computer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions thereof. 
     Example Z11 may include a computer program comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing element is to cause the processing element to carry out the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-X22, or portions thereof. 
     Example Z12 may include a signal in a wireless network as shown and described herein. 
     Example Z13 may include a method of communicating in a wireless network as shown and described herein. 
     Example Z14 may include a system for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein. 
     Example Z15 may include a device for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein. 
     Any of the above-described examples may be combined with any other example (or combination of examples), unless explicitly stated otherwise. The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments. 
     Abbreviations 
     Unless used differently herein, terms, definitions, and abbreviations may be consistent with terms, definitions, and abbreviations defined in 3GPP TR 21.905 v16.0.0 (2019-06). For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations may apply to the examples and embodiments discussed herein. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 3GPP 
                 Third Generation Partnership Project 
               
               
                 4G 
                 Fourth Generation 
               
               
                 5G 
                 Fifth Generation 
               
               
                 5GC 
                 5G Core network 
               
               
                 ACK 
                 Acknowledgement 
               
               
                 AF 
                 Application Function 
               
               
                 AM 
                 Acknowledged Mode 
               
               
                 AMBR 
                 Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate 
               
               
                 AMF 
                 Access and Mobility Management Function 
               
               
                 AN 
                 Access Network 
               
               
                 ANR 
                 Automatic Neighbour Relation 
               
               
                 AP 
                 Application Protocol, Antenna Port, Access Point 
               
               
                 API 
                 Application Programming Interface 
               
               
                 APN 
                 Access Point Name 
               
               
                 ARP 
                 Allocation and Retention Priority 
               
               
                 ARQ 
                 Automatic Repeat Request 
               
               
                 AS 
                 Access Stratum 
               
               
                 ASN.1 
                 Abstract Syntax Notation One 
               
               
                 AUSF 
                 Authentication Server Function 
               
               
                 AWGN 
                 Additive White Gaussian Noise 
               
               
                 BAP 
                 Backhaul Adaptation Protocol 
               
               
                 BCH 
                 Broadcast Channel 
               
               
                 BER 
                 Bit Error Ratio 
               
               
                 BFD 
                 Beam Failure Detection 
               
               
                 BLER 
                 Block Error Rate 
               
               
                 BPSK 
                 Binary Phase Shift Keying 
               
               
                 BRAS 
                 Broadband Remote Access Server 
               
               
                 BSS 
                 Business Support System 
               
               
                 BS 
                 Base Station 
               
               
                 BSR 
                 Buffer Status Report 
               
               
                 BW 
                 Bandwidth 
               
               
                 BWP 
                 Bandwidth Part 
               
               
                 C-RNTI 
                 Cell Radio Network Temporary Identity 
               
               
                 CA 
                 Carrier Aggregation, Certification Authority 
               
               
                 CAPEX 
                 CAPital EXpenditure 
               
               
                 CBRA 
                 Contention Based Random Access 
               
               
                 CC 
                 Component Carrier, Country Code, 
               
               
                   
                 Cryptographic Checksum 
               
               
                 CCA 
                 Clear Channel Assessment 
               
               
                 CCE 
                 Control Channel Element 
               
               
                 CCCH 
                 Common Control Channel 
               
               
                 CE 
                 Coverage Enhancement 
               
               
                 CDM 
                 Content Delivery Network 
               
               
                 CDMA 
                 Code-Division Multiple Access 
               
               
                 CFRA 
                 Contention Free Random Access 
               
               
                 CG 
                 Cell Group 
               
               
                 CI 
                 Cell Identity 
               
               
                 CID 
                 Cell-ID (e g., positioning method) 
               
               
                 CIM 
                 Common Information Model 
               
               
                 CIR 
                 Carrier to Interference Ratio 
               
               
                 CK 
                 Cipher Key 
               
               
                 CM 
                 Connection Management, Conditional Mandatory 
               
               
                 CMAS 
                 Commercial Mobile Alert Service 
               
               
                 CMD 
                 Command 
               
               
                 CMS 
                 Cloud Management System 
               
               
                 CO 
                 Conditional Optional 
               
               
                 CoMP 
                 Coordinated Multi-Point 
               
               
                 CORESET 
                 Control Resource Set 
               
               
                 COTS 
                 Commercial Off-The-Shelf 
               
               
                 CP 
                 Control Plane, Cyclic Prefix, Connection Point 
               
               
                 CPD 
                 Connection Point Descriptor 
               
               
                 CPE 
                 Customer Premise Equipment 
               
               
                 CPICH 
                 Common Pilot Channel 
               
               
                 CQI 
                 Channel Quality Indicator 
               
               
                 CPU 
                 CSI processing unit, Central Processing Unit 
               
               
                 C/R 
                 Command/Response field bit 
               
               
                 CRAN 
                 Cloud Radio Access Network, Cloud RAN 
               
               
                 CRB 
                 Common Resource Block 
               
               
                 CRC 
                 Cyclic Redundancy Check 
               
               
                 CRI 
                 Channel-State Information Resource Indicator, 
               
               
                   
                 CSI-RS Resource Indicator 
               
               
                 C-RNTI 
                 Cell RNTI 
               
               
                 CS 
                 Circuit Switched 
               
               
                 CSAR 
                 Cloud Service Archive 
               
               
                 CSI 
                 Channel-State Information 
               
               
                 CSI-IM 
                 CSI Interference Measurement 
               
               
                 CSI-RS 
                 CSI Reference Signal 
               
               
                 CSI-RSRP 
                 CSI reference signal received power 
               
               
                 CSI-RSRQ 
                 CSI reference signal received quality 
               
               
                 CSI-SINR 
                 CSI signal-to-noise and interference ratio 
               
               
                 CSMA 
                 Carrier Sense Multiple Access 
               
               
                 CSMA/CA 
                 CSMA with collision avoidance 
               
               
                 CSS 
                 Common Search Space, Cell- specific Search Space 
               
               
                 CTS 
                 Clear-to-Send 
               
               
                 CW 
                 Codeword 
               
               
                 CWS 
                 Contention Window Size 
               
               
                 D2D 
                 Device-to-Device 
               
               
                 DC 
                 Dual Connectivity, Direct Current 
               
               
                 DCI 
                 Downlink Control Information 
               
               
                 DF 
                 Deployment Flavour 
               
               
                 DL 
                 Downlink 
               
               
                 DMTF 
                 Distributed Management Task Force 
               
               
                 DPDK 
                 Data Plane Development Kit 
               
               
                 DM-RS, DMRS 
                 Demodulation Reference Signal 
               
               
                 DN 
                 Data network 
               
               
                 DRB 
                 Data Radio Bearer 
               
               
                 DRS 
                 Discovery Reference Signal 
               
               
                 DRX 
                 Discontinuous Reception 
               
               
                 DSL 
                 Domain Specific Language. 
               
               
                   
                 Digital Subscriber Line 
               
               
                 DSLAM 
                 DSL Access Multiplexer 
               
               
                 DwPTS 
                 Downlink Pilot Time Slot 
               
               
                 E-LAN 
                 Ethernet Local Area Network 
               
               
                 E2E 
                 End-to-End 
               
               
                 ECCA 
                 extended clear channel assessment, extended CCA 
               
               
                 ECCE 
                 Enhanced Control Channel Element, Enhanced CCE 
               
               
                 ED 
                 Energy Detection 
               
               
                 EDGE 
                 Enhanced Datarates for GSM Evolution 
               
               
                   
                 (GSM Evolution) 
               
               
                 EGMF 
                 Exposure Governance Management Function 
               
               
                 EGPRS 
                 Enhanced GPRS 
               
               
                 EIR 
                 Equipment Identity Register 
               
               
                 eLAA 
                 enhanced Licensed Assisted Access, enhanced LAA 
               
               
                 EM 
                 Element Manager 
               
               
                 eMBB 
                 Enhanced Mobile Broadband 
               
               
                 EMS 
                 Element Management System 
               
               
                 eNB 
                 evolved NodeB, E-UTRAN Node B 
               
               
                 EN-DC 
                 E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity 
               
               
                 EPC 
                 Evolved Packet Core 
               
               
                 EPDCCH 
                 enhanced PDCCH, enhanced Physical 
               
               
                   
                 Downlink Control Cannel 
               
               
                 EPRE 
                 Energy per resource element 
               
               
                 EPS 
                 Evolved Packet System 
               
               
                 EREG 
                 enhanced REG, enhanced resource element groups 
               
               
                 ETSI 
                 European Telecommunications Standards Institute 
               
               
                 ETWS 
                 Earthquake and Tsunami Warning System 
               
               
                 eUICC 
                 embedded UICC, embedded Universal 
               
               
                   
                 Integrated Circuit Card 
               
               
                 E-UTRA 
                 Evolved UTRA 
               
               
                 E-UTRAN 
                 Evolved UTRAN 
               
               
                 EV2X 
                 Enhanced V2X 
               
               
                 F1AP 
                 F1 Application Protocol 
               
               
                 F1-C 
                 F1 Control plane interface 
               
               
                 F1-U 
                 F1 User plane interface 
               
               
                 FACCH 
                 Fast Associated Control CHannel 
               
               
                 FACCH/F 
                 Fast Associated Control Channel/Full rate 
               
               
                 FACCH/H 
                 Fast Associated Control Channel/Half rate 
               
               
                 FACH 
                 Forward Access Channel 
               
               
                 FAUSCH 
                 Fast Uplink Signalling Channel 
               
               
                 FB 
                 Functional Block 
               
               
                 FBI 
                 Feedback Information 
               
               
                 FCC 
                 Federal Communications Commission 
               
               
                 FCCH 
                 Frequency Correction CHannel 
               
               
                 FDD 
                 Frequency Division Duplex 
               
               
                 FDM 
                 Frequency Division Multiplex 
               
               
                 FDMA 
                 Frequency Division Multiple Access 
               
               
                 FE 
                 Front End 
               
               
                 FEC 
                 Forward Error Correction 
               
               
                 FFS 
                 For Further Study 
               
               
                 FFT 
                 Fast Fourier Transformation 
               
               
                 feLAA 
                 further enhanced Licensed Assisted Access, 
               
               
                   
                 further enhanced LAA 
               
               
                 FN 
                 Frame Number 
               
               
                 FPGA 
                 Field-Programmable Gate Array 
               
               
                 FR 
                 Frequency Range 
               
               
                 G-RNTI 
                 GERAN Radio Network Temporary Identity 
               
               
                 GERAN 
                 GSM EDGE RAN, 
               
               
                   
                 GSM EDGE Radio Access Network 
               
               
                 GGSN 
                 Gateway GPRS Support Node 
               
               
                 GLONASS 
                 GLObal&#39;naya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema 
               
               
                   
                 (Engl.: Global Navigation Satellite System) 
               
               
                 gNB 
                 Next Generation NodeB 
               
               
                 gNB-CU 
                 gNB-centralized unit, 
               
               
                   
                 Next Generation NodeB centralized unit 
               
               
                 gNB-DU 
                 gNB-distributed unit, 
               
               
                   
                 Next Generation NodeB distributed unit 
               
               
                 GNSS 
                 Global Navigation Satellite System 
               
               
                 GPRS 
                 General Packet Radio Service 
               
               
                 GSM 
                 Global System for Mobile Communications, 
               
               
                   
                 Groupe Spécial Mobile 
               
               
                 GTP 
                 GPRS Tunneling Protocol 
               
               
                 GTP-UGPRS 
                 Tunnelling Protocol for User Plane 
               
               
                 GTS 
                 Go To Sleep Signal (related to WUS) 
               
               
                 GUMMEI 
                 Globally Unique MME Identifier 
               
               
                 GUTI 
                 Globally Unique Temporary UE Identity 
               
               
                 HARQ 
                 Hybrid ARQ, Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request 
               
               
                 HANDO 
                 Handover 
               
               
                 HFN 
                 HyperFrame Number 
               
               
                 HHO 
                 Hard Handover 
               
               
                 HLR 
                 Home Location Register 
               
               
                 HN 
                 Home Network 
               
               
                 HO 
                 Handover 
               
               
                 HPLMN 
                 Home Public Land Mobile Network 
               
               
                 HSDPA 
                 High Speed Downlink Packet Access 
               
               
                 HSN 
                 Hopping Sequence Number 
               
               
                 HSPA 
                 High Speed Packet Access 
               
               
                 HSS 
                 Home Subscriber Server 
               
               
                 HSUPA 
                 High Speed Uplink Packet Access 
               
               
                 HTTP 
                 Hyper Text Transfer Protocol 
               
               
                 HTTPS 
                 Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure 
               
               
                   
                 (https is http/1.1 over SSL, i.e. port 443) 
               
               
                 I-Block 
                 Information Block 
               
               
                 ICCID 
                 Integrated Circuit Card Identification 
               
               
                 IAB 
                 Integrated Access and Backhaul 
               
               
                 ICIC 
                 Inter-Cell Interference Coordination 
               
               
                 ID 
                 Identity, identifier 
               
               
                 IDFT 
                 Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform 
               
               
                 IE 
                 Information element 
               
               
                 IBE 
                 In-Band Emission 
               
               
                 IEEE 
                 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 
               
               
                 IEI 
                 Information Element Identifier 
               
               
                 IEIDL 
                 Information Element Identifier Data Length 
               
               
                 IETF 
                 Internet Engineering Task Force 
               
               
                 IF 
                 Infrastructure 
               
               
                 IM 
                 Interference Measurement, Intermodulation, 
               
               
                   
                 IP Multimedia 
               
               
                 IMC 
                 IMS Credentials 
               
               
                 IMEI 
                 International Mobile Equipment Identity 
               
               
                 IMGI 
                 International mobile group identity 
               
               
                 IMPI 
                 IP Multimedia Private Identity 
               
               
                 IMPU 
                 IP Multimedia PUblic identity 
               
               
                 IMS 
                 IP Multimedia Subsystem 
               
               
                 IMSI 
                 International Mobile Subscriber Identity 
               
               
                 IoT 
                 Internet of Things 
               
               
                 IP 
                 Internet Protocol 
               
               
                 Ipsec 
                 IP Security, Internet Protocol Security 
               
               
                 IP-CAN 
                 IP-Connectivity Access Network 
               
               
                 IP-M 
                 IP Multicast 
               
               
                 IPv4 
                 Internet Protocol Version 4 
               
               
                 IPv6 
                 Internet Protocol Version 6 
               
               
                 IR 
                 Infrared 
               
               
                 IS 
                 In Sync 
               
               
                 IRP 
                 Integration Reference Point 
               
               
                 ISDN 
                 Integrated Services Digital Network 
               
               
                 ISIM 
                 IM Services Identity Module 
               
               
                 ISO 
                 International Organisation for Standardisation 
               
               
                 ISP 
                 Internet Service Provider 
               
               
                 IWF 
                 Interworking-Function 
               
               
                 I-WLAN 
                 Interworking WLAN 
               
               
                   
                 Constraint length of the convolutional code, 
               
               
                   
                 USIM Individual key 
               
               
                 kB 
                 Kilobyte (1000 bytes) 
               
               
                 kbps 
                 kilo-bits per second 
               
               
                 Kc 
                 Ciphering key 
               
               
                 Ki 
                 Individual subscriber authentication key 
               
               
                 KPI 
                 Key Performance Indicator 
               
               
                 KQI 
                 Key Quality Indicator 
               
               
                 KSI 
                 Key Set Identifier 
               
               
                 ksps 
                 kilo-symbols per second 
               
               
                 KVM 
                 Kernel Virtual Machine 
               
               
                 L1 
                 Layer 1 (physical layer) 
               
               
                 L1-RSRP 
                 Layer 1 reference signal received power 
               
               
                 L2 
                 Layer 2 (data link layer) 
               
               
                 L3 
                 Layer 3 (network layer) 
               
               
                 LAA 
                 Licensed Assisted Access 
               
               
                 LAN 
                 Local Area Network 
               
               
                 LBT 
                 Listen Before Talk 
               
               
                 LCM 
                 LifeCycle Management 
               
               
                 LCR 
                 Low Chip Rate 
               
               
                 LCS 
                 Location Services 
               
               
                 LCID 
                 Logical Channel ID 
               
               
                 LI 
                 Layer Indicator 
               
               
                 LLC 
                 Logical Link Control, Low Layer Compatibility 
               
               
                 LPLMN 
                 Local PLMN 
               
               
                 LPP 
                 LTE Positioning Protocol 
               
               
                 LSB 
                 Least Significant Bit 
               
               
                 LTE 
                 Long Term Evolution 
               
               
                 LWA 
                 LTE-WLAN aggregation 
               
               
                 LWIP 
                 LTE/WLAN Radio Level Integration with 
               
               
                   
                 IPsec Tunnel 
               
               
                 LTE 
                 Long Term Evolution 
               
               
                 M2M 
                 Machine-to-Machine 
               
               
                 MAC 
                 Medium Access Control (protocol layering context) 
               
               
                 MAC 
                 Message authentication code 
               
               
                   
                 (security/encryption context) 
               
               
                 MAC-A 
                 MAC used for authentication and key agreement 
               
               
                   
                 (TSG TWG3 context) 
               
               
                 MAC-IMAC 
                 used for data integrity of signalling messages 
               
               
                   
                 (TSG TWG3 context) 
               
               
                 MANO 
                 Management and Orchestration 
               
               
                 MBMS 
                 Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service 
               
               
                 MBSFN 
                 Multimedia Broadcast multicast service 
               
               
                   
                 Single Frequency Network 
               
               
                 MCC 
                 Mobile Country Code 
               
               
                 MCG 
                 Master Cell Group 
               
               
                 MCOT 
                 Maximum Channel Occupancy Time 
               
               
                 MCS 
                 Modulation and coding scheme 
               
               
                 MDAF 
                 Management Data Analytics Function 
               
               
                 MDAS 
                 Management Data Analytics Service 
               
               
                 MDT 
                 Minimization of Drive Tests 
               
               
                 ME 
                 Mobile Equipment 
               
               
                 MeNB 
                 master eNB 
               
               
                 MER 
                 Message Error Ratio 
               
               
                 MGL 
                 Measurement Gap Length 
               
               
                 MGRP 
                 Measurement Gap Repetition Period 
               
               
                 MIB 
                 Master Information Block, 
               
               
                   
                 Management Information Base 
               
               
                 MIMO 
                 Multiple Input Multiple Output 
               
               
                 MLC 
                 Mobile Location Centre 
               
               
                 MM 
                 Mobility Management 
               
               
                 MME 
                 Mobility Management Entity 
               
               
                 MN 
                 Master Node 
               
               
                 MnS 
                 Management Service 
               
               
                 MO 
                 Measurement Object, Mobile Originated 
               
               
                 MPBCH 
                 MTC Physical Broadcast CHannel 
               
               
                 MPDCCH 
                 MTC Physical Downlink Control CHannel 
               
               
                 MPDSCH 
                 MTC Physical Downlink Shared CHannel 
               
               
                 MPRACH 
                 MTC Physical Random Access CHannel 
               
               
                 MPUSCH 
                 MTC Physical Uplink Shared Channel 
               
               
                 MPLS 
                 MultiProtocol Label Switching 
               
               
                 MS 
                 Mobile Station 
               
               
                 MSB 
                 Most Significant Bit 
               
               
                 MSC 
                 Mobile Switching Centre 
               
               
                 MSI 
                 Minimum System Information, 
               
               
                   
                 MCH Scheduling Information 
               
               
                 MSID 
                 Mobile Station Identifier 
               
               
                 MSIN 
                 Mobile Station Identification Number 
               
               
                 MSISDN 
                 Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number 
               
               
                 MT 
                 Mobile Terminated, Mobile Termination 
               
               
                 MTC 
                 Machine-Type Communications 
               
               
                 mMTC 
                 massive MTC, 
               
               
                   
                 massive Machine-Type Communications 
               
               
                 MU-MIMO 
                 Multi User MIMO 
               
               
                 MWUS 
                 MTC wake-up signal, MTC WUS 
               
               
                 NACK 
                 Negative Acknowledgement 
               
               
                 NAI 
                 Network Access Identifier 
               
               
                 NAS 
                 Non-Access Stratum, Non- Access Stratum layer 
               
               
                 NCT 
                 Network Connectivity Topology 
               
               
                 NC-JT 
                 Non-Coherent Joint Transmission 
               
               
                 NEC 
                 Network Capability Exposure 
               
               
                 NE-DC 
                 NR-E-UTRA Dual Connectivity 
               
               
                 NEF 
                 Network Exposure Function 
               
               
                 NF 
                 Network Function 
               
               
                 NFP 
                 Network Forwarding Path 
               
               
                 NFPD 
                 Network Forwarding Path Descriptor 
               
               
                 NFV 
                 Network Functions Virtualization 
               
               
                 NFVI 
                 NFV Infrastructure 
               
               
                 NFVO 
                 NFV Orchestrator 
               
               
                 NG 
                 Next Generation, Next Gen 
               
               
                 NGEN-DC 
                 NG-RAN E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity 
               
               
                 NM 
                 Network Manager 
               
               
                 NMS 
                 Network Management System 
               
               
                 N-PoP 
                 Network Point of Presence 
               
               
                 NMIB, N-MIB 
                 Narrowband MIB 
               
               
                 NPBCH 
                 Narrowband Physical Broadcast CHannel 
               
               
                 NPDCCH 
                 Narrowband Physical Downlink Control CHannel 
               
               
                 NPDSCH 
                 Narrowband Physical Downlink Shared CHannel 
               
               
                 NPRACH 
                 Narrowband Physical Random Access CHannel 
               
               
                 NPUSCH 
                 Narrowband Physical Uplink Shared CHannel 
               
               
                 NPSS 
                 Narrowband Primary Synchronization Signal 
               
               
                 NSSS 
                 Narrowband Secondary Synchronization Signal 
               
               
                 NR 
                 New Radio, Neighbour Relation 
               
               
                 NRF 
                 NF Repository Function 
               
               
                 NRS 
                 Narrowband Reference Signal 
               
               
                 NS 
                 Network Service 
               
               
                 NSA 
                 Non-Standalone operation mode 
               
               
                 NSD 
                 Network Service Descriptor 
               
               
                 NSR 
                 Network Service Record 
               
               
                 NSSAI 
                 Network Slice Selection Assistance Information 
               
               
                 S-NNSAI 
                 Single-NSSAI 
               
               
                 NSSF 
                 Network Slice Selection Function 
               
               
                 NW 
                 Network 
               
               
                 NWUS 
                 Narrowband wake-up signal, Narrowband WUS 
               
               
                 NZP 
                 Non-Zero Power 
               
               
                 O&amp;M 
                 Operation and Maintenance 
               
               
                 ODU2 
                 Optical channel Data Unit - type 2 
               
               
                 OFDM 
                 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing 
               
               
                 OFDMA 
                 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access 
               
               
                 OOB 
                 Out-of-band 
               
               
                 OOS 
                 Out of Sync 
               
               
                 OPEX 
                 OPerating EXpense 
               
               
                 OSI 
                 Other System Information 
               
               
                 OSS 
                 Operations Support System 
               
               
                 OTA 
                 over-the-air 
               
               
                 PAPR 
                 Peak-to-Average Power Ratio 
               
               
                 PAR 
                 Peak to Average Ratio 
               
               
                 PBCH 
                 Physical Broadcast Channel 
               
               
                 PC 
                 Power Control, Personal Computer 
               
               
                 PCC 
                 Primary Component Carrier, Primary CC 
               
               
                 PCell 
                 Primary Cell 
               
               
                 PCI 
                 Physical Cell ID, Physical Cell Identity 
               
               
                 PCEF 
                 Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 
               
               
                 PCF 
                 Policy Control Function 
               
               
                 PCRF 
                 Policy Control and Charging Rules Function 
               
               
                 PDCP 
                 Packet Data Convergence Protocol, 
               
               
                   
                 Packet Data Convergence Protocol layer 
               
               
                 PDCCH 
                 Physical Downlink Control Channel 
               
               
                 PDCP 
                 Packet Data Convergence Protocol 
               
               
                 PDN 
                 Packet Data Network, Public Data Network 
               
               
                 PDSCH 
                 Physical Downlink Shared Channel 
               
               
                 PDU 
                 Protocol Data Unit 
               
               
                 PEI 
                 Permanent Equipment Identifiers 
               
               
                 PFD 
                 Packet Flow Description 
               
               
                 P-GW 
                 PDN Gateway 
               
               
                 PHICH 
                 Physical hybrid-ARQ indicator channel 
               
               
                 PHY 
                 Physical layer 
               
               
                 PLMN 
                 Public Land Mobile Network 
               
               
                 PIN 
                 Personal Identification Number 
               
               
                 PM 
                 Performance Measurement 
               
               
                 PMI 
                 Precoding Matrix Indicator 
               
               
                 PNF 
                 Physical Network Function 
               
               
                 PNFD 
                 Physical Network Function Descriptor 
               
               
                 PNFR 
                 Physical Network Function Record 
               
               
                 POC 
                 PTT over Cellular 
               
               
                 PP, PTP 
                 Point-to-Point 
               
               
                 PPP 
                 Point-to-Point Protocol 
               
               
                 PRACH 
                 Physical RACH 
               
               
                 PRB 
                 Physical resource block 
               
               
                 PRG 
                 Physical resource block group 
               
               
                 ProSe 
                 Proximity Services, Proximity-Based Service 
               
               
                 PRS 
                 Positioning Reference Signal 
               
               
                 PRR 
                 Packet Reception Radio 
               
               
                 PS 
                 Packet Services 
               
               
                 PSBCH 
                 Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel 
               
               
                 PSDCH 
                 Physical Sidelink Downlink Channel 
               
               
                 PSCCH 
                 Physical Sidelink Control Channel 
               
               
                 PSFCH 
                 Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel 
               
               
                 PSSCH 
                 Physical Sidelink Shared Channel 
               
               
                 PSCell 
                 Primary SCell 
               
               
                 PSS 
                 Primary Synchronization Signal 
               
               
                 PSTN 
                 Public Switched Telephone Network 
               
               
                 PT-RS 
                 Phase-tracking reference signal 
               
               
                 PTT 
                 Push-to-Talk 
               
               
                 PUCCH 
                 Physical Uplink Control Channel 
               
               
                 PUSCH 
                 Physical Uplink Shared Channel 
               
               
                 QAM 
                 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation 
               
               
                 QCI 
                 QoS class of identifier 
               
               
                 QCL 
                 Quasi co-location 
               
               
                 QFI 
                 QoS Flow ID, QoS Flow Identifier 
               
               
                 QoS 
                 Quality of Service 
               
               
                 QPSK 
                 Quadrature (Quaternary) Phase Shift Keying 
               
               
                 QZSS 
                 Quasi-Zenith Satellite System 
               
               
                 RA-RNTI 
                 Random Access RNTI 
               
               
                 RAB 
                 Radio Access Bearer, Random Access Burst 
               
               
                 RACH 
                 Random Access Channel 
               
               
                 RADIUS 
                 Remote Authentication Dial In User Service 
               
               
                 RAN 
                 Radio Access Network 
               
               
                 RAND 
                 RANDom number (used for authentication) 
               
               
                 RAR 
                 Random Access Response 
               
               
                 RAT 
                 Radio Access Technology 
               
               
                 RAU 
                 Routing Area Update 
               
               
                 RB 
                 Resource block, Radio Bearer 
               
               
                 RBG 
                 Resource block group 
               
               
                 REG 
                 Resource Element Group 
               
               
                 Rel 
                 Release 
               
               
                 REQ 
                 REQuest 
               
               
                 RF 
                 Radio Frequency 
               
               
                 RI 
                 Rank Indicator 
               
               
                 RIV 
                 Resource indicator value 
               
               
                 RL 
                 Radio Link 
               
               
                 RLC 
                 Radio Link Control, Radio Link Control layer 
               
               
                 RLC AM 
                 RLC Acknowledged Mode 
               
               
                 RLC UM 
                 RLC Unacknowledged Mode 
               
               
                 RLF 
                 Radio Link Failure 
               
               
                 RLM 
                 Radio Link Monitoring 
               
               
                 RLM-RS 
                 Reference Signal for RLM 
               
               
                 RM 
                 Registration Management 
               
               
                 RMC 
                 Reference Measurement Channel 
               
               
                 RMSI 
                 Remaining MSI, 
               
               
                   
                 Remaining Minimum System Information 
               
               
                 RN 
                 Relay Node 
               
               
                 RNC 
                 Radio Network Controller 
               
               
                 RNL 
                 Radio Network Layer 
               
               
                 RNTI 
                 Radio Network Temporary Identifier 
               
               
                 ROHC 
                 RObust Header Compression 
               
               
                 RRC 
                 Radio Resource Control, 
               
               
                   
                 Radio Resource Control layer 
               
               
                 RRM 
                 Radio Resource Management 
               
               
                 RS 
                 Reference Signal 
               
               
                 RSRP 
                 Reference Signal Received Power 
               
               
                 RSRQ 
                 Reference Signal Received Quality 
               
               
                 RSSI 
                 Received Signal Strength Indicator 
               
               
                 RSU 
                 Road Side Unit 
               
               
                 RSTD 
                 Reference Signal Time difference 
               
               
                 RTP 
                 Real Time Protocol 
               
               
                 RTS 
                 Ready-To-Send 
               
               
                 RTT 
                 Round Trip Time 
               
               
                 Rx 
                 Reception, Receiving, Receiver 
               
               
                 S1AP 
                 S1 Application Protocol 
               
               
                 S1-MME 
                 S1 for the control plane 
               
               
                 S1-U 
                 S1 for the user plane 
               
               
                 S-GW 
                 Serving Gateway 
               
               
                 S-RNTI 
                 SRNC Radio Network Temporary Identity 
               
               
                 S-TMSI 
                 SAE Temporary Mobile Station Identifier 
               
               
                 SA 
                 Standalone operation mode 
               
               
                 SAE 
                 System Architecture Evolution 
               
               
                 SAP 
                 Service Access Point 
               
               
                 SAPD 
                 Service Access Point Descriptor 
               
               
                 SAPI 
                 Service Access Point Identifier 
               
               
                 SCC 
                 Secondary Component Carrier, Secondary CC 
               
               
                 SCell 
                 Secondary Cell 
               
               
                 SC-FDMA 
                 Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access 
               
               
                 SCG 
                 Secondary Cell Group 
               
               
                 SCM 
                 Security Context Management 
               
               
                 SCS 
                 Subcarrier Spacing 
               
               
                 SCTP 
                 Stream Control Transmission Protocol 
               
               
                 SDAP 
                 Service Data Adaptation Protocol, 
               
               
                   
                 Service Data Adaptation Protocol layer 
               
               
                 SDL 
                 Supplementary Downlink 
               
               
                 SDNF 
                 Structured Data Storage Network Function 
               
               
                 SDP 
                 Session Description Protocol 
               
               
                 SDSF 
                 Structured Data Storage Function 
               
               
                 SDU 
                 Service Data Unit 
               
               
                 SEAF 
                 Security Anchor Function 
               
               
                 SeNB 
                 secondary eNB 
               
               
                 SEPP 
                 Security Edge Protection Proxy 
               
               
                 SFI 
                 Slot format indication 
               
               
                 SFTD 
                 Space-Frequency Time Diversity, 
               
               
                   
                 SFN and frame timing difference 
               
               
                 SFN 
                 System Frame Number or Single Frequency Network 
               
               
                 SgNB 
                 Secondary gNB 
               
               
                 SGSN 
                 Serving GPRS Support Node 
               
               
                 S-GW 
                 Serving Gateway 
               
               
                 SI 
                 System Information 
               
               
                 SI-RNTI 
                 System Information RNTI 
               
               
                 SIB 
                 System Information Block 
               
               
                 SIM 
                 Subscriber Identity Module 
               
               
                 SIP 
                 Session Initiated Protocol 
               
               
                 SiP 
                 System in Package 
               
               
                 SL 
                 Sidelink 
               
               
                 SLA 
                 Service Level Agreement 
               
               
                 SM 
                 Session Management 
               
               
                 SMF 
                 Session Management Function 
               
               
                 SMS 
                 Short Message Service 
               
               
                 SMSF 
                 SMS Function 
               
               
                 SMTC 
                 SSB-based Measurement Timing Configuration 
               
               
                 SN 
                 Secondary Node, Sequence Number 
               
               
                 SoC 
                 System on Chip 
               
               
                 SON 
                 Self-Organizing Network 
               
               
                 SpCell 
                 Special Cell 
               
               
                 SP-CSI-RNTI 
                 Semi-Persistent CSI RNTI 
               
               
                 SPS 
                 Semi-Persistent Scheduling 
               
               
                 SQN 
                 Sequence number 
               
               
                 SR 
                 Scheduling Request 
               
               
                 SRB 
                 Signalling Radio Bearer 
               
               
                 SRS 
                 Sounding Reference Signal 
               
               
                 SS 
                 Synchronization Signal 
               
               
                 SSB 
                 SS Block 
               
               
                 SSBRI 
                 SSB Resource Indicator 
               
               
                 SSC 
                 Session and Service Continuity 
               
               
                 SS-RSRP 
                 Synchronization Signal based Reference 
               
               
                   
                 Signal Received Power 
               
               
                 SS-RSRQ 
                 Synchronization Signal based Reference 
               
               
                   
                 Signal Received Quality 
               
               
                 SS-SINR 
                 Synchronization Signal based Signal to 
               
               
                   
                 Noise and Interference Ratio 
               
               
                 SSS 
                 Secondary Synchronization Signal 
               
               
                 SSSG 
                 Search Space Set Group 
               
               
                 SSSIF 
                 Search Space Set Indicator 
               
               
                 SST 
                 Slice/Service Types 
               
               
                 SU-MIMO 
                 Single User MIMO 
               
               
                 SUL 
                 Supplementary Uplink 
               
               
                 TA 
                 Timing Advance, Tracking Area 
               
               
                 TAC 
                 Tracking Area Code 
               
               
                 TAG 
                 Timing Advance Group 
               
               
                 TAU 
                 Tracking Area Update 
               
               
                 TB 
                 Transport Block 
               
               
                 TBS 
                 Transport Block Size 
               
               
                 TBD 
                 To Be Defined 
               
               
                 TCI 
                 Transmission Configuration Indicator 
               
               
                 TCP 
                 Transmission Communication Protocol 
               
               
                 TDD 
                 Time Division Duplex 
               
               
                 TDM 
                 Time Division Multiplexing 
               
               
                 TDMA 
                 Time Division Multiple Access 
               
               
                 TE 
                 Terminal Equipment 
               
               
                 TEID 
                 Tunnel End Point Identifier 
               
               
                 TFT 
                 Traffic Flow Template 
               
               
                 TMSI 
                 Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity 
               
               
                 TNL 
                 Transport Network Layer 
               
               
                 TPC 
                 Transmit Power Control 
               
               
                 TPMI 
                 Transmitted Precoding Matrix Indicator 
               
               
                 TR 
                 Technical Report 
               
               
                 TRP, TRxP 
                 Transmission Reception Point 
               
               
                 TRS 
                 Tracking Reference Signal 
               
               
                 TRx 
                 Transceiver 
               
               
                 TS 
                 Technical Specifications, Technical Standard 
               
               
                 TTI 
                 Transmission Time Interval 
               
               
                 Tx 
                 Transmission, Transmitting, Transmitter 
               
               
                 U-RNTI 
                 UTRAN Radio Network Temporary Identity 
               
               
                 UART 
                 Universal Asynchronous Receiver and Transmitter 
               
               
                 UCI 
                 Uplink Control Information 
               
               
                 UE 
                 User Equipment 
               
               
                 UDM 
                 Unified Data Management 
               
               
                 UDP 
                 User Datagram Protocol 
               
               
                 UDR 
                 Unified Data Repository 
               
               
                 UDSF 
                 Unstructured Data Storage Network Function 
               
               
                 UICC 
                 Universal Integrated Circuit Card 
               
               
                 UL 
                 Uplink 
               
               
                 UM 
                 Unacknowledged Mode 
               
               
                 UML 
                 Unified Modelling Language 
               
               
                 UMTS 
                 Universal Mobile Telecommunications System 
               
               
                 UP 
                 User Plane 
               
               
                 UPF 
                 User Plane Function 
               
               
                 URI 
                 Uniform Resource Identifier 
               
               
                 URL 
                 Uniform Resource Locator 
               
               
                 URLLC 
                 Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency 
               
               
                 USB 
                 Universal Serial Bus 
               
               
                 USIM 
                 Universal Subscriber Identity Module 
               
               
                 USS 
                 UE-specific search space 
               
               
                 UTRA 
                 UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access 
               
               
                 UTRAN 
                 Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network 
               
               
                 UwPTS 
                 Uplink Pilot Time Slot 
               
               
                 V2I 
                 Vehicle-to-Infrastruction 
               
               
                 V2P 
                 Vehicle-to-Pedestrian 
               
               
                 V2V 
                 Vehicle-to-Vehicle 
               
               
                 V2X 
                 Vehicle-to-everything 
               
               
                 VIM 
                 Virtualized Infrastructure Manager 
               
               
                 VL 
                 Virtual Link, 
               
               
                 VLAN 
                 Virtual LAN, 
               
               
                   
                 Virtual Local Area Network 
               
               
                 VM 
                 Virtual Machine 
               
               
                 VNF 
                 Virtualized Network Function 
               
               
                 VNFFG 
                 VNF Forwarding Graph 
               
               
                 VNFFGD 
                 VNF Forwarding Graph Descriptor 
               
               
                 VNFM 
                 VNF Manager 
               
               
                 VoIP 
                 Voice-over-IP, Voice-over- Internet Protocol 
               
               
                 VPLMN 
                 Visited Public Land Mobile Network 
               
               
                 VPN 
                 Virtual Private Network 
               
               
                 VRB 
                 Virtual Resource Block 
               
               
                 WiMAX 
                 Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access 
               
               
                 WLAN 
                 Wireless Local Area Network 
               
               
                 WMAN 
                 Wireless Metropolitan Area Network 
               
               
                 WPAN 
                 Wireless Personal Area Network 
               
               
                 X2-C 
                 X2-Control plane 
               
               
                 X2-U 
                 X2-User plane 
               
               
                 XML 
                 eXtensible Markup Language 
               
               
                 XRES 
                 EXpected user RESponse 
               
               
                 XOR 
                 eXclusive OR 
               
               
                 ZC 
                 Zadoff-Chu 
               
               
                 ZP 
                 Zero Power 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Terminology 
     For the purposes of the present document, the following terms and definitions are applicable to the examples and embodiments discussed herein. 
     The term “circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes hardware components such as an electronic circuit, a logic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable device (FPD) (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a complex PLD (CPLD), a high-capacity PLD (HCPLD), a structured ASIC, or a programmable SoC), digital signal processors (DSPs), etc., that are configured to provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may execute one or more software or firmware programs to provide at least some of the described functionality. The term “circuitry” may also refer to a combination of one or more hardware elements (or a combination of circuits used in an electrical or electronic system) with the program code used to carry out the functionality of that program code. In these embodiments, the combination of hardware elements and program code may be referred to as a particular type of circuitry. 
     The term “processor circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes circuitry capable of sequentially and automatically carrying out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations, or recording, storing, and/or transferring digital data. Processing circuitry may include one or more processing cores to execute instructions and one or more memory structures to store program and data information. The term “processor circuitry” may refer to one or more application processors, one or more baseband processors, a physical central processing unit (CPU), a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, a triple-core processor, a quad-core processor, and/or any other device capable of executing or otherwise operating computer-executable instructions, such as program code, software modules, and/or functional processes. Processing circuitry may include more hardware accelerators, which may be microprocessors, programmable processing devices, or the like. The one or more hardware accelerators may include, for example, computer vision (CV) and/or deep learning (DL) accelerators. The terms “application circuitry” and/or “baseband circuitry” may be considered synonymous to, and may be referred to as, “processor circuitry.” 
     The term “interface circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes circuitry that enables the exchange of information between two or more components or devices. The term “interface circuitry” may refer to one or more hardware interfaces, for example, buses, I/O interfaces, peripheral component interfaces, network interface cards, and/or the like. 
     The term “user equipment” or “UE” as used herein refers to a device with radio communication capabilities and may describe a remote user of network resources in a communications network. 
     The term “user equipment” or “UE” may be considered synonymous to, and may be referred to as, client, mobile, mobile device, mobile terminal, user terminal, mobile unit, mobile station, mobile user, subscriber, user, remote station, access agent, user agent, receiver, radio equipment, reconfigurable radio equipment, reconfigurable mobile device, etc. Furthermore, the term “user equipment” or “UE” may include any type of wireless/wired device or any computing device including a wireless communications interface. 
     The term “network element” as used herein refers to physical or virtualized equipment and/or infrastructure used to provide wired or wireless communication network services. The term “network element” may be considered synonymous to and/or referred to as a networked computer, networking hardware, network equipment, network node, router, switch, hub, bridge, radio network controller, RAN device, RAN node, gateway, server, virtualized VNF, NFVI, and/or the like. 
     The term “computer system” as used herein refers to any type interconnected electronic devices, computer devices, or components thereof. Additionally, the term “computer system” and/or “system” may refer to various components of a computer that are communicatively coupled with one another. Furthermore, the term “computer system” and/or “system” may refer to multiple computer devices and/or multiple computing systems that are communicatively coupled with one another and configured to share computing and/or networking resources. 
     The term “appliance,” “computer appliance,” or the like, as used herein refers to a computer device or computer system with program code (e.g., software or firmware) that is specifically designed to provide a specific computing resource. A “virtual appliance” is a virtual machine image to be implemented by a hypervisor-equipped device that virtualizes or emulates a computer appliance or otherwise is dedicated to provide a specific computing resource. 
     The term “resource” as used herein refers to a physical or virtual device, a physical or virtual component within a computing environment, and/or a physical or virtual component within a particular device, such as computer devices, mechanical devices, memory space, processor/CPU time, processor/CPU usage, processor and accelerator loads, hardware time or usage, electrical power, input/output operations, ports or network sockets, channel/link allocation, throughput, memory usage, storage, network, database and applications, workload units, and/or the like. A “hardware resource” may refer to compute, storage, and/or network resources provided by physical hardware element(s). A “virtualized resource” may refer to compute, storage, and/or network resources provided by virtualization infrastructure to an application, device, system, etc. 
     The term “network resource” or “communication resource” may refer to resources that are accessible by computer devices/systems via a communications network. The term “system resources” may refer to any kind of shared entities to provide services, and may include computing and/or network resources. System resources may be considered as a set of coherent functions, network data objects or services, accessible through a server where such system resources reside on a single host or multiple hosts and are clearly identifiable. 
     The term “channel” as used herein refers to any transmission medium, either tangible or intangible, which is used to communicate data or a data stream. The term “channel” may be synonymous with and/or equivalent to “communications channel,” “data communications channel,” “transmission channel,” “data transmission channel,” “access channel,” “data access channel,” “link,” “data link,” “carrier,” “radiofrequency carrier,” and/or any other like term denoting a pathway or medium through which data is communicated. Additionally, the term “link” as used herein refers to a connection between two devices through a RAT for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information. 
     The terms “instantiate,” “instantiation,” and the like as used herein refers to the creation of an instance. An “instance” also refers to a concrete occurrence of an object, which may occur, for example, during execution of program code. 
     The terms “coupled,” “communicatively coupled,” along with derivatives thereof are used herein. 
     The term “coupled” may mean two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with one another, may mean that two or more elements indirectly contact each other but still cooperate or interact with each other, and/or may mean that one or more other elements are coupled or connected between the elements that are said to be coupled with each other. The term “directly coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct contact with one another. 
     The term “communicatively coupled” may mean that two or more elements may be in contact with one another by a means of communication including through a wire or other interconnect connection, through a wireless communication channel or link, and/or the like. 
     The term “information element” refers to a structural element containing one or more fields. The term “field” refers to individual contents of an information element, or a data element that contains content. 
     The term “SMTC” refers to an SSB-based measurement timing configuration configured by SSB-MeasurementTimingConfiguration. 
     The term “SSB” refers to an SS/PBCH block. 
     The term “a “Primary Cell” refers to the MCG cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either performs the initial connection establishment procedure or initiates the connection re-establishment procedure. 
     The term “Primary SCG Cell” refers to the SCG cell in which the UE performs random access when performing the Reconfiguration with Sync procedure for DC operation. 
     The term “Secondary Cell” refers to a cell providing additional radio resources on top of a Special Cell for a UE configured with CA. 
     The term “Secondary Cell Group” refers to the subset of serving cells comprising the PSCell and zero or more secondary cells for a UE configured with DC. 
     The term “Serving Cell” refers to the primary cell for a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with CA/DC there is only one serving cell comprising of the primary cell. 
     The term “serving cell” or “serving cells” refers to the set of cells comprising the Special Cell(s) and all secondary cells for a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with CA/. 
     The term “Special Cell” refers to the PCell of the MCG or the PSCell of the SCG for DC operation; otherwise, the term “Special Cell” refers to the Pcell.