WO2018103855A1

WO2018103855A1 - Handling of low latency wireless devices during network performance degradation

Info

Publication number: WO2018103855A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080307
Authority: WO
Inventors: Badawi YAMINE; Bengt Lindoff
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2016-12-08
Filing date: 2016-12-08
Publication date: 2018-06-14

Abstract

There is provided mechanisms for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The method is performed by a network control node. The method comprises obtaining information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and planned network outage. The method comprises obtaining a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region. The method comprises obtaining current location information from low latency wireless devices located in the geographical region and its surrounding. The method comprises determining an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices and a radio access network node in the communications system, the action being based on the radio coverage map.

Description

HANDLING OF LOW LATENCY WIRELESS DEVICES

DURING NETWORK PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments presented herein relate to a method, a network control node, a computer program, and a computer program product for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. Further embodiments presented herein relate to a method, a vehicle control device, a computer program, and a computer program product for operating a low latency wireless device during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. Further embodiments presented herein relate to a method, an operations support systems entity, a computer program, and a computer program product for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. BACKGROUND

In communications networks, there may be a challenge to obtain good performance and capacity for a given communications protocol, its

parameters and the physical environment in which the communications network is deployed. For example, one parameter in providing good performance and capacity for a given communications protocol in a communications network is low latency. Low latency could be required in applications such as unmanned or autonomous ground vehicles (also referred to as autonomous cars, driverless cars, self-driving cars, and robotic cars, and hereinafter ground vehicle for short), remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV for short and commonly referred to as drones, and hereinafter aerial vehicle for short), and remote surgery, to only mention a few examples.

In terms of ground vehicles, ground vehicles may operate with various degrees of autonomy; either under remote control by a human operator, or fully or intermittently autonomously, by onboard computers. Ground vehicles are currently being tested on live traffic roads. One reason behind using such ground vehicles is based on reports that say that up to 90% of car accidents are caused by human errors and hence by having automated ground vehicles the number of accidents could be reduced. As a result, the number of casualties caused by actual car accidents, as well as hospital resources, could be reduced. Low latency communication could be critical for such ground vehicles e.g. when a ground vehicle approaches an obstacle or another ground vehicle; it might be up to a local vehicle control device in the ground vehicle or a remote back end server to take the correct decision in order for the ground vehicle to avoid an accident.

In terms of remotely controlled aerial vehicles, such aerial vehicles could be used to transport items from a source location to a destination location (e.g., from a retailer to a consumer). Such aerial vehicles are foreseen also to be used to transport people from one location to another, hence possibly reducing traffic. Low latency communication could be critical for such aerial vehicles when an aerial vehicle approaches an obstacle.

In terms of remote surgery, remote surgery could be performed based on video conferencing communication, where the surgeon performing the surgery relies on a video conferencing system for visual information and feedback of the patient undergoing surgery. Such communication requires among other factors, reliability, guaranteed throughput and low latency.

In all the above examples the vehicles or video conferencing system could access a low latency network service by the vehicles or video conferencing system being equipped with a low latency wireless device. Hence, the vehicles or video conferencing system could be co-located with a low latency wireless device handling external communications of the vehicles or video

conferencing system.

However, depending on, for example, changing radio conditions in the communications system providing the low latency wireless device with the low latency network service it could be challenging to guarantee that the low latency network service is not suspended, terminated or otherwise suffers from network performance degradation.

Hence, there is a need for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation. SUMMARY

An object of embodiments herein is to provide efficient during occurrence of network performance degradation.

According to a first aspect there is presented a method for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The method is performed by a network control node. The method comprises obtaining information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and planned network outage. The method comprises obtaining a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region. The method comprises obtaining current location information from low latency wireless devices located in the geographical region and its surrounding. The method comprises determining an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices and a radio access network node in the communications system, the action being based on the radio coverage map.

According to a second aspect there is presented a network control node for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The network control node comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network control node to obtain information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI and planned network outage. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network control node to obtain a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network control node to obtain current location information from low latency wireless devices located in the geographical region and its surrounding. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network control node to determine an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices and a radio access network node in the communications system, the action being based on the radio coverage map.

According to a third aspect there is presented a network control node for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The network control node comprises processing circuitry and a storage medium. The storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the network control node to perform operations, or steps. The operations, or steps, cause the network control node to obtain information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI and planned network outage. The operations, or steps, cause the network control node to obtain a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region. The operations, or steps, cause the network control node to obtain current location information from low latency wireless devices located in the geographical region and its surrounding. The operations, or steps, cause the network control node to determine an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices and a radio access network node in the

communications system, the action being based on the radio coverage map.

According to a fourth aspect there is presented a network control node for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The network control node comprises an obtain module configured to obtain information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI, and planned network outage. The network control node comprises an obtain module configured to obtain a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region. The network control node comprises an obtain module configured to obtain current location information from low latency wireless devices located in the geographical region and its surrounding. The network control node comprises a determine module configured to determine an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices and a radio access network node in the communications system, the action being based on the radio coverage map. According to a fifth aspect there is presented a computer program for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on processing circuitry of a network control node, causes the network control node to perform a method according to the first aspect.

According to a sixth aspect there is presented a method for operating a low latency wireless device during occurrence of network performance

degradation in a communications system. The method is performed by a vehicle control device of the low latency wireless device. The method comprises providing current location information of the low latency wireless device to a network control node. The method comprises receiving an action from the network control node, wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI, and planned network outage.

According to a seventh aspect there is presented a vehicle control device for operating a low latency wireless device during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The vehicle control device comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the vehicle control device to provide current location information of the low latency wireless device to a network control node. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the vehicle control device to receive an action from the network control node, wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI and planned network outage.

According to an eighth aspect there is presented a vehicle control device for operating a low latency wireless device during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The vehicle control device comprises processing circuitry and a storage medium. The storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the vehicle control device to perform operations, or steps. The operations, or steps, cause the vehicle control device to provide current location information of the low latency wireless device to a network control node. The operations, or steps, cause the vehicle control device to receive an action from the network control node, wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI, and planned network outage.

According to a ninth aspect there is presented a vehicle control device for operating a low latency wireless device during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The vehicle control device comprises a provide module configured to provide current location information of the low latency wireless device to a network control node. The vehicle control device comprises a receive module configured to receive an action from the network control node, wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI and planned network outage.

According to a tenth aspect there is presented a computer program for operating a low latency wireless device during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on processing circuitry of a vehicle control device, causes the vehicle control device to perform a method according to the sixth aspect.

According to an eleventh aspect there is presented a method for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance

degradation in a communications system. The method is performed by an Operations Support System (OSS) entity. The method comprises detecting occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the

communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI and planned network outage. The method comprises providing, only when determined that the performance degradation impacts

performance of low latency wireless devices in the communications system, information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node in the communications system.

According to a twelfth aspect there is presented an OSS entity for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The OSS entity comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the OSS entity to detect occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI and planned network outage. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the OSS entity to provide, only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices in the communications system, information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node in the communications system.

According to a thirteenth aspect there is presented an OSS entity for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system. The OSS entity comprises processing circuitry and a storage medium. The storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the OSS entity to perform operations, or steps. The operations, or steps, cause the OSS entity to detect occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI, and planned network outage. The operations, or steps, cause the OSS entity to provide, only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices in the communications system, information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node in the communications system. According to a fourteenth aspect there is presented an OSS entity for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network

performance degradation in a communications system. The OSS entity comprises a detect module configured to detect occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI and planned network outage. The OSS entity comprises a provide module configured to provide, only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices in the communications system, information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node in the communications system.

According to a fifteenth aspect there is presented a computer program for handling low latency wireless devices during occurrence of network

performance degradation in a communications system, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on processing circuitry of an OSS entity, causes the OSS entity to perform a method according to the eleventh aspect.

According to a sixteenth aspect there is presented a computer program product comprising a computer program according to at least one of the fifth aspect, the tenth aspect, and the fifteenth aspect and a computer readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored. The computer readable storage medium can be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

Advantageously these methods, these network control nodes, these vehicle control devices, these OSS entities, and these computer programs provide efficient handling, or operation, of the wireless device during occurrence of network performance degradation.

Advantageously these methods, these network control node, these vehicle control device, these OSS entities, and these computer programs could be adopted in (unmanned or autonomous) ground vehicles, (unmanned or autonomous) aerial vehicles, etc. or other embedded network systems.

Advantageously these methods are scalable in terms of the number of wireless devices (and vehicle control devices).

Advantageously these methods, these network control nodes, these vehicle control devices, these OSS entities, and these computer programs could be used to reduce the number or accidents for ground vehicles as well as aerial vehicles.

It is to be noted that any feature of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteen, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth aspects may be applied to any other aspect, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of the first aspect may equally apply to the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh twelfth, thirteen, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth aspect, respectively, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive concept is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic diagram illustrating a communications system according to embodiments;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are flowcharts of methods according to embodiments; Figs. 7, 8, 9 are schematic illustrations of parts of a communications system according to embodiments;

Fig. io is a schematic diagram showing functional units of a network control node according to an embodiment;

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing functional modules of a network control node according to an embodiment;

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing functional units of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment;

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing functional modules of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment; Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing functional units of an OSS entity according to an embodiment;

Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram showing functional modules of an OSS entity according to an embodiment; and

Fig. 16 shows one example of a computer program product comprising computer readable means according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventive concept will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. Any step or feature illustrated by dashed lines should be regarded as optional.

Fig. l is a schematic diagram illustrating a communications system 100 where embodiments presented herein can be applied. The communications system 100 comprises a radio access network 120 in which radio access network nodes, as symbolized by radio access network node 130a, provide network access in cells i2oa-i2oj, a core network 140, and a service network 160. The radio access network 110 is operatively connected to the core network 140 which in turn is operatively connected to the service network 160. The radio access network nodes 130a thereby enables wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c to access services and exchange data as provided by the service network 160.

The wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c are assumed to be capable of accessing a low latency service in the communications system 100. How the wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c could establish network access to the low latency network service will be described below. Examples of wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c include, but are not limited to, mobile stations, mobile phones, handsets, wireless local loop phones, user equipment (UE), smartphones, laptop computers, tablet computers, sensors, actuators, modems, repeaters, and network-equipped Internet of Things devices. Each wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c could be operatively connected to a vehicle control device 300 (not shown). Network access to the vehicle control device 300 could thus be provided via a respective wireless device 150a, 150b, 150c. The vehicle control device 300 could be part of, co-located with, hosted by, or provided in, a vehicle navigation system or a (unmanned or autonomous) ground or aerial vehicle. Further functionality and properties of the vehicle control device 300 will be provided below. Examples of radio access network nodes 130a include, but are not limited to, radio base stations, base transceiver stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs, gNB (in communications systems denoted "new radio" or NR for short), and access points. As the skilled person understands, the communications system 100 may comprise a plurality of radio access network nodes 130a, each providing network access to a plurality of wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c.

The herein disclosed embodiments are not limited to any particular number of radio access network nodes 130a or wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c.

A network control node 200 is provided in at least one of the radio access network 120, the core network 140 and the service network 160.

Functionality and properties of the network control node 200 will be provided below.

An operations support systems (OSS) entity 400 is provided in the core network 140. In general terms, the OSS entity 400 supports management functions, such as network inventory, service provisioning, network configuration, KPI monitoring (as it continuously receives every predefined period of time, such as every 15 minutes, KPI reports from radio access network nodes 130a in the network) and fault management, in the communications system 100. Properties of the OSS entity 400 relevant for the embodiments disclosed herein will be described below. It is assumed that network performance degradation could occur in the communications system 100. In the illustrative example of Fig. 1 it is assumed that network performance degradation occurs that affect a network region defined by cells 120a, 120b. Examples of causes of the network performance degradation will be disclosed below. The surrounding of the network region is defined by cells i20c-i2oj. Thus, wireless device 150a is located in a geographical region corresponding to the network region affected by network performance degradation, wireless device 150b is located in the surrounding of this geographical region, and wireless device 150c is located outside the surrounding of this geographical region. The embodiments disclosed herein relate to mechanisms for handling low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b (or operating one such low latency wireless device 150a) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100. In order to obtain such mechanisms there is provided a network control node 200, a method performed by the network control node 200, a computer program product comprising code, for example in the form of a computer program, that when run on processing circuitry of the network control node 200, causes the network control node 200 to perform the method. In order to obtain such mechanisms there is further provided a vehicle control device 300, a method performed by the vehicle control device 300, and a computer program product comprising code, for example in the form of a computer program, that when run on processing circuitry of the vehicle control device 300, causes the vehicle control device 300 to perform the method. In order to obtain such mechanisms there is further provided an OSS entity 400, a method performed by the OSS entity 400, and a computer program product comprising code, for example in the form of a computer program, that when run on processing circuitry of the OSS entity 400, causes the OSS entity 400 to perform the method.

Figs. 2 and 3 are flow charts illustrating embodiments of methods for handling low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the network control node 200. Figs. 4 and 5 are flow charts illustrating embodiments of methods for operating a low latency wireless device 150a during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the vehicle control device 300. Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for handling low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the OSS entity 400. The methods are advantageously provided as computer programs 1620a, 1620b, 1620c, see Fig. 16.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 illustrating a method for handling low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b during occurrence of network

performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the network control node 200 according to an embodiment.

As soon as any network disruption occurs on the network providing low latency network services to the low latency wireless device, e.g., the low latency wireless device or any regular wireless device notices degraded radio conditions or the network experiences a degraded KPI or there is a planned network outage, then all affected cells together with the estimation time of outage are reported to the network control node 200. Hence the network control node 200 is configured to perform step S102:

S102: The network control node 200 obtains information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the

communications system 100 due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI, and planned network outage.

The network control node 200 converts, thanks to a radio coverage map, the cell coverage location into geographical road location. Hence the network control node 200 is configured to perform step S106:

S106: The network control node 200 obtains a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region.

Knowing the affected cells, geographical roads, the network control node 200 could identify which low latency wireless devices are inside or heading towards an area affected by the network disruption. Hence the network control node 200 is configured to perform step S108: S108: The network control node 200 obtains current location information from low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b located in the geographical region and its surrounding.

The network control node 200 then determines what could be done in order for the impacts of the network disruption on the low latency network service to be reduced. Hence the network control node 200 is configured to perform step S110:

S110: The network control node 200 determines an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b and a radio access network node 130a in the communications system 100. The action is based on the radio coverage map. In this respect, although the action is determined for the radio access network node 130a, the purpose of the action is to keep the impacts of the network disruption on the low latency network service to be as small as possible. A decision regarding an action is thus taken, where the action depends on each low latency wireless device situation, such as whether the low latency wireless device is inside or outside the coverage of the affected cell(s).

Embodiments relating to further details of handling low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the network control node 200 will now be disclosed.

In step S102 the network control node 200 obtains information of network performance degradation in a network region. The network region could be defined by a specific geographical area inside a cell e.g. each square meter or by one or more cells affected by the network performance degradation.

Hence, according to an embodiment the geographical region is defined by a first coverage area of a first set of cells (such as cells 120a, 120b in Fig. 1). Further, according to an embodiment the surrounding is defined by a second coverage area of cells (such as cells i20c-i2oj in Fig. 1) adjacent the cells in the first set of cells. Hence, the surrounding consists of additional cells surrounding those cells affected by the network performance degradation. The action as determined in step S110 could thereby consider any low latency wireless devices located in the surrounding of the geographical region (as linked to the network region in step S106), which are not inside the affected area but are moving towards the affected area. The network control node 200 could take into consideration the low latency wireless device trajectory and velocity of low latency wireless devices that either are located in the geographical area covered by the network region affected by the network performance degradation, or moving towards the network region (with an estimation about their time of arrival in the geographical area covered by the network region affected by the network performance degradation) when determining the action in step S110.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 illustrating methods for handling low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the network control node 200 according to further embodiments. It is assumed that steps S102, S106, S108, S110 are performed as described above with reference to Fig. 2 and a thus repeated description thereof is therefore omitted.

There could be different ways for the network control node 200 to keep track of which low latency wireless devices are inside the geographical region corresponding to the affected network region and which low latency wireless devices are in its surrounding. The network control node 200 could be configured to notify all low latency wireless devices under network coverage of the affected cells, or moving in their surrounding cells, to report, such as until a further notice, their actual location to the network control node 200. Only the wireless devices accessing low latency network services may be notified. Hence according to an embodiment the network control node 200 is configured to perform step S104:

S104: The network control node 200 instructs the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b located in the geographical region and its surrounding to provide their current location information. Step S104 is performed in response to the network control node 200 having obtained the information indicating performance degradation.

The notification could be provided on the air interface either via broadcasted system information or via a dedicated signaling message. All low latency wireless devices that have received the instructions start providing their current location to the network control node 200 (see, step S202 below).

As an example, consider the illustrative example of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 schematically illustrates three low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b, 150c moving in directions as indicated by their respective arrows. Low latency wireless device 150a is located in a geographical region 700 corresponding to a network region affected by network performance degradation. Low latency wireless devices 150b, 150c are currently moving towards the geographical region 700. While the low latency wireless device 150a is moving, if it remains in the geographical region corresponding to the affected network region for a period of time, T, (to be positioned at a location corresponding to low latency wireless device 150a') that exceeds a predefined threshold, Ti, then even though the low latency wireless device 150a could be handed over to another radio access network node or radio access technology, the location of the low latency wireless device 150a and the level of network performance

degradation could be reported to the network control node 200. After such reported network performance degradation any low latency wireless device 150b, 150c that will be passing by the same geographical region 700 could be notified in advance about such network performance degradation (for example by an action being transmitted to the low latency wireless device 150b, 150c, see step S112 below). At the same time, the radio coverage map is updated and a notification could be sent to the OSS entity, for example to make network operators aware of the network performance degradation. The radio coverage map could thereby be based on the locations where the performance degradation occurred (or, in the case of planned network outage, is predicted to occur). Hence, according to an embodiment the radio coverage map is based on location information defining where the

performance degradation occurred or is predicted to occur. l8

There could be different ways for the network control node 200 to obtain the information indicating performance degradation in step S102. According to an embodiment this information is obtained from the OSS entity 400.

Further aspects of the OSS entity will be disclosed below. Some of the performance degradation could affect not only low latency wireless devices but also regular wireless devices (i.e., wireless devices not requiring a low latency network service but still accessing the same radio access network as the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b). Hence, also information from such regular wireless devices could be obtained by the network control node 200. This could be done for at least two reasons: First, in order to alert beforehand moving low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b towards the affected network region so that an action can be determined, as in step S110. Second, so that the network control node 200 could send a notification to OSS staff so that they take an action to solve that degradation. That is, according to an embodiment the information indicating performance degradation pertains to radio conditions for non-low latency wireless devices.

There could be different examples of KPI. According to an embodiment the KPI pertains to at least one of uplink interference, and an unintentionally sleeping radio access network node 130a, 130b. The different examples of KPI will now be described in more detail. Uplink interference could occur to any wireless network due to an external interferer and/or due to relatively many wireless devices communicating with the radio access network node 130a, 130b from the cell edges. As a consequence, when the wireless device sends a call setup request message, the call setup request message might be lost on air interface or it might be corrupted (resulting in that the radio access network node 130a, 130b could not decode it) and hence the radio access network node 130a, 130b will discard the call setup request message (and thus not send a call request acknowledgement message in return to the wireless device). Uplink interference in a similar way affects already established connections for the radio access network node 130a, 130b in the cell 120a, 120b or established connections that are to be handed over to the cell 120a, 120b. In fact, at any time during the communication with the radio access network node 130a, 130b a connection might be dropped because the signalling messages exchanged between the wireless device and the radio access network node 130a, 130b might be corrupted and hence the radio access network node 130a, 130b will suspend, or even terminate, the connection. A radio access network node 130a, 130b could be unintentionally sleeping for example due to a software bug, hence resulting in that the cells 120a, 120b are sleeping cells. In such case, any message sent by the wireless device to the radio access network node 130a, 130b, e.g. a call setup request message, will not be perceived by the radio access network node 130a, 130b. As a consequence, the wireless device would trigger a continuous call setup which will fail as a response from the affected radio access network node 130a, 130b will not be returned as long as the radio access network node 130a, 130b is sleeping. To resolve the sleeping cell issue a lock/unlock of the affected cell or a restart of the radio access network node 130a, 130b is required. In the above examples relating to KPI as well as for other KPI issues, the radio conditions, the power level of the radio coverage, and/or the quality of the signal radio might be excellent at the wireless device side but still the wireless device might not establish any successful call setup.

Further, the KPI could be given together with the identity of the affected cell and/or an estimated outage duration of this cell. Hence, according to an embodiment each KPI is provided with a cell identification of the cell 120a, 120b in which the KPI is degraded and an estimated duration in time of how long the KPI of the cell 120a, 120b is degraded. The estimated duration could, for example, be known when the network performance degradation relates to a planned network outage or when an initial damage assessment of a radio access network node 130a, 130b suffering from network performance degradation has been made. Thereby, as soon as a degraded KPI is detected, the network control node 200 could store the identity of the affected cell and store information representing the estimated duration of the network outage. There are many factors that the network control node 200 could take into consideration when determining the action in step S110. Examples relating thereto will now be disclosed. The action could be based on the location of the low latency wireless device, e.g. whether the low latency wireless device is inside the geographical region corresponding to the affected network region or if the low latency wireless device is in the surrounding and moving towards this geographical region (and potentially the time of arrival to this geographical region). Hence, according to an embodiment the action is based on whether the at least one of the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b is located in the geographical region or in its surrounding.

The action could be based on existence or not of environmental

infrastructure, such as alternative travel routes, not affected by the network performance degradation that allow the low latency wireless device to reach its destination with a reasonable delay in comparison to the original travel route affected by the network performance degradation.

The network control node 200 could send a notification to the low latency wireless device in order for the low latency wireless device to completely avoid, to minimize, or at least reduce, any stay in the area affected by the network disruption. Hence according to an embodiment the network control node 200 is configured to perform step S112:

S112: The network control node 200 transmits the action to a vehicle control device 300 of the at least one of the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b.

There are different examples of actions to be sent to the vehicle control device. According to an embodiment the action pertains to at least one of rerouting the at least one of the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b, decreasing a current speed of movement of the at least one of the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b, and operational control of the at least one of the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b being taken over by the network control node 200. For example, the action could pertain to make the low latency wireless device avoid passing by the geographical region

corresponding to the affected network region e.g. by advising a low latency wireless device to select an alternative route, where the low latency service still is available. For example, the action could pertain to advise the low latency wireless device to take a precautionary action in order to minimize the risk of being negatively affected by the network performance degradation, e.g. a advising the low latency wireless device to reduce its speed during its passing by the the geographical region corresponding to the affected network region.

The action could be based on existence or not of network infrastructure, e.g. the existence of radio access network nodes whose antennas might be tiltable in order to provide network access to the low latency wireless device in the network region affected by the network performance degradation. In particular, according to an embodiment the network control node 200 is configured to perform step S114:

S114: The network control node 200 transmits the action to the radio access network node 130a in the communications system 100. There are different examples of actions to be sent to the vehicle control device. According to an embodiment the action pertains to changing beamforming direction at the radio access network node 130a.

Hence, whenever a low latency wireless device that requires a low latency service approaches an area of the communications system 100 where there is a network radio issue, the vehicle control device is notified and an action could be taken.

As soon as the conditions of outage cease, that information is sent to the network control node 200 which in turn informs the low latency wireless devices to stop reporting their locations. Hence according to an embodiment the network control node 200 is configured to perform steps S116, S118:

S116: The network control node 200 obtains information indicating termination of the performance degradation in the network region.

S118: The network control node 200 informs the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b in the geographical region to stop providing their current location information. The network node is configured to perform step S118 in response to having obtained the information in step S116.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 illustrating a method for operating a low latency wireless device 150a during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the vehicle control device 300 according to an embodiment.

The low latency wireless device is equipped with or configured to cooperate with a vehicle control device which is configured to report to the network control node 200 the actual location of the low latency wireless device, and optionally, also its destination address. Hence the vehicle control device is configured to perform step S202:

S202: The vehicle control device provides current location information of the low latency wireless device 150a to a network control node 200.

As disclosed above, in an embodiment the network control node 200 in step S112 transmits an action to the vehicle control device 300. This action is assumed to be received by the vehicle control device. Hence the vehicle control device is configured to perform step S204:

S204: The vehicle control device receives an action from the network control node 200. As disclosed above, the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system 100 due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI, and planned network outage.

Embodiments relating to further details of operating a low latency wireless device 150a during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the vehicle control device 300 will now be disclosed.

As disclosed above the low latency wireless device accesses a low latency network service. One non-limiting example of establishing network access to the low latency network service is provided in 3GPP TS 36.331 "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification" Release 14, see "RRCConnectionRequest message" therein. In general terms, during the first message of the call setup, the low latency wireless device could set in a parameter denoted

"establishmentcause" whether the call requires low latency or not.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5 illustrating methods for operating a low latency wireless device 150a during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the vehicle control device 300 according to further embodiments. It is assumed that steps S202, S204 are performed as described above with reference to Fig. 4 and a thus repeated description thereof is therefore omitted.

It could be up to the vehicle control device whether to execute the action or not. Hence, according to an embodiment the vehicle control device is configured to perform step S206: S206: The vehicle control device performs the action.

As disclosed above the action could pertain to at least one of changing a route of the low latency wireless device 150a, decreasing a current speed of movement of the low latency wireless device 150a, and having operational control of the low latency wireless device 150a being taken over by the network control node 200 or the operation being taken off the network control node 200 and being taken over by the driver (in case the low latency wireless device 150a is part of a manned vehicle).

As disclosed above, in an embodiment the network control node 200 in a step S118 informs the low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b in the geographical region to stop providing their current location information. Hence, according to an embodiment the vehicle control device is configured to perform step S208:

S208: The vehicle control device obtains information from the network control node 200. The information indicates that the low latency wireless device 150a is to stop provide its current location information. The vehicle control device stops providing the current location information in response to having obtained the information in step S208.

Reference is now made to Fig. 6 illustrating a method for handling low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b during occurrence of network

performance degradation in a communications system 100 as performed by the OSS entity 400 according to an embodiment.

As disclosed above, the OSS entity 400 supports management functions, such as network inventory, service provisioning, KPI monitoring, network configuration and fault management, in the communications system 100.

Hence, the OSS entity 400 is configured to detect occurrence of performance degradation in the communications system 100 and thus to perform step S302:

S302: The OSS entity 400 detects occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system 100 due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded KPI, and planned network outage.

Examples of network regions and performance degradation have been disclosed above and are equally applicable here.

The OSS entity 400 then determines whether or not the performance degradation would affect low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b in the communications system 100. If determined that the performance

degradation would affect low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b in the communications system 100 the OSS entity 400 forwards information of the performance degradation to the network control node 200. That is, the OSS entity 400 is configured to perform step S304:

S304: The OSS entity 400 provides information of the occurrence of performance degradation to the network control node 200 in the

communications system 100. The information is provided only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b in the communications system 100. In this respect, there could be one OSS entity 400 per radio access technology (RAT). Communications links could be provided between OSS entities 400 of different such RATs. In one example, in the case the low latency wireless device 150a, 150b is moved from a low latency network to a higher latency network the OSS entity 400 of the low latency network could inform the OSS entity 400 of the higher latency network when the network degradation on the low latency network is ceased in order for the OSS entity 400 of the higher latency network to handover the low latency wireless device 150a, 150b back to the low latency network. Three particular embodiments for handling (and operating) low latency wireless devices 150a, 150b during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system 100 will now be disclosed.

A first particular embodiment relates to an action for a low latency wireless device located in the surrounding of the geographical region corresponding to the affected network region.

In Fig. 8, two wireless devices 150a, 150b are moving according to two different routes along different roads 810, 840 but have the same destination 850. A geographical region 860 corresponding to a network region

experiencing network performance degradation is partly affecting road 840 along a distance D. For wireless device 150a, instead of taking, as in prior art, the shortest way which consists of turning to the right and move along road 840 in order to reach its destination 850, an action could be determined in step S110 (and transmitted in step S112 as well as received in step S204) to re-route wireless device 150a for wireless device 150a to take a longer way (as defined by the route along roads 810, 820, 830, and then enter road 840 to reach destination 850. It is may true that via that longer way, the arrival of wireless device 150a at the destination 850 may be delayed, however the duration of passing through the geographical region 860 will be shorter; distance D2 is shorter than distance Di. Moreover, by taking the longer route it might happen that by the time wireless device 150a arrives at its

destination 850, the outage has ceased and hence wireless device 150a could move distance D2 without any disruption. A second particular embodiment relates to an action for a low latency wireless device located in the geographical region corresponding to the affected network region.

Continued reference is made to Fig. 8. For wireless device 150b, as it has already entered the geographical region 860, the network control node 200 could notify wireless device 150b that there are no alternative roads to follow in order to avoid experiencing network performance degradation, possibly also notifying wireless device 150b of the estimated period of network performance degradation and which part of the road is affected, etc. An action could be determined in step S110 (and transmitted in step S112 as well as received in step S204) for wireless device 150b to decrease its current speed of movement, or that operational control of wireless device 150b is taken over by the network control node 200, and/or that the low latency service of wireless device 150b is temporarily suspended or terminated whereby wireless device 150b is handed over to a higher latency service.

A third particular embodiment relates to an action for a radio access network node located in the surrounding of the affected network region.

As disclosed above, the action determined in step S110 might not necessarily be an action to be performed by the low latency wireless device, but it could be an action to be performed by network equipment, such as by a radio access network node. In Fig. 9, a wireless devices 150a is moving along a route and has access to a low latency network service as provided by radio access network node 130b and is heading towards geographical region 900 corresponding to a network region experiencing network performance degradation due to radio access network node 130a being out of service for any reason. In such a scenario, rather than sending a notification to the wireless device 150a, e.g. to slow down, an action could be determined in step S110 (and transmitted in step S114) to radio access network node 130b or radio access network node 130c (which would also require handover of wireless device 150a to radio access network node 130c) to change its beamforming direction, for example by tilting up its antenna in order to provide wireless device 150a with continued access to the low latency network service.

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional units, the components of a network control node 200 according to an embodiment. Processing circuitry 210 is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product 1610a (as in Fig. 16), e.g. in the form of a storage medium 230. The processing circuitry 210 may further be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Particularly, the processing circuitry 210 is configured to cause the network control node 200 to perform a set of operations, or steps, S102-S118, as disclosed above. For example, the storage medium 230 may store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry 210 may be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium 230 to cause the network control node 200 to perform the set of operations. The set of operations may be provided as a set of executable instructions. Thus the processing circuitry 210 is thereby arranged to execute methods as herein disclosed. The storage medium 230 may also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory.

The network control node 200 may further comprise a communications interface 220 for communications with other entities and devices of the communications system 100. As such the communications interface 220 may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers, comprising analogue and digital components.

The processing circuitry 210 controls the general operation of the network control node 200 e.g. by sending data and control signals to the

communications interface 220 and the storage medium 230, by receiving data and reports from the communications interface 220, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 230. Other components, as well as the related functionality, of the network control node 200 are omitted in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein. Fig. 11 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional modules, the components of a network control node 200 according to an embodiment. The network control node 200 of Fig. 11 comprises a number of functional modules; an obtain module 210a configured to perform step S102, an obtain module 210c configured to perform step S106, an obtain module 2iod configured to perform step S108, and a determine module 2ioe configured to perform step S110. The network control node 200 of Fig. 11 may further comprise a number of optional functional modules, such as any of an instruct module 210b configured to perform step S104, a transmit module 2iof configured to perform step S112, a transmit module 2iog configured to perform step S114, an obtain module 2iof configured to perform step S116, and an inform module 2iog configured to perform step S118. In general terms, each functional module 2ioa-2iog may be implemented in hardware or in software. Preferably, one or more or all functional modules 2ioa-2iog may be implemented by the processing circuitry 210, possibly in cooperation with the communications interface 220 and/or the storage medium 230. The processing circuitry 210 may thus be arranged to from the storage medium 230 fetch instructions as provided by a functional module 2ioa-2iog and to execute these instructions, thereby performing any steps of the network control node 200 as disclosed herein. The network control node 200 may be provided as a standalone device or as a part of at least one further device. For example, the network control node 200 may be provided in a node of the radio access network 110, in a node of the core network 140, or in a node of the service network 160. Alternatively, functionality of the network control node 200 may be distributed between at least two devices, or nodes. These at least two nodes, or devices, may either be part of the same network part or may be spread between at least two such network parts. In general terms, instructions that are required to be performed in real time may be performed in a device, or node, operatively closer to the cells i2oa-i2oj than instructions that are not required to be performed in real time.

Thus, a first portion of the instructions performed by the network control node 200 may be executed in a first device, and a second portion of the of the instructions performed by the network control node 200 may be executed in a second device; the herein disclosed embodiments are not limited to any particular number of devices on which the instructions performed by the network control node 200 may be executed. Hence, the methods according to the herein disclosed embodiments are suitable to be performed by a network control node 200 residing in a cloud computational environment. Therefore, although a single processing circuitry 210 is illustrated in Fig. 10 the processing circuitry 210 may be distributed among a plurality of devices, or nodes. The same applies to the functional modules 2ioa-2iog of Fig. 11 and the computer program 1620a of Fig. 16.

Fig. 12 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional units, the components of a vehicle control device 300 according to an embodiment. Processing circuitry 310 is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product 1610b (as in Fig. 16), e.g. in the form of a storage medium 330. The processing circuitry 310 may further be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or field programmable gate array (FPGA). Particularly, the processing circuitry 310 is configured to cause the vehicle control device 300 to perform a set of operations, or steps, S202-S208, as disclosed above. For example, the storage medium 330 may store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry 310 may be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium 330 to cause the vehicle control device 300 to perform the set of operations. The set of operations may be provided as a set of executable instructions. Thus the processing circuitry 310 is thereby arranged to execute methods as herein disclosed.

The storage medium 330 may also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory.

The vehicle control device 300 may further comprise a communications interface 320 for communications with other entities and devices of the communications system 100 (via a wireless device). As such the

communications interface 320 may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers, comprising analogue and digital components.

The processing circuitry 310 controls the general operation of the vehicle control device 300 e.g. by sending data and control signals to the

communications interface 320 and the storage medium 330, by receiving data and reports from the communications interface 320, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 330. Other components, as well as the related functionality, of the vehicle control device 300 are omitted in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein.

Fig. 13 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional modules, the components of a vehicle control device 300 according to an embodiment. The vehicle control device 300 of Fig. 13 comprises a number of functional modules; a provide module 310a configured to perform step S202, , and a receive module 310b configured to perform step S204. The vehicle control device 300 of Fig. 13 may further comprise a number of optional functional modules, such as any of a perform module 310c configured to perform step S206, and an obtain module 3iod configured to perform step S208. In general terms, each functional module 3ioa-3iod may be implemented in hardware or in software. Preferably, one or more or all functional modules 3ioa-3iod may be implemented by the processing circuitry 310, possibly in cooperation with functional units 320 and/or 330. The processing circuitry 310 may thus be arranged to from the storage medium 330 fetch instructions as provided by a functional module 3ioa-3iod and to execute these instructions, thereby performing any steps of the vehicle control device 300 as disclosed herein.

The vehicle control device 300 may be provided as a standalone device or as a part of at least one further device. For example, as disclosed above, the vehicle control device 300 could be part of, co-located with, hosted by, or provided in, a vehicle navigation system or a (unmanned or autonomous) ground or aerial vehicle. Hence, according to some aspects there is provided a navigation system or a (unmanned or autonomous) ground or aerial vehicle comprising a vehicle control device 300 as herein disclosed. If the vehicle navigation system or vehicle already comprises processing circuitry, this processing circuitry could be shared by the vehicle control device 300 and thus be configured to perform steps or operations of the vehicle control device 300 as herein disclosed. Fig. 14 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional units, the components of an OSS entity 400 according to an embodiment. Processing circuitry 410 is provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), multiprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions stored in a computer program product 1610c (as in Fig. 16), e.g. in the form of a storage medium 430. The processing circuitry 410 may further be provided as at least one application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Particularly, the processing circuitry 410 is configured to cause the OSS entity 400 to perform a set of operations, or steps, S302-S304, as disclosed above. For example, the storage medium 430 may store the set of operations, and the processing circuitry 410 may be configured to retrieve the set of operations from the storage medium 430 to cause the OSS entity 400 to perform the set of operations. The set of operations may be provided as a set of executable instructions. Thus the processing circuitry 410 is thereby arranged to execute methods as herein disclosed. The storage medium 330 may also comprise persistent storage, which, for example, can be any single one or combination of magnetic memory, optical memory, solid state memory or even remotely mounted memory.

The OSS entity 400 may further comprise a communications interface 420 for communications with other entities and devices of the communications system 100. As such the communications interface 420 may comprise one or more transmitters and receivers, comprising analogue and digital

components.

The processing circuitry 410 controls the general operation of the OSS entity 400 e.g. by sending data and control signals to the communications interface 420 and the storage medium 430, by receiving data and reports from the communications interface 420, and by retrieving data and instructions from the storage medium 430. Other components, as well as the related

functionality, of the OSS entity 400 are omitted in order not to obscure the concepts presented herein.

Fig. 15 schematically illustrates, in terms of a number of functional modules, the components of an OSS entity 400 according to an embodiment. The OSS entity 400 of Fig. 15 comprises a number of functional modules; a detect module 410a configured to perform step S302, and a provide module 410b configured to perform step S304. The OSS entity 400 of Fig. 15 may further comprise a number of optional functional modules, as represented by module 410c. In general terms, each functional module 4ioa-4ioc may be

implemented in hardware or in software. Preferably, one or more or all functional modules 4ioa-4ioc may be implemented by the processing circuitry 410, possibly in cooperation with functional units 420 and/or 430. The processing circuitry 410 may thus be arranged to from the storage medium 430 fetch instructions as provided by a functional module 4ioa-4ioc and to execute these instructions, thereby performing any steps of the OSS entity 400 as disclosed herein. The OSS entity 400 may be provided as a standalone device or as a part of at least one further device. For example, the OSS entity 400 may be provided in a node of the core network 140. Alternatively, functionality of the network control node 200 may be distributed between at least two devices, or nodes. Thus, a first portion of the instructions performed by the OSS entity 400 may be executed in a first device, and a second portion of the of the instructions performed by the OSS entity 400 may be executed in a second device; the herein disclosed embodiments are not limited to any particular number of devices on which the instructions performed by the OSS entity 400 may be executed. Hence, the methods according to the herein disclosed

embodiments are suitable to be performed by an OSS entity 400 residing in a cloud computational environment. Therefore, although a single processing circuitry 410 is illustrated in Fig. 14 the processing circuitry 410 may be distributed among a plurality of devices, or nodes. The same applies to the functional modules 4ioa-4ioc of Fig. 15 and the computer program 1620c of Fig. 16.

Fig. 16 shows one example of a computer program product 1610a, 1610b, 1610c comprising computer readable means 1630. On this computer readable means 1630, a computer program 1620a can be stored, which computer program 1620a can cause the processing circuitry 210 and thereto operatively coupled entities and devices, such as the communications interface 220 and the storage medium 230, to execute methods according to embodiments described herein. The computer program 1620a and/or computer program product 1610a may thus provide means for performing any steps of the network control node 200 as herein disclosed. On this computer readable means 1630, a computer program 1620b can be stored, which computer program 1620b can cause the processing circuitry 310 and thereto operatively coupled entities and devices, such as the communications interface 320 and the storage medium 330, to execute methods according to embodiments described herein. The computer program 1620b and/or computer program product 1610b may thus provide means for performing any steps of the vehicle control device 300 as herein disclosed. On this computer readable means 1630, a computer program 1620c can be stored, which computer program 1620c can cause the processing circuitry 410 and thereto operatively coupled entities and devices, such as the communications interface 420 and the storage medium 430, to execute methods according to embodiments described herein. The computer program 1620c and/or computer program product 1610c may thus provide means for performing any steps of the OSS entity 400 as herein disclosed.

In the example of Fig. 16, the computer program product 1610a, 1610b, 1610c is illustrated as an optical disc, such as a CD (compact disc) or a DVD (digital versatile disc) or a Blu-Ray disc. The computer program product 1610a,

1610b, 1610c could also be embodied as a memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or an electrically erasable programmable readonly memory (EEPROM) and more particularly as a non-volatile storage medium of a device in an external memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a Flash memory, such as a compact Flash memory. Thus, while the computer program 1620a, 1620b, 1620c is here schematically shown as a track on the depicted optical disk, the computer program 1620a, 1620b, 1620c can be stored in any way which is suitable for the computer program product 1610a, 1610b, 1610c.

The inventive concept has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A method for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the method being performed by a network control node (200), the method comprising:

obtaining (S102) information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance

Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage;

obtaining (S106) a radio coverage map based on the obtained

information that links the network region to a geographical region;

obtaining (S108) current location information from low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) located in the geographical region and its surrounding; and

determining (S110) an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) and a radio access network node (130a) in the

communications system (100), the action being based on the radio coverage map.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating performance degradation is obtained from an Operations Support System,

OSS, entity (400).

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the information indicating performance degradation pertains to radio conditions for non-low latency wireless devices.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each KPI is provided with a cell identification of the cell in which the KPI is degraded and an estimated duration in time of how long the KPI of the cell is degraded.

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the KPI pertains to at least one of uplink interference, and an unintentionally sleeping radio access network node (130a, 130b).

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radio coverage map is based on location information defining where the

performance degradation occurred or is predicted to occur.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising, in response to having obtained the information indicating performance degradation:

instructing (S104) the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) located in the geographical region and its surrounding to provide their current location information.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the action is based on whether the at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) is located in the geographical region or in its surrounding.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:

transmitting (S112) the action to a vehicle control device (300) of the at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the action pertains to at least one of re-routing the at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b), decreasing a current speed of movement of the at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b), and operational control of the at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) being taken over by the network control node (200).

11. The method according to any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

transmitting (S114) the action to the radio access network node (130a) in the communications system (100).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the action pertains to changing beamforming direction at the radio access network node.

13. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: obtaining (S116) information indicating termination of the performance degradation in the network region; and in response thereto:

informing (S118) the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) in the geographical region to stop providing their current location information.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the geographical region is defined by a first coverage area of a first set of cells, and wherein the surrounding is defined by a second coverage area of cells adjacent the cells in the first set of cells.

15. A method for operating a low latency wireless device (150a) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the method being performed by a vehicle control device (300) of the low latency wireless device, the method comprising:

providing (S202) current location information of the low latency wireless device (150a) to a network control node (200); and

receiving (S204) an action from the network control node (200), wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the

communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

performing (S206) the action.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the action pertains to at least one of changing a route of the low latency wireless device, decreasing a current speed of movement of the low latency wireless device, and having operational control of the low latency wireless device (150a) being taken over by the network control node (200).

18. The method according to claim 15, 16, or 17, further comprising:

obtaining (S208) information from the network control node (200) indicating that the low latency wireless device (150a) is to stop provide its current location information, and wherein providing of the current location information is stopped in response thereto.

19. A method for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the method being performed by an Operations Support System, OSS, entity (400), the method comprising:

detecting (S302) occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage; and

providing (S304), only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) in the communications system (100), information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node (200) in the

communications system (100).

20. A network control node (200) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the network control node (200) comprising processing circuitry (210), the processing circuitry being configured to cause the network control node (200) to:

obtain information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage;

obtain a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region;

obtain current location information from low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) located in the geographical region and its surrounding; and

determine an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) and a radio access network node (130a) in the communications system (100), the action being based on the radio coverage map.

21. A network control node (200) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the network control node (200) comprising: processing circuitry (210); and

a storage medium (230) storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry (210), cause the network control node (200) to:

22. A network control node (200) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the network control node (200) comprising: an obtain module (210a) configured to obtain information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the

communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage;

an obtain module (210c) configured to obtain a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region;

an obtain module (2iod) configured to obtain current location information from low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) located in the geographical region and its surrounding; and

a determine module (2ioe) configured to determine an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) and a radio access network node (130a) in the communications system (100), the action being based on the radio coverage map.

23. A vehicle control device (300) for operating a low latency wireless device (150a) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the vehicle control device (300) comprising processing circuitry (310), the processing circuitry being configured to cause the vehicle control device (300) to:

provide current location information of the low latency wireless device (150a) to a network control node (200); and

receive an action from the network control node (200), wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key

Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage.

24. A vehicle control device (300) for operating a low latency wireless device (150a) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the vehicle control device (300) comprising: processing circuitry (310); and

a storage medium (330) storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry (310), cause the vehicle control device (300) to:

Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage.

25. A vehicle control device (300) for operating a low latency wireless device (150a) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the vehicle control device (300) comprising: a provide module (310a) configured to provide current location information of the low latency wireless device (150a) to a network control node (200); and

a receive module (310b) configured to receive an action from the network control node (200), wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage.

26. An Operations Support System, OSS, entity (400) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the Operations Support System, OSS, entity (400) comprising processing circuitry (410), the processing circuitry being configured to cause the Operations Support System, OSS, entity (400) to:

detect occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage; and

provide, only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) in the communications system (100), information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node (200) in the communications system (100).

27. An Operations Support System, OSS, entity (400) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the OSS entity (400) comprising:

processing circuitry (410); and a storage medium (430) storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry (410), cause the OSS entity (400) to:

28. An Operations Support System, OSS, entity (400) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network

performance degradation in a communications system (100), the OSS entity (400) comprising:

a detect module (410a) configured to detect occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance

Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage; and

a provide module (410b) configured to provide, only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) in the communications system (100), information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node (200) in the communications system (100).

29. A computer program (1620a) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the computer program comprising computer code which, when run on processing circuitry (210) of a network control node (200), causes the network control node (200) to:

obtain (S102) information indicating occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage;

obtain (S106) a radio coverage map based on the obtained information that links the network region to a geographical region;

obtain (S108) current location information from low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) located in the geographical region and its surrounding; and

determine (S110) an action for at least one of the low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) and a radio access network node (130a) in the

communications system (100), the action being based on the radio coverage map.

30. A computer program (1620b) for operating a low latency wireless device (150a) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the computer program comprising computer code which, when run on processing circuitry (310) of a vehicle control device (300), causes the vehicle control device (300) to:

provide (S202) current location information of the low latency wireless device (150a) to a network control node (200); and

receive (S204) an action from the network control node (200), wherein the action is based on a radio coverage map resulting from an occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key

Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage.

31. A computer program (1620c) for handling low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) during occurrence of network performance degradation in a communications system (100), the computer program comprising computer code which, when run on processing circuitry (410) of an Operations Support System, OSS, entity (400), causes the OSS entity (400) to:

detect (S302) occurrence of performance degradation in a network region of the communications system (100) due to at least one of degraded radio conditions, degraded Key Performance Indicator, KPI, and planned network outage; and

provide (S304), only when determined that the performance degradation impacts performance of low latency wireless devices (150a, 150b) in the communications system (100), information of the occurrence of performance degradation to a network control node (200) in the

communications system (100).

32. A computer program product (1610a, 1610b, 1610c) comprising a computer program (1620a, 1620b, 1620c) according to at least one of claims 29, 30 and 31, and a computer readable storage medium (1630) on which the computer program is stored.