Methods and apparatus for monitoring and managing resource usage in a communication network

A method, in a resource management function, for managing resources in a communication network comprising a plurality of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a monitoring function, a calculated impact upon the communication network of completion of an action by M2M devices subject to a user instruction specifying the action;
• and
• adjusting resource allocation within the network according to the calculated impact,
• wherein the impact is calculated by:
• identifying the action;
• determining an impact type from the identified action;
• determining an impact magnitude from the identified M2M devices;
• and
• assembling the impact type and impact magnitude into a network impact calculation.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for configuring a monitoring function for monitoring resource usage in a communication network comprising a plurality of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices comprising:

• detecting issuance of a user instruction, the user instruction specifying an action to be carried out by at least one of the M2M devices;
• identifying M2M devices subject to the user instruction;
• calculating an impact upon the communication network of completion of the action by the identified M2M devices, wherein calculating the impact upon the communication network of completion of the action by the identified M2M devices comprises:
• identifying the action;
• determining an impact type from the identified action;
• determining an impact magnitude from the identified M2M devices;
• and
• assembling the impact type and impact magnitude into a network impact calculation;
• and
• sending the calculated impact to a resource management function.

A monitoring element configured for monitoring resource usage in a communication network comprising a plurality of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices, the monitoring element comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the monitoring element is configured to carry out a method comprising the steps of:

• detecting issuance of a user instruction, the user instruction specifying an action to be carried out by at least one of the M2M devices;
• identifying M2M devices subject to the user instruction;
• calculating an impact upon the communication network of completion of the action by the identified M2M devices, wherein calculating the impact upon the communication network of completion of the action by the identified M2M devices comprises:
• identifying the action;
• determining an impact type from the identified action;
• determining an impact magnitude from the identified M2M devices;
• and
• assembling the impact type and impact magnitude into a network impact calculation;
• and
• sending the calculated impact to a resource management function.

A resource management element, configured for managing resources in a communication network comprising a plurality of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices, the resource management element comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the resource management element is configured to carry out a method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from a monitoring function, a calculated impact upon the communication network of completion of an action by M2M devices subject to a user instruction specifying the action;
• and
• adjusting resource allocation within the network according to the calculated impact,
• wherein the impact is calculated by:
• identifying the action;
• determining an impact type from the identified action;
• determining an impact magnitude from the identified M2M devices;
• and
• assembling the impact type and impact magnitude into a network impact calculation.