Managing a C2 communication mode for an unmanned aerial system

An apparatus for performing a network function, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the apparatus to:
• receive an application request to manage an operation mode of Command-and-Control (“C2”) communication for a unmanned aerial system (“UAS”), the UAS comprising a unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) and a UAV controller (“UAV-C”), wherein the application request comprises a C2 management requirement;
• establish a communication session with the UAV and the UAV-C in response to receiving the application request, wherein the communication session provides configuration parameters for the UAV to trigger transmission of a first report based on a trigger event;
• receive the first report from an application of the UAS, wherein the application is located in the UAV or the UAV-C, wherein the first report is based on the trigger event, the trigger event comprising a PC5 quality of service (“QoS”) degradation notification;
• acquire application context information related to at least one UAS in a geographic area where the C2 management requirement applies, the application context information comprising at least one of the following parameters related to the at least one UAS:
• resource or bandwidth demand in the geographic area, UAV speed, UAV velocity, UAV latitude, UAV longitude, ground radar information, three-dimensional (“3D”) Map, real-time weather information in the geographic area, or a combination thereof;
• determine to switch the operation mode of C2 communication for the UAS from a direct mode to an indirect mode based in part on the trigger event and on the application context information;
• determine to modify the communication session with the UAV and the UAV-C in response to determining to switch the operation mode of C2 communication;
• transmit a first C2 communication to the UAS comprising an instruction to switch the operation mode of C2 communication from the direct mode to the indirect mode;
• receive a second report from the application of the UAS after determining to modify the communication session;
• and
• transmit a second C2 communication to the UAS comprising an instruction to switch the operation mode of C2 communication from the indirect mode to the direct mode based on the second report.