Methods, architectures, apparatuses and systems for user plane traffic gating based on energy cost

A method, implemented by a network node, comprising:

• receiving a first request to reserve resources for an application session, the first request comprising a service description describing one or more traffic flows, one or more energy cost related criteria of user plane energy consumption, and an indication that traffic blocking is permissible for the service description when the one or more energy cost related criteria of user plane energy consumption are met;
• determining that at least one of the one or more traffic flows described in the service description is to be considered for traffic blocking, and sending a second request to obtain energy cost related information for the determined at least one of the one or more traffic flows to be considered for traffic blocking;
• receiving the energy cost related information in reply to the second request;
• using the energy cost related information and the one or more energy cost related criteria to determine, from the at least one of the one or more traffic flows to be considered for traffic blocking, a selected set of traffic flows to be blocked;
• generating one or more policy and charging control (PCC) rules for traffic blocking of the selected set of traffic flows;
• and
• transmitting the one or more PCC rules.