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

摘要

A method, in a monitoring function, for monitoring resource usage in a communication network comprising a plurality of M2M devices is disclosed. The method comprises detecting issuance of a user instruction (120), 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 (120), calculating an impact upon the communication network of completion of the action by the identified M2M devices (140), and sending the calculated impact to a resource management function (150). Also disclosed is a method, in a resource management function, for managing resources in a communication network comprising a plurality of M2M devices. The method comprises 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 (260), and adjusting resource allocation within the network according to the calculated impact (270). Also disclosed are a monitoring element, a resource management element and a computer program product.