Decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method

Abstract

This invention discloses a decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method, comprising: trimming the NF network elements of the standard 5G core network; adjusting the standard 5G core network service functions to support data services and voice VoNR service functions; adjusting the technical specifications and performance indicators of the core network; developing 5G embedded base station-type core network software code to adapt to the hardware architecture and resource configuration of the base station at the software level and hardware driver level; freeing up the resources required to run the 5G core network software; completing the development of the embedded base station-type 5G core network software; establishing a unified remote user management center network element and mechanism; unifying the network management of the embedded core network, base stations, and CPEs, adopting distributed core functions, eliminating the need to deploy a centralized high-capacity core network, saving deployment and maintenance costs; and improving network security by eliminating the need for a central node, thus preventing the possibility of network-wide paralysis due to core network failure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of mobile communication and wireless broadband access technology, specifically relating to a decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method. Background Technology

[0002] From the first generation of mobile communication systems (1G) to the fifth generation of mobile communication systems (5G), the network architecture has also evolved. Considering that mobile users will move from the coverage area of ​​one base station to the coverage area of ​​another base station, inter-station handover is required. Therefore, a node at a higher level than the base station is needed to control the handover process. Thus, 1G, 2G and 3G base stations all have a control node above them called the Base Station Controller (BSC), and 3G is called the RNC. In addition to mobility management, the Base Station Controller is also responsible for the allocation and management of base station resources. Above the Base Station Controller is the Switch (MSC). Therefore, the entire network has a three-layer architecture: base station, base station controller, and switch (core network).

[0003] With the evolution of 4G and 5G networks, in order to simplify network architecture, reduce transmission latency, and lower deployment difficulty, 4G and 5G have adopted a flattened network architecture, eliminating the base station controller node. Mobility management functions have been moved up to the core network, while radio resource management functions have been moved down to the base station. Therefore, 4G and 5G networks are two-layer network architectures. Figure 1 This is a diagram of the 5G network architecture.

[0004] The two-layer 5G network architecture consists of distributed base stations (gNB) and a central core network (5GC). The interface between the base station and the 5GC is called the NG interface. The main function of the base station is to provide radio access, while the function of the core network is to manage users and exchange and transfer data. Since the base station connects to the core network through the NG interface, the data coming out of the base station is not the transmitted data payload, but rather contains the NG interface protocol stack and message overhead. Therefore, another important function of the core network is to terminate the NG interface protocol stack and output the data payload.

[0005] Logically, the 5G core network is a single node, but it is actually divided into many Network Functional Units (NFs). The main NFs and their functions are as follows:

[0006] AMF: Used to implement access and mobility management functions, complete user mobility management, and maintain user registration and connection status.

[0007] SFM: Implements session management functions, terminates NAS SM signaling, completes session management, UE IP address allocation and management, UPF selection, session policy control, etc.

[0008] UDM / UDR: Used for unified data management and storage, managing and storing user subscription and authentication data.

[0009] AUSF: Performs authentication server functions, providing user authentication capabilities for other NFs.

[0010] UPF: User-facing plane function, which completes the forwarding of user plane data in PDU sessions.

[0011] PCF: Implements policy control functions and supports a unified policy control framework.

[0012] NSSF: Used for network slice selection, providing the requester with the requested network slice information.

[0013] NRF: Provides network repository functionality, offering support for registering, deregistering, and updating NF and NF services.

[0014] For mobile communication systems, the two-layer architecture of 5G and the numerous network element functions of 5GC are essential. The architecture and interfaces of each NF network element in 5GC are as follows: Figure 2 As shown.

[0015] Because 5G systems introduce advanced wireless technologies and a complete industry chain, 5G networks have advantages such as high spectrum efficiency, low equipment cost, large bandwidth, low latency, and high capacity. Therefore, in addition to mobile communication systems, other application scenarios also hope to adopt 5G technology and 5G networks. A typical demand is Fixed Wireless Broadband Access (FWA) applications. For this type of FWA service, the existing two-layer architecture of 5G is not the optimal networking structure. Furthermore, a centralized core network will increase network complexity, increase network security risks, and increase deployment and maintenance costs.

[0016] Fiber optic is the optimal method for broadband access. Taking PON (Passive Optical Network) as an example, PON is a point-to-multipoint passive optical network with a distributed network architecture. PON consists of an Optical Line Terminal (OLT), an Optical Network Unit (ONU), and an Optical Distribution Network (ODN). PON technology is characterized by large transmission capacity, low cost, and simple maintenance, and has become the mainstream access technology for wired broadband. To provide broadband services in areas where fiber optic deployment is not feasible, the FWA (Fiber-to-the-Line) solution deploys 5G base stations close to the ONU and 5G terminals (CPEs) at the end (building), using 5G wireless access technology to replace the last segment of wired access. Traditional 5G FWA networks, in addition to deploying base stations, also require a core network. The base station connects to the core network via the existing PON network for base station backhaul. The network architecture is as follows: Figure 3 As shown.

[0017] While introducing traditional 5G FWA networks into PON can indeed extend broadband access services wirelessly to some extent, the traditional 5G FWA network is not an end extension of PON, but rather an overlay of a cellular wireless network on top of PON. This is equivalent to operating two networks simultaneously: PON and 5G wireless. This deployment method also introduces a series of problems, as follows:

[0018] 1. In addition to deploying base station equipment at the end, FWA also requires the deployment of a large-capacity (traffic) core network device according to the traditional 5G network architecture, thus increasing network deployment costs;

[0019] In the traditional 2.5G network architecture, if the core network, as the central node of the entire wireless network, fails, the entire wireless network will be paralyzed, thus increasing operational risks.

[0020] 3. The core network-centric 5G wireless network architecture differs significantly from the distributed network architecture of PON. The introduction of FWA network increases the complexity of network operation and maintenance for PON operators.

[0021] 4.5G user management, billing, network operation and maintenance, and business development differ significantly from PON networks. After the introduction of 5G FWA networks, a professional team is required for business maintenance.

[0022] 5. Traditional PON operator technical teams lack sufficient operation and maintenance management experience in wireless cellular networks, which can easily lead to operation and maintenance and security problems.

[0023] The root cause of the above problems is that 5G networks are centralized network architectures centered on the core network. On the one hand, this centralized network architecture cannot be well integrated with the PON distributed network architecture. On the other hand, the network security issues introduced by the centralized core network, coupled with the lack of sufficient operation and maintenance management experience for wireless cellular networks, also amplify security problems.

[0024] Based on the aforementioned technical problems existing in the prior art, this invention proposes a decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method. Summary of the Invention

[0025] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method, comprising:

[0026] Step 1: Trim the NF network elements of the standard 5G core network;

[0027] Step 2: Adjust the standard 5G core network service functions to support data service functions and voice VoNR service functions;

[0028] Step 3: Adjust the technical specifications and performance indicators of the core network, adjusting the number of supported users to 128, the number of PDU sessions to 256, the number of 5G base station gNodeB connections to 4, and the throughput to 2Gbps. The core network is a developed distributed core network. The technical specifications of the core network are adjusted by adjusting the number of corresponding parts of the software registers and database.

[0029] Step 4: Develop 5G embedded base station core network software code to implement the main network elements of the distributed core network determined in Step 1, support the data service functions and voice VoNR service functions determined in Step 2, meet the indicators determined in Step 3 in terms of technical specifications and performance, and adapt to the hardware architecture and resource configuration of the base station in terms of software underlying and hardware driver.

[0030] Step 5: On the main board of the base station, coordinate the base station processor resources, memory, and interface resources to free up the resources required to run the 5G core network software.

[0031] Step 6: After the embedded base station 5G core network software is developed, it is ported and stored in the storage unit of the base station hardware board, and loaded and run on the base station hardware platform. The embedded base station 5G core network software is connected to the standard interface and messages of the base station to conduct end-to-end service and function testing. The loading and running of the 5G core network software utilizes the resources freed up in Step 5.

[0032] Step 7: Establish a unified remote user management center network element. Through the user management center, centralize the number allocation management and SIM card issuance for all CPEs in the FWA network; update the user information stored in the base station, and enable the user management center to modify and maintain user data.

[0033] Step 8: Implement unified network management for the embedded core network, base stations, and CPEs.

[0034] Furthermore, in step 1:

[0035] Remove the policy control function PCF, the network slice selection function NSSF, and the network repository function NRF, while retaining the access and mobility management function AMF, the session management function SMF, the unified data management and storage function UDM / UDR, the authentication server function AUSF, and the user plane function UPF.

[0036] Furthermore, in step 2:

[0037] Cut out business functions that are not relevant to the FWA scenario, including the local traffic splitting function ULCL based on traffic filtering rules and the virtualization function NFV.

[0038] Furthermore, in step 5:

[0039] The core network software is moved down to the base station, and the distributed core network software runs through the processor and memory on the base station hardware board. This allows for adjustments to the base station software and frees up some CPU cores and memory.

[0040] Furthermore, in step 7:

[0041] User management center network elements and network management server are deployed on the same machine.

[0042] Furthermore, in step 7:

[0043] The user management center network element serves as a functional module for device network management.

[0044] Furthermore, in step 8:

[0045] The embedded core network, base stations, and CPEs are managed uniformly for device management, configuration management, alarm management, and software management. Device management includes creating, deleting, modifying, and importing / exporting information such as device model, serial number, name, and operating status. Configuration management provides parameter configuration functions for network elements, including adding, deleting, modifying, and viewing network data, synchronizing configuration data, and importing / exporting configuration data. Alarm management supports real-time reception of alarm events reported by network elements, parsing alarm information, storing alarms in the database, and displaying them on the client in real time. Software management provides software version download and upgrade functions, including local activation and version backup.

[0046] Furthermore, in step 8: if the CPE is a third-party product, adapt the CPE's OAM interface to the unified management of the distributed core network and base stations.

[0047] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0048] 1. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method described in this invention allows a single physical node to integrate a complete 5GC, and each NF can share the same platform and the same management system, providing a highly integrated 5GC core network solution for FWA and other industries. It features a simple architecture, rapid deployment, and convenient maintenance of a 5G network.

[0049] 2. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method described in this invention is easy to integrate with base stations and other networks and to interface with different networks. Under limited resource and power consumption conditions, it provides maximum capacity and throughput for 5G networks, reduces operation and maintenance costs, and meets the reliability requirements of telecommunications for 24 / 7 continuous operation. It adopts distributed core functions and does not require the deployment of a centralized high-capacity core network, saving deployment and operation and maintenance costs.

[0050] 3. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method described in this invention improves network security by eliminating the need for a central node, and theoretically eliminates the possibility of network-wide paralysis due to core network failure; the decentralized wireless network architecture achieves seamless integration with the original PON network, and logically the wireless access transmission network is integrated into and becomes part of the PON network. Attached Figure Description

[0051] Figure 1 This is a network architecture diagram of standard 5G in the background technology of this invention;

[0052] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the architecture and interface of each NF network element in the 5GC in the background of this invention.

[0053] Figure 3 The background technology of this invention is the traditional 5G FWA network architecture;

[0054] Figure 4 This is a diagram of the modified NF architecture and interface in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 5 This is a diagram of the distributed 5G core network software system architecture in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 6 This is the FWA network architecture of the distributed 5G core network in this embodiment of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0057] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0058] Example

[0059] The overall idea of ​​the decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method is to tailor and adjust the network elements and functions of the standard 5G core network defined by 3GPP according to the characteristics of FWA fixed wireless access scenarios, develop distributed 5G core network software, and port and embed the software into base station equipment. This enables each base station to have both wireless access functions and non-access network (NAS) user and service management functions. Since the base station has embedded distributed core functions, each base station is an independent and complete wireless network. The data that originally came out of the base station had the protocol stack and overhead of the NG interface, is terminated by the embedded core network, and what comes out of the base station is the IP data payload. This not only simplifies the FWA network architecture, but also realizes that the FWA wireless network is an extension of the PON terminal.

[0060] In addition to the standard 5G core network elements and functions being decentralized, in order to facilitate operators' centralized management of user number allocation and network operation and maintenance of the distributed core network and wireless network, it is also necessary to develop a user data management center and a core network and base station integrated network management system. Although these network elements are centralized, their interaction with the distributed core network can be non-real-time. Even if these two central network elements fail, it will not affect the operation of the distributed core network and wireless network.

[0061] Specifically, the decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method includes:

[0062] Cutting down the standard 5G core network's NF network elements:

[0063] In the 3GPP standard 5GC, network elements (NFs) that are irrelevant to FWA application scenarios are removed. This includes the PCF (Policy Control Function), the NSSF (Network Slicing Selection Function), and the NRF (Network Repository Function). Other NFs relevant to FWA application scenarios are retained, as shown in the table below.

[0064]

[0065] The corresponding NF architecture and interface adjustments are as follows: Figure 4 As shown: PCF, NSSF and NRF were cut, and the interfaces related to these three NFs inside 5GC were also cut accordingly. The external interfaces of 5GC remain basically unchanged.

[0066] Standard 5G core network service function adjustments:

[0067] The functions and services of the trimmed 5GC are adjusted. In addition to supporting data services, the standard 5GC also supports VoNR (voice) service functions in SA mode, as well as local traffic offloading ULCL and virtualization NFV functions based on traffic filtering rules. As an application scenario of FWA, the main service is data service. Considering that PON operators are also involved in voice services, the distributed core network mainly supports data services and VoNR functions.

[0068] Reduce the technical specifications and performance indicators of the core network:

[0069] Centralized 5G core networks typically connect to multiple base stations. Therefore, the technical specifications and performance indicators of the core network, such as the number of supported users and peak traffic, often far exceed the capacity and performance of a single base station. This is especially true for mobile operators' core networks, which are usually deployed at the provincial level, supporting a massive number of connected base stations, users, and traffic. Considering a distributed FWA 5G core network that needs to be integrated into the base station, the number of connected base stations is limited to one, the number of users will not exceed one hundred, and the peak traffic will not exceed the peak traffic of a single 5G cell air interface (2Gbps). Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the technical specifications and performance indicators of the distributed core network based on application requirements. This reduction in technical specifications also provides a basis for reducing processing power requirements and migrating the core network within the base station. The determined technical specifications of the 5G embedded base station core network are shown in the table below.

[0070]

[0071]

[0072] Embedded base station core network software development:

[0073] Based on the reduction of core network NF elements, the adjustment of service functions, and the reduction of specifications and performance, 5G embedded base station core network software is developed. The software development is based on a service-oriented architecture design, following the principles of layering and modularization. The embedded base station 5G core network software system architecture is as follows: Figure 5 As shown: The distributed 5G core network system architecture is based on the standard ETSI NFV architecture. The main functional components are deployed as NFV on top of the virtualized infrastructure (NFVI). Through the virtualized infrastructure management system, it is responsible for managing, monitoring and reporting faults of virtual resources at the infrastructure layer, including virtual computing, virtual networks and virtual memory, and provides a virtualized resource pool for upper-layer applications.

[0074] Base station motherboard CPU and memory resource coordination:

[0075] In order to support the porting of 5G core network software with distributed FWA to the base station, it is necessary to integrate and coordinate the base station processor resources, memory, interface and other resources in advance, and to free up various resources required to run the 5G core network software on the base station's motherboard.

[0076] Embedded base station core network software porting and testing:

[0077] After the 5G core network software embedded in the base station is developed, it needs to be ported and run on the base station hardware platform and interface with the base station to conduct end-to-end service and function testing.

[0078] Centralized User Data Management Center Network Element and Function Development:

[0079] In the distributed 5GFW architecture design, for decentralization, all network elements of the 5G core network, including the UDM / UDR network element responsible for generating 3GPP PAKA authentication credentials and processing user identifiers, as well as the AUSF network element supporting 3GPP access authentication, are decentralized to the base stations. This means that 5G terminal user information, including IMSI and digital certificates, is encrypted and stored within their respective distributed base stations. However, this distributed storage of user information makes user management inconvenient for operators. Centralizing the network elements storing user information, on the other hand, fails to achieve true decentralization. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a unified remote user management center network. The Yuanhe mechanism enables centralized number allocation management for all CPEs in the network, in conjunction with SIM card issuance. The user management center can modify and maintain user data through non-real-time methods (such as periodic or event-triggered updates) to update user information stored in the base station. Even if the transmission link between the user management center and the base station suddenly fails, it will not affect the core network embedded in the base station, which will allow the network to operate normally based on the user data before the update. This achieves the goal of decentralization while providing the convenience and reliability of centralized user management. The implementation scheme of the user management center network element can be deployed on the same machine as the network management server or as a functional module of the device network management.

[0080] Integration and functional development of core network and base station network management systems:

[0081] Embedded core networks, base stations, and CPEs require unified network management, including device management, configuration management, alarm management, and software management. Device management is responsible for creating, deleting, modifying, and importing / exporting information such as device model, serial number, name, and operating status. Configuration management provides parameter configuration functions for network elements, including adding, deleting, modifying, and viewing network data, synchronizing configuration data, and importing / exporting configuration data. Alarm management supports real-time reception of alarm events reported by network elements, parsing alarm information, storing alarms in the database, and displaying them on the client in real time. Software management provides software version download and upgrade functions, including local activation and version backup, as well as version query and version upgrade policy customization functions. It is important to note that traditional 5G core networks and base stations have separate network management and do not manage terminals. As a distributed 5G... FWA, on the one hand, needs to break down the boundaries of traditional network management, integrate the management of the core network and the wireless network, and realize the management of CPE. On the other hand, it improves the intelligence and convenience of network management through unified network management. The distributed core network is embedded in the base station, so the network management of the distributed core network and the base station needs to be unified. Secondly, the operator's mobile network usually does not manage the terminal, but the CPE, as the FWA terminal, is part of the network and also needs to be included in the operator's management. Moreover, the CPE may be a third-party product, which needs to be adapted to its OAM interface and unified management of the distributed core network and base station. In the unified network management system, EMS provides daily management and maintenance of 5GC network elements and base stations, while OSS is responsible for the comprehensive business operation and management platform, which consists of network management, system management, billing, business, accounting and customer service.

[0082] Taking PON as an example, in order to realize broadband services in areas where fiber optic cables cannot be deployed, the FWA solution embeds distributed core functions in the base station. The 5G base station is deployed close to the ONU, and the 5G terminal (CPE) is deployed at the end (building). The 5G wireless access technology is used to replace the final wired access. Since the base station embeds the core network, there is no need to deploy a centralized core network. Each base station is an independent and complete wireless network, and the entire wireless network becomes a decentralized distributed network architecture.

[0083] To facilitate user management by operators, a centralized user management center is set up. The user management center is connected to the base station and updates the user information stored in the base station in a non-real-time manner (such as periodically or time-triggered). This achieves the goal of decentralization while providing the convenience and reliability of centralized user management.

[0084] Base stations embedded in a distributed 5G core network support wireless access. The distributed 5G FWA network deployment architecture is as follows: Figure 6As shown, by comparing the traditional FWA network architecture and the distributed 5G FWA network architecture, it is found that the traditional FWA is a 5G wireless network superimposed on the PON network. In fact, it is necessary to deploy and maintain two networks, PON and 5G, simultaneously. However, the decentralized 5G distributed FWA network in this embodiment is a true wireless extension at the end of the PON network. Decentralization enables the wireless network architecture to seamlessly connect with the original PON network. Wireless integration becomes part of the PON network. The base station embeds distributed core functions, eliminating the need to deploy a centralized core network. In addition to saving investment, it also improves network security and theoretically eliminates the possibility of network-wide paralysis due to core network failure. Therefore, the decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method described in this embodiment provides a distributed 5GC core network solution for FWA and other industries, which can simplify the 5G network architecture, deploy quickly, maintain conveniently, and save deployment and maintenance costs.

[0085] This invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method, characterized in that, include: Step 1: Trim the NF network elements of the standard 5G core network; Step 2: Adjust the standard 5G core network service functions to support data service functions and voice VoNR service functions; Step 3: Adjust the technical specifications and performance indicators of the core network, adjusting the number of supported users to 128, the number of PDU sessions to 256, the number of gNodeB connections to 4, and the throughput to 2Gbps. The core network is a developed distributed core network, and the technical specifications of the core network are adjusted by adjusting the number of software registers and databases. Step 4: Develop 5G embedded base station core network software code to adapt to the base station's hardware architecture and resource configuration at the software level and hardware driver level. Step 5: On the main board of the base station, coordinate the base station processor resources, memory, and interface resources to free up the resources required to run the 5G core network software. Step 6: After the embedded base station 5G core network software is developed, it is ported and stored in the storage unit of the base station hardware board, and loaded and run on the base station hardware platform. The embedded base station 5G core network software is connected to the standard interface and messages of the base station to conduct end-to-end service and function testing. The loading and running of the 5G core network software utilizes the resources freed up in Step 5. Step 7: Establish a unified remote user management center network element and mechanism. Through the user management center, centralize the number allocation management of all CPEs in the FWA network and coordinate SIM card issuance; update the user information stored in the base station, and realize the user management center to modify and maintain user data. Step 8: Implement unified network management for the embedded core network, base stations, and CPEs.

2. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 1: Remove the policy control function PCF, the network slice selection function NSSF, and the network repository function NRF, while retaining the access and mobility management function AMF, the session management function SMF, the unified data management and storage function UDM / UDR, the authentication server function AUSF, and the user plane function UPF.

3. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 2: Cut out business functions that are not relevant to the FWA scenario, including the local traffic splitting function ULCL based on traffic filtering rules and the virtualization function NFV.

4. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 7: User management center network elements and network management server are deployed on the same machine.

5. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 7: The user management center network element serves as a functional module for device network management.

6. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 8: The embedded core network, base stations, and CPEs are managed uniformly for device management, configuration management, alarm management, and software management. Device management includes creating, deleting, modifying, and importing / exporting information such as device model, serial number, name, and operating status. Configuration management provides parameter configuration functions for network elements, including adding, deleting, modifying, and viewing network data, synchronizing configuration data, and importing / exporting configuration data. Alarm management supports real-time reception of alarm events reported by network elements, parsing alarm information, storing alarms in the database, and displaying them on the client in real time. Software management provides software version download and upgrade functions, including local activation and version backup.

7. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 8: If the CPE is a third-party product, adapt the CPE's OAM interface to the unified management of the distributed core network and base stations.

8. The decentralized 5G distributed FWA networking method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 5: The core network software is moved down to the base station, and the distributed core network software is run through the processor and memory on the base station hardware board. The software of the base station is adjusted to free up some CPU and memory.

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