System, management platform, and program

Abstract

Provided is a system comprising: a plurality of information processing devices each having an execution unit that includes a RAN control function for executing an AI process (RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)), etc., and controlling the function of a RAN and an application execution function for executing an application; and a management platform for managing the plurality of information processing devices. The management platform includes: an acquisition unit for acquiring a demand prediction result obtained by predicting a demand for the execution unit from each information processing device of the plurality of information processing devices; and a notification unit for notifying information based on the prediction result of demand from each information processing device.

Description

Systems, management infrastructure, and programs

[0001] The present invention relates to a system, a management platform, and a program.

[0002] Patent Literature 1 describes a technology for more efficiently using computing resources by appropriately scheduling the use of computing resources in multiple regions. Patent Literature 2 describes a wireless terminal that, in a system for transmitting and receiving non-real-time data traffic using time periods when wireless resources are available, can dynamically set communication times by learning the congestion level in an autonomous and decentralized manner, taking into account daily fluctuations in the congestion level of wireless resources and assuming periodic use. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature] [Patent Literature 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 078331 [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-199592

[0003] Conventionally, there have been technologies that allow a Radio Access Network (RAN) service or an Artificial Intelligence (AI) application to run on an execution platform. However, the execution platform that runs the RAN service and the execution platform that runs the AI ​​application are physically separated, and each operates independently. Therefore, there have been cases where the execution platform that runs the RAN service cannot use the computational resources of the execution platform that runs the AI ​​application according to the demand forecast results that predict communication demand for data communication with the execution platform that runs the AI ​​application.

[0004] In the system according to this embodiment, for example, the RAN functions are operated on a high-performance GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) server rather than on a general-purpose server, so that the surplus computing resources can be utilized for AI processing. Types of AI processing include AI processing related to RAN control (sometimes referred to as RAN control AI processing) and AI processing not related to RAN control (sometimes referred to as non-RAN control AI processing).

[0005] An example of RAN control AI processing is RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller). RIC is a technology that uses AI to optimize RAN radio resources and automate RAN operations. RIC includes Non-RT RIC (Non-Real Time RIC) and Near-RT RIC (Near-Real Time RIC). Non-RT RIC is sometimes called Centralized RIC. Non-RT RIC is located inside SMO (Service Management and Orchestration), which manages and orchestrates the RAN. Non-RT RIC generates and notifies policies related to RAN control and sends information to Near-RT RIC. For example, the Non-RT RIC performs machine learning using data collected from the RAN to generate a trained model for RAN control and transmits it to the Near-RT RIC. The Near-RT RIC is sometimes called a Distributed RIC. Compared to the Non-RT RIC, the Near-RT RIC is located closer to the RAN nodes (RU (Radio Unit), DU (Distributed Unit), CU (Central Unit)) and controls the RAN nodes, resources, etc. The Near-RT RIC performs processing with higher real-time performance than the Non-RT RIC. The Near-RT RIC performs inference processing related to RAN control using, for example, a trained model acquired from the Non-RT RIC. RAN control AI processing is not limited to the RIC.

[0006] The non-RAN control AI processing may correspond to a so-called MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) application. Examples of the non-RAN control AI processing include a monitoring AI execution process that determines the situation within the imaging range of an input captured image, and a response AI execution process that outputs a response to an input user inquiry. However, this is not limited to these.

[0007] In the system according to the present embodiment, for example, a mechanism is adopted in which a RAN control function that controls RAN functions and an application execution function that executes applications are implemented on the same execution platform. As a result, the system according to the present embodiment can predict communication demand for data communication with the application execution function from the RAN control function side. In the system according to the present embodiment, for example, information based on the result of a demand forecast that predicts communication demand for data communication with the application execution function is notified to a user of the system according to the present embodiment. The user can reserve the execution of an application based on the information.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system. The system may include a plurality of information processing devices each having an execution unit including a RAN control function for controlling RAN functions and an application execution function for executing an application. The system may include a management platform for managing the plurality of information processing devices. The management platform may include an acquisition unit that acquires a demand forecast result that predicts demand for the execution unit of each of the plurality of information processing devices, and a notification unit that notifies information based on the demand forecast result of each of the information processing devices.

[0009] In the system, the management base may further have a prediction unit that predicts the amount of free resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the demand prediction result of each of the information processing devices, and the notification unit may notify the free resource amount prediction result that predicts the amount of free resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices as the information based on the demand prediction result of each of the information processing devices.

[0010] In any of the systems, the management base may further have a reception unit that accepts application execution reservations, and a prediction unit that predicts the amount of available resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the demand prediction results of each of the information processing devices, and predicts, among the multiple information processing devices, an information processing device that is capable of executing the application that is the target of the execution reservation based on the available resource amount prediction result that predicted the amount of available resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices, and the notification unit may notify information processing device-related information related to the information processing device that is predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application that is the target of the execution reservation, as the information based on the demand prediction results of each of the information processing devices.

[0011] In any of the systems, the acquisition unit may acquire the demand prediction result including an access count prediction result that predicts the number of accesses to the application execution function of each of the information processing devices, and the prediction unit may predict the amount of available resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the access count prediction result of each of the information processing devices.

[0012] In any of the systems, the acquisition unit may acquire the demand prediction result including a resource consumption amount prediction result that predicts the amount of radio resources to be consumed in the RAN that is the control target of each of the information processing devices, and the prediction unit may predict the available resource amount of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the resource consumption amount prediction result of each of the information processing devices.

[0013] In any of the systems, the notification unit may notify the information processing device related information including executable date and time information indicating the date and time on which the information processing device, which has been predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application to be executed in the execution reservation, can execute the application to be executed in the execution reservation.

[0014] In any of the systems, the notification unit may notify the information processing device related information including area information indicating the area in which the information processing device predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application to be executed for the execution reservation is located.

[0015] In any of the systems, the reception unit may accept the execution reservation including desired date and time information indicating the desired date and time at which the application is desired to be executed and location information indicating the location of the user who has reserved the execution of the application at the desired date and time, and the prediction unit may predict an information processing device that is capable of executing the application to be executed of the execution reservation at the desired date and time indicated by the desired date and time information, among at least one information processing device among the plurality of information processing devices that is located within a range where the distance to the location indicated by the location information is shorter than a predetermined distance threshold.

[0016] In any of the systems, the acquisition unit may acquire the demand prediction result including a resource consumption prediction result that predicts the amount of wireless resources to be consumed in the RAN of the information processing device that is predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation, and the prediction unit may further predict the communication quality of the RAN that is the control target of the information processing device that is predicted to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation based on the resource consumption prediction result of the information processing device that is predicted to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation, and the notification unit may notify the information processing device related information that includes a communication quality prediction result that predicts the communication quality of the RAN that is the control target of the information processing device that is predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation.

[0017] In any of the above systems, the application execution function of each of the information processing devices may have a function of executing an AI application different from the function of controlling the RAN.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a management platform for managing a plurality of information processing devices, the management platform having an execution unit including a RAN control function for controlling RAN functions and an application execution function for executing applications. The management platform may include an acquisition unit for acquiring a demand forecast result that predicts demand for the execution unit of each of the plurality of information processing devices. The management platform may include a notification unit for notifying information based on the demand forecast result of each of the information processing devices.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to function as the management infrastructure.

[0020] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and subcombinations of these features may also constitute inventions.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the system 10. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the system 10. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of predicting demand for an execution unit of the information processing device 100. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of predicting demand for an execution unit of the information processing device 100. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of information based on the demand prediction results of each information processing device 100. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 100. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the functional configuration of the management infrastructure 200. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the processing flow of the system 10. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of the processing flow of the system 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer 1200 that functions as the information processing device 100 or the management infrastructure 200.

[0022] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0023] 1 schematically illustrates an example of a system 10. The system 10 may include an information processing device 100. The system 10 may include a plurality of information processing devices 100. The system 10 may include a management infrastructure 200 that manages the plurality of information processing devices 100. In the system 10 according to this embodiment, the management infrastructure 200 and the plurality of information processing devices 100 may cooperate to control the RAN 300 and perform AI processing.

[0024] The RAN 300 may be a virtualized vRAN (Virtual RAN), and the system 10 may control the vRAN. The RAN 300 may be a physical RAN, and the system 10 may control the physical RAN. In this embodiment, a case where the RAN 300 is a vRAN will be mainly described as an example.

[0025] The AI ​​processing performed by the system 10 may include RAN-controlled AI processing (sometimes referred to as RAN_AI). The AI ​​processing performed by the system 10 may include non-RAN-controlled AI processing (sometimes referred to as non-RAN_AI).

[0026] The information processing device 100 may be a data center located in various locations. The information processing device 100 is located, for example, on the core network 20. The area on the core network 20 includes both the area inside the core network 20 and the area outside the core network 20.

[0027] The core network 20 may be compliant with any mobile communication system. For example, the core network 20 may be compliant with a 5G (5th Generation) communication system. The core network 20 may be compliant with a 6G (6th Generation) communication system or later mobile communication system. The core network 20 may be compliant with a 3G (3rd Generation) communication system or an LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication system.

[0028] The information processing device 100 has an execution unit that includes, for example, a RAN control function that controls the functions of the RAN 300 and an application execution function that executes an application. The information processing device 100 may further have the functions of the radio base station 30.

[0029] The execution unit may include one or more central processing units (CPUs). The execution unit may include one or more GPUs. The execution unit may include multiple super chips, each of which has a CPU and a GPU connected via an interconnect. The interconnect may have memory coherency and be capable of achieving high bandwidth and low latency. In this way, the execution unit may have CPU resources and GPU resources as computational resources.

[0030] The RAN control function controls the functions of the RAN 300, for example, by executing the RAN_AI. The RAN control function may also control the functions of the RAN 300 by executing any other process.

[0031] The RAN control function controls, for example, the radio base station 30 that constitutes the RAN 300. The RAN control function controls, for example, the radio base station 30 so as to form a radio communication area using an antenna and provide mobile communication services to the UEs 50 within the radio communication area.

[0032] The UE 50 is a mobile phone such as a smartphone. The UE 50 may be a tablet terminal, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like. The UE 50 may be a so-called Internet of Things (IoT) device. The UE 50 may include anything that falls under the so-called Internet of Everything (IoE).

[0033] The application execution function has a function to execute, for example, an AI application. The application execution function has a function to execute a non-RAN AI application. The application execution function may also execute any other application.

[0034] The information processing device 100 predicts, for example, demand for the execution unit. The demand for the execution unit includes, for example, communication demand for data communication with the execution unit. The demand for the execution unit includes, for example, communication demand for data communication within the RAN 300.

[0035] The information processing device 100 predicts demand for the execution unit, for example, by predicting the number of accesses to the application execution function. The information processing device 100 predicts demand for the execution unit, for example, by predicting the amount of wireless resources consumed in the RAN 300 that is the control target of the information processing device 100. The information processing device 100 predicts demand for the execution unit, for example, by predicting both the number of accesses to the application execution function and the amount of wireless resources consumed in the RAN 300.

[0036] The information processing device 100 may, for example, transmit a demand forecast result that predicts demand for the execution unit to the management infrastructure 200. The information processing device 100 transmits the demand forecast result to the management infrastructure 200 via the core network 20, for example.

[0037] The demand prediction result includes, for example, an access count prediction result that predicts the number of accesses to the application execution function of the information processing device 100. The demand prediction result includes, for example, a consumed resource amount prediction result that predicts the amount of wireless resources consumed in the RAN 300 that is the control target of the information processing device 100. The demand prediction result includes, for example, both the access count prediction result and the consumed resource amount prediction result.

[0038] The management infrastructure 200 may be a data center that manages multiple information processing devices 100. The management infrastructure 200 may be configured with multiple devices. The management infrastructure 200 may be realized on a virtualization infrastructure made up of multiple devices. The management infrastructure 200 may also be realized by a single device. In other words, the management infrastructure 200 may be a management device.

[0039] The management infrastructure 200 may be referred to as a Core Brain, and the information processing device 100 may be referred to as a Regional Brain. While FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which one layer of information processing devices 100 is arranged under the management infrastructure 200, this is not limiting. The information processing devices 100 may have multiple layers. For example, when two layers of information processing devices 100 are arranged under the management infrastructure 200, the management infrastructure 200 may be referred to as a Core Brain, the information processing devices 100 at the layer below that may be referred to as a Regional Brain, and the information processing devices 100 at the layer below that may be referred to as a Sub-Regional Brain.

[0040] The management infrastructure 200 acquires, for example, the demand forecast result for the information processing device 100 from each information processing device 100. The management infrastructure 200 acquires, for example, the demand forecast result for the information processing device 100 from each information processing device 100 via the core network 20.

[0041] The management infrastructure 200 manages each information processing device 100, for example, based on the demand forecast result of each information processing device 100. The management infrastructure 200 manages each information processing device 100, for example, by predicting the amount of free resources of the execution unit of each information processing device 100, based on the demand forecast result of each information processing device 100. The amount of free resources of the execution unit of each information processing device 100 may be the amount of resources of the execution unit of the information processing device 100 that are not used for both the RAN control function and the application execution function of the information processing device 100.

[0042] The management infrastructure 200 notifies, for example, information based on the demand forecast results of each information processing device 100. The management infrastructure 200 notifies, for example, the free resource amount forecast results that predict the free resource amount of the execution unit of each information processing device 100 as information based on the demand forecast results of each information processing device 100.

[0043] The management infrastructure 200 notifies, for example, the UEs 50 in the RAN 300 of information based on the demand forecast results of each information processing device 100. The management infrastructure 200 notifies, for example, the UEs 50 in the RAN 300 of the information based on the demand forecast results of each information processing device 100 via the core network 20 and the radio base station 30.

[0044] For example, a user of the system 10 who has confirmed information based on the demand forecast results of each information processing device 100 may use a UE 50 to transmit an application execution reservation to the management infrastructure 200. The execution reservation includes, for example, execution target application information indicating the application to be executed. The execution reservation includes, for example, desired date and time information indicating the desired date and time at which the application to be executed is desired to be executed. The execution reservation includes, for example, user identification information identifying the user reserving the execution of the application. The execution reservation includes, for example, communication terminal identification information identifying the communication terminal owned by the user. The execution reservation may also include location information indicating the location of the user at the desired date and time.

[0045] Conventionally, RAN services are executed on an execution platform located on a core network, and AI applications are executed on an execution platform located on the Internet. Therefore, the communication path between the execution platform running the RAN services and the execution platform running the AI ​​applications includes the Internet. As a result, the execution platform running the RAN services may not be able to grasp the number of accesses to the execution platform running the AI ​​applications and the number of communication terminals using the execution platform running the AI ​​applications, which are information necessary for predicting communication demand for data communication with the execution platform running the AI ​​applications. As a result, the execution platform running the RAN services may not be able to use the computational resources of the execution platform running the AI ​​applications according to the prediction results of the communication demand for data communication with the execution platform running the AI ​​applications. Furthermore, the radio base stations constituting the RAN must achieve very high SLAs (Service Level Agreements), and it is necessary to create mechanisms, such as redundancy, to prevent service interruptions. As a result, only a few tens of percent of the computational resources on the execution platform running the RAN services are being utilized. In other words, there are many unused computational resources. Furthermore, at night, the RAN is designed for peak demand, which means it wastes computing resources to maintain the same level of service as during the day, even though demand for that service is reduced.

[0046] In contrast, in the system 10 according to the present embodiment, the information processing device 100 has an execution unit including a RAN control function and an application execution function. A management infrastructure 200 managing a plurality of information processing devices 100 acquires a demand forecast result predicting the demand for the execution unit of each information processing device 100. Because the RAN control function and the application execution function use the same computing resources, the demand for the execution unit of each information processing device 100 includes communication demand for data communication with the application execution function. Next, the management infrastructure 200 notifies each information processing device 100 of information based on the demand forecast result. For example, the management infrastructure 200 notifies each information processing device 100 of the free resource amount forecast result as information based on the demand forecast result for each information processing device 100. A user of the system 10 who has confirmed the notification can use, for example, a UE 50 to send an application execution reservation to the management infrastructure 200. In this manner, the RAN control function and the application execution function of the information processing device 100 are configured to use the same computational resources, and the management infrastructure 200 acquires a demand forecast result that predicts demand for the execution unit of each information processing device 100 and notifies information based on the demand forecast result of each information processing device 100. This allows the system 10 according to the present embodiment to use the computational resources in accordance with communication demand for data communication with the application execution function. Furthermore, during time periods when service demand for the RAN is relatively low, it is possible to have the application execution function execute an application using the computational resources within a range in which the SLA of the wireless base stations that constitute the RAN is maintained. Therefore, the system 10 according to the present embodiment can contribute to improving the utilization efficiency of the computational resources while maintaining the high SLA of the wireless base stations that constitute the RAN.

[0047] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of another example of the system 10. Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of the system 10 that is compliant with a 5G communication system.

[0048] The RAN 300 is communicatively connected to the UE 50 via, for example, a Uu interface. The RAN 300 is communicatively connected to a 5th Generation Core network (5GC) 22 via, for example, an N2 interface. The RAN 300 is communicatively connected to another RAN 300 via, for example, an Xn interface.

[0049] The UPF (User Plane Function) 130 is a Network Function (NF) that processes U-Plane (User-Plane) communication. The UPF 130 accesses the 5GC 22 via, for example, an N4 interface. The UPF 130 accesses the UPF 150 via, for example, an N9 interface.

[0050] The application server 140 executes applications and may be an example of an application execution function.

[0051] The UPF 150 relays access to the Internet 40. The UPF 150 accesses the Internet 40 via, for example, the N6 interface. The UPF 150 accesses the 5GC 22 via, for example, the N4 interface.

[0052] The UPF 130 accesses the Internet 40, for example, via the UPF 150. The UPF 130 may access the Internet 40 without going through the UPF 150. In this case, the UPF 130 may access the Internet 40 via the N6 interface.

[0053] The UE 50 accesses the RAN 300 via, for example, the Uu interface. The UE 50 accesses the 5GC 22 via, for example, the N1 interface.

[0054] The management infrastructure 200 manages a plurality of information processing devices 100 each having a RAN control function and an App server 140. The management infrastructure 200 manages the plurality of information processing devices 100 based on, for example, a demand prediction result for each information processing device 100. The management infrastructure 200 acquires, for example, the demand prediction result for the information processing device 100 from each information processing device 100. The management infrastructure 200 may acquire the demand prediction result for each information processing device 100 from a prediction device (not shown) that is arranged on the 5GC 22 and has a function for predicting demand for the execution unit of each information processing device 100.

[0055] The management infrastructure 200, for example, accepts an execution reservation of an application transmitted by the UE 50. The management infrastructure 200, for example, accepts the execution reservation transmitted by the UE 50 by receiving the execution reservation via the 5GC 22.

[0056] The management infrastructure 200, for example, accepts an execution reservation for an application transmitted by the App server 140. The management infrastructure 200, for example, accepts the execution reservation transmitted by the App server 140 by receiving the execution reservation via the 5GC 22. The management infrastructure 200 may accept the execution reservation transmitted by the App server 140 by receiving the execution reservation via the UPF 150 and the 5GC 22.

[0057] The management infrastructure 200 may accept an execution reservation for an application transmitted by the communication terminal 400. The management infrastructure 200 accepts the execution reservation transmitted by the communication terminal 400, for example, by receiving the execution reservation via the Internet 40. The management infrastructure 200 accepts the execution reservation transmitted by the communication terminal 400, for example, by receiving the execution reservation via the Internet 40, the UPF 150, and the 5GC 22.

[0058] The management infrastructure 200 is disposed, for example, on the core network 20. When the management infrastructure 200 is a management device, the management infrastructure 200 may be disposed on the Internet 40.

[0059] 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of predicting demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100. Here, an example in which the UPF 130 predicts demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will be mainly described.

[0060] The UPF 130 predicts demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100, for example, by predicting the number of accesses to the App server 140. The UPF 130 predicts the number of accesses to the App server 140, for example, based on a destination Internet Protocol (IP) address included in received packet data. For example, if the destination IP address included in the packet data is the IP address of the App server 140, the UPF 130 predicts that a device with a source IP address included in the packet data will access the App server 140. On the other hand, if the destination IP address included in the packet data is not the IP address of the App server 140, the UPF 130 predicts that a device with a source IP address included in the packet data will not access the App server 140. The UPF 130 may acquire the destination IP address included in the packet data as a Network Key Performance Indicator (NW KPI).

[0061] The UPF 130 predicts the number of accesses to the App server 140, for example, further based on the port number included in the packet data. For example, if the destination IP address included in the packet data is the IP address of the App server 140 and the port number included in the packet data is a port number corresponding to an application on the App server 140, the UPF 130 predicts that a device with a source IP address included in the packet data will access the App server 140. On the other hand, if the destination IP address included in the packet data is not the IP address of the App server 140, or if the destination IP address included in the packet data is the IP address of the App server 140 and the port number included in the packet data is not a port number corresponding to an application on the App server 140, the UPF 130 predicts that a device with a source IP address included in the packet data will not access the App server 140. The UPF 130 may acquire the port number included in the packet data as a NW KPI.

[0062] For example, if the UPF 130 predicts that the number of accesses to the App server 140 will increase, it predicts that the demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will increase. For example, if the UPF 130 predicts that the number of accesses to the App server 140 will decrease, it predicts that the demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will decrease. For example, if the UPF 130 predicts that the number of accesses to the App server 140 will remain constant, it predicts that the demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will remain constant.

[0063] The UPF 130 may obtain the number of accesses to the App server 140 from the App server 140. In this case, the UPF 130 may predict demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 based on the number of accesses to the App server 140 obtained from the App server 140.

[0064] 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of predicting demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100. Here, an example in which the RAN control function predicts demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will be mainly described.

[0065] The RAN control function predicts demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100, for example, by predicting the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300. The RAN control function predicts the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300, for example, based on the number of UEs 50 communicatively connected to the radio base stations 30 constituting the RAN 300. The RAN control function predicts the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300, for example, based on the waiting time until an up link (UL) grant is assigned to the UE 50. The RAN control function predicts the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300, for example, based on the retention time for data to be retained in a down link (DL) buffer. The RAN control function may predict the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300 based on the traffic of the RAN 300, which is the amount of packet data transferred per unit time on the RAN 300. The UPF 130 may acquire information used to predict the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300 as the NW KPI.

[0066] For example, if the RAN control function predicts that the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300 will increase, it predicts that the demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will increase. For example, if the RAN control function predicts that the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300 will decrease, it predicts that the demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will decrease. For example, if the RAN control function predicts that the amount of radio resources consumed in the RAN 300 will be maintained, it predicts that the demand for the execution unit of the information processing device 100 will be maintained.

[0067] 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of information based on the demand prediction results of each information processing device 100. Here, an example will be described in which the information based on the demand prediction results of each information processing device 100 is availability information indicating the availability of each information processing device 100.

[0068] The management infrastructure 200 predicts the availability of each information processing device 100, for example, based on the result of predicting the amount of available resources of each information processing device 100. The management infrastructure 200 notifies the availability information as information based on the demand prediction result of each information processing device 100, for example, based on the availability prediction result that predicts the availability of each information processing device 100.

[0069] The availability information includes, for example, information processing device identification information that identifies an information processing device 100 that can execute an application. The availability information includes, for example, executable application information that indicates applications that can be executed by the information processing device 100. The availability information includes, for example, a prediction result of the amount of available resources for the information processing device 100. The availability information includes, for example, executable date and time information that indicates the date and time when the information processing device 100 can execute an application. The availability information includes, for example, area information that indicates the area where the information processing device 100 is located.

[0070] The area where the information processing device 100 is located is expressed by, for example, a region name such as Tokyo or Osaka. The area where the information processing device 100 is located is expressed by, for example, a Tracking Area (TA) that represents a group of multiple radio base stations 30 that constitute a RAN 300 that is the control target of the information processing device 100. The area where the information processing device 100 is located may be expressed by radio base station identification information that identifies the radio base station 30 that constitutes the RAN 300 that is the control target of the information processing device 100. When the radio base station 30 is a 5G radio base station, the radio base station identification information may be NCGI (NR Cell Global Identity).

[0071] 5 shows the following: An information processing device 100 located in the "Tokyo" area and having information processing device identification information "0001" can execute "Application A," "Application B," and "Application C" from "February 1, 2024, 22:00 to February 2, 2024, 05:00." An information processing device 100 located in the "Tokyo" area and having information processing device identification information "0002" can execute "Application A" and "Application D" from "February 1, 2024, 23:00 to February 2, 2024, 04:30." An information processing device 100 located in the "Osaka" area and having information processing device identification information "0003" can execute "Application B" and "Application C" from "February 1, 2024, 23:30 to February 2, 2024, 05:30." An information processing device 100 located in the "Osaka Prefecture" area and having information processing device identification information "0004" can execute "Application A," "Application C," and "Application D" from "February 1, 2024, 22:30 to February 2, 2024, 06:30." An information processing device 100 located in the "Tokyo Prefecture" area and having information processing device identification information "0001" can execute "Application A," "Application B," and "Application C" from "February 2, 2024, 02:00 to February 2, 2024, 06:00."

[0072] The management infrastructure 200 may further predict the communication quality of the RAN 300, which is the control target of the information processing device 100, during a time period in which the information processing device 100 can execute an application, based on the resource consumption amount prediction result included in the demand prediction result of each information processing device 100. The communication quality includes, for example, a communication speed. The communication quality includes, for example, an available wireless communication bandwidth. The availability information may further include communication quality information indicating the communication quality of the RAN 300, which is the control target of the information processing device 100, during a time period in which the information processing device 100 can execute an application.

[0073] Here, an example will be described in which user A of system 10, having checked the availability information shown in Fig. 5, registers the execution of an application. User A, who resides in Tokyo, will be on a business trip to Osaka Prefecture from February 1, 2024 to February 2, 2024, and would like to run "application B" during the business trip. User A checks the availability information shown in Fig. 5 notified by the management infrastructure 200 and finds that the information processing device 100, which is located in the "Osaka Prefecture" area where the user is on the business trip and has information processing device identification information "0003," can run "application B" from "23:30 on February 1, 2024 to 05:30 on February 2, 2024." Therefore, User A sends to the management infrastructure 200 an execution registration for an application whose user identification information is "User A," whose communication terminal identification information is "Communication terminal A," whose information processing device identification information is "0003," whose application information to be executed is "Application B," and whose desired date and time information is "February 2, 2024, 00:00 to February 2, 2024, 05:00."

[0074] In response to receiving the execution registration, the management infrastructure 200 notifies the information processing device 100, whose information processing device identification information is “0003”, of an execution instruction for the application to be executed by the execution registration. Thereafter, the management infrastructure 200 updates the availability information shown in FIG. 5 .

[0075] 5 as information based on the demand forecast results for each information processing device 100, the management infrastructure 200 notifies the user of the system 10 of availability information including area information, such as the availability information shown in Fig. 5, so that the user of the system 10 who has confirmed the notification can have an information processing device 100 located in an area close to the user's location execute an application. This allows the communication speed of the communication to be increased when the information processing device 100 needs to communicate with a communication terminal owned by the user in order to execute an application, thereby contributing to an improvement in the application execution speed of the system 10 as a whole.

[0076] 6 shows an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 100. The information processing device 100 includes a storage unit 102, an acquisition unit 104, an execution unit 106, a prediction unit 110, and a transmission unit 112. Note that it is not essential that the information processing device 100 include all of these components.

[0077] The storage unit 102 stores various types of information, such as schedule information indicating a schedule for the application execution function 109 to execute an application.

[0078] The acquiring unit 104 acquires various types of information and may store the acquired various types of information in the storage unit 102.

[0079] The acquisition unit 104 acquires various pieces of information from, for example, the management infrastructure 200. The acquisition unit 104 acquires various pieces of information from the management infrastructure 200 by receiving the various pieces of information from the management infrastructure 200 via the core network 20, for example.

[0080] The acquisition unit 104 acquires, for example, an application execution instruction from the management infrastructure 200. The execution instruction includes, for example, execution target application information indicating the application to be executed. The execution instruction includes, for example, execution date and time information indicating the execution date and time at which the application to be executed is to be executed. The schedule information stored in the storage unit 102 may be updated based on the execution instruction.

[0081] The acquisition unit 104 acquires, for example, various pieces of information from the UE 50. The acquisition unit 104 acquires, for example, various pieces of information from the UE 50 by receiving the various pieces of information from the UE 50 via the radio base station 30 and the core network 20.

[0082] The acquisition unit 104 acquires, for example, packet data from the UE 50. For example, when the application execution function 109 executes an application in cooperation with the UE 50, the acquisition unit 104 acquires the packet data from the UE 50. For example, the acquisition unit 104 acquires, from the UE 50, radio base station information indicating the radio base station 30 to which the UE 50 is connected. For example, the acquisition unit 104 acquires, from the UE 50, usage status information indicating the usage status of the MEC of the UE 50. The usage status of the MEC of the UE 50 includes, for example, MEC traffic information indicating traffic, which is the amount of packet data transferred per unit time from the UE 50 to the MEC. The acquisition unit 104 may acquire, from the UE 50, an execution reservation for an application.

[0083] The acquisition unit 104 may acquire various pieces of information from the radio base stations 30 that constitute the RAN 300. The acquisition unit 104 acquires the various pieces of information by, for example, receiving the various pieces of information from the radio base stations 30 via the core network 20.

[0084] The acquiring unit 104 acquires, for example, RAN-related information related to the RAN 300. The RAN-related information includes, for example, communication connection number information indicating the number of UEs 50 that are communicatively connected to the radio base station 30 constituting the RAN 300. The RAN-related information includes, for example, waiting time information indicating the waiting time until an UL grant is allocated to the UE 50. The RAN-related information includes, for example, retention time information indicating the retention time for data to be retained in a DL buffer. The RAN-related information includes, for example, RAN traffic information indicating the traffic of the RAN 300. The RAN-related information includes, for example, maximum processing performance information indicating the maximum processing performance of the RAN 300. The RAN-related information includes, for example, specification information indicating the specifications of the RAN 300. The RAN-related information may include any other information related to the RAN 300. The acquiring unit 104 may acquire the RAN-related information from the radio base station 30.

[0085] The execution unit 106 executes various processes. The execution unit 106 includes, for example, a RAN control function 107 and an application execution function 109. The RAN control function 107 and the application execution function 109 may use the same computational resources.

[0086] The RAN control function 107 controls the functions of the RAN 300. The RAN control function 107 controls the functions of the RAN 300, for example, by executing a RAN_AI. The RAN control function 107 may control the functions of the RAN 300 by executing any other process.

[0087] The application execution function 109 executes an application based on, for example, schedule information stored in the storage unit 102.

[0088] The application execution function 109 has, for example, a function to execute an AI application. The application execution function 109 has, for example, a function to execute an AI application different from the function to control the RAN 300. The application execution function has, for example, a function to execute a non-RAN AI application. The application execution function may execute any other application.

[0089] The prediction unit 110 predicts the demand for the execution unit 106. For example, the prediction unit 110 periodically predicts the demand for the execution unit 106. For example, the prediction unit 110 predicts the demand for the execution unit 106 at one-hour intervals.

[0090] Prediction unit 110 predicts demand for execution unit 106, for example, by predicting the number of accesses to application execution function 109. Prediction unit 110 predicts demand for execution unit 106, for example, by predicting the amount of wireless resources consumed in RAN 300, which is the control target of RAN control function 107. Prediction unit 110 predicts demand for execution unit 106, for example, by predicting both the number of accesses to application execution function 109 and the amount of wireless resources consumed in RAN 300, which is the control target of RAN control function 107.

[0091] The prediction unit 110 predicts the demand for the execution unit 106 by predicting the number of accesses to the application execution function 109, for example, based on packet data acquired by the acquisition unit 104 from the UE 50. The information processing device 100 may predict the demand for the execution unit 106 by acquiring the number of accesses to the application execution function 109 from the application execution function 109.

[0092] The prediction unit 110 may predict the demand for the execution unit 106 based on the traffic of the application execution function 109, which is the amount of packet data transferred per unit time to the application execution function 109. For example, if the prediction unit 110 predicts that the traffic of the application execution function 109 will increase, the prediction unit 110 predicts that the demand for the execution unit 106 will increase. For example, if the prediction unit 110 predicts that the traffic of the application execution function 109 will decrease, the prediction unit 110 predicts that the demand for the execution unit 106 will decrease. For example, if the prediction unit 110 predicts that the traffic of the application execution function 109 will be maintained, the prediction unit 110 predicts that the demand for the execution unit 106 will be maintained.

[0093] The transmitting unit 112 transmits various types of information. For example, the transmitting unit 112 transmits the various types of information to the management infrastructure 200. For example, the transmitting unit 112 transmits the various types of information to the management infrastructure 200 via the core network 20.

[0094] For example, the transmission unit 112 transmits the schedule information stored in the storage unit 102 to the management infrastructure 200. For example, the transmission unit 112 transmits the demand prediction result obtained by the prediction unit 110 predicting the demand for the execution unit 106 to the management infrastructure 200. The transmission unit 112 may also transmit a reservation for execution of an application.

[0095] The transmitter 112 transmits, for example, various types of information to the UE 50. The transmitter 112 transmits, for example, various types of information to the UE 50 via the core network 20 and the radio base station 30.

[0096] The transmitting unit 112 transmits, for example, packet data to the UE 50. The packet data is generated, for example, by the application executing function 109. The application executing function 109 generates the packet data when, for example, executing an application in cooperation with the UE 50.

[0097] 7 shows an example of the functional configuration of the management infrastructure 200. The management infrastructure 200 includes a storage unit 202, an acquisition unit 204, a prediction unit 206, a reception unit 208, a determination unit 210, and a notification unit 212. Note that it is not essential for the management infrastructure 200 to include all of these components.

[0098] The storage unit 202 stores various types of information. The storage unit 202 stores, for example, information processing device-related information related to each information processing device 100. The information processing device-related information includes information processing device identification information of the information processing device 100. The information processing device-related information includes, for example, total resource amount information indicating the total resource amount of the execution unit 106 of the information processing device 100. The information processing device-related information includes, for example, executable application information indicating applications that can be executed by the information processing device 100. The information processing device-related information includes, for example, execution resource amount information indicating the resource amount of the execution unit 106 required for the information processing device 100 to execute an application. The information processing device-related information includes, for example, area information indicating the area in which the information processing device 100 is located.

[0099] The storage unit 202 stores, for example, user-related information related to a user of the system 10. The user-related information includes, for example, user identification information that identifies the user. The user-related information includes, for example, communication terminal identification information that identifies a communication terminal owned by the user. The user-related information includes, for example, priority information that indicates the priority of the user.

[0100] The acquiring unit 204 acquires various types of information and may store the acquired various types of information in the storage unit 202.

[0101] The acquisition unit 204 acquires, for example, various pieces of information from each information processing device 100. The acquisition unit 204 acquires, for example, various pieces of information from each information processing device 100 by receiving the various pieces of information from each information processing device 100 via the core network 20.

[0102] The acquiring unit 204 acquires, for example, schedule information of the information processing device 100 from each information processing device 100. The acquiring unit 204 acquires, for example, a demand forecast result of the information processing device 100 from each information processing device 100. The acquiring unit 204 may acquire the demand forecast result of each information processing device 100 from a forecasting device.

[0103] The prediction unit 206 executes a prediction process and may store the prediction result obtained by the prediction process in the storage unit 202.

[0104] The prediction unit 206 executes the prediction process periodically, for example, at one-hour intervals.

[0105] The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 based on the demand prediction results of each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 based on the access count prediction results of each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 based on the resource consumption prediction results of each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 based on both the access count prediction results and the resource consumption prediction results of each information processing device 100.

[0106] For example, the prediction unit 206 predicts the amount of resources to be used by the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 based on the demand prediction results for each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 by subtracting the amount of resources predicted to be used by the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 from the total amount of resources for the execution unit 106 of each information processing device 100 indicated by total resource amount information included in the information processing device related information stored in the storage unit 202.

[0107] The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, whether or not each information processing device 100 can execute an application. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, whether or not each information processing device 100 can execute an application based on the result of predicting the amount of available resources of each information processing device 100.

[0108] For example, when the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of the information processing device 100 is greater than a predetermined amount of resources, the prediction unit 206 predicts that the information processing device 100 will be able to execute an application. On the other hand, when the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of the information processing device 100 is less than the predetermined amount of resources, the prediction unit 206 predicts that the information processing device 100 will not be able to execute an application.

[0109] The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, for each application, whether or not each information processing device 100 can execute the application. For example, the prediction unit 206 predicts that the information processing device 100 can execute the application when the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of the information processing device 100 is greater than the amount of resources indicated by the execution resource amount information included in the information processing device-related information stored in the storage unit 202. On the other hand, the prediction unit 206 predicts that the information processing device 100 cannot execute the application when the amount of free resources in the execution unit 106 of the information processing device 100 is less than the amount of resources indicated by the execution resource amount information.

[0110] The prediction unit 206 predicts the communication quality of the RAN 300 that is the control target of each information processing device 100, for example, based on the result of predicting the amount of resource consumption of each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts the communication quality of the RAN 300 that is the control target of each information processing device 100, for example, during a time period when each information processing device 100 can execute an application.

[0111] The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, the availability of each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, the availability of each information processing device 100 based on the result of predicting the amount of available resources of each information processing device 100. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, that the status of an information processing device 100 that is predicted to be able to execute an application is available, and predicts that the status of an information processing device 100 that is predicted not to be able to execute an application is not available.

[0112] The reception unit 208 receives various types of information. For example, the reception unit 208 receives various types of information transmitted by the UE 50. For example, the reception unit 208 receives various types of information transmitted by the information processing device 100. The reception unit 208 may also receive various types of information transmitted by the communication terminal 400.

[0113] The reception unit 208 receives various types of information, for example, by receiving the various types of information via the core network 20. The reception unit 208 receives various types of information, for example, by receiving the various types of information via the core network 20 and the radio base station 30. The reception unit 208 receives various types of information via the Internet 40.

[0114] The receiving unit 208 receives, for example, a reservation for application execution, and receives, for example, a registration for application execution.

[0115] The execution registration includes, for example, information processing device identification information that identifies the information processing device 100 that executes the application to be executed. The execution registration includes, for example, execution target application information that indicates the application to be executed. The execution registration includes, for example, execution date and time information that indicates the execution date and time when the application to be executed is executed. The execution registration includes, for example, user identification information that identifies the user who registers the execution of the application. The execution registration includes, for example, communication terminal identification information that identifies the communication terminal owned by the user. The execution registration may include location information that indicates the location of the user at the execution date and time.

[0116] The prediction unit 206 executes a prediction process, for example, based on the free resource amount prediction result of each of the multiple information processing devices 100 and the execution reservation of the application accepted by the acceptance unit 208. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, an information processing device 100 among the multiple information processing devices 100 that can execute the execution target application of the execution reservation. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, an information processing device 100 among the multiple information processing devices 100 that can execute the execution target application of the execution reservation at a desired date and time indicated by desired date and time information included in the execution reservation. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, an information processing device 100 among the multiple information processing devices 100 that is located within a range where the distance to the position indicated by the position information included in the execution reservation is shorter than a predetermined distance threshold. The prediction unit 206 predicts, for example, from among a plurality of information processing devices 100, at least one information processing device 100 that is located within a range where the distance to the position indicated by the location information is shorter than a predetermined distance threshold, an information processing device 100 that is capable of executing the application to be executed at the desired date and time indicated by the desired date and time information.

[0117] The acquiring unit 204 acquires a demand prediction result including, for example, a resource consumption amount prediction result that predicts the amount of wireless resources to be consumed in the RAN 300 of the information processing device 100 that is predicted by the predicting unit 206 to be able to execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation. The predicting unit 206 predicts the communication quality of the RAN 300 that is the control target of the information processing device 100 that is predicted to be able to execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation, based on, for example, the resource consumption amount prediction result of the information processing device 100 that is predicted to be able to execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation.

[0118] The determination unit 210 determines the information processing device 100 that will execute the application. For example, the determination unit 210 determines the information processing device 100 that will execute the application that is the execution target of the application execution reservation accepted by the acceptance unit 208. For example, the determination unit 210 determines that the information processing device 100 that the prediction unit 206 predicts to be capable of executing the application that is the execution target of the execution reservation will execute the application that is the execution target of the execution reservation.

[0119] For example, when there are multiple information processing devices 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 as being capable of executing an application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation, the determination unit 210 determines, from among the multiple information processing devices 100, an information processing device 100 that will execute the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation. For example, the determination unit 210 determines that, among the multiple information processing devices 100, the information processing device 100 that is located in an area that is closest to the location indicated by the location information included in the execution reservation will execute the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation. For example, the determination unit 210 determines that, among the multiple information processing devices 100, the information processing device 100 that is predicted by the prediction unit 206 to have the largest amount of available resources in the execution unit 106 will execute the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation. For example, the determination unit 210 determines that, among the multiple information processing devices 100, the information processing device 100 that is predicted by the prediction unit 206 to have the highest communication quality of the RAN 300 that is the control target of the information processing device 100 will execute the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation.

[0120] For example, when there is no information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 as being capable of executing the execution target application of the execution reservation, the determination unit 210 determines to change the execution content of another application scheduled to be executed at the desired date and time indicated by the desired date and time information included in the execution reservation in order to execute the execution target application of the execution reservation. For example, the determination unit 210 selects, as the other application whose execution content is to be changed, an application reserved for execution by a user with a lower priority than the priority of the user who reserved the execution of the execution target application of the execution reservation.

[0121] The determination unit 210 may, for example, determine to change the information processing device 100 that executes the other application. The determination unit 210 may, for example, determine to change the time period in which the other application is executed. The determination unit 210 may determine the execution content of the other application after the change, based on the prediction result of the prediction process by the prediction unit 206.

[0122] The notification unit 212 notifies various types of information. The notification unit 212 notifies various types of information, for example, via the core network 20. The notification unit 212 notifies various types of information, for example, via the core network 20 and the radio base station 30. The notification unit 212 notifies various types of information via the Internet 40. The notification unit 212 may notify the notification target of the various types of information directly.

[0123] The notification unit 212 notifies, for example, the UE 50 of various information. The notification unit 212 notifies, for example, the communication terminal 400. The management infrastructure 200 notifies, for example, the information processing device 100 of various information.

[0124] The notification unit 212, for example, notifies information based on the demand prediction result for each information processing device 100. The notification unit 212, for example, notifies the free resource amount prediction result for each information processing device 100 as information based on the demand prediction result for each information processing device 100. The notification unit 212, for example, notifies information processing device-related information related to the information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 to be able to execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation accepted by the acceptance unit 208 as information based on the demand prediction result for each information processing device 100.

[0125] The information processing device-related information includes, for example, information processing device identification information that identifies the information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 to be capable of executing the execution target application of the execution reservation. The information processing device-related information includes, for example, a prediction result of the amount of available resources for the information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 to be capable of executing the execution target application of the execution reservation. The information processing device-related information includes executable date and time information indicating the date and time at which the information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 to be capable of executing the execution target application of the execution reservation can execute the execution target application. The information processing device-related information includes, for example, area information indicating the area in which the information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 to be capable of executing the execution target application of the execution reservation is located. The information processing device-related information includes, for example, a communication quality prediction result that predicts the communication quality of the RAN 300 that is controlled by the information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 to be capable of executing the execution target application of the execution reservation.

[0126] The notification unit 212 may notify availability information of each information processing device 100. The notification unit 212 may notify an instruction to execute an application. The notification unit 212 may notify a completion report reporting that registration for execution of an application has been completed.

[0127] 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the processing flow of the system 10. Here, a state in which the management base 200 has not yet acquired the demand forecast results of each information processing device 100 is taken as the start state.

[0128] In step (sometimes abbreviated as S) 102, the acquisition unit 204 acquires a demand forecast result for the information processing device 100 from each of the information processing devices 100. In S104, the reception unit 208 receives a reservation for execution of an application transmitted by the UE 50.

[0129] In S106, the prediction unit 206 predicts the amount of available resources for each information processing device 100 based on the demand prediction results for each information processing device 100 acquired by the acquisition unit 204 in S102. Next, the prediction unit 206 predicts, among the multiple information processing devices 100, an information processing device 100 that is capable of executing the application that is the target of the execution reservation accepted by the acceptance unit 208 in S104, based on the available resource prediction results for each information processing device 100. Here, the explanation will continue assuming that the prediction unit 206 predicts that there are multiple information processing devices 100 that are capable of executing the application that is the target of the execution reservation.

[0130] In S108, the reception unit 208 notifies the UE 50 of information processing device-related information related to the information processing device 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 in S106 to be able to execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation, as information based on the demand prediction result for each information processing device 100. In S110, the user of the UE 50 who has confirmed the information processing device-related information transmits an execution registration for the application using the UE 50. The reception unit 208 accepts the execution registration transmitted by the UE 50.

[0131] At S112, in response to the reception unit 208 receiving the execution registration at S110, the notification unit 212 notifies the information processing device 100 that executes the execution target application of an execution instruction for the execution registration. At S114, in response to the notification of the execution instruction to the information processing device 100 at S112, the notification unit 212 notifies the UE 50 of a completion report reporting that the execution registration received by the reception unit 208 at S110 has been completed. At S116, in response to the arrival of the execution date and time indicated by the execution date and time information included in the execution registration, the information processing device 100 executes the execution target application of the execution registration in cooperation with the UE 50.

[0132] In S118, the information processing device 100 transmits a completion report to the management board 200 in response to the completion of the execution of the application. Thereafter, the processing of the system 10 ends.

[0133] 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the processing flow of the system 10. Here, a state in which the management base 200 has not yet acquired the demand forecast results of each information processing device 100 is taken as the start state.

[0134] In step S202, the acquisition unit 204 acquires the demand forecast result of the information processing device 100 from each of the information processing devices 100. In step S204, the acceptance unit 208 accepts the execution reservation of the application transmitted by the UE 50.

[0135] In S206, the prediction unit 206 predicts the amount of available resources for each information processing device 100 based on the demand prediction results for each information processing device 100 acquired by the acquisition unit 204 in S202. Next, the prediction unit 206 predicts, among the multiple information processing devices 100, an information processing device 100 that can execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation accepted by the acceptance unit 208 in S204, based on the available resource prediction results for each information processing device 100. Here, the explanation will continue assuming that the prediction unit 206 predicts that there are multiple information processing devices 100 that can execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation.

[0136] In S208, the determination unit 210 determines an information processing device 100 that will execute the application that is the target of the execution reservation from among the multiple information processing devices 100 predicted by the prediction unit 206 in S206 as being capable of executing the application that is the target of the execution reservation accepted by the acceptance unit 208 in S204. In S210, the notification unit 212 notifies the information processing device 100 determined by the determination unit 210 in S208 of an execution instruction for the application that is the target of the execution reservation. In S212, in response to notifying the information processing device 100 of the execution instruction in S210, the notification unit 212 notifies the UE 50 of a completion report that reports that the execution registration of the execution reservation accepted by the acceptance unit 208 in S204 has been completed. In S214, in response to the arrival of the desired date and time indicated by the desired date and time information included in the execution reservation, the information processing device 100 executes the application that is the target of the execution registration in cooperation with the UE 50.

[0137] In S216, the information processing apparatus 100 transmits a completion report to the management board 200 in response to the completion of the execution of the application. Thereafter, the processing of the system 10 ends.

[0138] 10 schematically illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of a computer 1200 that functions as the information processing apparatus 100 or the management infrastructure 200. A program installed on the computer 1200 can cause the computer 1200 to function as one or more "parts" of the apparatus according to the above-described embodiments, or can cause the computer 1200 to execute operations associated with the apparatus according to the above-described embodiments or one or more "parts," and / or can cause the computer 1200 to execute a process or steps of the process according to the above-described embodiments. Such a program can be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0139] The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212, a RAM 1214, and a graphics controller 1216, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 1222, a storage device 1224, a DVD drive 1226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The DVD drive 1226 may be a DVD-ROM drive, a DVD-RAM drive, or the like. The storage device 1224 may be a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive, or the like. The computer 1200 also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 1230 and a keyboard 1242, which are connected to the input / output controller 1220 via an input / output chip 1240.

[0140] The CPU 1212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller 1216 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1212 into a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 1214 or into the graphics controller 1216 itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 1218.

[0141] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The storage device 1224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The DVD drive 1226 reads programs or data from a DVD-ROM 1227 or the like and provides them to the storage device 1224. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0142] The ROM 1230 stores therein a boot program or the like that is executed by the computer 1200 upon activation, and / or programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 1200. The input / output chip 1240 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1220 via a USB port, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, etc.

[0143] The programs are provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM 1227 or an IC card. The programs are read from the computer-readable storage medium, installed in the storage device 1224, RAM 1214, or ROM 1230, which are also examples of computer-readable storage media, and executed by the CPU 1212. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1200, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or a method may be configured by implementing operations or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer 1200.

[0144] For example, when communication is performed between computer 1200 and an external device, CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded into RAM 1214 and instruct communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of CPU 1212, communication interface 1222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in RAM 1214, storage device 1224, DVD-ROM 1227, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to a network, or writes received data received from the network to a reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0145] Furthermore, the CPU 1212 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as the storage device 1224, the DVD drive 1226 (DVD-ROM 1227), an IC card, etc. to be read into the RAM 1214, and may perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0146] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and may undergo information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequences of the programs, and write the results back to the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. on the recording medium. For example, if multiple entries, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, are stored on the recording medium, the CPU 1212 may search for an entry whose attribute value of the first attribute matches a specified condition from among the multiple entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0147] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on or near the computer 1200. A recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can also be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the programs to the computer 1200 via the network.

[0148] The blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams in the present embodiments may represent stages of a process in which an operation is performed or "parts" of a device responsible for performing the operation. Particular stages and "parts" may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The dedicated circuitry may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. The programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuits, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and programmable logic arrays (PLAs), including AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, and other logical operations, flip-flops, registers, and memory elements.

[0149] A computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by an appropriate device, such that a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon comprises an article of manufacture, including instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, and semiconductor storage media. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or flash memories), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), static random access memories (SRAMs), compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), Blu-ray discs, memory sticks, integrated circuit cards, and the like.

[0150] The computer readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

[0151] Computer-readable instructions may be provided locally or over a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, or programmable circuitry, such that the processor or programmable circuitry executes the computer-readable instructions to generate means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0152] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0153] It should be noted that the execution order of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that the processes can be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a subsequent process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that the processes must be performed in this order.

[0154] 10 System, 20 Core network, 22 5GC, 30 Radio base station, 40 Internet, 50 UE, 100 Information processing device, 102 Storage unit, 104 Acquisition unit, 106 Execution unit, 107 RAN control function, 109 Application execution function, 110 Prediction unit, 112 Transmission unit, 130 UPF, 140 App server, 150 UPF, 200 Management infrastructure, 202 Storage unit, 204 Acquisition unit, 206 Prediction unit, 208 Reception unit, 210 Determination unit, 212 Notification unit, 300 RAN, 400 Communication terminal, 1200 Computer, 1210 Host controller, 1212 CPU, 1214 RAM, 1216 Graphics controller, 1218 Display device, 1220 Input / output controller, 1222 Communication interface, 1224 storage device, 1226 DVD drive, 1227 DVD-ROM, 1230 ROM, 1240 input / output chip, 1242 keyboard

Claims

1. A system comprising: a plurality of information processing devices each having an execution unit including a RAN control function for controlling the functions of a RAN (Radio Access Network) and an application execution function for executing applications; and a management base for managing the plurality of information processing devices, wherein the management base has an acquisition unit for acquiring a demand forecast result that predicts demand for the execution unit of each information processing device of the plurality of information processing devices; and a notification unit for notifying information based on the demand forecast result of each information processing device.

2. The system described in claim 1, wherein the management base further has a prediction unit that predicts the amount of free resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the demand prediction result of each of the information processing devices, and the notification unit notifies the free resource amount prediction result that predicts the amount of free resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices as the information based on the demand prediction result of each of the information processing devices.

3. The system described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the management infrastructure further includes: a reception unit that receives a reservation for application execution; and a prediction unit that predicts the amount of available resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the demand prediction result of each of the information processing devices, and predicts, among the plurality of information processing devices, an information processing device that is capable of executing the application that is the target of the execution reservation, based on the available resource prediction result that predicted the amount of available resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices; and wherein the notification unit notifies, as the information based on the demand prediction result of each of the information processing devices, information processing device-related information related to the information processing device that is predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application that is the target of the execution reservation.

4. The system described in claim 3, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the demand prediction result including an access count prediction result that predicts the number of accesses to the application execution function of each of the information processing devices, and the prediction unit predicts the amount of free resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the access count prediction result of each of the information processing devices.

5. The system described in claim 3, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the demand prediction result including a resource consumption amount prediction result that predicts the amount of wireless resources consumed in the RAN that is the control target of each of the information processing devices, and the prediction unit predicts the amount of available resources of the execution unit of each of the information processing devices based on the resource consumption amount prediction result of each of the information processing devices.

6. The system described in claim 3, wherein the notification unit notifies the information processing device related information including executable date and time information indicating the date and time when the information processing device predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application to be executed in the execution reservation can execute the application to be executed in the execution reservation.

7. The system described in claim 3, wherein the notification unit notifies the information processing device related information including area information indicating the area in which the information processing device predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application to be executed for the execution reservation is located.

8. The system described in claim 3, wherein the reception unit receives the execution reservation including desired date and time information indicating the desired date and time at which the application is desired to be executed and location information indicating the location of the user who has reserved the execution of the application at the desired date and time, and the prediction unit predicts, among at least one information processing device among the plurality of information processing devices that is located within a range where the distance to the location indicated by the location information is shorter than a predetermined distance threshold, the information processing device that is capable of executing the application to be executed in the execution reservation at the desired date and time indicated by the desired date and time information.

9. The system described in claim 3, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the demand prediction result including a resource consumption prediction result that predicts the amount of wireless resources to be consumed in the RAN of the information processing device that is predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation; the prediction unit further predicts the communication quality of the RAN that is the control target of the information processing device that is predicted to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation based on the resource consumption prediction result of the information processing device that is predicted to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation; and the notification unit notifies the information processing device related information that includes a communication quality prediction result that predicts the communication quality of the RAN that is the control target of the information processing device that is predicted by the prediction unit to be capable of executing the application that is the target of execution of the execution reservation.

10. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the application execution function of each of the information processing devices has a function of executing an AI (Artificial Intelligence) application that is different from the function of controlling the RAN.

11. A management platform for managing multiple information processing devices, which has an execution unit including a RAN control function for controlling RAN functions and an application execution function for executing applications, the management platform comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring demand forecast results that predict demand for the execution unit of each of the multiple information processing devices; and a notification unit for notifying information based on the demand forecast results of each of the information processing devices.

12. A program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to function as the management infrastructure described in claim 11.

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